Temperate
Four distinct seasons, deciduous forests
Is this your bioregion?
Regions: Pacific Northwest (USA/Canada), New England & Mid-Atlantic (USA), British Isles, Western & Central Europe, Northern Japan, and more...
Countries: UK, Ireland, Germany, France, Netherlands, Belgium, Denmark, Poland, Czech Republic, Austria, Switzerland, Northern USA, Southern Canada, Japan, New Zealand
Temperate regions offer the gift of seasons—each with its purpose. Winter rest allows planning and repair; spring brings explosive growth; summer demands attention; autumn is harvest and preservation. Your survival depends on mastering the rhythm of seasons and storing abundance for scarcity.
Survival Priorities
Seasonal Food Production
Plan for year-round eating: spring greens, summer abundance, fall harvest, winter storage.
See Chapter 3 →Preservation Skills
Canning, fermenting, root cellaring, and drying extend summer abundance through winter.
See Chapter 3 →Heating Solutions
Sustainable wood harvest, passive solar design, and insulation for cold months.
See Chapter 6 →Soil Building
Rich temperate soils are your greatest asset. Compost, mulch, and protect them.
See Chapter 4 →Your 2-Year Action Plan
Track your progress. Your checklist saves automatically.
Quick Start Card
5 actions you can start TODAY. Print this and put it on your fridge.
Temperate Bioregion: Start Today
- 1.Build or improve a root cellar for winter storage
- 2.Learn to identify 10 wild edibles in your area
- 3.Assess your heating needs and wood supply
- 4.Start a seed saving practice with easy crops
- 5.Connect with local farming and homesteading communities
weltaufgang.org/bioregions/temperate
Key Species
"Old-timers knew: "One year's seeding, seven years' weeding." Get your perennials established and your soil healthy—the annual work decreases each year."
Find Local Projects
Connect with restoration and regeneration projects in your area. Learn from what others are doing, volunteer, or find collaborators.
Restor.eco
Global platform with 150,000+ restoration sites. Find projects near you, connect with practitioners, and access ecological data.
Can't find local projects? You might be the one to start. Use our Community Toolkit to organize your first neighbourhood meeting.
Deep Dive: Your Bioregion
Temperate Forest Regions
Complete guidance for your bioregion including climate-adapted practices, local case studies, and a detailed transition plan.
Foundation Reading
These chapters provide essential skills that apply to your bioregion: