Managing Change In Rural Communities

Americans who make their living from the land - and those who live in small communities closely bound to the land - know the importance of stewardship. This booklet is about stewardship - and the benefits of adding design skills to the mix of talents found in rural America. It recounts the experiences of three landscape architects placed in three Resource Conservation and Development (RC&D) areas for a 2-year pilot project. They applied their skills within the context of RC&D objectives chosen by local citizens. They used inexpensive computer-based imaging technology to communicate graphically various conservation and development alternatives. The results in Georgia, Iowa, and Utah were exciting and gratifying: citizens were eager both to improve the stewardship of their land and to participate in shaping their communities in new and productive ways. This booklet offers a sampling of the stories and the techniques used, as well as information about available resources.