Taste of Place and Provenance

Bioregionalism is a framework that could serve to bridge the gap between humans and the land that they inhabit. A bioregional food system exemplifies the reduction of large scale agriculture and economy to one that falls within climatologically and geographically determined regions, superseding anthropogenic and political borders. Not only would a bioregional food system encourage mindfulness of the ecosystem that surrounds a community, but create a secure, community-based economy scaled to match the bioregion. The valuation of products and crops of local farmers and artisans would reflect the reliance on bioregionally specific wares, as well as ground members in their sense of place and role in maintaining a healthy, sustainable, and resilient environment. The recognition and respect of indigenous communities is imperative, as local ecological knowledge, or the know-how surrounding foraging and food procurement in specific regions, begins and ends with generations of stewardship and care among local tribes who have inhabited this land from time immemorial. Bioregionalism can only function if there is sufficient understanding of foraging practices, recognition that aseasonality in agriculture must cease, and a shift in valuation of natural resources and ecosystem services. The meal in this analysis is a good example of respecting indigenous food practices without appropriation, supporting local producers in the region, and utilizing local ecological knowledge for the bioregion.