LEYM Earthcare Committee

One Of The Basic Tasks We See is for People To Begin Identifying Their Own Bioregion.

We have found this to be a fascinating and grounding process; the idea of becoming acquainted with your own watershed and its flora, fauna, history, economy, strengths and weaknesses, and with your own neighbors seems more "doable" than becoming acquainted with the whole world! This is our "Life Place"; here, locally, is the obvious place for us to base our sacred task. New: LEYM Bioregional Awareness Booklet Now Available!

Three books can be bought from Planet Drum Books in their "Bioregional Bundle" (for about $40 total) to help start: Boundaries of Home, Discovering Your Life Place, and Giving the Land a Voice. The Division of Water of your state's Department of Natural Resources is a good source for a map of the principle streams and their drainage areas, which will clarify the boundaries of your watershed.

The Permaculture Movement is another very hopeful movement, and may speak to you about your bioregion and even your own yard. An excellent beginning reference to this is a video available from Bullfrog Films titled "The Global Gardener" in which Bill Mollison, the delightful man who devised this method of sustainable culture/agriculture, travels to different emerging bioregions of the world and teaches inhabitants his amazing methods. If after this, you are interested in learning more for your own use, the book Gaia's Garden is a beginning book for applying permaculture thought to your own land, and Introduction to Permaculture gives a more thorough outline of the methods. These books are available through many different sources (make sure you order from the U.S. to receive promptly!)

Thinking globally, there are many links for writings of Vandana Shiva on Earth Democracy. The remarkable video Thirst by the Sierra Club illustrates the problem with corporations trying to privatize "commons" such as water. We think the ten principles of earth democracy are a good way to measure proposed laws and actions for their ultimate effect on the earth community and world peace. Subscribing to Action Alerts by groups such as FCNL, and EcoBulletins from groups such as QEW and other earth-friendly groups is a simple way to keep abreast of developments and notify lawmakers of our convictions.

Some Good Sources for Getting the Really Big Picture:

Continue on to the Good Starter Links page.