New to cypto, Upstart Farmer joins the movement. Where does this go?

Greetings, Steemit community.

For the last 3 years, I've focused my professional and personal life to grow food hydroponically. As a path to personal sovereignty, as part of the solution to food insecurity, and so much more. Growing food at the household and community level represents a real solution to serious problems that our society currently faces.

I started a company called, Eco Evolver, and the focus is to support individuals, households, communities and schools start growing food. I've created a course for adults that I offer in the fall to walk them through the process of hydroponic growing.

You could say that I'm a romantic because I envision productive homes and communities where all buildings produce food, energy, and shelter. Right now I'm trying to inspire schools to integrate more indoor agriculture, but its a tough slog in a downturning economy.

I've been following global economics and world events, and much of what I'm reading is that, as fiat currency implodes, we need alternative mechanisms to conduct local economic activities that, are more resilient, more transparent - gold/silver being options, although not for the already marginalized and working poor.

My understanding and exposure to bitcoin and crypto currencies is limited, but the concept intrigues me and does receive rave reviews from those that do understand it.

My curiosity at this point is around implementing digital currencies at the local level, and how, for example, urban farmers and consumers could potentially use this mechanism to conduct local trade.

Do you have recommendations for important introductory readings that would help me understand how this technology works in the real-world?

I would like to try out cryptocurrencies and build resilient communities. I'd be willing to take a leadership role to make this happen.

So where do we begin?

Thanks for this and I look forward to meeting more of you :)

Emilio
Eco Evolver | Upstart Farmer | Social Scientist
http://www.ecoevolver.com

Ps. is there a WYSIWYG editor for steemit or do you actually have to manually apply formats and links, etc.?