As we have experienced shortages and have seen individuals fighting over these shortages of toilet paper, meat, and other supplies these past several weeks, I am reminded of what our work is all about. The answer is simple. It is about helping families move to a place where they can produce food and be debt-free. Everything else that we do must help support that transition. When a family is dependent on a fragile food supply chain, they risk losing access to their food. That means going hungry or worse. What do I mean by that statement?

When you depend on someone else for your food, you place yourself at their mercy. There is a cost for food. You either produce it yourself or you pay someone else. History has shown when there is a shortage of food, real or imagined, those shortages have been used to force populations to capitulate to unwanted activities or submit to relocations or other activities that they did not want to. We saw this during WWII. Even now, we see this in several African and South American Countries. A food shortage can be an inconvenience, or if it becomes acute, like a severe famine, it will be an ugly thing and one that brings out the true nature of individuals.

There are those that hold no regard for others other than what they can get from them, while there are those that will share everything that they have. The problem that these good people face is the sheer number of those that do not have. They will consume the limited resources when supply chains break down and local resources do not have the capability to produce the needed volume of food required for large numbers of people. All one needs to do to see this reality is to look at various locations around the world to see there are many who are starving and unable to provide for their family.

Here in America, the fragile supply chains are straining. It is a sign of the times. History is repeating itself with governments and other influences disrupting our food supplies. Those that will learn from history have an opportunity to not repeat it. The Utah OSR Land Cooperative is one of those opportunities that provide an infrastructure for families to prepare every needful thing, including the capability to raise their own food, while being surrounded by others doing the same. This formula is one for abundance. You are invited to be a part of this, the next new frontier, by becoming self-reliant.

God speed,
Philip J. Gleason
Director

OFF-GRID COOKING

Why would learning this be beneficial to me?

What kind of equipment would I need?

What does off-grid cooking really mean?

You've got questions, and we've got answers! Join us this Thursday!

*Please note that after you register, you will receive an email invitation with a website link and info with instructions on how to view the live webinar.

Do you have a gift, talent or experience with being self-reliant that you could share among us?

If so, we invite you to submit an article to be published in the Academy Newsletter. To help you submit your article, Coleen Gleason, one of our editors, will be happy to assist you. You can contact her or send your articles to her at coleen@academyosr.com. Upon review and acceptance, you will be notified when your article will be published.

Thank you for sharing!

Here's what we've got going on!

Want to learn how to achieve greater self-reliance in our 250-family modern homesteading community? Then check out our Intro Meetings where we discuss what you can do, and where to start!

Would you like a personal tour of the site of a 250-family homestead community being built on the Utah OSR Land Co-op's 1,245-acre Riverbed Ranch in Juab County, Utah? Then join us for our Munch & Mingle Tour! We'll show you what we're doing now, and what we have planned for the future!

For more details and information about each of our events, click the button to visit our Events Page.

Join us this June for our very first tree planting event!
 
There are several projects happening at the Riverbed Ranch involving planting trees and shrubs to begin regenerating the soil and providing forage for bees in areas around the Welcome Center, the 40 acre Special Projects Center (The Academy Campus, Rescue Home, Therapy Barn, etc.), and eventually the future Green Belt/Waterway. Initial planting projects will begin where water is already available to keep plants alive, and many plants and cuttings are already being gathered to get this started!
 
In mid-June, 2020, we will be inviting OSR shareholders AND the interested public to come to the Riverbed Ranch for a 1-day mass tree planting event. The primary goal of this 1-day event is to plant 2,020 trees and shrubs in one day, and of course, the secondary goals include socializing and gathering public interest in regenerative agriculture and the mission of the Academy of Self-Reliance and Utah Land Co-Op!
 
Crowdfunding and Advertising campaigns are launching soon to gather funds and participants. There is additional help needed, of course! Below is one specific role we are looking to fill, but of course this 1-day event will only be accomplished with many helping hands.

Please contact Sarah Vezzani at loftium4@gmail.com if you are interested in filling the below role or would like to help in other ways.
 
POINT PERSON NEEDED FOR DAY-OF FESTIVITIES:

Responsibilities include planning and coordinating the people-related logistics of the day: checking participants in, distributing water bottles and T-shirts, directing families to different stations (rest areas with snacks, bathrooms, baby changing/feeding area), ensuring everyone has necessary equipment (and training if needed!) to help out, organizing activities for younger children, and entertainment (can simply be music playing - we have a volunteer for supplying the sound system)

HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE!

Have you heard? We're building a ropes course!

The Academy OSR Ropes Course will offer a unique series of team-building exercises that will have a variety of activities and programs that will challenge you, your friends, family, coworkers, and teammates to master challenges and conquer fears.

This state-of-the-art facility incorporates a continuous belay system that provides for maximum safety as participants learn and internalize concepts such as:

• problem-solving   • leadership skills   • communication   • self-confidence

. . . and so much more! We truly believe this will bless the lives of the young, and the not-so-young. 

GRANT UPDATE: We have completed the preliminary two steps necessary to qualify for committee consideration for a grant from the State of Utah for the Ropes Course. We finished the application and the final committee will meet May 6-7 to determine who will be awarded for this year.

Are you on social media? Then let's connect!

We'd love to have you join our Facebook Group, where we post about upcoming events and meetings where you and your friends can learn more about what we're doing! It's a great and easy way to help spread the word!

We are in the process of providing a discount for solar-energy equipment.  We have selected Sol-Ark as a supplier.

To increase our discounts, we are needing to combine our purchases.  We can get improved discounts if we place an order for 10 or more units.  And at 20 or more units, we receive an even larger discount.

If you are thinking of purchasing solar-energy equipment, whether for your new home, existing home, friend’s home, camping, etc…, please fill out our online questionnaire so that we can combine our orders and get big savings.

This is not a commitment to purchase at this time.  We are only getting a list of potential buyers.