Ecological Economics and The Cosmic Bank

Abstract

<p>This essay is about exchange. It places a personal theoretical understanding of economics-the branch of knowledge concerned with the production, consumption, and transfer of wealth-into the practical context of developing the garden on a rental property in Armidale, New South Wales, Australia. The theory of improving this small plot of land for a single family and those who come after is presented. An unconventional theory of economics dubbed <i>The Cosmic Bank</i> (TCB) is put forward using examples of the continuation of healthy human-nature-culture relationships, creating community connections, and the expansion and sharing of the benefit from an evolving family home.Accessing free and publicly available resources beneficial to gardening and urban land development, e.g. manure, cardboard, autumn leaves, coffee grounds, and composting materials, is put forward as a crucial element in increasing carbon loading when establishing garden beds and moving towards self sufficiency in food production.These elements are essential components for creating community connectedness and belonging through natural and cultural forms of exchange. The position taken is that beautifying one's living environment, whether owned or rented, is a means of reconciling contemporary questions relating to lifestyle, health, wealth generation, sustainability, and links to community and nature. A resolution is posed relating apparently contradictory aspects of time, effort, the fixation on wealth accumulation, belongingness, and the role in self-partner-nature-society dealings and interactions.This resolve aims to reach a synthesis between ecological conceptions of economics and The Cosmic Bank.</p>