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Consulting the Genius of the Place: An Ecological Approach to a New Agriculture
By Wes Jackson. 2010
Locavore leaders such as Alice Waters, Michael Pollan, and Barbara Kingsolver all speak of the need for sweeping changes in…
how we get our food. A longtime leader of this movement is Wes Jackson, who for decades has taken it upon himself to speak for the land, to speak for the soil itself. Here, he offers a manifesto toward a conceptual revolution: Jackson asks us to look to natural ecosystems-or, if one prefers, nature in general-as the measure against which we judge all of our agricultural practices.Jackson believes the time is right to do away with annual monoculture grains, which are vulnerable to national security threats and are partly responsible for the explosion in our healthcare costs. Soil erosion and the poisons polluting our water and air-all associated with agriculture from its beginnings-foretell a population with its natural fertility greatly destroyed.In this eloquent and timely volume, Jackson argues we must look to nature itself to lead us out of the mess we've made. The natural ecosystems will tell us, if we listen, what should happen to the future of food.Understanding Owls: Biology, Management, Breeding, Training
By Jemima Parry. 2012
The only guide to every aspect of living and working with owls, wirtten by one of the world's top experts…
in the field of birds of prey: Jemima Parry-Jones, owner of the world-famous National Birds of Prey Centre. Owls have become increasingly popular as pets, as birds that specialists want to breed, or that people want to fly for pleasure, or to train and fly for demonstrations at zoos and bird of prey centres, and even as birds to use for hunting. It will help you understand owls to assure your own owl of the best possible situation in captivity. Jemima Parry-Jones covers everything to help you learn more about owls, either to keep them, breed them, or to train and fly one: taxonomy, biology; owl anatomy, morphology and behavior, housing and equipment, breeding owls, incubation, rearing, maintaining and managing your owls, training and hunting.Three Guides in One! Identification, Values, Lapidary UsesDesigned with beginners in mind, yet filled with valuable technical information for advanced…
collectors, Collecting Rocks, Gems and Minerals takes you from being just someone who appreciates rocks to a true "collector."Easy-to-use, quick reference format arranged by category and color of stoneCovers both lapidary and mineral display materialsProvides values and tips for locating, buying and collectingIncludes organics such as amber, bone, coral, pearl and shellLists chemical group, system, hardness, opacity, fracture, specific gravity and moreContains more than 650 full-color photosForeword by Johann Zenz, world renowned agate expert, author and lecturerThe Secret Language of Cats: How to Understand Your Cat for a Better, Happier Relationship
By Susanne Sch tz. 2018
Have you ever wondered what your cat is saying? Cats do not meow randomly, nor do they growl or hiss…
because they have nothing better to do. Cat sounds have a purpose, and they can carry important messages, whether for us or other cats.Susanne Schötz is hard at work on breaking the cat code. She is a professor at Lund University in Sweden, where a long-standing research program is proving that cats do actually use vocal communication—with each other and with their human caretakers. Understanding the vocal strategies used in human-cat communication will have profound implications for how we communicate with our pets, and has the potential to improve the relationship between animals and humans within several fields, including animal therapy, veterinary medicine and animal sheltering.In The Secret Language of Cats, Schötz offers a crash course in the phonetic study of cat sounds. She introduces us to the full range of feline vocalizations and explains what they can mean in different situations, and she gives practical tips to help us understand our cats better.Broca's Brain: Reflections on the Romance of Science
By Carl Sagan. 1979
Carl Sagan, writer and scientist, returns from the frontier to tell us about how the world works. In his delightfully…
down-to-earth style, he explores and explains a mind-boggling future of intelligent robots, extraterrestrial life and its consquences, and other provocative, fascinating quandries of the future that we want to see today.From the Paperback edition.The Perfect Storm: A True Story Of Men Against The Sea
By Sebastian Junger. 2009
There is nothing imaginary about Junger's book; it is all terrifyingly, awesomely real.--Los Angeles Times It was the storm of…
the century, boasting waves over one hundred feet high--a tempest created by so rare a combination of factors that meteorologists deemed it "the perfect storm." In a book that has become a classic, Sebastian Junger explores the history of the fishing industry, the science of storms, and the candid accounts of the people whose lives the storm touched. ?The Perfect Storm? is a real-life thriller that makes us feel like we've been caught, helpless, in the grip of a force of nature beyond our understanding or control.Adaptogens: Harness the power of superherbs to reduce stress & restore calm
By Paula Grainger. 2018
Increasing numbers of people are suffering from stress, anxiety and fatigue caused by lack of sleep, digital overload and our…
24/7 lifestyle. In Adaptogens, Medical Herbalist Paula Grainger provides an answer to this modern-day affliction by introducing us to the group of powerful herbal ingredients known as adaptogens..Adaptogens, such as Ashwagandha, Maca, Korean ginseng, Turmeric, Reishi mushrooms, Liquorice, Rosemary and Rhodiola, have been scientifically proven to lower levels of the stress hormone cortisol and prevent adrenal imbalances that can lead to adrenal fatigue and 'burn-out'. Delve into the history and science of these miraculous plants and learn how to maximize wellness using the most easy-to-source adaptogens, incorporating them into your life via delicious smoothies, energy bites and desserts, invigorating teas, tonics and lattes, and wonderful beauty elixirs.From Seed to Plant
By Amy Tao. 2018
Inside every seed waits a tiny plant, ready to grow. Watch the process of a pumpkin plant from tiny seed…
to full-size fruit! You'll also see other plant seeds, which come in many different sizes, shapes, and colors. Some can be as big as your head, but poppy seeds are so little you can hold hundreds in one hand!Ground Rules: 100 Easy Lessons for Growing a More Glorious Garden
By Kate Frey. 2018
100 rules to garden by Gardening doesn’t have to be difficult, and Kate Frey—expert gardener and designer—makes it easier than…
ever with her new book, Ground Rules. Frey distills the vital lessons of gardening into 100 simple rules that will yield a gorgeous, healthy, and thriving home garden. Discover tips on garden design, care and maintenance, healthy soil, and the best ways to water. You’ll also learn how to create a garden that encourages birds and butterflies, how to choose healthy plants at the garden center, how and when to re-pot a container, and much more. With bite-size chunks of expert information and inspiring photographs, Ground Rules is your new go-to resource.The End of the End of the Earth: Essays
By Jonathan Franzen. 2019
From Jonathan Franzen, one of our preeminent writers and thinkers, comes a brilliant, searing essay collection that calls for us…
to take better care of our planet and one another in these troubled times.The End of the End of the Earth is a collection of Jonathan Franzen's essays and speeches from the past five years, in which he grapples with the most important and heated ethical subjects of the day: environmentalism, capitalism, wealth inequality, race, technology and the role of art. He challenges us to ask difficult questions: What is our civic responsibility in the face of climate change, the greatest ever threat to our planet and species? Does technology give us a sense of control or community or is it stripping these from us? Above all, in these essays, Franzen asks us to care--about causes great and small, with subjects as big as our planet and specific as a rare species of birds. These essays are in praise of empathy, and of the beauty and power of nature and art.This slim but powerful book is Franzen at his best, incisive, persuasive and compassionate.The Secret Life of Clams: The Mysteries and Magic of Our Favorite Shellfish
By Anthony D. Fredericks. 2014
Get up close and personal with an amazing creature that has invaded our lexicon as well as our restaurants.It breathes…
with tubes, it has no head or brain, it feeds through a filter, and it is the source of dozens of familiar proverbs ("happy as a clam!"). Clams, it turns out, have been worshipped (by the Moche people of ancient Peru), used as money (by the Algonquin Indians), and consumed by people for thousands of years. Yet The Secret Life of Clams is the first adult trade book to deal exclusively with this gastronomic treat that is more complex than its simple two shells might reveal. The Secret Life of Clams features compelling insights, captivating biology, wry observations, and up-to-the-minute natural history that will keep readers engaged and enthralled.Written by award-winning science author Anthony D. Fredericks, The Secret Life of Clams includes a comfortable infusion of humor, up-to-date research, fascinating individuals (scientists and laypeople alike), and the awe of a fellow explorer as he guides readers on a journey of wonder and adventure. Along with an appreciation for oceanic creatures, this is a guidebook for armchair marine biologists everywhere who seek amazing discoveries in concert with compelling narration.Plants That Can Kill: 101 Toxic Species to Make You Think Twice
By Stacy Tornio. 2017
Following the success of Plants You Can’t Kill, Tornio now takes a look at those plants that can actually kill…
you if you’re not careful. This book will offer up information to gardening enthusiasts of all levels about common plants that are toxic, poisonous, and even deadly. While the level of toxicity varies from each plant, all are considered deadly in one way or another to wild animals, family pets, and even humans. With its colorful, easy-to-read format, Plants That Can’t Kill will introduce readers to what these plants look like, smell like, feel like, and sometimes even taste like. Fun facts, interesting tidbits, and history will combine to teach gardeners where these types of plants can be found, how poisonous each one is, and whether these plants are still okay to have in their gardens or if they should be gotten rid of immediately. Plants featured include many common and attractive species you may receive in bouquets or even decorate your homes with, including daffodils, irises, tulips, jasmine, witch hazel, mistletoe, poinsettias, buttercups, marigolds, and even fruits and vegetables like cherries, rhubarb, and some tomatoes.The Anatomy of the Honey Bee
By R E Snodgrass. 2017
This is not just a technical reference book on honey bee anatomy. It is far more, it is essentially a…
treatise on entomology, using one species as an example, and including a discussion of the fundamentals of embryology, development, and metamorphosis as well as anatomy. The subject of each chapter is approached from the broadest evolutionary point of view, and its horizon includes all the arthropods and beyond, so that the bee really typifies animal life in general.Vaquita: Science, Politics, and Crime in the Sea of Cortez
By Brooke Bessesen. 1984
In 2006, vaquita, a diminutive porpoise making its home in the Upper Gulf of California, inheritedthe dubious title of world's…
most endangered marine mammal.Nicknamed "panda of the sea” for their small size and beguiling facial markings, vaquitas have been in decline for decades, dying by the hundreds in gillnets intended for commercially valuable fish, as wellas for anendangered fish called totoaba. When international crime cartels discovered a lucrative trade in the swim bladders of totoaba, illegal gillnetting went rampant, and now the lives of the few remaining vaquitas hang in the balance.Author Brooke Bessesen takes us on a journey to Mexico's Upper Gulf region to uncover the story. She interviewed townspeople, fishermen, scientists, and activists, teasing apart a complex story filled with villains and heroes, a story whose outcome is unclear.When diplomatic and political efforts to save the little porpoise failed, Bessesen followed a team of veterinary experts in a binational effort to capture the last remaining vaquitas and breed them in captivity—the best hope for their survival. In this fast-paced, soul-searing tale, she learned that there are no easy answers when extinction is profitable.Whether the rescue attempt succeeds or fails, the world must ask itself hard questions. When vaquita and the totoaba are gone, the black market will turn to the next vulnerable species. What will we do then?The Forest in Folklore and Mythology
By Alexander Porteous. 2002
Assembled from an enormous range of sources, this fascinating book is a mind-expanding compendium of facts, folklore, superstitions, myths, and…
anecdotes about trees and the forest. Included are descriptions of old forests; forest customs, temples and sacred groves; mythical forest creatures such as witches, fairies, demons, wood spirits, the "wild huntsman," and wood nymphs.The author also recounts facts and fables about individual trees, including famous trees throughout the world, unusual trees, tree worship, people's transformation into trees, and disposal of the dead in trees — as well as folklore about fossil trees, tree bark, leaves, thorns, diving rods, and Yule logs.This long-unavailable treasury of legend and lore will be welcomed by naturalists, anthropologists, students of folklore, and general readers alike.The European Landing Obligation: Reducing Discards In Complex, Multi-species And Multi-jurisdictional Fisheries
By Sven Sebastian Uhlmann, Clara Ulrich, Steven J. Kennelly. 2019
This open access book provides a comprehensive examination of the European Landing Obligation policy from many relevant perspectives. It includes…
evaluations of its impacts at economical, socio-cultural, ecological and institutional levels. It also discusses the feasibility and benefits of several potential mitigation strategies. The book was timely published, exactly at the time where the Landing Obligation was planned to be fully implemented. This book is of significant interest to all stakeholders involved, but also to the general public of Europe and to other jurisdictions throughout the world that are also searching for ways to deal with by-catch and discard issues.This book provides valuable data on the outbreak, aggravation, treatment and prevention of respiratory diseases based on prior experiences of…
natural disasters such as earthquakes and tsunamis. Poor hygiene and air pollution can lead to the onset of pneumonia and other respiratory disease, while a lack of medical supplies aggravates existing pulmonary diseases such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and asthma. Furthermore, there are cases where those forced to live in cramped conditions, such as cars, following a disaster have developed pulmonary thromboembolism as a result of deep vein thrombosis. The large numbers of patients diagnosed with respiratory diseases make understanding the links between natural disasters and pulmonary disease vital.Disaster and Respiratory Diseases is a valuable resource for all medical staff, including physicians involved in primary care, respiratory medicine and infection control and emergency medicine, as well as respiratory surgeons. It is also useful to national and regional governments concerned about anti-disaster measures.Volcanic Unrest: From Science To Society (Advances In Volcanology Ser.)
By Bettina Scheu, J rgen Neuberg, Joachim Gottsmann. 2019
This open access book summarizes the findings of the VUELCO project, a multi-disciplinary and cross-boundary research funded by the European…
Commission's 7th framework program. It comprises four broad topics:1. The global significance of volcanic unrest2. Geophysical and geochemical fingerprints of unrest and precursory activity3. Magma dynamics leading to unrest phenomena4. Bridging the gap between science and decision-makingVolcanic unrest is a complex multi-hazard phenomenon. The fact that unrest may, or may not lead to an imminent eruption contributes significant uncertainty to short-term volcanic hazard and risk assessment. Although it is reasonable to assume that all eruptions are associated with precursory activity of some sort, the understanding of the causative links between subsurface processes, resulting unrest signals and imminent eruption is incomplete. When a volcano evolves from dormancy into a phase of unrest, important scientific, political and social questions need to be addressed. This book is aimed at graduate students, researchers of volcanic phenomena, professionals in volcanic hazard and risk assessment, observatory personnel, as well as emergency managers who wish to learn about the complex nature of volcanic unrest and how to utilize new findings to deal with unrest phenomena at scientific and emergency managing levels. This book is open access under a CC BY license.Agrarholz – Schnellwachsende Bäume in der Landwirtschaft: Biologie - Ökologie - Management
By Maik Veste, Christian Böhm. 2018
Das Buch bietet eine umfassende aktuelle Zusammenfassung und Bewertung der bisherigen Forschungserfahrungen zum Thema Agrarholz und berücksichtigt sowohl Plantagenwirtschaft als…
auch agroforstliche Nutzungsformen. Es greift die verschiedenen Aspekte der Etablierung von Agrarholz in der Landwirtschaft aus Sicht der Pflanzenökologie und der Ökosystemforschung auf und diskutiert diese im Kontext mit der Produktivität und dem Agrarholz-Management. Zudem werden auch Aspekte der historischen Landnutzung, der Landschaftsplanung und des praktischen Flächenmanagements behandelt und wesentliche Grundlagen zur Biologie, Genetik, (Landschafts-)Ökologie, und der Nutzung von Agrarholz vermittelt. Zielgruppe sind Studierende und Lehrende der Agrar- und Forstwissenschaften, der (Landschafts)-Ökologie, der Umwelt-, Natur- und Landschaftsplanung, des Umwelt- und Ressourcenschutzes sowie Wissenschaftler, Vertreter von Fachbehörden und -verbänden, Naturschützer, Land- und Forstwirte und Anwender angrenzender Fachbereiche.The Traprock Landscapes of New England: Environment, History, and Culture (The Driftless Connecticut Series)
By Robert Pagini, Peter M Letourneau. 2016
Stunning photography and fact-filled text reveal new perspectives on southern New England's most unique natural region. A picturesque journey through…
the traprock highlands from New Haven, Connecticut to Amherst, Massachusetts, this book captures the majesty of wild windswept cliffs, panoramic summit vistas, and intimate details of the natural world through the eyes of an artist and the mind of a scientist. By tracing the influence of natural history on cultural development in the Connecticut Valley, the authors present a compelling argument that the rocky highlands are landscapes of national significance, where the particular combination of geology, geography, water resources, climate, and human settlement fostered vital developments in Early American science, education, agriculture, manufacturing, technology, and the creative arts. Through vibrant color photographs of high alpine crags and lush forests, thundering waterfalls and splashing cascades, and close-up views of the rocks, flowers, and birds, The Traprock Landscapes of New England presents the incomparable beauty of the region as never before. Overflowing with information, long-time fans, first-time visitors, nature lovers, rock climbers, history buffs, land use managers, and many others will find plenty to satisfy in the detailed text and captions, crisp photos, historical images, informative maps, and more. Showcasing popular locales, and revealing “secret spots,” this must-have resource will encourage old friends and newcomers alike to visit the rugged crags once called “the boldest and most beautiful” landscapes in New England.