Taming the wild

There have been many articles describing the increase in foraging for wild plants as a result of the economic downturn. Now a new type of wild entrepreneur is emerging with some top restaurants and chefs paying around 50 pounds a kilo for the likes of wood sorrel. The Forestry Commission in Scotland estimate the annual value of wild foraging to be in the ball park area of 21 million pounds and are concerned that it might start to get out of hand. They have launched a campaign to promote a code of practice for foragers as a first step to address this.

Bankers need not apply

Nice little piece on the Agricultural Biodiversity Weblog on how some people are reacting positively to the current economic downturn by thinking more locally and sustainably about production.

Rural entrepreneurship

The RUPRI Centre for Rural Entrepreneurship have designed their site 'as a roadmap for those of you who are interested in learning more about entrepreneurship as a rural economic development strategy'. Information and resources to describe each step of the way along the road are available at the click of your mouse.

The Center also publishes Energizing Entrepreneurs: Charting a Course for Rural Communities and has companion online resources available here.

There is even a link to rural entrepreneurship in Northern Ireland on their old website, see breaking news.

For information on rural and social entrepreneurship, and assistance, in Northern Ireland check Invest Northern Ireland and SABP.