Discovering a Sense of Place

A nine-week course focusing on the importance of knowing and protecting one’s own bioregional place on Earth.

Bioregionalism challenges the world view prevalent in industrialized nations that land is a commodity to be bought and sold for financial gain. By separating ourselves from the Earth in this way, we fail to see how dependent we are upon our place and how interconnected all bioregions are.

Bioregions are geographic areas defined by natural features like watersheds, landforms, vegetation, animal life and indigenous cultures. With the wisdom that comes from truly knowing the place in which we live, we can create lifestyles and social institutions in harmony with their unique place, fitting culture to nature rather than the reverse. This means providing for energy, food, shelter and transportation in a manner that promotes local self-reliance and long-term sustainability. In each region, such as the desert southwest or the Ohio River valley, these activities will look quite different.