Enterprise Nation

Our favourite shedworker, Alex Johnson, points us to an article in The Guardian newspaper, and suggests that homeworking allows us to play a greater role in local communities.

A post on Alex's blog also refers to an earlier article from his e-zine, The Shed. In it, Anna Milton, author of 'What Kind of World Are We Building?', writes:

"Like many older people, carers and parents stuck at home, the shedworker has few people to talk to face-to-face during the working day so the thriving life of the local high street is particularly important. But all around the country, there is growing concern at the increasing sameness and sterility of the high street, with the same chain shops and bars squeezing out small shops, be they local cafes or bookshops."

In response, The Guardian newspaper writes, enterprising inhabitants of Hesket Newmarket have established co-operatives to protect key local services, including a post office, a pub and brewery and a shop, which also acts as a local meeting place.

"The pub is now a venue for philosophy classes, a library, an internet cafe, and provides a cashback scheme," Rachel Pugh writes. "If the shop cooperative is successful, it will lease the business to someone who will focus on stocking local produce."

• Villagers' fell swoop to save local shop
  [The Guardian via Shedworking and homeworking blog]