One of the ways our modern societies have fallen short is in how we meet our daily needs — often through systems that solve problems in one place while creating them somewhere else. This is especially true in a globalized economy, where many of the harmful by-products of our way of life remain out of sight from those who benefit from them.
The design parameters below are intended as guidelines for shaping the One Planet Agrahood in a way that avoids these hidden costs. Beyond simply reducing harm, they point toward a different possibility: that human life can be organized to actively support and improve the health of the natural environment, while also strengthening the well-being of the people who live within it.
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Design contributions operate within the regenerative capacity of the Willamette Valley bioregion.
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All proposed system ideas prioritize net-positive ecological impact over their full life cycle.
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Resource use is reduced through prioritizing smart design before adding technical solutions.
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Water systems favor capture, reuse, and infiltration over extraction and export.
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Nutrient cycles are contained within the OPA, with organic "waste" utilized as a valuable resource.
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All usable goods (building materials, clothes, tools) are non-toxic, repairable, and sourced as locally and ethically as possible.
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All food provisioning systems prioritize soil regeneration, biodiversity, human nutrition, and hyperlocalism.
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Designs remain affordable and accessible without reliance on continuous extractive growth.
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Social systems encourage collaboration, shared stewardship, and mutual aid.
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Governance structures are realized through transparent, participatory, and accountable principles.
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Design contributions clearly state assumptions, context, and bioregional applicability.
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Design contributions are open-source or clearly state any restrictions on use or replication.
These guidelines would produce a drastically different environment from what we are accustomed to today. If you find yourself imagining what life after petroleum could look like in a practical, grounded way, we invite you to join the OPA Design Commons community.