There's a rural renaissance taking place in a small town or rural community near you. From artisan cheesemakers to farm-stay bed & breakfasts, from Internet-connected free-lancers to retirees restoring native prairies, rural living has creatively reinvented itself for the 21st Century. Welcome to the good life, filled with all the hard work, pioneering spirit and commitment to community that has contributed to a worldview revolution in our approach to the health of the land and nature -- on which we depend for our survival.

The Rural Renaissance Network (RRN) is about celebrating these changes, providing resources for those who dream an American dream of a home in the country, and the inspiration and how-to information to make it a reality. The RRN is a program of Renewing the Countryside, dedicated to preserving the very foundation of the American character: a thriving and healthy rural America.

Among the resources and information you'll find on this website include the following:

• Case Examples
  Looking for ideas? You're not alone in your exploration for a new way of living. Renewing the Countryside has initiated a continent-wide inventory of ordinary people doing extraordinary things to renew the countryside. With a start in Minnesota, the movement is sweeping across America with roots taking hold in Iowa, North Dakota and communities near you.

• Share Your Story
  If you're among the millions who are crafting your own good life -- however you've come to define it -- share your story on EcoSector.com and be a part of the creative renaissance and cooperative exchange.

• Fact Sheets
  Derived from the latest research on rural living and sustainable living trends, these fact sheets summarize the rural renaissance movement, the ecological, social and cultural issues facing us today, and the growning interest in "free agency," quality of life and "right livelihood."

• Practical How-to Resources
  Here's the resources where you can find the grants to put up your wind turbine or take that workshop to start your own Community Supported Agricultural operation.

• Activity Guides
  Everything from tools to calculate your ecological footprint to determining your electrical load so you can size up the appropriate PV or wind turbine system to harvest your own energy.

Much more is planned with the support of people living in rural communities, financial contributors, and visitors like you -- imagining what the good life can be, then setting out to make their dream a reality.