01671nas a2200121   4500008004100000022001400041245003100055210002600086260004200112520133700154100002201491856003601513       2009                        eng d  a1913-610200aThe 100-Mile Client Roster0 a100Mile Client Roster  aOttawabTalent First Networkc06/20093 aIn 2005, two Canadians began a one-year experiment in eating only locally grown foods and started what is now known as The 100-Mile Diet. In the open source world, we know about giving back to our software community, but this is sometimes to the detriment of our physical community. It is hard to see the businesses around us when so many interactions take place online and in the digital neighbourhood. The world has gotten smaller in the last hundred years and products made on the other side of the world are common in businesses and households.

As we muddle through our current economic crisis, we are encouraged to support our neighbours, their jobs, and to "buy local." Many household repair services must be locally obtained, but this is not necessarily true for software-related services. Many businesses are choosing to outsource the production of software and related support services to a cheaper labour force in other countries. As consumers, we know that buying locally often costs a premium; we also know it supports our neighbours and recycles our money back into our own physical community.

This article examines the importance of giving back to the local community. It uncovers ways for businesses to expand and gain new revenue streams when they focus on open source software and use open business models. 
1 aHogbin, Emma Jane  uhttp://timreview.ca/article/259