February 26, 2025 / Judy Goldhaft

Théra

Graphic Image or Map of Bioregion:

(Click to expand map)

Focus:

Théra is a Bioregional Learning Center based in the southwest of France in an area named the Tarn-et-Garonne, approximately 1.25-hour drive north of Toulouse. Its core purpose is to promote regenerative practices and help build the resilience needed for the Land, and its inhabitants, to best handle the impact of today’s global metacrisis. It orchestrates and facilitates the work of local project leaders and develops innovative projects in the following domains: biodiversity and agriculture, habitat and energy, culture and governance, economic models and monetary systems, health and well-being, and education. The center offers a place for local regenerative project leaders to gather, share knowledge and best practices, as well as receive services and resources (both human and financial) for accelerating and amplifying their impact in the region. In addition, the center provides visibility to these projects by exhibiting physical prototypes on the center grounds, offering educational opportunities to the public, and generally showcasing regenerative ways of living. Originating as an informal association of passionate individuals—farmers, ecologists, builders, educators—we’ve evolved into a cohesive initiative with both formal and informal organizations collaborating towards a shared goal. We have recently structured ourselves as a non-profit organization but see this evolving into a cooperative company in due time, and we are already working with an ecosystem of both for and not for-profit companies. Théra was born out of the recognition that individual efforts, while valuable, are amplified when woven into a collective tapestry of action.

Bioregion Description:

The Tarn-et-Garonne is a region where rolling hills meet fertile plains, shaped by the waters of the Tarn and Garonne rivers. Agriculture forms the backbone of the local economy, dominated by traditional farming methods, though it also proudly leads France in the number of organic farmers. Despite its deep agricultural roots and visible pride in its rich cultural heritage, it remains one of the economically poorest regions in France. Centuries-old villages are scattered across the landscape, bearing witness to this heritage. The Tarnet-Garonne is where our journey begins, but our vision extends far beyond its borders to encompass the larger bioregion of the southwest of France. We define our bioregion by its natural boundaries—set by the Pyrenees mountains to the south, the Massif Central to the northeast, the Atlantic Ocean to the west – but also by the interconnected living systems within it, such as the Garonne-Adour watershed, its vibrant biodiversity (both flora and fauna), and the socio-cultural heritage of its inhabitants.

Posted in , ,