Show J I SMALL TOWNS USA U.S.A. 1 I h m Rural Planning Must Emphasize Restored Soil New Employment I I Released by Features J Restoration of the soil and introduction of new types of employment are major mayor factors in revitalizing rural economy to meet the challenge of the changing times The growing i necessity for sound rural economic planning is apparent in small town and agricultural America faced as they are by I t. t revolutionary d rl th changes t t in 1 1 the 1 pattern of living The times I nr lg evl C sacs II ua Id a I mos rura iv Ing problems can be solved Hap Hap- Hap this evidence evidence which has been h accumulating for several years I shows the solutions can cats be accomplished I pUshed by simple home-devised home plans Rural economic problems ordinarily ordinarily ordina- ordina rily come from limitations on earning earn- earn III ing lug opportunities i The earnings get I Rural America lean when the theAt At Stake Stoke land is allowed to toI I wear out and other oth er en employment in inthe No 3 the neighborhood In a Series is limited Therefore Therefore Therefore There There- fore the solution lies in restoring productivity of the soil and in providing providing providing pro pro- viding new kinds of employment Both these things can be done with good leadership and good planning I Extension of rural electric lines the trend toward decentralizing decentralizing decentralizing industry new methods of farm production and land use all are making easier the task of 01 reviving the country I I communities and small towns to Much valuable community work I has been done Some of the pioneering pioneer pioneer- ing lag dates back 20 years and longer The successes of some communities provide examples for others to folOne fol fol- low One of the earliest and most highly regarded small community developments is in the southern mountains at Brasstown N N. C. C There the soil has been saved and returned to fertility and some small industries have been introduced to provide the needed opportunities to ream earn urn 1 I Model Rural Community Brasstown is a model in the rural I life movement It has shown that I the home and the home surroundings surroundings surroundings surround surround- ings are the most important things in happy living High wages are not notI I essential if there are better com pen pen- I Happ Happiness ness cannot be bought with wages All is well when there are are jobs for all if the work is pleasant pleasant pleas- pleas jant ant and the home is secure I r i Brasstown is a folk center It is the home hom of a school of rural living which has become the influence s that shapes and guides the life of the entire community This is the John C. C Campbell Folk school established established established es- es to be a permanent and useful memorial to a devoted worker work- work er who spent his life as a teacher of mountain people The school is the life 1 e work of of Mrs Olive D. D Campbell Campbell Camp Camp- bell widow of the man for whom it Was named This school is like nothing else in inthe inthe inthe the U. U S. S Its pattern was the folk schools of Denmark and Danish rural school ideas have been adapted adapt- adapt ed cd to the needs of the Brasstown community r The school has bas more than I classes and teachers It is the i j i voice and spirit of the I Since it was founded the living standards and the outlook of the whole people have been uplifted and given a solid root- root Ing It has bas succeeded in making the present bright and the future hopeful i ii i The school is a place for demonstration demon demon- practise study and abon It is the stimulus not of the culture but of the commerce of the whole countryside All ages may Igo go to its classes Everything having Ito ito I do with local living is part of its Program farming farming ant arcs and forestry folk olk dancing and games health and nursing home industries and housekeeping housekeeping house house- keeping and the marketing of the things the people make and grow The school has a demonstration farm a forge for iron work looms for weavers and benches for wood carvers Develop New Skills Brasstown wood carvings are known wherever there is a market for tor southern mountain wares Five of the best carvers taught in the school have earned as much as asI I 1300 in one year by their spare- spare time skills But the land is first and andI I the people are taught to protect and preserve it Do not neglect your farm Carving is for spare time and for pleasure That is advice that the school people give often an and with emphasis It should be made clear that I the John C. C Campbell program is more than the teaching of skills and methods It is a program program program pro pro- gram of ideas and attitudes The school has made Brasstown and that means the coves and the ridges for Cor miles around proud of 01 its culture and its homes and proud of the land It has given the people an appreciation appreciation appreciation ap of 01 what they have and are Moreover it has made them community community community com com- conscious with some very practical recalls re Through study and leadership the school has developed developed developed de de- de- de a keen response to cooperative cooperative cooperative tive ideas This has grown into a thriving producers-consumers' producers cooperative cooperative cooperative co co- co- co operative store operating a retail business and nd a producing milk plant Work of 01 Individual For this example of how to organize organize organize organ organ- ize and guide a community living I program not only Brasstown but the entire rural life movement is under a lasting obligation to Mrs rs I Campbell She did her work largely unaided and with only the experience experience ence of the Danes to go by The results results results re re- achieved have been the product product product prod prod- of her vision personality and determination A part of the schools school's support comes from the home missions missions missions mis mis- of the Presbyterian church North and the American Missionary Mission Mission- ary association but the greatest share of the going expenses is raised by Mrs Campbells Campbell's own efforts The next article ankle will tell of oJ community community com com- projects mat age managed by rural pastors |