Ron Finley was in elementary school he bore witness to a small event that would change his life. Watching a seed grow from a petri dish into a plant for the first time, Ron started a journey towards “regeneration”—his process of living in tune with nature.

Ron has a common goal running through all his work—from the gardens he cultivates in Los Angeles, to the children he educates in eco-literacy, to the corporations he coaches on sustainable regenerative practices. His mission is both complex and simple: he wants to make the air more breathable in the world.

Finley encourages people to practice biomimicry and gain inspiration from the forest. “The forest doesn’t use pesticides,” says Finley, providing insight into his own inspiration. “A leaf falls for a reason in particular season. It’s by design; it becomes soil.”

His lifelong desire is to see the communities he interacts with not only mimic the organic processes of the planet, but become self-sufficient in pragmatic ways: by sewing their own clothes, or growing their own food.

“Start with a seed and put it in the ground. Let’s show people what real value is. This is about freedom. This is about humanity,” says Finley of his life’s work and ongoing environmental education efforts.