Regeneration in Ojai and the World

A few years ago, I was Chief Operating Officer of Kiss the Ground, a nonprofit organization inspired by the Ojai Tickell family film of the same name. Through my years-long collaboration with Josh and Rebecca Tickell, I learned about the field of regenerative agriculture, which focuses on soil health, sequestering carbon, and boosting ecosystems. It renews life cycles for soil, plants, and trees, and extends to farming practices, worker treatment, and local buying. Animals raised regeneratively are sold locally, reducing pollution from industrial farms. This links environmental, social justice, and climate issues, emphasizing soil health and avoiding chemicals—beneficial for human and planetary health.

Regenerative agriculture supports small-scale farms over monocultures, creates jobs, and sustains the middle class, revealing multiple interconnected layers. 

The concept of being 'regenerative' is closely linked to our planet's livability. According to the Economist Intelligence Unit's Global Livability Index, Copenhagen is the most livable city because of its excellent infrastructure, sustainability efforts, focus on well-being, cycling and public transportation, and vibrant culture. These elements, layered like an onion, show how transportation methods like biking and transit cut emissions, boost air quality, and promote healthier lives. The focus on citizen well-being, even in architecture, reflects a holistic, non-profit-driven approach. This is a great example of the regenerative onion.

In the 90s, we had the term 'sustainability,' which worked, but fell short. Climate change changed the scene; people grasped the enormity of the problem. The term 'resilience' was next, essential but it also felt like surrendering to inevitable changes. I believe that we need to view being 'regenerative' as our core environmental ideal. To be regenerative encompasses everything, including biodiversity, which makes ecosystems healthier; less pollution improves health, lowers costs, and boosts the economy; public transportation helps enhance the quality of air and promote better health. 

Making things better shifts the mindset from greed to considering the whole picture. It requires us asking, is this better for everyone? Is it better for our community, health, air, and water? Is it better for the planet?  

When making decisions about our family, our purchasing choices, our community, and the legislation enacted by our city councils, state, and federal governments, we should ask: Is this benefiting everyone and the planet? If we can do that, it will shift conversations from “stop this” or “prevent that” to ones that make more sense and allow real solutions to be discussed. Does it make things better? Is it regenerative?

It's worth noting that the Ojai Valley Green Coalition has the concept of regeneration in our mission statement: "we partner with Ojai community members and organizations to build and strengthen life-sustaining and regenerative ways of being." We look forward to growing these ways of being, together with you.

By Richard Wegman, Ojai Valley Green Coalition Board Member