Bioregionalism

Bioregionalism is a philosophy that suggests that political, cultural, and economic systems are more sustainable and just if they are organized around naturally defined areas called bioregions, similar to ecoregions. Bioregions are defined through physical and environmental features, including watershed boundaries and soil and terrain characteristics. Bioregionalism stresses that the determination of a bioregion is also a cultural phenomenon, and emphasizes local populations, knowledge, and solutions

Entire biogregionalism quiz here.

In short, it’s a set of 20 questions to test how well you know your region — the land, the deep history, its natural characteristics. Some of the questions are great all-purpose observational prompts. A few examples:

• What was the total rainfall in your area last year (July-June)?

• Name five edible plants in your region and their season(s) of availability.

• From what direction do winter storms generally come in your region?

• On what day of the year are the shadows the shortest where you live?

• Name five grasses in your area. Are any of them native?

• Name five resident and five migratory birds in your area.

• What species have become extinct in your area?

• What spring wildflower is consistently among the first to bloom where you live?

   
  

“Track the Moon” is a prompt in the book, and often when I give talks I ask if anybody knows what phase the moon is in. (Most, of course, don’t.) This is an idea I got from Douglas Rushkoff, but to me the deeper point is just to add some recurring connection to nature to your life.