The articles and resources in this section all support the concept of Local Living Economy and localisation. They discuss why the strengthening of our local businesses, economies and communities is so important and how we can do this in ways that build resilience and prosperity.

1. “The Local Living Economy: Transforming business life with the White Dog Principles” by Judy Wicks is a personal description of Judy’s journey and learnings in creating one of the world’s most outstanding and successful LLE businesses – The White Dog Café in Philadelphia. Judy also co-founded the Business Alliance for Local Living Economy (BALLE) and in this article she discusses BALLE’s LLE principles.

2. “The Food Issue – Farmer In Chief” by Michael Pollan, was published in the New York Times Magazine in October 2008, shortly after Barack Obama’s historic election win. It’s a marvellous, bracing article that connects food accessibility, security and price with the implications of oil and energy vulnerability.

3. “Liberation Ecology” by Frances Moore Lappe focuses on busting the myths around our language and understanding of economic growth and prosperity. It’s a highly innovative and insightful article published in Resurgence Magazine January/February 2009.

4. “Buddhist Economics” by EF Schumacher is the standout chapter in the Schumacher’s seminal book from the early 1970s “Small is Beautiful: Economics as if People Mattered”. In 1995 this book was named by the London Times Literary Supplement as one of the hundred most influential books written after World War 2.

5. “My Saudi Arabian Breakfast” by Chad Heeter is a vivid and highly-readable description of the global food economy and why it is one of the key culprits in global warming. A great read and introduction to the connections between industrial and global food economy and environmental degradation.

6. “Solving for Pattern” by Wendell Berryis an absorbing essay that explores how industrial agriculture contributes to ecological and social destruction and how it can be transformed into a sustainable localised enterprise by ‘solving for pattern’. Berry takes his inspiration from Systems Thinking.

7. “Don’t Fix the Economy – Change It” by Peter G. Brownputs forward six key ideas for transforming the Canadian economy (relevant to any industrial economy in the world today) into one that is truly balanced between people, planet and profit.

8. “Guidelines for a Local Economy” by Wendell Berry and adapted by Australian Permaculturalist Morag Gambleproposes 16 key principles and practices that support local economy and enable communities, nature and enterprise to flourish.

9. “SEQLLE Rationale Working Document” by the SEQLLE Network – in late 2008 an informal network was formed in South East Queensland between representatives from local government, business and industry, non government organisations, community enterprise and indigenous people to establish a presence and validity for local living economy in South East Queensland. This rationale puts forward the discussion to support LLE initiatives and policy in the region.

10. “Scenic Rim Escapes 100 Mile Diet Overview” by Wallaby Ridge Retreat and the Ethos Foundation, describes a local food economy initiative being developed and spearheaded by one of the Scenic Rim Region’s peak tourism industry associations.

11. “Ten Reasons to Eat Local Food”is a one page summary of all the good reasons to grow, support, purchase and eat local food.

12. “Coming Home to LLEs” by the Building Sustainable Small Business programlists a number of examples of local living economy both worldwide and in the Scenic Rim Region.

13. “BALLE LLE Principles and Definition”is from the Business Alliance for Local Living Economy (BALLE) website and clearly defines LLE and its key principles. A short 1 page overview.