1. Rural Values and Culture

Articles

What Makes A Community A Community? (August 1997)

What is a sense of community? How is it created? Why do some rural towns have a greater sense of community than others? Are rural towns losing their sense of community? Why? How can it be increased?

I asked Darryl Hobbs these questions

Favorite Gripes About Small Communities (May 1996)

What are the things about living in a small community that gripe you? Normally we wouldn’t bring these things up in polite company but among trusted friends and in your braver or more foolish moments you might. Of course you would want to p

Readers Gripe About Rural Living (July 1996)

I solicited readers to send me their gripes about life in a small community. Here are some of their thoughtful responses.

"I am starved for intellectual stimulation with other people. Social life centers around high school sports

Living Close To Nature (September 1995)

For the 20 years I've lived in South Dakota, I've stood in awe of the lives and values of rural families. This has been a unique, different experience. I've tried to understand why and I'm still trying. I've written about unique themes - stories

Life In A Fishbowl - Pass It On (January 1995)

"Country people may be more charitable in other parts of the United States, but in New England there is a simple rule to follow - if you don't want to conclude that every neighbor is a scoundrel, make inquiries about them one town away.&quo

Rural Community Rules: Image Is Everything (June 2000)

This article describes how people in rural communities learn dysfunctioal rules in their family in order to protect their image in the community. The lack of openness and self-disclosure takes a toll on people as they hide problems rather than bring them out in the open and get ideas or help on how to deal with them. The judgmental attitudes in rural communities creates fear and anxiety.

The Psychology Of Place-bound People (July 2000)

This article describes the unique aspects of thinking and feeling that go with living in one community all your life. This contrasts withthe mindset of upwardly mobile careerists who lose their connection with place while showing a more individualistic orientation to life.

Too Many Careerists, Not Enough Place-bound People (September 2000)

This article contains an articulate response on the values of people rooted in the land and how the rest of the world depends on them for the basics in life.

Rural Reality: Few Is Beautiful, Too Few Is Hard (March 2003)

This article extols one of the virtues of rural communities, the inclusiveness, belonging and individual development when people participate in community life. Then the article looks at the flip sife of rural life when outmigration undermines of fabric of rural social life and leaves needed community volunteerism and leadership in the hands of too few people. The stress and pressures mount as rural communities are undermanned for the amount of work that needs to be done.

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	Val Farmer 35 Years of Counseling Rural Topics IV. Rural Life 1. Rural Values and Culture Login Articles What Makes A Community A Community? (August 1997) What is a sense of community? How is it created? Why do some rural towns have a greater sense of community than others? Are rural towns losing their sense of community? Why? How can it be increased? I asked Darryl Hobbs these questions Favorite Gripes About Small Communities (May 1996) What are the things about living in a small community that gripe you? Normally we wouldn’t bring these things up in polite company but among trusted friends and in your braver or more foolish moments you might. Of course you would want to p Readers Gripe About Rural Living (July 1996) I solicited readers to send me their gripes about life in a small community. Here are some of their thoughtful responses. "I am starved for intellectual stimulation with other people. Social life centers around high school sports Living Close To Nature (September 1995) For the 20 years I've lived in South Dakota, I've stood in awe of the lives and values of rural families. This has been a unique, different experience. I've tried to understand why and I'm still trying. I've written about unique themes - stories Life In A Fishbowl - Pass It On (January 1995) "Country people may be more charitable in other parts of the United States, but in New England there is a simple rule to follow - if you don't want to conclude that every neighbor is a scoundrel, make inquiries about them one town away.&quo Rural Community Rules: Image Is Everything (June 2000) This article describes how people in rural communities learn dysfunctioal rules in their family in order to protect their image in the community. The lack of openness and self-disclosure takes a toll on people as they hide problems rather than bring them out in the open and get ideas or help on how to deal with them. The judgmental attitudes in rural communities creates fear and anxiety. The Psychology Of Place-bound People (July 2000) This article describes the unique aspects of thinking and feeling that go with living in one community all your life. This contrasts withthe mindset of upwardly mobile careerists who lose their connection with place while showing a more individualistic orientation to life. Too Many Careerists, Not Enough Place-bound People (September 2000) This article contains an articulate response on the values of people rooted in the land and how the rest of the world depends on them for the basics in life. Rural Reality: Few Is Beautiful, Too Few Is Hard (March 2003) This article extols one of the virtues of rural communities, the inclusiveness, belonging and individual development when people participate in community life. Then the article looks at the flip sife of rural life when outmigration undermines of fabric of rural social life and leaves needed community volunteerism and leadership in the hands of too few people. The stress and pressures mount as rural communities are undermanned for the amount of work that needs to be done. Next Page