To understand why we need to develop resilience we need to understand   how dependent we have become on services provided by other people. The service industry is the fastest growing sector in theUSeconomy and has been for some time. As manufacturing has declined in this country (though there is a slight rebound emerging), service has risen, quite dramatically. Simply put, the service economy covers those businesses that are designed to do something for those who either do not want or cannot do it for themselves. Health care and financial service industries are good examples. The steady rise of the service economy suggests that we, as a society, are steadily becoming less resilient and more dependent on others.

To illustrate the personal nature of the service industry consider that you may require that someone clean your home on a regular basis, walk your dog while you are at work. Someone will surely look after your kids at some point. Some individuals have even more personal needs, such as help organizing one’s life, cleaning out closets. It is a given today that someone will look after your car, fix whatever is broken in your house, all this help curiously giving you a sense of control in your castle. But there is no resilience in this life style. It is dependent on countless other people supplying services and your being able to pay for them.

In the business world there is even more dependency on outsourced services – to keep the sophisticated equipment in peak performance, the payroll properly calculated by an outside firm and the services needed to deal with the complexities of running a global business. And those who orchestrate all this complexity feel in complete control of their enterprises.

Then there is the absolute confidence on the part of the public that electricity will be when you flip a switch. Same situation with your car. Gas will always be available and affordable. Unless you have lost a job in the past you will assume that you (and your spouse) will have a job as long as you want it. Friends, a reality check is long overdue. For many the reality check has already arrived in terms of lost employment, uninsured health crises, the need to rely on local food banks, all this right here in Westchester.

Meanwhile, there are powerful trends going in the opposite direction in the country, particularly strong in our region where people are learning to do for themselves even when not required to. In an age of growing uncertainty the ability to grow one’s own food, feel comfortable with a hammer of gives one a sense of control. The powerful locavore movement has aroused the public to the need to shorten the supply chain, support local food growers and producers. It seeks to strengthen downtowns to again become the heart of the community, where entrepreneurs can find a niche, small businesses will be welcome, and neighbors can enjoy each other’s company. In turbulent times this encourages a sense that one is in control of one’s life, and survival might be a real option.

This is the core principle of the Transition movement – to create resilience in communities and individuals the better to withstand shocks to one’s way of life, to redevelop skills, create bonds with one’s neighbors in producing local food – vegetable, eggs, honey, fruit.  New businesses and restaurants are jumping on the local food trend. For now the locavore movement is just the latest trend but in the future it could well be a survival strategy.