Our goal is to envision and enact a sustainable future. How do we go about doing that? Where do we begin? The first step in solving this puzzle is to look backwards at human and ecological history.

A key insight is that we do not have to “re-invent the wheel.” Countless human civilizations throughout history have successfully designed sustainable practices. Many others have failed and suffered as a result. Our task is to learn from history in order to inform future decisions – we must recycle time tested practices in a novel way that fits our current society.

This website examines two case studies: Colonial New England and The Canadian Harp Seal Hunt.  Both historical periods present concepts crucial to the discussion of sustainability. Explore these pages and decide which lessons are important for envisioning a sustainable future!