The (Re)Discovery of the Commons: A Path Toward a Greener, MOre Equitable and Happier World

The commons is a new use of an old word, meaning “what we share”—and it offers fresh hope for a saner, safer, more enjoyable future. The commons refers to a wealth of valuable assets that belong to everyone, ranging from clean air to wildlife preserves; from the judicial system to the Internet.

Some are bestowed to us by nature; others are the product of cooperative human creativity. Anyone can use the commons, so long as there is enough left for everyone else.

Jay Walljasper is editor of Commons Magazine at OnTheCommons.org and Senior Fellow at On the Commons. He writes, speaks, and consults regularly on how new ideas in urban planning, economic development, tourism, sustainability, and the commons can improve our lives and communities. He is the author of All That We Share: A Field Guide to the Commons and The Great Neighborhood Book: A Do-It-Yourself Guide to Placemaking (with Project for Public Spaces). He was formerly editor of Utne Reader magazine and a contributing editor at National Geographic Traveler.