LIVING REGENERATIVELY Small habits that bring the hopeful practice of regeneration into your home, fostering a healthier planet, body, and mind.
GO FISHING
Fishing is one of the most regulated sports in the nation, with strict catch limits and seasonal restrictions that help maintain balance in marine and freshwater ecosystems, ensuring sustainability. While many smaller species — including mackerel, sardines, trout, and mussels — regenerate faster than larger ones, responsible fishing practices are crucial for preserving delicate populations. By understanding and adhering to regulations, anglers play a key role in protecting aquatic biodiversity and maintaining the health of our oceans and fresh waterways. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service website is a great resource to consult before you cast a line: FWS.GOV .
by Dustin Beatty illustrations by Josh McKenna
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IVING REGENERATIVELY is about making intentional choices that nurture the planet while enriching your life. It’s a shift from consumption to connection, focusing
on practices that restore ecosystems, conserve resources, and build a more sustainable future. Whether you’re supporting local farmers, planting native species, or composting at home, each action contributes to a healthier environment and community. Repairing belongings, composting food scraps, or advocating for sustainable policies amplifies your impact, creating ripples of positive change. By embracing these steps, you can align your lifestyle with the rhythms of nature and take part in a global movement toward regeneration like many folks we feature in The Rooted Journal. Together, small daily routines like the ones below can lead to monumental progress for people and the planet.
PLANT NATIVE SPECIES
If it’s permitted in your area, set up a rainwater harvesting system to water your garden or for supplemental HARVEST RAINWATER
Cultivate native plants in your garden to support local ecosystems, attract pollinators, and promote biodiversity. Regionally appropriate species are naturally adapted to local climate and soil, making them low-maintenance and resilient. By choosing natives, you also create a safe haven for birds, bees, and butterflies while helping restore habitats that have been lost to urban sprawl. Plus, their unique beauty can add a sense of place and harmony to your outdoor space. Visit the Biota of North America Program website to learn what grows best in your area: BONAP.ORG .
SUPPORT LOCAL, ORGANIC FARMERS
If you have access, consider purchasing produce and goods from local farms or community supported agriculture (CSAs) practicing regenerative agriculture to support carbon reduction, encourage sustainable farming, and to consume more nutrient- dense and delicious foods. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), there were 6,969 farmers’ markets across the United States in 2023, and that number is rising as the regenerative organic movement grows. Find farmers’ markets near you on the USDA website: USDALOCALFOODPORTAL.COM .
household use, reducing your dependence on
municipal water. For example, setting up a
rain barrel is easier than you think. Collecting rainwater not only lowers your utility bills but also helps conserve precious freshwater resources. It’s an eco-friendly way to manage runoff, prevent soil erosion, and reduce the strain on local water systems during dry seasons. Plus, rainwater is naturally soft and untreated, making it ideal for nurturing plants and soil health, especially as we’re learning more about what’s in our city water, like PFAS, also known as forever chemicals.
Shop for clothes and home goods at thrift stores or online resale platforms to lessen the demand for resource-intensive new products. By choosing secondhand items, you give gently used goods a new life, keeping them out of landfills. Thrifting also helps conserve the energy and raw materials required for manufacturing new items. It’s also an affordable way to find unique, high-quality pieces while supporting a more sustainable, circular economy. BUY SECONDHAND
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