Bioregionalism

Ideally, Dogland will be, in its remaining short flicker of existence, a bioregional republic.  Probably at least one of those terms is a bit fuzzy.  Let's hope it's 'bioregional.'

          


Lots of material out there for you to peruse, such as Peter Berg's "What is Bioregionalism?" or this site from the Living Awareness Institute:  "Bioregions are unique life-places with their own soils and land forms, watersheds and climates, native plants and animals, and many other distinct natural characteristics. Each characteristic affects the others and is affected by them as in any other living system or body," and "Bioregionalism is a fancy name for living a rooted life. Sometimes called "living in place," bioregionalism means you are aware of the ecology, economy and culture of the place where you live, and are committed to making choices that enhance them."

And from the same site, a nice list of what living this way might mean:

Living a bioregionally-conscious life means making choices daily that focus on local ecology, economy and culture. It may mean any or all of the following:

• Buying food grown locally (and organically).
• Avoiding large chain retailers in favor of locally owned stores.
• Seeking out products made close to home by companies that are socially and environmentally responsible.
• Banking with locally owned banks, especially ones that invest in the community.
• Knowing the birds, animals, trees, plants and weather patterns of your place, as well as land features and soil types.
• Understanding the human cultures that have occupied your place in the past and respecting their ways of life.
• Getting to know your neighbors and "looking out for each other."
• Seeking out entertainment that originates in your area; supporting local artists, musicians, theater companies, storytellers.
• Watching less TV and spending more time with loved ones or neighbors playing games, making music and having your own fun.
• Knowing where your garbage goes and reducing your waste to a minimum.
• Knowing where your drinking water comes from and using water conservatively.
• Knowing how and where your electricity is generated and utilizing sustainable energy sources, such as solar power, whenever possible.
• Voting in local elections and being involved in political decision-making.
• Being directly involved in your children's education, whether they are in school or are homeschooled.

All those things.   Here's a version of this that focuses more on the pathways from Aldo Leopold, on being a Biocitizen. Though just knowing about Leopold goes quite a way in itself.  (and sometime, read the section of Sand County Almanac that talks about the green fire in the wolf's eyes...I think there's also a film.)

May favorite, though not recent, book on this is Kirkpatrick Sale's Dwellers in the Land.  Consult this for an extended discussion.  He's especially good at insisting that bioregionalism includes history, local lore, stories, all the rest, beyond just the practical materialism.
 

A great deal to do, to start to know where we live

later, bob