Tag: Barter and Exchange

Adam’s Food and Farming Portfolio: A Guide to Books, Blogs and Solutions

Welcome to Building Better Futures: Food, Community, and Beyond – a portfolio that brings together a diverse collection of blogs and books dedicated to shaping resilient communities and thriving local economies through the lens of food and farming.

This area of work is a vital part of my broader professional journey, reflecting a commitment to practical solutions, thoughtful analysis, and transformative ideas.

Within this collection, you’ll find a wide range of resources – many of which are available as downloadable PDFs at each link, making it easy to access and share insights.

A number of the books are also available for purchase as Kindle editions on Amazon, offering flexible ways to engage with the material.

Central to this portfolio is my belief that food sits at the very heart of future communities and local economies. This vision is explored within the works listed here, with each section delving into how food systems, sustainable agriculture, and collaborative local action can empower individuals and strengthen society.

From foundational essays on the importance of farming, through analyses of current challenges and policy barriers, to practical blueprints for resilient food systems, these resources invite you to reimagine what’s possible for our shared future.

Please explore the links below to discover actionable ideas, innovative models, and a vision for building better futures – starting with food, and reaching far beyond.

1. Foundations: The Importance of Food and Farming

Introduction:
This section lays the groundwork for understanding why food and farming are central to the wellbeing of communities and nations. These pieces highlight the fundamental role of agriculture and the urgent need to recognise and support those who produce our food.


Having established the essential role of food and farming in society, the next section delves into the pressing challenges and threats facing the UK’s food system today.

These entries reveal why urgent attention and action are needed to safeguard our agricultural foundations.

2. Current Challenges: Crisis, Policy, and Threats

Introduction:
This section examines the mounting pressures and systemic issues threatening UK food security. The entries here analyse the causes and consequences of the current crisis, urging immediate action to prevent further decline.


Understanding the scope of the crisis leads naturally to an exploration of the political and economic barriers that hinder progress.

The following pieces critique the policies and market forces that shape – and often obstruct – efforts to build a resilient food system.

3. Political and Economic Barriers

Introduction:
This section explores the political and economic obstacles that hinder progress in food and farming. The entries critique current policies and highlight the need for a shift toward self-sufficiency and local resilience.


With the obstacles clearly outlined, attention turns to how farmers and their allies are responding.

This section examines the spectrum of advocacy and activism, highlighting both the risks and the opportunities for constructive change.

4. Farmer Responses: Advocacy, Militancy, and New Directions

Introduction:
This section discusses how farmers and their supporters are responding to challenges. It encourages constructive, peaceful approaches and warns against divisive or counterproductive activism.


Moving beyond reaction, the next section focuses on solutions. Here, collaboration and local action take centre stage, offering practical pathways to strengthen food security and empower communities.

5. Building Solutions: Collaboration and Localisation

Introduction:
This section presents constructive approaches for improving food security and farming. It emphasizes collaboration, local action, and practical steps to build a resilient food system.


As collaborative efforts gain momentum, the conversation expands to consider new models for local economic governance. These entries introduce innovative mechanisms – such as barter and exchange – that can underpin a more resilient and equitable food system.

6. Economic Systems: Local Governance and Exchange

Introduction:
This section introduces new models for local economic governance, focusing on food as a central pillar. It explores alternative mechanisms like barter and exchange, and proposes frameworks for economies that prioritize collective wellbeing.


Finally, the collection concludes by examining the deeper questions of control and power within food systems.

This last section analyses who holds influence, how policy shapes outcomes, and what it will take to build trustworthy, future-proof food systems for all.

7. Control, Power, and the Future

Introduction:
This section concludes the collection by examining who holds power in food systems and what that means for the future. These entries analyse policy, strategy, and the blueprint for building trustworthy, resilient food systems.

Let’s Continue the Conversation

Thank you for taking the time to explore Building Better Futures: Food, Community, and Beyond.

If the ideas, resources, or practical solutions here have sparked your interest, I would be delighted to hear from you. Whether you have questions, wish to discuss any of the topics in more depth, or are interested in collaborating, please feel free to get in touch.

I am always happy to share insights, exchange perspectives, and support your work. If you’re organizing an event or discussion where these themes are relevant, I welcome invitations to speak and contribute.

Let’s build better futures together – starting with food, and reaching far beyond.

Building Better Futures Portfolio PDF_Vers1_18Dec25Download

Breaking The Money Myth: Rethinking Value, Exchange, and Equality

An Economy That Cannot Function Without Money Will Not Work for Anything Else

Coming to terms with the role money plays in our lives is challenging for most people. But the difficulty doesn’t end there.

We have come to value money not just as a tool, but as the benchmark by which we measure everything in life.

This leads us to a deeper truth—one that must be faced, rejected, and overcome: an economy that functions for money, with money, or through money cannot, will not, and does not work for anything else.

An economy should always serve People, Community, and the Environment. These are the only foundations that truly support a good life and foster genuine equality for all.

Most people instinctively reject the idea that any form of economy or trade could operate without money. This reaction stems not from truth, but from habit. We’ve grown so accustomed to money being present in every transaction that we take it for granted—not because it’s inherently necessary for exchange.

The reality is this: an economy designed for the people must be capable of operating without money, currency, or any medium whose value can be universally—or nationally—controlled or manipulated by external parties.

Instead, value must be determined solely by those directly involved: the buyer, the seller, and the facilitator (or a community body that sets local trade rules for the exchange of essential goods and services).

This doesn’t mean money or currency must be eliminated entirely. Rather, it means that their value must remain free from inflationary or deflationary forces.

Any variation in exchange value must reflect only the true worth of the goods, services, or contributions involved.

The Moneyless Economic System

The essential shift—both in action and mindset—is from a system where money is required in every transaction, to one where the exchange of life’s necessities does not inherently depend on money at all.

One of the fundamental truths of our world is that not all things are equal. However, the way we treat people and the planet should be equal and fair for all.

It follows, then, that money—or any form of currency used as a medium of exchange—should not be governed by a universal benchmark, especially when that benchmark can be manipulated by a powerful few to serve their own interests.

It is normal that we all contribute work to meet our needs. Therefore, the things we need should be accessible to everyone, based on the value of what they can offer through their work.

The imbalance in this equation today arises not from scarcity, but from the greed of those who control access to what others need.

This imbalance is reinforced by systems of privilege, power, and the illusion of ownership that steps beyond the requirements of genuine personal need.

Our Local Future | FULL TEXT
Money IS The Greatest Crime of Our Time
The Coming Collapse and The Revaluation of Everything Needed to Regain Personal Freedom and Control
Breaking The Money Myth PDF_Vers1_12Nov25Download