Bioregionalism and the Cannon River Valley Bioregion : A Paradigm for Sustainable Living

"Local community is the basic unit of human habitation. It is at this level that we can reach our fullest potential and best effect social change. Local communities need to network to empower our bioregional communities. Human communities are integral parts of the larger bioregional and planetary life communities. The empowerment of human communities is inseparable from the larger task of reinhabitation -- learning to live sustainably and joyfully in place." –David Haenke

 

Background

My interest in bioregionalism stems from my experiences working in Bahia de Caraquez, a small Ecuadorian city for Foundation Planet Drum, a non-profit organization devoted to bioregional living. During my time in Bahia, I was very aware of the bioregional characteristics of the land, within a few months of being there, I could easily name the bioregional characteristics of the area including naming (in Spanish) more native species of plants and animals that I know in my own bioregion! This made me aware of the cultural differences and how bioregionalism is actually a more natural fit in cultures where the people are not so detached from the land as we are here. Yet it also gave me the desire to understand myself within a bioregion here in Minnesota.

During Spring Break, I trained with the Planet Drum in San Francisco where I gained an understanding bioregional thought experientially, under the guidance of Peter Berg, one of the founders of the movement. Looking at a map of the North American Continent, I realized that the Cannon River region, where I currently live, is just grouped in a very large area called the "Upper Mississippi Bioregion." California, on the other hand, is broken down into many distinct bioregions on a smaller scale that seems more comprehensible. When I asked Peter why this was so, he explained that there hasn't been as much bioregional interest in the Midwest and therefore it has not been as specifically mapped. I felt rather defiant about this and decided that I wanted to put our area on the Planet Drum bioregional map.

Also during my time in San Francisco, I explored bioregional and environmental education materials and talked with the local coordinator of San Francisco's "Education + Action" program. My understanding of the bioregional perspective is well researched but still developing. I contributed to a neighborhood-oriented educational plan for Bahia de Caraquez, Ecuador.

Project Purpose

In this project, I introduce the concept of bioregionalism and then apply bioregional thought to the Cannon River Valley. I explore the bioregional characteristics and initiatives in the Cannon River Valley and then conclude with imaginative reflections on a bioregional vision for our region. My hope is that this web project will help others become aware of the natural characteristics of the Cannon River Valley Bioregion, develop an understanding of how bioregional initiatives are interconnected and a sense of hope that moving toward a bioregional vision is possible.