Introducing Shiftscaping - are you a shiftscaper?
Formalizing a sector already reshaping our world
The landscaping sector is valued at about $157 billion in the U.S. as of 2024. It employs nearly 1.3 million people and consists of more than 640,000 landscaping businesses across the country.
But there’s an even bigger sector—that already exists—grappling with complex environmental, social, and economic challenges. It’s a sector that hasn’t yet been named, and it promises to fundamentally transform how we interact with our planet and each other.
Welcome to “shiftscaping,” a newly introduced term that helps us understand the transition already underway.
What is Shiftscaping?
Shiftscaping is a sector of society—like landscaping—that enables and facilitates the transition from an extractive life paradigm to a regenerative life paradigm through Whole-of-Society Approaches (WOSA) to humanity’s primary needs of food, fibre, and fuel.
A shiftscaper is a catalyst for profound systemic change, operating at the highest levels of Donella Meadows’ leverage points. Their primary focus is on the most potent point of intervention: the power to transcend paradigms. Shiftscapers work to facilitate a fundamental shift in societal worldview, enabling the transition from an extractive paradigm to a regenerative one.
Key aspects of a shiftscaper’s approach include:
Paradigm Transcendence: Shiftscapers recognize that the most influential leverage point is the ability to move beyond existing paradigms. They challenge deeply held beliefs about our relationship with the planet and each other, fostering a new mindset that sees regeneration as both possible and necessary.
Systems Thinking: Operating with a holistic understanding of interconnected ecological, social, and economic systems, shiftscapers identify and influence key leverage points within these complex networks.
Goals of the System: They work to redefine the core objectives of societal systems, shifting from extraction and profit maximization to regeneration and holistic well-being.
Mindset/Paradigm Change: Shiftscapers focus on transforming the shared social agreements and the deepest set of beliefs about how the world works.
Self-Organization: They enhance the ability of systems to restructure themselves, fostering resilience and adaptability in communities and ecosystems.
Rules of the System: Shiftscapers work to alter the constraints and incentives that shape system behaviour, advocating for policies and practices that support regenerative outcomes.
Information Flows: They improve the accessibility and quality of information within systems, ensuring that feedback about the state of our environments and communities informs decision-making at all levels.
Positive Feedback Loops: Shiftscapers identify and amplify reinforcing feedback loops that accelerate the transition to regenerative practices.
By operating at these high-leverage points, shiftscapers catalyze transformative change. Shiftscapers don’t just address symptoms or make incremental improvements within the existing extractive paradigm. Instead, they facilitate a fundamental reimagining of how human societies can function in harmony with the planet’s systems.
Shiftscapers understand that the most profound changes come from altering the mindset out of which a system arises. By enabling the shift from an extractive to a regenerative paradigm, they lay the groundwork for reimagining and restructuring all aspects of society—from economic systems and governance structures to cultural values and individual behaviours.
This paradigm-level work requires a unique blend of skills, including systems thinking, deep ecological understanding, cultural sensitivity, and the ability to communicate transformative ideas effectively across diverse groups. Shiftscapers serve as bridges between current reality and a regenerative future, helping individuals and institutions to see, understand, and ultimately embody a new way of existing within Earth's living systems.
The Distinctive Features of Shiftscaping
What sets shiftscaping apart from sustainability initiatives? How is a shiftscaper different to an environmental activist? Here are the key differentiators:
Holistic Approach: Shiftscaping takes a comprehensive view, addressing interconnected ecological, social, and economic systems simultaneously.
Regenerative Focus: Rather than merely pointing out or reducing negative impacts, shiftscaping emphasizes actively improving and restoring our environment and communities.
Community Engagement: Shiftscaping prioritizes grassroots involvement and empowerment, moving away from (mostly) ineffective top-down approaches.
Long-Term Vision: The emerging field of shiftscaping considers the long-term viability (20-100+ years) of businesses and communities, looking beyond short-term metrics.
Purpose-Driven Models: Shiftscaping involves rethinking business models to prioritize positive returns in multiple capitals, alongside financial capital.
The Shiftscaping Toolbox
Shiftscaping isn’t reinventing the wheel—instead, it brings together and builds upon existing emerging practices. A shiftscaper will typically have skills in one or more of the following fields:
And many more related concepts are all tools in the shiftscaper’s arsenal. However, shiftscaping provides the overarching framework that integrates these disciplines into a cohesive whole.
The Skills of a Shiftscaper
As an emerging field, shiftscaping demands a unique blend of skills. Professionals in this area need expertise in:
The Evolution of Consciousness and the difference between a material mindset and a planetary mindset,
The potential for a Momentous Leap,
Deep Forgiveness of collective trauma, and
Equally important are soft skills like collaborative leadership and the ability to navigate complex group dynamics.
Shiftscaping in a World of Collapse
Shiftscaping doesn’t shy away from the reality of systemic collapse. Instead, it acknowledges and accepts the possibility of collapse, using this awareness to drive urgency and inform long-term planning. This collapse-aware approach sets shiftscaping apart from the majority of traditional sustainability efforts.
Measuring Success in Shiftscaping
While specific metrics are still emerging, shiftscaping moves beyond conventional economic indicators. Instead, it leans on Genuine Progress Indicators and Multi-Capital Frameworks to measure success, providing a more holistic view of progress and impact.
The Future of Shiftscaping
Shiftscaping is expected to have significant impacts across various sectors, including agriculture and food systems, transportation, energy and mining, construction, and finance.
While the concept is still in its infancy, shiftscaping represents a crucial evolution in our approach to global challenges. By integrating diverse disciplines, engaging communities, and reimagining our relationship with the planet, shiftscaping offers a pathway to a truly regenerative future.
The principles of shiftscaping will likely become increasingly relevant, necessary, and called upon.
So, do you identify as a shiftscaper? Wear the badge loudly and proudly!
Whether you’re an activist, business leader, policymaker, or concerned citizen, understanding and engaging with this emerging field could be the key to navigating the complex challenges of the 21st century and beyond.
Stay tuned for the upcoming book Shiftscaping: A Primer, which will delve deeper into this transformative approach to creating resilient, regenerative systems in a world of change.
Michael Haupt is desperate to see the regen movement coalescing into a space that doesn’t require a word salad (hi Kamala!) to explain. Shiftscaping is his humble contribution to the incredible work underway globally.