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The last fire season : a personal and pyronatural history / by Martin, Manjula,author.;
Includes bibliographical references."H Is for Hawk meets Joan Didion in the Pyrocene in this arresting combination of memoir, natural history, and literary inquiry that chronicles one woman's experience of life in Northern California during the worst fire season on record. Told in luminous, perceptive prose, The Last Fire Season is a deeply incisive inquiry into what it really means--now--to live in relationship to the elements of the natural world. When Manjula Martin moved from the city to the woods of Northern California, she wanted to be closer to the wilderness that she had loved as a child. She was also seeking refuge from a health crisis that left her with chronic pain, and found a sense of healing through tending her garden beneath the redwoods of Sonoma County. But the landscape that Martin treasured was an ecosystem already in crisis. Wildfires fueled by climate change were growing bigger and more frequent: each autumn, her garden filled with smoke and ash, and the local firehouse siren wailed deep into the night. In 2020, when a dry lightning storm ignited hundreds of simultaneous wildfires across the West and kicked off the worst fire season on record, Martin, along with thousands of other Californians, evacuated her home in the midst of a pandemic. Both a love letter to the forests of the West and an interrogation of the colonialist practices that led to their current dilemma, The Last Fire Season, follows her from the oaky hills of Sonoma County to the redwood forests of coastal Santa Cruz, to the pines and peaks of the Sierra Nevada, as she seeks shelter, bears witness to the devastation, and tries to better understand fire's role in the ecology of the West. As Martin seeks a way to navigate the daily experience of living in a damaged body on a damaged planet, she comes to question her own assumptions about nature and the complicated connections between people and the land on which we live"--
Subjects: Biographies.; Autobiographies.; Personal narratives.; Martin, Manjula.; Human beings; Wildfires; Women authors, American;

The genius of trees : how they mastered the elements and shaped the world / by Rix, Harriet,author.;
Includes bibliographical references and index."A mind-expanding exploration of how trees learned to shape our world by manipulating the elements, other species, and even humankind, possessing agency beyond anything we might have imagined. For a supposedly stationary life form, trees have demonstrated an astonishing mastery over the environment around them. They've been using fire since prehistoric times. Some tree species have gone to extraordinary lengths to make sure their fruits reach large primates, who can spread their seeds over vast distances, while poisoning smaller and less useful mammals. Others can split solid rock and create fertile ground in barren landscapes, effectively building entire ecosystems from scratch. In The Genius of Trees, tree scientist Harriet Rix reveals the inventive ways trees sculpt their environment and explains the science of how they achieve these incredible feats. Taking us on an awe-inspiring journey through deep history and across the globe, Rix restores trees to their rightful position not as victims of our negligence, but as ingenious, stunningly inventive agents in a grand ecological narrative. Trees manipulate fundamental elements, other species, and even humankind to achieve their ends, as seen with oaks in Devon, UK, shaping ecosystems through root networks and fungi, those in Amedi, Iraq that can change sex as they get to a certain age, the laurel rainforests of the Canary Islands regulating water cycles, and metasequoias in California influencing microclimates. A recent big surprise has shown that trees have an even greater role in preventing global warming than we thought: trees, which were thought to produce methane, actually consume it. We share one world with trees and one need for survival. This eye-opening journey into the inner lives of nature's most powerful plant is a profoundly new and original way of understanding both the miracles trees perform and the glories of our natural world"--
Subjects: Trees; Trees; Trees;

Bees : an identification and native plant forage guide / by Holm, Heather,1972-author.;
Includes bibliographical references and index.This well-illustrated guide captures the beauty, diversity, and engaging world of bees and the native plants that support them. Superbly designed and organized, this is an indispensable source of information with extensive profiles for twenty-seven bee genera, plus twelve mini profiles for uncommon genera, and approximately one hundred native trees, shrubs, and perennials for the Midwest, Great Lakes, and Northeast regions. With over 1500 stunning photographs, detailed descriptions, and accessible science, environmental educator and research assistant Heather Holm brings to light captivating information about bees' life cycles, habitats, diet, foraging behaviors, crops pollinated, nesting lifestyles, seasonality, and preferred native forage plants. Bees are a singularly fascinating group of insects and this book makes it possible to observe, attract, and support them in their natural setting or in one's own garden. Not only does this guide assist the reader with bee identification in the field or by photo, it also notes microscopic features for the advanced user. The factors impacting bee populations, and the management of farms and public and residential landscapes for bees are also covered. Included in the bee forage (plant) chapters are plant profiles with range maps, habitat information, floral features and attractants, common bees attracted to the particular plant, and details about the ecological connections between the native plant and other flower-visiting insects. Noted also are birds dependent upon the product of the pollinated flowers (fruits and seeds). This is an excellent reference for amateur and professional naturalists, educators, gardeners, farmers, students, nature photographers, insect enthusiasts, biologists, and anyone interested in learning more about the diversity and biology of bees and their connection to native plants and the natural world.
Subjects: Bees; Forage plants;

National Audubon Society Mushrooms of North America : the complete identification reference to mushrooms--with full-color photographs; detailed descriptions of cap, stem, flesh, and spore print; and authoritative notes on growth characteristics, habitat, and conservation status / by Cirigliano, Jim,1981-editor.; National Audubon Society,issuing body.;
"Updated for the first time in decades, this unparalleled reference work is the most comprehensive and authoritative guide to the mushrooms of North America, reflecting the impact of climate change and the advancements in DNA sequencing that have radically altered the classification process--from the creators of the world's most trusted field guides, a go-to source for millions of nature lovers. This volume is the result of a collaboration among leading scientists, scholars, taxonomic and field experts, photo editors, and designers. An indispensable resource, it covers 668 species, with nearly 2,900 full-color photographs, revealing the astounding variety of forms, colors, and conditions in which mushrooms manifest all throughout North America. For ease of use, the book includes a glossary, an index, and a ribbon marker, and is organized according to the latest phylogenetic arrangement from the Assembling the Fungal Tree of Life project. Each species features up to five vibrant photographs, to aid with identification, along with notes on range, season, spore print, look-alikes, conservation status, and more. Introductory essays explain the various parts of a mushroom--both above and below ground--common host trees, nomenclature and taxonomy, mushroom ecology, and the impacts of our changing climate"--
Subjects: Mushrooms;

From seed to seed [videorecording] / by Buelow, Wendy,film producer.; Du Toit, Jean,film producer.; Stieffenhofer, Katharina,film producer,screenwriter,film director.; McIntyre Media,film distributor.;
Director of photography, Bryan Sanders ; picture editor, Joh Gurdbeke ; music, Jason Staczek, Richard Moody, Anita Lobosch.Terence Mierau and Monique Scholte, Martin Entz, Vandana Shiva, Ian Mauro."Feature-length documentary about the growing momentum of ecological agriculture, a blend of small and large scale farmers, cutting edge science with age old traditions, and fascinating folks. On this journey through a growing season from seeding to harvest, we experience this beautiful and sometimes harsh world of those who grow our food. Terry Mierau and Monique Scholte-- the heart and soul of this film - gave up a life as opera singers in Europe to fulfill their passion for ecological, small-scale farming. Terry, Monique and their three young children live in a house barn in the traditional single street Village of Neugberthal, in Southern Manitoba. They are equally determined to grow healthy food, a healthy family and community vitality in the process. In addition to Terry and Monique we follow several other Manitoba farmers of various scales and experience the complexities, challenges and rewards that this way of life can present. We also meet Dr. Martin Entz, and his team of scientists and researchers, who are dedicated to working with farmers to develop improved methods and technologies that are driving the organic practice forward. Activist, Dr. Vandana Shiva, and Climate Scientist, Dr. Ian Mauro, address issues related to farming in a Changing Climate. Consumers and processors discuss the growing preference for organic food and how this increased demand drives the momentum in ecological agriculture. At its core, this film is a celebration of all farmers, the return to Natural Systems Agriculture and the people who are part of this slow and steady revolution. By providing a Canadian perspective this film highlights the global social movement toward the regeneration of the land, farming, and communities for a healthier and truly sustainable future for all of us."E.DVD.
Subjects: Documentary films.; Feature films.; Nonfiction films.; Agricultural ecology.; Organic farming; Sustainable agriculture; Vegetable gardening;
For private home use only.

Mi'kmaw moons : the seasons in Mi'kma'ki / by LeBlanc, Cathy(Cathy Jean).; Chapman, David.; Gould, Loretta.;
Includes bibliographical references and internet addreses.Traditional teachings about the moon cycles and their relation to the natural history of Mi'kma'ki on Canada's East Coast. For thousands of years, the Mi'kmaq have been closely observing the natural world and the cycles of the moon and the stars to track the passage of time. Each full moon in an annual cycle was named by the Mi'kmaq to relate to a seasonal event, such as tomcod spawning, birds laying eggs or berry ripening. For the past decade Mi'kmaw Elders and Knowledge Keepers have shared stories of the traditional night sky calendar with authors Cathy LeBlanc and David Chapman. In this book Cathy relays these stories in her role as Auntie to her young relation Holly. Each moon's story is richly illustrated with an evocative colour painting created for this book by the noted Mi'kmaw artist Loretta Gould. Alongside this presentation of the Mi'kmaw time-keeping traditions, this book offers a brief history of the modern Western calendar, and some basic astronomy facts about the moon's phases and why the seasons change. This two-eyed seeing approach takes young readers on a journey through one full year in Mi'kma'ki.LSC
Subjects: Lunar calendars; Seasons; Traditional ecological knowledge; Micmac Indians; Mi'kmaq;

Firescaping your home : a manual for readiness in wildfire country / by Edwards, Adrienne L.,author.; Schleiger, Rachel,author.;
Includes bibliographical references and index."Destructive wildfires are becoming larger, hotter, and more frequent. Since 2000, an average of 7.1 million acres have burned across the US, more than double the average acreage that burned in the 1990s. At the same time, more people are choosing to live adjacent to fire-prone wildlands. There is currently no comprehensive guide to help homeowners minimize wildfire risks while optimizing the ecological integrity of wildland areas. Living in fire-prone landscapes should not mean that you must scrape all vegetation hundreds of feet away from structures. This book will empower readers to evaluate fire risks on their own property and take simple, actionable steps to mitigate them. The book will include specific recommendations, examples, and resources for planting and maintenance, making it an essential resource for western homeowners"--
Subjects: Firescaping; Firescaping; Firescaping;

Guardians of the trees : a journey of hope through healing the planet / by Webb, Kinari,author.;
"A "magnificent, empowering" (Bill McKibben) memoir about a woman spearheading a global initiative to heal the world's rainforests and the communities who depend on them When Kinari Webb first traveled to Indonesian Borneo at 21 to study orangutans, she was both awestruck by the beauty of her surroundings and heartbroken by the rainforest destruction she witnessed. As she got to know the local communities, she realized that their need to pay for expensive healthcare led directly to the rampant logging, which in turn imperiled their health and safety even further. Webb realized her true calling was at the intersection of medicine and conservation. After graduating with honors from the Yale School of Medicine, Webb returned to Borneo, listening to local communities about their solutions for how to both protect the rainforests and improve their lives. Founding two non-profits, Health in Harmony in the U.S. and ASRI in Indonesia, Webb and her local and international teams partnered with rainforest communities, building a clinic, developing regenerative economies, providing educational opportunities, and dramatically transforming the region. But just when everything was going right, Webb was stung by a deadly box jellyfish and would spend the next four years fighting for her life, a fight that would lead her to rethink everything. Was she ready to expand her work to a global scale and take climate change head on? Full of hope and optimism, Webb takes us on an exhilarating, galvanizing journey across the world, sharing her passion for the natural world and for humanity. In our current moment of crisis, Guardians of the Trees is an essential roadmap for moving forward and the inspiring story of one woman's quest to heal the world"--
Subjects: Webb, Kinari; Environmental health.; Forests and forestry; Human ecology.; Rain forests.;

We are eating the Earth : the race to fix our food system and save our climate / by Grunwald, Michael,1970-author.;
Includes bibliographical references and index.Humanity has cleared a land mass the size of Asia plus Europe to grow food, and our food system generates a third of our carbon emissions. By 2050, we're going to need a lot more calories to fill nearly 10 billion bellies, but we can't feed the world without frying it if we keep tearing down an acre of rainforest every six seconds. We are eating the earth, and the greatest challenge facing our species will be to slow our relentless expansion of farmland into nature. Even if we quit fossil fuels, we'll keep hurtling towards climate chaos if we don't solve our food and land problems. In this rollicking, shocking narrative, Grunwald shows how the world, after decades of ignoring the climate problem at the centre of our plates, has pivoted to making it worse, embracing solutions that sound sustainable but could make it even harder to grow more food with less land. But he also tells the stories of the dynamic scientists and entrepreneurs pursuing real solutions, from a jungle-tough miracle crop called pongamia to genetically-edited cattle embryos, from Impossible Whoppers to a non-polluting pesticide that uses the technology behind the COVID vaccines to constipate beetles to death. It's an often infuriating saga of lobbyists, politicians, and even the scientific establishment making terrible choices for humanity, but it's also a hopeful account of the people figuring out what needs to be done -- and trying to do it.
Subjects: Agricultural systems.; Climatic changes.; Food security.; Food supply; Human ecology.; Sustainable agriculture.;

Saving time : discovering a life beyond the clock / by Odell, Jenny(Multimedia artist),author.;
Includes bibliographical references and index."Our daily experience, dominated by the corporate clock that so many of us contort ourselves to fit inside, is destroying us. It wasn't built for people, it was built for profit. This is a book that tears open the seams of reality as we know it-the way we experience time itself-and rearranges it, reimagining a world not centered around work, the office clock, or the profit motive. Explaining how we got to the point where time became money, Odell offers us new models to live by-inspired by pre-industrial cultures, ecological, and geological time-that make a more humane, more hopeful way of living seem possible. In this dazzling, subversive, and deeply hopeful reframing of time, Jenny Odell takes us on a journey through other temporal habitats. As planet-bound animals, we live inside shortening and lengthening days, alongside gardens growing, birds migrating, and cliffs eroding. The stretchy quality of waiting and desire, the way the present may suddenly feel marbled with childhood memory, the slow but sure procession of a pregnancy, or the time it takes to heal from injuries-physical or emotional. Odell urges us to become stewards of these different rhythms of life, to imagine a life, identity, and source of meaning outside of the world of work and profit, and to understand that the trajectory of our lives-or the life of the planet-is not a foregone conclusion. In that sense, "saving" time-recovering its fundamentally irreducible and inventive nature-could also mean that time saves us"--
Subjects: Time; Time.;

Results 101 to 110 of 113 | « previous |