The goal of this project wouldn't necessarily be as extreme as the back-to-the-landers. Ideally it would be small communities that produce a significant portion of their food and energy so that they have more control over what's important to them.

Another angle: in the US there have been lots of attacks on the grid in various cities. And a lot of our food goes to a handful of grocers in each city. This can be a vulnerability during crazy times and if each neighborhood had some level of independence from the larger region we'd be more secure.