Self-sufficiency and sustainable lifestyle(s) Books

Book SynopsisA grand encyclopedia of country lore by famed Texas folklorist Jerry Mack Johnson.

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Book Synopsis “If you are looking for a tangible, stress-free guide to protect you and your family from everyday environmental toxins, THIS IS IT!”—Dr. Vivian Chen, MD, founder of Plateful Health and Detox RightWith all the time spent at home in recent years, you probably realize how much the inside of your home contributes to your mental and physical health, for better or worse. But did you know that the Environmental Protection Agency estimates that indoor air is 2–5 times (and occasionally more than 100 times) more polluted than outdoor air?The good news is that you can control and improve the environment inside your home, and A Healthier Home provides an accessible, room-by-room roadmap for doing just that. Wherever you are on your journey to a healthier home, author and founder of A Little Less Toxic, Shawna Holman, offers realistic steps you can take to maintain a less toxic living environment thatTable of ContentsContents Introduction Quick Start Guide What is Toxic? On Toxins and Terminology Important Terms Common Toxins Found in the Home Certifications the Living Room (and Other Shared Spaces) Indoor Air Quality How to Improve Indoor Air Quality Go Further, When Finances Allow Walls, Furniture, Floors, and More Walls Furniture Floors Miscellaneous Materials EMF Protection Cleaning Aroma the Kitchen and Food Food When to Buy Organic The Pantry Fermented Foods and Eggs Produce The Freezer Pots, Pans, and Bakeware Stainless-Steel Pans Cast-Iron Pans Baking, Mixing, and Measuring Tools and Gadgets Cleaning Products Simple DIY Recipes Cleaning Tips the Bathroom The Big Picture Bath and Shower Water Cotton Products Shower Curtains Bath Mat Towels and Washcloths Cotton Hygiene Products Feminine Hygiene Products Toilet Paper Personal Care Products Hair Care Oral Hygiene Toothpaste Tooth Whitening Skin Care How to Oil Cleanse Simple DIY Recipes Detox Baths Epsom Salts Baths Lymphatic System Care Dry Brushing Gua Sha The Medicine Cabinet First-Aid Kit the Laundry Room The Washing Machine The Detergent (etc.) Fabric Softener Bleach Treating Stains the Bedroom Everything for the Bed Mattress Pillows Bedding More than Materials Blue Light and Electronics Bedroom Activities Candles Contraceptive Options Lube Outside the Home Get Outside! Sun Protection Insect Protection Grounding The Garden Pest Control Compost Watering Resources Acknowledgments About the Author Dedication Index

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Book Synopsis¡Verdura! – Jardinería para tu bienestar celebra la maravilla de añadir más verde a tu vida con 30 proyectos de jardinería simples y económicos que promueven el bienestar a través de las plantas. De la autora puertorriqueña y celebridad de la jardinería, Perla Sofía Curbelo Santiago de Agrochic.com, una plataforma en español sobre estilo de vida basado en la jardinería, llega esta guía para formar un amor de por vida por la naturaleza, las plantas y la jardinería. Verdura, que significa 'verdor' en español, pero también se refiere a cualquier planta comestible del jardín. A lo largo de este libro, verdura se usa tanto como una descripción como también una aspiración: ¡se trata de añadir más verdura a tu vida diaria! Perfecto tanto Table of ContentsPrefacio Introducción Proyectos de jardinería EXPLORA LA NATURALEZA Un jardín para mi yo de trece años Jardín de las maravillas Jardín costero Jardín bajo un cielo nocturno Jardín chiquito y abundante SOCIALIZA Dúo de tiestos colgantes Juntos en el jardín Jardín con una pequeña biblioteca Del jardín a tu vaso ¡Dilo con Verdura! PROMUEVE EL BIENESTAR Una habitación con paisaje Seto fragante Jardín para pies descalzos Jardín con sazón Jardín para la meditación SIRVE A TU COMUNIDAD Jardín cambiante Makeover verde Rincón verde para sanar Una habitación verde para el Garden Break Cajón de verduras (entretenimiento verde) REÚSA Candelabro para plantas Baño para aves sobre un neumático viejo Cobertizo interior para la jardinería Estación de propagación para la pared Jardín en mecedora CULTIVA TU PROPIO ESTILO Fondo virtual, real y natural Cultiva tu legado hortícola Instalación artística en maceta para bonsai Exhibición verde Siembra y cosecha regalos para fiestas y ocasiones especiales Notas adicionales e inspiración para cada sección Ap éndice 1: Analizar el procesode jardinería para disfrutar al máximo Ap éndice 2: Lista de plantas utilizadas en los proyectos de jardinería y alternativas Referencias Agradecimientos Conozcan a Perla Sofía Índice

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Book SynopsisThe Backyard Beekeeper, 5th Edition is your complete honey bee resource, loaded with essential information for beginning and maintaining healthy hives. Table of ContentsPreface New Challenges To Sum It All UpIntroduction In the Beginning Evolution: Moving OnCHAPTER 1: Starting Right Getting Started Beeyards Other Than Your Backyard Extreme Urban Beekeeping The Right Tools of the Trade And Yes, the Right BeesCHAPTER 2: About Those Bees Queens Workers Drones Seasonal ChangesCHAPTER 3: About Beekeeping Review and Preparation Lighting Your Smoker Package Management Summertime Chores Keeping Records Opening a Colony Honeycomb and Brood Combs Summertime Chores Fall and Winter Management Early Next Spring InspectionsCHAPTER 4: About Honey Honey Flow Time Honey Harvest Time Comb Honey and Cut-Comb HoneyCHAPTER 5: Maladies, Problems, and Solutions IPM FundamentalsVarroa Nosema Chalkbrood European Foulbrood American Foulbrood Wax Moth Small Hive Beetle Other PestsCHAPTER 6: Beeswax Be Safe Melting Beeswax Using BeeswaxCHAPTER 7: 25 Rules of Modern Beekeeping Queen’s Rules Bees’ Rules Beekeeping RulesVarroa Rules Beekeeper Rules Glossary Resources Photographer Credits About the Author Acknowledgments Index

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Book SynopsisCultivating traditional skills and simple approaches to achieving a sustainable—and beautiful—life.This is the essential guide to living a more beautiful, purposeful, and fulfilling life inspired by the whimsical world of cottagecore, complete with flower pressing, foraging, needlework, spinning, crafting, and other fun and charming yet practical activities. From savoring the aroma of freshly baked bread and tending a beloved herb patch to enjoying sunlight filtering through hand-sewn curtains, cottagecore is a philosophy as well as an aesthetic that brings together many strands of a sustainable lifestyle: unplugging, slow living, embracing nature, learning new skills, growing food, and much more.Each chapter explores different ways of embracing the cottagecore lifestyle, such as interacting with nature, eating seasonally, and getting creative. Inherently low-impact and green, cottagecore embraces reuse and recycling and celebrates an old-fashioned no

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Book SynopsisIt is plain old common sense: you want your home to look great, feel great, and perform great. Is it even possible to do all three-without breaking the bank? Yes! In Living Green Effortlessly: Simple Choices for a Better Home, Marla Esser Cloos shows you how to make your home green.

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Book SynopsisSince 1973, Storey''s Country Wisdom Bulletins have offered practical, hands-on instructions designed to help readers master dozens of country living skills quickly and easily. There are now more than 170 titles in this series, and their remarkable popularity reflects the common desire of country and city dwellers alike to cultivate personal independence in everyday life.

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Book SynopsisA follow-up to the perennial best-seller "There Is Nothing Wrong with You", this book gives readers the opportunity to pinpoint the practices in their lives that hinder their happiness and success and replace them with practices that will enhance their well-being.

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Book SynopsisNaked Calories reveals the naked truth about what you are eating and how your lifestyle habits may unknowingly be sabotaging your health. The secret lies in micronutrients, vitamins and minerals that are being stripped from your diet and depleted by your lifestyle

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Book SynopsisA detailed 3-step plan to achieving weight loss, preventing disease and enhancing health through micronutrient (vitamin, mineral and fatty acid) sufficiency.

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Book SynopsisTrade Review“Acadia Tucker's books are both beautiful and practical. With the approachable but extensive blueprint that she provides, you can't help but be immediately empowered and inspired to join the carbon gardening movement.”—Annie Martin, Kiss the Ground“Acadia's books are wonderful, timely, and elucidate the simple and the complex beautifully. I especially love the call to action of the climate victory garden. We are at a time in human history where we all must get involved to reclaim our food supply and halt climate chaos, and these guides are an inviting how-to. Brava!”—Ave Lambert, Director of Education, CUESAAn important read for any backyard grower who wants to make a positive impact on the climate in their own patch of dirt.”—Robyn Rosenfeldt, Pip Permaculture Magazine“Tucker has a unique perspective on the climate crisis. Working as a farmer from Washington State to New Hampshire, she has seen radical, unpredicted shifts in climate which decimated sensitive annual crops but spared perennials. She has also seen the difference it makes to those crops when soil contains an abundance of organic material vs traditionally farmed soil which doesn’t. It’s fascinating to read.”—Todd Heft, author“I’m obsessed with this book already, I might sell everything and buy a farm.”—Brittany Yu, Branch On Bowen Bookstore"I love this book. Growing Good Food is great for beginning gardeners who care about the climate."—Lucy Biggers, Now This Media"In this well-informed and educational call to action, Acadia Tucker set out to simplify regenerative gardening so that anyone can do it. She succeeded! With step-by-step instructions and chapters dedicated to your favorite veggies, readers will be inspired to grow food and save the planet, all from the comfort of your backyard."—Jes Walton, Food Campaigns Manager at Green America "I would recommend Acadia’s new book to every gardener to learn how a person can impact the environment through one’s own garden.”—pegplant.com"Acadia Tucker’s new book shows what it takes for beginners to throw themselves into regenerative agriculture."–Modern Farmer"Growing Good Food is about working where we are, on a small scale, to improve the health of the land. Acadia Tucker tells us that what we do matters and if we have access to any piece of ground we can start addressing climate change. My father, Wendell Berry, says that this kind of work is radical now, when public attention is focused on global solutions. This work is what people are for."–Mary Berry"Add this gardening book to your library. If we don’t get together and take care of the soil, our atmosphere is toast."–Tim LaSalle, Cofounder The Regenerative Agriculture Initiative, Chico State

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Book SynopsisPacked with delicious recipes, natural remedies, gardening tips, homemaking ideas, crafts, and more, this indispensable lifestyle reference from the popular blogger behind Attainable Sustainable makes earth-friendly living fun, real, and easy. Whether you live in a city, suburb, or the country, this essential guide for the backyard homesteader will help you achieve a homespun life--from starting your own garden and pickling the food you grow to pressing wildflowers, baking sourdough loaves, quilting, raising chickens, and creating your own natural cleaning supplies. In these beautifully illustrated pages, eco-guru Kris Bordessa offers DIY lovers an indispensable home reference for sustainability in the 21st century, using tried-and-true advice, 50 enticing recipes, and step-by-step directions for creating fun, cost-efficient projects that will bring out your inner pioneer. Filled with more than 300 four-color photographs, this relatable, comprehensive book contains tTrade Review“In clear, down-to-earth language, Kris Bordessa delivers a timely and beautiful book that offers a lifetime of guidance on how to be more self-sufficient for reasons of health, satisfaction and happiness. Attainable Sustainable offers a solid foundation for practicing the necessary skills and crafts or just the ability to dabble among dozens of how-to topics. The book’s presentation and photographs are gorgeous, thanks to publisher National Geographic, but Attainable Sustainable is far more than a pretty facade. It’s practical and sensible, which is exactly what a stellar service book should be.” - American Society of Journalists and Authors “When I was in my late teens and early twenties, I relied on the local public library to feed my insatiable desire for information on self-reliant living…Actually, this book tops anything I remember finding back in the day. It’s bigger, packed with more information, and is full of amazing color photographs (350 of them).” –Learningandyearning“Wow! This book is amazing! It has it all. I literally was in another world for hours just taking in all the DIY greatness Kris has to offer.” –Instagram: Bookswithbethany“I want this book! I need to get my hands on a copy. I feel the same need building in myself. A need to prepare for whatever may happen.” –Instagram: @sweetbookobsession“This is an appealing book, the kind you might think of as a useful coffee table reference book. It is encouraging, well-written, and beautifully designed. It would make an excellent gift, especially for those who are feeling helplessly stuck at home because of the current pandemic.” –5 Acres & A Dream “Talk about a timely book. With the world deep in the midst of a pandemic, learning about self-sustainability makes perfect sense. Not only is now a great time to learn about the numerous and various ways in which one can garden, pickle foods, create natural cleaning supplies, and craft; but it’s also becoming more and more obvious how imperative it is to become even more self-reliant. Grocery stores are filled with bare shelves and people are stockpiling toilet paper. It is most definitely a trying and terrifying time in the world…With the help of Bordessa's book, Attainable Sustainable, I feel like I can dive into projects that will help keep me feeling productive, engaged, and self-reliant.” –A Bookish Way of Life

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Book SynopsisSustainability Made Simple explores the relationship between everyday life and the intricate global environmental issues of today, illustrating how small changes in daily routines and mentalities can add up to a big impact.Trade ReviewSimply put, sustainability is the practice of treating the environment with respect, of being conscious of the use and replenishment of natural resources, and of incorporating ecologically sound practices into every aspect of modem existence. Well, maybe it's not so simple after all. What with climate change, species extinction, resource depletion, and environmental pollution the challenges of achieving a sustainable lifestyle may seem overwhelming. By linking global concerns to local implementation, Byrd and DeMates take a comprehensive yet straightforward approach as they debunk and demystify misconceptions surrounding sustainability. Looking at sch regular activities as grocery shopping, household cleaning, gardening, and traveling, the authors offer practical advice regarding small but essential changes that can be easily adopted. Helpful sidebars list environmentally sound companies and products, pinpoint specific behaviors, and highlight current trends. With the potential for the reversal of current progressive environmental policies and regulations in the near future, individual actions are more important than ever before. An essential guidebook for anyone who wants to make a different. * Booklist *Individuals have the power to assist with the transition to a more sustainable lifestyle. Carbon emissions can be reduced by driving an electric vehicle, adding solar panels to a home, and, when appropriate, traveling by bicycle or walking. There are many actions individuals can take to reduce waste generation and water use. One efficient and effective action in support of sustainability is to only purchase needed items. Electronic waste and batteries are examples of materials that can be delivered to designated recycling centers. The above instances are found in the information in this interesting book, which is written for those who want to implement a more sustainable lifestyle. The first part of the book introduces sustainability and provides basic environmental information on various forms of pollution, climate change, and deforestation. The second part contains ideas and pathways on how to incorporate sustainability into daily living. There are supporting references, a good bibliography, and a thorough index. In addition, brief descriptions in boxes on specific topics, such as electric cars and walkable suburbs, are presented. Overall, this book provides important information about all aspects of sustainability. Summing Up: Recommended. All readers. * CHOICE *What's refreshing about Sustainability Made Simple: Small Changes for Big Impact is that it doesn't talk down to the reader, nor does it assume the reader knows anything more than that the climate is changing and everyday citizens should do their part to slow the process.... The book reads very fluidly and touts some cool graphics, such as images of various animal foods and how much their consumption contributes to climate change. * Connecticut Green Living *This book is perfect for anyone starting the sustainable living journey.... What I love the most about this book is how practical it is. All of the tips and suggestions are easy enough for the average person to follow. It introduces the readers to a world in which sustainable living is not only possible but achievable.... The book is conveniently divided in sections, from household shores to traveling tips that cover all your sustainable living needs. Best part? It is kid friendly, there are many activities in there you can do with your whole family and kids.... This educational and engaging book is perfect for someone who has heard the term sustainability and is interested in learning what it’s all about, the novice environmentalist looking for new ways to improve their impact, or anyone in between. Case studies and tables highlight interesting information and trends, and an extensive bibliography provides further reading for those who want to learn more about the world of sustainability. * ONIXJ *Chock full of practical green living tips and advice on how to share knowledge and best practices with others, Sustainability Made Simple is a great introduction to how to live a more sustainable life and help the planet heal. * EarthTalk *It was great to gain more insight on current environmental issues, especially from authors who are fellow bloggers.... My favorite part about this book is that it’s very easy to understand and a lot of what they suggest are very simple changes that you can make at home, school, work, or while traveling which is a big one for me since I am always on the go.... As an engineer, I also appreciated how much science is in the book. Not only do you get simple solutions that you can implement wherever you are, you also gain a better understanding of where we currently are in terms of environmental issues. * Enthusiastic About Life: A Food, Travel, & Adventure Bucket List by Maira Garcia *Sustainability Made Simple would make a great addition to any home. Just think of the impact if we all followed the small steps outlined in this book? It would make a great addition to the classroom too. There’s no better time than right now to get our children on board with helping to care for our planet. They could then pass on the tips inside to their families. A sustainable chain reaction! * Kelly's Thoughts On Things *I recently read a new book called Sustainability Made Simple, and it’s caused a huge shift in my thinking. It’s also opened my eyes to the consequences of many of our everyday choices. * Wild Tales of… *In the book Sustainability Made Simple, readers can consider some really do-able action steps to raising an environmentally aware family.... [T]here are many sections of the text that will appeal to those inspired by the going-green movement. What really stood out to me was the fact-based support that guides the suggestions. The book takes a scientific approach to environmentalism, rather than an emotional guilt-trip. It’s a beneficial read. * Savings in Seconds: A Lifestyle Blog *If you are someone who is into sustainable living or someone who is interested in learning more about the lifestyle and the changes that you can make then this is the book for you.... I loved reading this book and was really impressed with the way I could easily make small changes in my personal daily routine. This is a good book for anyone young or old, my kids have read it with me and have made their own changes to help the environment. * Woman of Many Roles *Sustainability Made Simple by Rosaly Byrd and Lauren Demates is the book to have on hand to learn about nature and human inter-relatedness and take what you read and try out different ways to be more green....I thought I knew as much as a person trying to live green for years now, but I learned from this book. I think everyone can benefit, from those who are novices to leaving a smaller footprint to those of us 'green scholars' who want to share our knowledge with all who will listen! It is a great book to have around to spur discussion at your next dinner party or create ways in which families and businesses can change they way they think and do thinks. * Living Simply *This book is fantastic! It is packed full of facts and science, but also full of practical tips to cut out waste, save energy and live a more sustainable lifestyle ... [T]here was much that I did know and tips that I had put into place in my home already, but there were many more that I had never thought of. It's broken down into all different areas to make it easy to follow too.... From home to work to school, this book will have you looking at changes big and small you can make for YOUR family! * A Modern Day Fairy Tale *Sustainability Made Simple is full of fresh ideas and kid-friendly green living tips. I love how Lauren and Rosaly give practical green living advice in addition to explaining the reasons WHY it is so important for everyone to live a sustainable lifestyle. It is encouraging to learn how individuals and families can make a difference by reducing their impact on the environment.... The book is packed full of information. * Mom Always Finds Out *A well rounded starter guide to sustainability: It lays out the environmental problems that we face today, but more importantly, the things that you can do to be part of the solution! -- Bea Johnson, author of Zero Waste Home and founder of the zero waste lifestyle movementIn different ways and different speeds, all of humanity is in the midst of a vital transformation in environmental stewardship. In this wonderful new book, Rosaly Byrd and Laurèn De Mates, argue that the key to successful sustainable development lies with individual action. They offer a host of practical things that individuals can do, along with a vision for how these many local actions will add up to deep transformation in how our societies view nature. Their vision is compelling, important, and uplifting. -- David Victor, professor, University of California, San DiegoTable of ContentsIntroduction Part 1: An Introduction to Sustainability Chapter 1: A Brief Overview Chapter 2: The Big Issues Chapter 3: Who’s Doing What Chapter 4: The Role of Individuals Part 2: Small Changes Towards Sustainability Chapter 5: Household Chores Chapter 6: In the Kitchen and at the Dinner Table Chapter 7: In the Bathroom Chapter 8: The Backyard Chapter 9: Out-and-About Chapter 10: At School or Work Chapter 11: At the Store Chapter 12: Holidays and Parties Chapter 13: Traveling

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Book SynopsisFARM + LAND''S Back to the Land: A Modern Guide to Outdoor Life is a collection of stories about slow living, sustainability, and the value of doing things with your own two hands.This gorgeous book features remarkable narratives, essential how-tos, and hundreds of breathtaking photographs from people who have embraced lives of adventure in wild places.With gorgeous photography, engaging stories, practical tips, and useful illustrations, this book offers an escape into a world of simple pleasures, contentment, and a rural way of life.• Focuses on the back-to-the-land movement• A visually driven celebration of cozy homes and wild landscapes• Embraces life''s simple and enduring pleasuresFARM + LAND''S Back to the Land: A Modern Guide to Outdoor Life features places like a spectacular treehouse suspended above a lush forest, a cozy cabin perched on a mountainside, and a small farm growing heirloo

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Book SynopsisYour Backyard Farming Experience Begins Here!Make the most of your harvest with over 75 delicious canning recipes!At the end of a successful harvest, the backyard farmer will find themselves with an abundance of produce. Learning to preserve your harvest for use year-round is an essential craft. With the wide variety of uses for preserved produce, the homesteader will find Backyard Farming: Canning & Preserving the right guide to make certain your experience with home preserving is a success.Canning & Preserving takes you through every step of the most popular forms of canning, covering everything from hot water bath canning to the use of a pressure cooker, as you explore the full range of options for your preserved foods. From jams, jellies, and preserves, to pickling food and preparing savory sauces, find the perfect use for your preserved harvest.With Canning & Preserving, you will:• Explore tried-and-true food preservation methods• Learn to properly use the equipment needed to make the most of your harvest• Create flavorful syrups and juices, for use in a variety of healthy recipes• Enjoy delicious recipes year-round, using preserved foodsJoin the growing movement of homemakers and homesteaders looking to make a return to a healthier, happier way of life—direct to your kitchen from your own backyard. Canning & Preserving will show you how.Backyard Farming is a series of easy-to-use guides to help urban, suburban, and rural dwellers turn their homes into homesteads. Whether planning to grow food for the family or for sale at the local farmers market, Backyard Farming provides simple instruction and essential information in a convenient reference.

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Book SynopsisSince 1973, Storey's Country Wisdom Bulletins have offered practical, hands-on instructions designed to help readers master dozens of country living skills quickly and easily. There are now more than 170 titles in this series, and their remarkable popularity reflects the common desire of country and city dwellers alike to cultivate personal independence in everyday life.

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Book SynopsisWomen are leading the new farming revolution in America. Much of the impetus to move back to the land, raise our own food, and connect with our agricultural past is being driven by women. They raise sheep for wool, harvest honey from their beehives, grow food for their families and sell their goods at farmers' markets. What does a woman who wants to work the land need to do to follow her dream? First, she needs this book. It may seem strange to suggest that women farmers need a different guide than male farmers, but women often have different strengths and goals, and different ways of achieving those goals. Audrey Levatino shares her experiences of running a farm and offers invaluable advice on how to get started, whether you have hundreds of acres or a simple lot for an urban community garden. Filled with personal anecdotes and stories from other women farmers, from old hands to brand new ones, from agricultural icons like Temple Grandin, to her own sister, this book is a reassuring and inspirational guide that discusses: Should you do an internship or jump right in? How to find a farm or how to handle one that you’ve inherited Best practices for selling at the farmer’s market and how to sell your goods locally Farmhouse chores and how to get them done right How to handle large power tools, including a chainsaw Planning and growing an organic farm garden Incorporating animals as part of a farm ecosystem Where to get started if you want to farm-school your kids Tips for keeping your mind, body and spirit healthy while undertaking the demanding nature of farm work It's all here, in the same warm and friendly voice that readers embraced in The Joy of Hobby Farming. Full-color photography throughout provides step-by-step instructions for anything you’ll need to do on your farm.Trade Review"Woman-Powered Farm is a valuable book for female farmers across the country. It’s encouraging, it’s practical, and it’s a reminder that in this male-dominated culture, women can more than hold their own on a farm." -- Hobby Farms"Agricultural pursuits, whether in urban or community gardens, or across acres of land, are more and more under the aegis of women. Levantino (The Joy of Hobby Farming), a farmer herself, takes readers into the growing field of women-controlled farming. From entrepreneurial pursuits in farmer’s markets to small business and traditional farms, Levantino outlines how women can build a self-sufficient life. Highlighting specific situations and concerns that women may encounter, such as understanding individual goals; finding experience with internships and other farm education; purchasing or leasing land; and the basics of chores, animal care, and crops, including issues of health and strength, the author offers chapters on the business side of farming and farm schooling to create a full-circle analysis of the subject, while stories from other female farmers lend an inspirational touch to an otherwise information-rich work. ­VERDICT A comprehensive volume on farming for women beginning to contemplate the industry, whether as a hobby or for a living. Personal anecdotes and a friendly tone don’t overshadow the wealth of information in this book." -- Library Journal **STARRED REVIEW**

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Book SynopsisSolar energy is clean, efficient, sustainable—and expensive. Or is it? Many homeowners simply assume that the cost of solar panels is out of their reach, but in reality, the technology is quickly becoming attainable for the middle class. Rather than leasing panels from one of those home solar startups (and letting them reap the financial benefits), why not join the thousands who are doing it themselves? In Solar Rooftop DIY, sustainable energy expert Mike Sullivan offers five design plans—ranging from a few simple panels to a complex, roof-covering array—for building a rooftop PV energy system for any home. Each plan has clear and detailed step-by-step photographs showing the installation process. Many of them require no additional labor—just a few days' commitment for the average weekend warrior. With energy costs only set to increase in the future, now is the time to make the switch to solar and start selling power back to the grid.

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Book SynopsisUrban gardeners. Native seed-saving collectives. Ecovillage developments. What is the connection between these seemingly disparate groups? The ecological design system of permaculture is the common thread that weaves them into a powerful, potentially revolutionary—or reevolutionary—movement. Permaculture is a philosophy based on common ethics of sustainable cultures throughout history that have designed settlements according to nature''s patterns and lived within its bounds. As a movement that has been building momentum for the past 40 years, it now is taking form as a growing network of sites developed with the intention of regenerating local ecologies and economies. Permaculture strategies can be used by individuals, groups, or nations to address basic human needs such as food, water, energy, and housing. As a species, humans are being called forth to evolve, using our collective intelligence to meet the challenges of the future. Yet if we are to survive our collective planetary crisis, we need to revisit history, integrating successful systems from sustainable cultures. To boldly confront our position on the brink of the earth''s carrying capacity and make changes that incorporate the wisdom of the past is truly revolutionary. Sustainable Revolution features the work of a worldwide network of visionaries, including journalists, activists, indigenous leaders and permaculturists such as David Holmgren, Vandana Shiva, Charles Eisenstein, Starhawk, Erik Assadourian, Victoria Tauli-Corpuz, Albert Bates, and Geoff Lawton. This beautifully photographed collection of profiles, interviews, and essays features 60 innovative community-based projects in diverse climates across the planet. Edited by anthropologist Juliana Birnbaum Fox and award-winning activist filmmaker Louis Fox, it can be read as an informal ethnography of an international culture that is modeling solutions on the cutting edge of social and environmental change. The research presented in the book frames the permaculture movement as a  significant ally to marginalized groups, such as the urban poor and native communities resisting the pressures of globalization. Sustainable Revolution uplifts and inspires with its amazing array of dynamic activists and thriving, vibrant communities.

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Book SynopsisHollywood is where even the wildest dreams can come true no matter who you are, where you come from, or even what you know. In Hollywood, everyone is a potential star and newsstands overflow with gossip about the latest celebrity mishaps, conflicts, and achievements so that millions can live vicariously through the lives of their favorite movie stars. Starting today, you no longer have to live through the gossip news of your favorite celebrities because you can turn your own life into the same star-driven celebrity marketing machine through The Fame Game. Seen through the eyes of an experienced Hollywood talent manager, The Fame Game will guide readers past the carefully crafted public relations images splashed across the pages of their favorite gossip magazines to reveal how today's hottest celebrities live, thrive, and flourish in the glamorous world of show business where the cameras are always on, the fans' gossip ricochets through all the popular social media networks, and the money flows in multi-million dollar deals based on nothing more than notoriety instead of talent. If you want to learn how Hollywood really works and how you can use the techniques of show business to market yourself into the next Hollywood sensation or just to promote yourself within your own line of work, you need to learn the secrets told in The Fame Game. This book will rip away the mystery behind the glitzy world of celebrities and expose the deliberate strategic planning designed to maximize the social and cultural impact of celebrities such as Elizabeth Taylor, Michael Jackson, Angelina Jolie, Charlie Sheen, the Kardashians, the Hiltons, the Olsen twins, Britney Spears, Jennifer Lopez, Justin Bieber, the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, along with The Situation and Snooki from Jersey Shore. The authors of The Fame Game know how many of these stars turned their fame into fortune because the authors are the masterminds behind some of today's biggest celebrity brands and business empires in the history of show business. The Fame Game will reveal the carefully constructed scaffolding behind celebrity branding and show how the public lives and images of today's top celebrities are a deliberate strategy and intricate dance between celebrities, the media, the general public, and the big business interests directing the ultimate movie called Life in the Spotlight. While the huge fan base of celebrities will enjoy reading The Fame Game for its fascinating stories about their favorite and most hated celebrities, entrepreneurs, marketing professionals, and business students will enjoy The Fame Game as a unique textbook, survival guide into the new world of digital media and social networks. Most importantly, kids with their own big dreams of conquering Hollywood will find The Fame Game a book of empowerment that provides concrete steps they can take to turn their own dreams of fame and fortune into reality.

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Book SynopsisNEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER! Getting along well with others is the real secret to success and happiness. In tens of thousands of classrooms we teach reading, writing, and arithmetic and yet we leave solutions to the universal problems of human relationships to be discovered, if at all, by trial and error. The trial is painful and the error is costly. People Tools: 54 Strategies for Building Relationships, Creating Joy, and Embracing Prosperity , provides time-proven techniques that you can use to build a better, happier, more successful life. It is the perfect resource for busy people looking for fast and effective solutions to the challenges we face every day. PRACTICAL WISDOM ON EVERY PAGE People Tools are practical and easy to understand. From developing self-confidence, to improving communication skills, to finding constructive ways to resolve conflict, each People Tool addresses a specific issue and provides a simple, straightforward strategy that you can adopt to bring about a positive result. Some of the useful People Tools in the book include: The Belt Buckle. When words are different than action (The Belt Buckle), trust the Belt Buckle, not the words. Buy a Ticket. To make something good happen in your life you have to participate. Catching a Feather. An alternative to the endless chase, this Tool reveals how to attract people you want to be closer to. Patterns Persist. Prior actions are predictive of future behaviors. Catch Them Being Good. Rewards are more effective than punishments. TIME-TESTED TOOLS TO ENHANCE YOUR WELLBEING Although you may recognize the more intuitive techniques in People Tools , this sourcebook provides explanations and helpful examples from a vast collection of different tools designed to help you further expand your own existing repertoire of skills. Open the book to any page and you will find a useful solution. Each tool is illustrated with insightful stories and amusing anecdotes that are relevant and relatable. The stories will reel you in but the advice will change your life.Trade Review"This book will do a lot for the world." -- Bill Cosby"Reading People Tools is like having a wise, loving, and funny friend take you by the hand, and gently but surely lead you to a better place. Everyone could benefit from reading it." -- Sharon Salzberg, author of Lovingkindness and Real HappinessFox imparts business advice and general wisdom based on his years of experience as a successful real estate mogul, father, husband, and writer. Each chapter presents a distinct "people tool," which he defines as "a behavioral technique you can use to change your outlook." -- Publishers WeeklyAlan Fox has great tools for emotional intelligence, wisdom, clarity and directness. Develop and use them to live well, and your life will grow better for it. -- Dr. Jack Kornfield, psychologist and founder of Spirit Rock Meditation Center -- Endorsement"Fox's positive outlook and substantial business acumen lend themselves to a wealth of insights on life, work, and interpersonal relationships. The author's conversational style of prose and wide ranging examples makes for easy reading and dynamic advice. (Jan.)" -- Publishers WeeklyPeople Toolsis a small gem of down-to-earth, practical advice on wise living. In simple, straightforward prose, Alan Fox illuminates insights that are often in plain sight but frequently overlooked. A very helpful book. -- Joseph Goldstein, author of Mindfulness: A Practical Guide to Awakening -- EndorsementIn People Tools Alan Fox gifts us with the keys to silent truths, those untapped strategies of sage advice that will help to build and inspire enduring relationships. The insights are bountiful and his optimism boundless, written with a poet's heart and the generosity of a caring wise soul. -- James Ragan, Poet, Playwright, author of Too Long a Solitude

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Book SynopsisGreat Relationships Are Your Key To Business Success. Whether you're just starting your career or have been in the business world for years, this book provides all the tools you'll need to create long lasting success in your life. Why wait to build the life you've always dreamed of? Running your life is very much like running a business, and People Tools for Business is filled with practical ideas to help you run your life more effectively and efficiently.YOU CAN MAKE A CAREER OUT OF BEING HAPPY In this sequel to his New York Times Bestseller People Tools (January 2014), Alan C. Fox shares the most important lessons from his successful and distinguished life. The reader can use the tools described in this book to achieve success both in the boardroom and at home. WHAT ARE PEOPLE TOOLS? "People Tools" are practical life skills that are easy to understand. They are free to use and yet they will significantly improve your ability to work well with other people. From developing self-confidence, to making healthier life decisions to being a better manager, each tool provides a straightforward approach to help you get more effective results.Filled with insightful examples and entertaining anecdotes, People Tools is fun to read but will have long-lasting impact. The stories will charm you; the advice will change your life. TAKE CONTROL: YOU ARE THE SOLE PROPRIETOR OF YOUR OWN LIFE. The time-tested tools outlined in this book are useful shortcuts that you can use to solve everyday problems. You will find the advice applicable not only to business but to all aspects of your personal life as well. GET ADVICE FROM THE BEST IN THE BUSINESSAlan C. Fox has used the People Tools outlined in this book to build a rich and fulfilling life. He has built a commercial real estate company worth more than $1.5 billion, launched a nationally renowned poetry journal, and established a foundation that provides millions in funding to non-profit organizations that work with young people. He has also raised a large and loving family and created a trusted circle of close friends and colleagues.Let Alan Be Your Personal MentorLife and work are full of challenges, but with the practical strategies outlined in this book, Alan will show you how to live the life of your dreams. Trade ReviewWe all want to be happy and successful at work and in our lives. In his new book, Alan Fox shares invaluable insights that can help you make a career out of being happy. -- Tony Hsieh, author of Delivering Happiness and CEO of Zappos.comThis book is like Dale Carnegie on steroids. -- Small Business TrendsAnyone who yearns for success in both business and life will discover an exceptional guide in Alan C. Fox. -- Dana Ardi, author of The Fall of the Alphas and founder of Corporate Anthropology AdvisorsWith refreshing candor, Alan Fox shares the invaluable lessons that he has garnered over an extremely successful, forty-five-year career. -- Brent Kessel, CEO, Abacus Wealth Partners and author of Itâs Not About the MoneyWise and playful. These charmingly straightforward and practical tools will assist you and add joy to your business life. -- Jack Kornfield, author and founder of Spirit Rock Meditation CenterMaya Angelou would love this book. Why? Because as she said, - People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel, - and People Tools is so rich with wonderful stories that you won't forget the lessons in it, because of how Alan Fox makes you feel. -- Mark Goulston, author of Just ListenFox is a die-hard optimist, and his enthusiasm, good humor, and belief that all situations can improve for the better carries over into this sequel to the bestselling People Tools. Designed to appeal to people at all levels of business, from student to manager to retiree, this guide to constant self-improvement urges readers up the "glass staircase." A play on the "glass ceiling," this phrase refers to steps which any person can take to reach the top. The five stairs are Confidence, Home, Education, Assertiveness, and Passion - CHEAP. The book's concept is a toolbox, comprising 50 "people tools" that will help readers achieve more in business and life. Illustrating his points with entertaining stories from his own life, Fox encourages readers to adopt tools such as "advertise your mistakes," "don't run out of cash," "be a contrarian", don't try to be right all the time, and focus on the future. The tone is homey but not condescending, and the mix of practical, emotional and behavioral tools make this a guide likely to inspire across the board. "You are the sole proprietor of your own life," proclaims Fox - and it's hard to imagine the reader who wouldn't respond to this upbeat message. (Sept.) -- Publishers WeeklyFox's writing is crisp, informative, and engaging, and it deserves to be read and contemplated by every businessperson - indeed, every person - who truly wants to have a successful business and fulfilling life -- Jeff Friend -- Foreword Book Reviews

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Book SynopsisHarry Edelson is the son of an illiterate Russian immigrant whose husband left the family when Harry was an infant. He begins his book this way: “I grew up in the poorest neighborhoodin Brooklyn, which was the poorest neighborhood in New York City, and I was the poorest of the poor.” But Mr. Edelson has no intention of wasting his life or our time by lamenting his childhood or anything else. He tells us, “I consider myself to be very lucky. I have been happy all my life even though I started out as poor as a child could be.” . . . If you want to be happy, it is all in your mind. So take control of your senses, determine to be happy, and develop a frame of mind that will make you and all those around you happy.” In Positivity: How to Be Happier, Healthier, Smarter, and More Prosperous Mr. Edelson reveals his secrets and tips for success from the vantage point of a person who has enjoyed having excellent health, a wide range of knowledge from a fine academic background enhanced by self-education, and fulfilling careers on Wall Street in technology, investment banking, and later as owner of a highly successful business in capital investments. Focusing on his strong belief in continuing education to increase skills that entertain us and help our careers, he extolls the benefits of being a speed-reader and increasing memory by learning the techniques of mnemonics, and he demonstrates interesting mathematical tricks that work for him. He also has plenty of good, practical financial advice for individuals of all means; and of course he is expansive on the value of positive attitudes. Mr. Edelson believes without a doubt that you can train your own mind for a lifetime of great happinessTrade Review"Edelson shares knowledge gained through a lifetime of successful ventures in his first self-help book. He grew up in the poorest section of Brooklyn and worked his way up to starting a venture capital investment firm, so he has firsthand experience of self-improvement. The advice he gives is practical and timely, centering on lifelong learning and the premise that anyone, no matter their circumstances, can make improvements to their life. He gives tips on mnemonics and the art of memorization, speed-reading, solving math problems in one's head, public speaking, and overcoming stress. He identifies happiness as coming from "a certain state of mind," namely one that is purposefully optimistic and focused on the future. He also gives solid financial advice: not spending above one's means, and saving more using simple ideas and practices. Edelson has put together a thoughtful and concise resource, though his prose is sometimes clouded by a superior tone, and by utilizing Edelson's ideas, it seems entirely possible to enjoy a better life, starting now." Publishers Weekly"Reading Positivity is a game changer for every reader. The unique wisdom and philosophy of life that Harry Edelson shares proves that life can be easy and joyful for everyone." Rober Reiss , Host & CEO, The CEO Show"I have enjoyed the book very much. Reading your words puts me in your energy field, which I so appreciate. You are such an inspiration!" Robert Gambee , Author of Nantucket Island , Wall Street and eight other books"Similar to entrepreneurship, happiness is a mindseta way of thinking and actingand Positivity is a uniquely valuable resource in understanding how it may be achieved." Prof. Bruce Bachenheimer , Executive Director, Entrepreneurship Lab, Pace University"The interesting thing about Harry Edelson is that he is usually the smartest guy in the room, and what is amazing, the happiest guy in the room." Elizabeth Kabler , Trustee, Annenberg Foundation Trust at Sunnylands and Founder, NY Center for Living

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Book SynopsisWe negotiate more frequently than we realize not only in the workplace but also with family, friends and neighbors. Negotiation is like breathing, which we do all the time—although we seldom take the initiative to learn proper breathing techniques. Likewise, we fail to acquire skills for a meaningful and efficient way to negotiate. Here, in pursuit of developing our skills, we approach the subject from our spiritual core, our authentic self that is conscious of our inner connectedness. In doing so, we are aware that even though terms such as haggling and bargaining are synonymously used with negotiation, they are vastly different.Enlightened Negotiation™ introduces a new vocabulary, a new set of practical tools, and an expansive new perspective on the familiar concept of “win-win”negotiations. It draws on basic spiritual principles revered by many wisdom traditions to transcend the competitive or combative model of dispute-resolution and instead tap the natural power of divine potential —the innate desire of the human spirit to connect, communicate, and co-create solutions that move all parties forward and upward as one. The 8 Spiritual Laws of Negotiation: Trust, Intention, Communication, Strength, Flexibility, Mindfulness, Manifestation and Reflection, provide a new paradigm for the emerging generation of conscious entrepreneurs. It shows how to bridge the worlds of materiality (business, money), governance (personal, family, community), and spirituality (actualization of our authentic self). The significance of number 8 is that it represents Prosperity. It also represents infinity, continuity, and karma. The effects of negotiation linger well beyond any immediate agreement. Enlightened Negotiation™ fills the void between business, spiritually oriented and research supported methods and is as applicable to family and personal relationships as it is to business and even global conflict situations requiring negotiated resolutions.

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Book SynopsisAn apothecary is a skilled craftsperson who compounds herbal mixtures that enhance health and beauty. Put aside the modern world of tricky marketing and harmful chemicals and create your own apothecary solutions. They’re fresh, safe, effective, and can save you money—and many are made from the wholesome ingredients already in your kitchen and garden. Inside you’ll find: Skin Care 101, including how to make cleansers, scrubs, creams and lotions, tonics, and toners for oily, dry, sensitive, or combination skin—along with acne treatments, natural sunscreen, lip balm, and more Body care recipes for homemade body scrubs, massage oil, body powder, and toothpaste Remedies for what ails you, including healing cough syrups, compresses, teas, and tinctures Hair care recipes for dry, normal, or oily hair—add shine, clear up dandruff, and control thinning and volume Recipes for the home, including Kitchen Sink Scrub, Drawer Refresher, and Fly Deterrent Plus, get inspired at your farmers’ market and explore seasonal recipes for a Pumpkin Mask, Cucumber Toner, and more! Nature has given us all we need for both inner and outer health. With The Home Apothecary, learn to make your own products with ingredients you choose, scent to your preferences, and customize to your body's needs.

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Book SynopsisA story of friendship, encouragement, and the quest to design a better world A Man Apart is the story—part family memoir and part biography—of Peter Forbes and Helen Whybrow’s longtime friendship with Bill Coperthwaite (A Handmade Life), whose unusual life and fierce ideals helped them examine and understand their own. Coperthwaite inspired many by living close to nature and in opposition to contemporary society, and was often compared to Henry David Thoreau. Much like Helen and Scott Nearing, who were his friends and mentors, Coperthwaite led a 55-year-long “experiment in living” on a remote stretch of Maine coast. There he created a homestead of wooden, multistoried yurts, a form of architecture for which he was known around the world. Coperthwaite also embodied a philosophy that he called “democratic living,” which was about empowering all people to have agency over their lives in order to create a better community. The central question of Coperthwaite’s life was, “How can I live according to what I believe?” In this intimate and honest account—framed by Coperthwaite’s sudden death and brought alive through the month-long adventure of building with him what would turn out to be his last yurt—Forbes and Whybrow explore the timeless lessons of Coperthwaite’s experiment in intentional living and self-reliance. They also reveal an important story about the power and complexities of mentorship: the opening of one’s life to someone else to learn together, and carrying on in that person’s physical absence. While mourning Coperthwaite’s death and coming to understand the real meaning of his life and how it endures through their own, Forbes and Whybrow craft a story that reveals why it’s important to seek direct experience, to be drawn to beauty and simplicity, to create rather than critique, and to encourage others. Trade ReviewBooklist- "Many environmentally conscious consumers fantasize about going off the grid and living a sustainable lifestyle, but few are able to achieve that state. Bill Coperthwaite was an author, social critic, and architect who actually succeeded, living out his ecological ideals at a remote Maine homestead for nearly five decades, until he died at the age of 83 in a tragic car accident in 2013. In addition to his award-winning book, A Handmade Life (2003), Coperthwaite was famous for his design and popularization of a modern variation on the conical dwelling known as a yurt. In this loving tribute to Coperthwaite, Forbes and Whybrow have crafted an inspiring biography, complete with photographs and architectural drawings, of a man treasured as both a close friend and a mentor. Interweaving anecdotes of their own interactions with Coperthwaite, including the construction of a final, sunlight-filled yurt, the authors capture the full spectrum of this sometimes curmudgeonly man’s gregariousness, resourcefulness, and optimism. Although Coperthwaite’s dreams of worldwide cooperative and sustainable communities have not yet been realized, this reverent memoir will help keep his environmental ideals alive.”"William Coperthwaite was a man of vision and integrity, as well as a personal inspiration to Peter Forbes and Helen Whybrow. His desire to live simply led him to a remote stretch of the Maine shore, where Coperthwaite’s commitment to carving wooden bowls and building elegant yurts created human elegance answering to the beauty of his surroundings. Forbes’s luminous photographs evoke this aspect of his achievement. Exceptional integrity can sometimes feel rigid or bruising to those whom it also attracts, however. As Emerson once wrote about Coperthwaite’s predecessor Thoreau, “I'd sooner take an elm tree by the arm.” A great achievement of Forbes and Whybrow in A Man Apart is to convey the complexity of this strong-minded life fully and honestly. Such an approach makes their reflections on love, struggle, and grief all the more powerful."--John Elder, author of Reading the Mountains of Home“This is a terrific book, honestly drafted and beautifully wrought. As it is with yurts, so it is with communities and with books—their lasting strength comes from the integrity of their parts and the genius of their joinery. Deep gratitude to Peter Forbes and Helen Whybrow for their work of grace and love.”--Kathleen Dean Moore, author of Wild Comfort“What a rare and important offering. Peter and Helen have given us a deeply honest portrait of a man. We are invited to witness him from above, from beneath, from the side, from within, in his light, in his darkness. This story is about building one last yurt without knowing it’s the last; it’s about how one solitary man’s ethic influenced the lives of many; it’s about the complexity, joy, and frustration of friendship. Bill Coperthwaite once said, ‘Bite off less than you can chew.’ He was right! This book calls out to those of us seeking connection in our modern era. A Man Apart left me with the exquisite sense of having traveled somewhere and been transformed because of it.”--Molly Caro May, author of The Map of Enough: One Woman’s Search for Place“In this remarkable and deeply moving book, Peter and Helen tell the story of Bill Coperthwaite, a Maine homesteader, designer, and social thinker whose unique way of life and passionate ideals inspired all who knew him. Beautifully and sensitively told, the story explores the complexities of the relationship between them—the shared ideals, hard realities, disappointments, and joys of intensely interwoven lives. Bill’s life—a monumental testament to creativity, brilliance, integrity, and courage—invites the reader to reexamine the profound questions of how each of us chooses to live a life. A Man Apart is a riveting and intensely human story—a treasure to be revisited many times.”--Olivia Ames Hoblitzelle, author of Ten Thousand Joys & Ten Thousand Sorrows: A Couple’s Journey Through Alzheimer’s“Not many know that Walden is not just the product of a brilliant experiment in living: Thoreau spent two years penning six painstaking revisions to arrive at the classic book. In Bill Coperthwaite, Forbes and Whybrow discover a ‘Walden’ of a man, only to uncover gaps, in him and in themselves, between brilliant solitary achievement and the kind of touch needed to ground and guide a viable community. Many revisions, much pain and forgiveness, and only partial fulfillments follow. But if there is another way to move from our anti-culture into communities ruled by loving intention, I don’t know what it is. ‘Explore your misunderstandings to your advantage,’ advises Zen master Dogen. A Man Apart does exactly that. This is a beautifully raw account of loving grief, instructive failure, and steadfast allegiance to an utter planetary necessity: major cultural transformation.”--David James Duncan, author of The River Why and The Brothers K“What is a good life? The models offered by our celebrity culture are mostly shabby and shallow. To find worthier examples you need to look elsewhere—to books, for example, where you can meet Thoreau, Aldo Leopold, Rachel Carson, Gary Snyder, Barbara Kingsolver, and Wendell Berry, among others. To that lineage of American rebels you can now add Bill Coperthwaite. In this eloquent portrait, Peter Forbes and Helen Whybrow document the search for integrity, wide-ranging competence, and high purpose, not only in Coperthwaite’s life, but in their own. This is a wise and beautiful book.”--Scott Russell Sanders, author of Earth Works: Selected Essays“Two remarkable people writing about a third remarkable man—and full of lessons for the ordinary rest of us. This is a lovely and important book.”--Bill McKibben, author of Deep Economy“A loving tribute to Bill, a wonderful man who inspired all of us with his dedication to indigenous building, natural materials, and above all else, use of human hands.”--Lloyd Kahn, author of Shelter and Tiny Homes: Simple Shelter

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Book SynopsisWinner — IACP 2019 Reference & Technical Cookbook Award From apples and oranges to pawpaws and persimmons "Sara Bir’s voice is quirky, informed, and fresh. The Fruit Forager’s Companion will push any soul who is interested in foraging into the curious world of fruits. . . . You want someone with passion and appetite to lead you on a foraging quest, and Sara has plenty of both."—Deborah Madison, author of Vegetable Literacy and In My Kitchen Half of the fruit that grows in yards and public spaces is never picked or eaten. Citrus trees are burdened with misshapen lemons, berries grow in tangled thickets on the roadside, and the crooked rows of abandoned orchards fill with fallen apples. At the same time, people yearn for an emotional connection that’s lacking in bland grocery store bananas and tasteless melons. The Fruit Forager’s Companion is a how-to guide with nearly 100 recipes devoted to the secret, sweet bounty just outside our front doors and ripe for the taking, from familiar apples and oranges to lesser-known pawpaws and mayhaws. Sara Bir—a seasoned chef, gardener, and forager—primes readers on foraging basics, demonstrates gathering and preservation techniques, and presents a suite of recipes including habanero crabapple jelly, lime pickle, pawpaw lemon curd, and fermented cranberry relish. Bir encourages readers to reconnect with nature and believes once the foraging mindset takes control, a new culinary world hiding in plain sight will reveal itself. Written in a witty and welcoming style, The Fruit Forager’s Companion is a must-have for seekers of both flavor and fun.Trade ReviewPublishers Weekly, Starred Review— "This charming and eminently useful guide from Paste magazine food editor and writer Bir deserves a spot on the bookshelf of any foraging foodie. Instead of serving up a simple list of fruits and vegetable with tips on canning, Bir weaves in personal anecdotes and trivia about, among other things, the advent of commercial pectin (patented in 1913) and the curious history of key limes (once pickled and served as snacks for schoolchildren). Bir offers solid takes on such standbys as lemon bars and sour cherry scones, but her ingenuity and the value of foraging comes to life with recipes like mulberry and peach cobbler with an almond topping, habanero crab apple jelly, and a pawpaw gelato. Bir also takes time to make sure foragers are clear on manners and ethics ('Forage legally and mindfully, on both public and private land'), as well as which poisonous plants and fruits to avoid (such as honeysuckle and pokeweed). Even if readers don’t have a lemon or apple tree in the backyard, they’re sure to find some useful advice, as Bir does an outstanding job of illustrating how to get the most out of simple, often neglected or discarded ingredients."Foreword Reviews, Starred Review "A Culinary Institute of America degree armed Sara Bir with cooking expertise, but it’s her clever writing and inquisitive, experimental mind that make The Fruit Forager’s Companion so exciting. This hybrid cookbook/plant guide/DIY manual entertains as much as it informs. Bir eloquently discusses why foraging is a satisfyingly sustainable, meditative way of collecting food, and of reconnecting to neighbors and to the natural environment. She provides reassuring information for novice and experienced cooks alike, dispensing advice on foraging etiquette (Don’t be a 'scrumper'—someone who steals apples from orchards) and thoroughly breaking down methods of harvesting, storage, and preservation, from canning to fermentation. Forty-one chapters on fruit species are packed with essays, photographs, recipes, and ideas for kitchen experimentation. There are also all-important tips on correctly identifying edible fruits and their poisonous look-alikes. While the book provides ample information on common fruits, the passages about unusual fruits, like sumac and loquats, are invaluable. Bir is well-versed in food history and foodways, leading to intriguing discussions of old- fashioned preservation methods and charming recipe ideas from 'wild cherry bounce' to pontack, which is a sort of elderberry Worcestershire sauce. This compendium delivers a wealth of Bir’s sassy opinions and effervescent prose. Whether she is expounding on the importance of lifelong exploration, the dangers of monoculture agribusiness, or describing ground cherries ('I delight in their lacy little hulls, the berries like golden pearls in a filigree setting') and rose hips ('If rose hips were women, the ones you’d want would look like R. Crumb drew them'), her writing exudes personality, wit, and intelligence. Bir is a learned, inventive guide whose sly humor and playful voice will win many over to become dedicated fruit scroungers and recipe explorers. Perusing this book will have you playing around with your food in no time, whether it’s mahonia or maypops, mayhaws or pawpaws." “Sara Bir’s voice is quirky, informed, and fresh. The Fruit Forager’s Companion will push any soul who is interested in foraging into the curious world of fruits, which are every bit as interesting as the vegetable members of the plant world. I just hope that she refrains from lifting my quince should she ever walk down our lane—I adore them, too! Which is to say that you want someone with passion and appetite to lead you on a foraging quest, and Sara Bir has plenty of both.”—Deborah Madison, author of Vegetable Literacy and In My Kitchen“Lyrically written and eminently useful, The Fruit Forager’s Companion is a welcome addition to the library of anyone interested in either preserving their own fruit harvest or seeking out new, exciting flavors that are literally growing on trees—often next door!”—Hank Shaw, wild foods expert; author of the James Beard Award-winning website Hunter Angler Gardener Cook“For fruit lovers the whole world is a culinary theme park; this book is your permanent admission pass. Let Sara Bir guide you to the untamed flavors of wild, feral, and neglected fruits—from back alleys and brushy waysides to city hedges and deep woods. After you find some brand new delicacy right in your own neighborhood, follow one of Sara’s luscious recipes, and invite Mom over for dinner.”—Samuel Thayer, author of Incredible Wild Edibles and The Forager’s Harvest“Once you notice the wild fruit growing all around you, the world becomes a landscape of culinary abundance, and Sara Bir’s The Fruit Forager’s Companion is a thoughtful guide to appreciating those foraged and gleaned fruits. Filled with Bir’s distinctive humor, the book, like stumbling upon a patch of black raspberries, is also fun! Bir’s respect for ingredients—those berries, apples, and pawpaws you’ve worked hard to pick—ensures the recipes accentuate each fruit’s unique flavor. With Bir’s guidance, your fruit-forward concoctions will be as transformative as the moment you discovered all those wild fruits were edible in the first place.”—Andrew Moore, author of Pawpaw: In Search of America’s Forgotten Fruit“Among reassuringly familiar fruit like neighborhood apples, lemons, and plums, chef-turned-forager Sara Bir also offers curious novice foragers more adventurous fare: invasive autumn olives and barberries, native chokeberries, Oregon grapes, pawpaws, and spicebush. The pages of The Fruit Forager’s Companion help you to identify, collect, and use the fruits of your forages. The author’s eloquent introduction tells you why you should.”—Marie Viljoen, author of Forage, Harvest, Feast“With The Fruit Forager’s Companion, Sara Bir provides not only a guide to foraging, but a manifesto for conscious living and a challenge to seek out the unknown. With creative recipes, thoughtful writing, and a wealth of expertise, she encourages us to explore in the kitchen as well as outside, inspiring the reader to create a better connection to where they live and to celebrate the local bounties that may have otherwise gone unnoticed.”—Anna Brones, author of Fika: The Art of the Swedish Coffee Break; founder and publisher, Comestible“The Fruit Forager’s Companion will be beloved by all those who travel through life scanning trees and shrubs for neighborhood fruit. Sara Bir has created something that is half foraging memoir and half cookbook, and it is utterly delightful in its totality.”—Marisa McClellan, author of Naturally Sweet Food in Jars“Lyrical and practical, introspective and funny, The Fruit Forager’s Companion inspires us to put on comfy shoes and head out into the local landscape with curiosity, confidence, and joy. Sara Bir knows that sweet, ripe treasures await us, from crab apples and blackberries to pawpaws, wild grapes, figs, and quince. This book offers fascinating entries on more than forty fruits and a hundred recipes for chutneys, soups, cordials, fools, and more. Bir’s knowledge, wit, and enthusiasm guide us outdoors for fruit foraging expeditions, and back home again to transform the seasonal fruits we’ve gathered into good things to eat and share.”—Nancie McDermott, author of Fruit and Southern Pies“Sara Bir’s common sense approach to foraging, along with an impish humor, make for a delightful, nourishing, very practical, and very human read. The Fruit Forager’s Companion is a book about love, community, and the abundance nature offers to us all if we have the eyes to see and the heart to hear, all revealed through the simple, graceful acts of picking, preparing, and sharing wild fruits with our loved ones and community.”—Robin Harford, founder of the website Eatweeds“The response to the lament ‘I’m hungry’ should not be, ‘Look in the fridge and see what you can find,’ but, ‘Take a walk and see what’s there.’ Sara Bir’s book provides a road map to wild and abandoned plants laden with food. As you read and explore with Bir you will be rewarded with the joy of discovery and often a satiated appetite. Perhaps you will even find a dead-ripe mulberry and have an ecstatic taste experience.”—Tom Burford, pomologist, historian, and author of Apples of North America “Once, we were foragers. Sara Bir says we can be again. She reveals the wealth of fruit waiting to be picked in wild and not-so-wild places, and she shows how foraging benefits the mind and body even if the forager returns empty-handed. The Fruit Forager’s Companion is more than just a guide to finding, gathering, preserving, and cooking. It is a meditation on modern life and how to find meaning in Nature’s larder.”—Mike Shanahan, author of Gods, Wasps and Stranglers“Foraging for fruit is all about noticing and making your move when things become ripe. In The Fruit Forager’s Companion, Sara Bir moves from city sidewalks to deep woods with a botanist’s eye and a chef’s skill. She boils, reduces, ferments, dips into history, and seasons with memoir; she gets in there and shouts wild flavors out with heat, sweet, salt, and vinegar. Let Bir’s inventive recipes and sheer derring-do pull you into the woods and make you a forager: a sampler of the best things in life, most of them free.”—Julie Zickefoose, author of Baby Birds, The Bluebird Effect, and Letters from Eden

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Book SynopsisCreate your own unique sustainable home and life with tools, tips, and inspiration from The Humane Home. Sarah Lozanova shows us how to evaluate all the ways our lifestyle and living choices can be more sustainable, from powering our homes to the food we consume and the air we breathe. Small steps empower us to act immediately by starting an herb garden, reducing utilities bills, and learning how to conduct a home energy audit. The fun, DIY activities and easy-to-follow, eco-friendly practices reshape how we think about our living spaces and help us create a blueprint for our own personal version of a humane home.

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Book SynopsisAny woman can look and feel lovely, regardless of her age, bank balance, or pant size, and Looking Good . . . Every Day defines a simple yet sophisticated standard for women to determine exactly which clothes and accessories will showcase their unique beauty. The “points of connection” method explains that the more characteristics that exist in common between a woman and her outfit, the more lovely she will look. It shifts emphasis from hiding her perceived figure challenges and focuses on spotlighting her personal assets. By choosing wardrobe additions in this way, everything in her closet will work together. She has more outfits from fewer garments, allowing her to buy higher-quality garments without increasing her budget. Photography of real women—ranging from 22 to 80 years old and from size 4 to 24—illustrates the universal impact “points of connection” make in their appearance.

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Book SynopsisA real, no-holds-barred take on making smart, healthy choices for you and your family.In Green Enough, Mamavation blogger Leah Segedie uncovers the truth behind the food and household products that are misleadingly labeled "all-natural" and healthy but are actually filled with chemicals and toxins. From furniture to packaged food, Leah guides you through detoxifying your home, diet, and lifestyle, showing you how to make the best choices possible. She exposes the brands and products that contain toxic and hormone-disrupting ingredients and gives guidelines on choosing safer products and organic produce that are free from toxic and persistent pesticides. She instructs you on making the move to meat, dairy, and eggs that are free of antibiotics, GMOs, growth hormones, and dangerous pathogens. She explains at what phases of childhood children are the most vulnerable and need more protection. And she includes delicious and kid-approved recipes to help you detoxify your cooking routine. It?s not about being perfect or 100% clean?none of us are?it?s about being green enough.

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Book SynopsisIf you’ve ever thought about starting your own farm or homestead but weren’t sure how to get started, follow Shannon and Stewart Stonger, two self-made homesteaders, and their plan on how to start and succeed at homesteading. Shannon and Stewart left their home in the city and moved to an empty plot of land, with hopes of starting their own farm. Their research and experiences produced not only a successful and fruitful farm, but also a fully functional homestead, without modern conveniences. They’ll show you how they did it, and how you can do it too, all on a budget. You’ll learn how to plow your land, grow your own fruits and vegetables, create a viable water source for watering crops, harness energy from wind and the sun, preserve the harvest through canning and dehydration, raise livestock and much more. These attainable, game-changing tips and projects will allow you to live a simple, debt-free life and start your own agricultural homestead, all with your own two hands.

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Book SynopsisHave you ever celebrated Thanksgiving with a turkey from a local farm, instead of a packaged, frozen supermarket bird? Ever cracked a farm-fresh egg into the skillet next to a store-bought one? The difference in quality can’t be overstated. Small-scale livestock farming not only brings better, safer, and more delicious food to your table, but it can do so economically. Long the primary reference for anyone who keeps animals as a sustainable food source, this latest edition comes with a beautiful new design and includes up-to-date information on breeding, feeding, disease prevention, housing, and management. Complete with clarifying diagrams, full color photography, and a catalog of supplemental reading, Backyard Livestock continues to be the best resource for those who wish to sustainably and ethically raise their own farm-fresh food.

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