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An Oregon Perspective on the Role of Citizens & Communities
 Matt Buck
Education and Outreach Coordinator
Sustainable Northwest
Remember when recycling cans, bottles and paper was new and how inconvenient it seemed?
Today, recycling is so commonplace that we don't give it a thought. Of course we recycle! But what about other impacts on the health of our environment and our communities? From the food we eat to transportation choices - from the fertilizers and pesticides we use in our yards to the cleansers in our homes - from the goods and services we buy to our participation in local government and community organizations - as Oregonians we all contribute to our state's sustainability.
The challenges facing our neighborhoods, cities and counties are complex and interconnected. How can we attract and maintain family wage jobs while protecting the resources on which our economy ultimately depends? How can we promote development while sharing its benefits, and preserving the quality and character of our communities?
Communities that have pulled together to ask these questions are finding answers. These communities are finding that vision, creativity and collaboration are necessary ingredients for proactive planning. The thousands of personal choices we make each day and our civic engagements all add up to the future of Oregon.
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There is great confusion as individuals and organizations struggle, often in isolation, to bring about a more sustainable way of life. We invite those engaged in this struggle to join us in a bioregional learning community. This site provides an open architecture for sustainability - in the form of a pattern language - which is broadly accessible and will be continuously modified in the light of experience and deeper insight. 
