From: "Bhakti Vikasa Swami" 

Rupa Gosvami Dasa summarizes Srila Prabhupada's teachings on rural
communities:

Rural communities are meant for cultivating Krsna consciousness. Devotees
should lead a simple, self-sufficient life, totally independent of
materialistic civilization. The way of life to follow is that of Krsna in
Vrndavana.

Self-sufficiency comes from protecting cows, bulls, and oxen, and from the
ecological cultivation of land. Self-sufficiency should be total: food
clothing, medicine, construction materials, and so on.

Each devotee needs to work 120 days a year to guarantee the community's self
sufficiency. The remaining time is for Krsna conscious programs.

Work should be accomplished without having to travel great distances.

Commercial agriculture is not encouraged. If there is surplus production
without additional effort, then sell or distribute as prasadam.

Devotees should travel in ox carts for ten miles in all directions, bringing
neighbors books, prasadam, and the holy name.

Machinery and electricity are not necessary, but may be used if they don't
demand a big effort for their acquisition and maintenance.

From BTG #31-02, 1997

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