Talking about the Good...and the Bad

With all this focus on #ReasonsRuralRocks are we ignoring the challenges that many rural citizens face? This past week a long time supporter of the trend asked, "Is poverty in Rural Alberta Hidden?" and attached the rural rocks hashtag. I'll admit, my immediate reaction was, "That's not the point of this forum." However, it was never my intention that the trend should gloss over the issues that rural faces. It has always been my hope that #ReasonsRuralRocks would provide a space for open conversations about all things rural. And such conversations must be open to discussing the negative as well.


That being said, it is easy to find news pieces, academic literature, and editorials about what is wrong with rural. It is much more difficult to find someone willing to share what makes rural great. It is my belief that if we truly value rural we must share our experiences...

• @ OrdNE
• The CEO of Wimmer's Meats, still can take the time to pick up his grandkids from school. (And drop of my daughter.) @creativebug
• No matter where you go or how long you are gone, you can always call your rural community your 'home'. @ACSRC
  
  
  
  
  ...the good and the bad. 

#ReasonsRuralRocks Nov 13-19

A winter theme has continued in the #ReasonsRuralRocks trend. I hope this post finds you warm and cozy. Thanks to everyone for sharing your favourite reasons.

• I will never get tired of flying over beautiful rural America  and seeing sunrise! @JenaeHansen

• sunsets and sunsets....  @onepercentyello 
• The postman will hand me my mail if I catch him on another street. Plus, he picks up from my door. Service! @KatieMcCaskey

• Snow days off school. @KSherbi

• The County will plow my driveway! @midgelambert

• Waking up in winter and looking outside to find that the neighbor plowed the driveway. @ripplenw

• Letting your neighbors know when road conditions are very poor and travel not recommended. @jbatiuk

• the way your community rallies around when there's a loss in the family. So thankful!! @clht1
   

Change of Season

After the exciting opportunity to guest blog with Ripple, I figured it was time to get back to work here. I've fallen a bit behind on updating the latest #ReasonsRuralRocks. After reading this post, you should be all caught up on the best and brightest reasons from Oct. 30 to Nov. 12. With the changing season, there was a noticeable shift in the reasons being shared. It's been great to see that people are reminded of the greatness of rural winter. 

• People are so nice @rainbow832
• Lots of amazing craft sales coming up! Local entrepreneurs have amazing goodies for the Christmas season! @return2rural
• Breathing clean crisp air on a sunny autumn day @clht1
• We do get pizza delivery, but often have reassure the driver they're in the right place when the pavement ends.  @alpacamundo
• Locked my keys in the car @ the store tonight & my bro was there in 10 minutes on foot carrying a slim jim. @creativebug
• Community Fall Suppers @plind
• Snow is in the forecast and flurry conditions are on the way. Yet another #ReasonsRuralRocks! @OrdNE
• Letting your neighbors know when road conditions are very poor and travel not recommended @jbatiuk
• By 2050, 70% of us will live in cities. That's one #reasonsruralrocks for me. @katpinke
• Have been thinking how the disparity between extreme rich & poor is less visible in small/rural places. @KatieMcCaskey
• Sunrises @JenaeHansen 

Thanks to everyone for supporting the #ReasonsRuralRocks trend. It means a lot to me. I look forward to hearing more great reasons! 

Guest Blog with Ripple

In lieu of a formal blog posting, I'd like to direct you to my guest blog entry with Ripple. A great big thanks to the Ripple folks for the opportunity to reach a wider audience.

New Voices

Hello Rural Fans! It goes without saying that I love all the #ReasonsRuralRocks participants that share reasons frequently. However, it's always exciting to hear new voices join the conversation. Today I'd like to share 5 of my favourite #ReasonsRuralRocks from last week (Oct. 23-29) from regulars and rookies alike:

• Almost forgot how nice it is to hear cows, owls, and chirping birds instead of traffic, sirens, and pigeons! @JenaeHansen
• Rural, northern, and remote communities support industries that produce 50% of Canada's exports. @FCM_online
• you can walk into a job interview and discuss your roots as a way to distinguish your values from other candidates @onepercentyello
• don't need social network like nextdoor.com to know your neighbor @AnjahHoward
• Nothing to worry about. @rainbow832

If you're on Twitter, check out these rural loving tweeps. Please help keep the #ReasonsRuralRocks conversation alive by adding your voice! 

Short commute and a view that's a beaut!

While there weren't enough #ReasonsRuralRocks shared between Oct 16-22 to make a Top Ten list, there were several worth sharing. 

• You can have a massive BonFire in your backyard.  @CircleBalpacas 
• According to my iPod, my commute to work was 2 minutes and 17 seconds. @Laurie_Callsen
• Being out on the prairies and feeling unbothered--no disturbance except a cool breeze of fresh air.  @KSherbi 
• You can actually SEE the starry sky. @celticperegrini 
• You'll probably know everyone you pass on main street, but even if you don't, you'll still say hi. @janisirwin 

Thanks everyone! Please keep sending your #ReasonsRuralRocks to @sherbani on Twitter or post them here.  

#ReasonsRuralRocks Oct. 9-15

The Top Ten #ReasonsRuralRocks for Oct. 9-15 includes mentions of great neighbours, fall colours, and clean air. These are all reasons I love rural. I hope as you read the list you see reasons that resonate with your own feelings about rural.

10. Linear assessment. @CMNesbitt

9. Howlin' coyotes on a moonlit night. Rarely happens in the neighborhoods of the cities, as I understand it. @NERenaissance

8. The best neighbours you could ever ask for. @KSherbi

7. As I meet more city folk, I am more proud of my country upbringing. I am a rural ambassador! @onepercentyello

6. Community members support above and BEYOND for any cause... @dizzyraerae

5.  My neighbourhood has a 10 km radius.  @ConsultInsight

4. Beautiful fall colours in the country and delicious harvest fare! @theSSEarth

3. If u get stuck in the ditch somewhere no matter what time it is, someone will always come help u out. @pugsley208

2. Breathing crisp, clean, country air on a fall day. I didn't realize how great this was until I moved to downtown. @janisirwin

1. Directions involve phrases like "go to the end of the pavement."  @Alpacamundo

I truly believe that the list of #ReasonsRuralRocks will never be fully complete. There will always be more reasons to add. If you're favourite thing about rural hasn't been mentioned please send a comment or a tweet (@sherbani and make sure to use the hashtag #ReasonsRuralRocks).

And if you like what these folks have to say, and you're on the Twitter, why not follow them?