In Forecast Earth's recent video posting, Bill McKibben: Climate Changer McKibben finishes his strong decree for greater community collaboration by saying that, "It's such a pleasure to be with you here today -- a member of this community. A community that is modeling an awful lot that needs to spread out all across this nation." The community he is referring to is the Bioneers.

The pull of community is what brought the Bioneers together in the first place nearly 20 years ago. It came from a real need to acknowledge the importance of preservation, conservation, and restoration of ecosystems and human communities. Another founding principle was to view life as a complete system in which humans are not separate from but a part of nature. Indigenous peoples around the globe have, in large part, not forgotten this, but our culture has needed a reintroduction to their stories and practices. Combine this wisdom with green science and you will expand the ways in which all of us will be able to live a more just and democratic life.

Living the words of community like "interdependence" and phrases like "It's all connected." have been crucial in propelling Bioneers from a gathering in 1990 of a few hundred people in New Mexico discussing food issues to a multi-dimensional organization that reaches tens of thousands of people across North America through programs that emphasize communication and convening. Even more impressive than what Bioneers has and continues to achieve as an organization, is what Bioneers has become for people as a forum to relate to each other and nature within their own communities. This capacity building of hope and inspiration is in large part coming from practical and innovative bioneers like Bill McKibben.

Practically speaking, Bioneers builds community through a variety of ways:

- A network of conferences held all over North America. On October 19-21, 2007 the Bioneers conference will gather together community citizens with leading-edge innovators at the crossroads of ecological restoration, human health, social justice and the sacred.
- The nationally syndicated Bioneers: Revolution From the Heart of Nature radio series pushes Bioneers thinking and solutions out across the airwaves of North America on a weekly basis.
- Local use and event hosting of Bioneers DVDs and books (such as programming for community access television, specially produced radio programs, film festivals, book clubs, etc.), as well as a growing network of educators who are incorporating Bioneers materials into the classroom.
- An ever expanding web based village of bioneers who are connecting with one another and resources like podcasts, articles, and blogs through bioneers.org
- Partnerships with organizations like Forecast Earth (look for Science Gets Back to Nature under the Solutions library)

Finding, building, and participating in community through such gatherings as Step It Up and Earth Day celebrations are perfect opportunities to taste the power of community. Bioneers would not be what it is today without the support and guidance of its community of innovators, organizations, and individual supporters. You may be asking with all that seems to be out there these days around improving our own communities and the environment where does Bioneers reside as a fractal of this larger movement for change? Bill McKibben was quoted in the New York Times as saying this about Bioneers,

"The Bioneers has been consistently ahead of the curve. The issues they were raising a decade ago have moved in the mainstream. It is now a hatchery for the next wave of important ideas that five years hence people will be talking about in Rotary Clubs."