A modern classic of the new agrarianism "Chris Smaje...shows that the choice is clear. Either we have a small farm future, or we face collapse and extinction."--Vandana Shiva "Every young person should read this book."--Richard Heinberg In a groundbreaking debut, farmer and social scientist Chris Smaje argues that organizing society around small-scale farming offers the soundest, sanest and most reasonable response to climate change and other crises of civilisation--and will yield humanity's best chance at survival. Drawing on a vast range of sources from across a multitude of disciplines, A Small Farm Future analyses the complex forces that make societal change inevitable; explains how low-carbon, locally self-reliant agrarian communities can empower us to successfully confront these changes head on; and explores the pathways for delivering this vision politically. Challenging both conventional wisdom and utopian blueprints, A Small Farm Future offers rigorous original analysis of wicked problems and hidden opportunities in a way that illuminates the path toward functional local economies, effective self-provisioning, agricultural diversity and a shared earth. Perfect for readers of both Wendell Berry and Thomas Piketty,&nbsp;A Small Farm Future&nbsp;is a refreshing, new outlook on a way forward for society--and a vital resource for activists, students, policy makers, and anyone looking to enact change.

A Small Farm Future: Making the Case for a Society Built Around Local Economies, Self-Provisioning, Agricultural Diversity and a Shared Earth

Business & Money

Smaje, Chris

Economics

Chelsea Green Publishing UK

"An important book, brimming with insight."--Nicholas Evans, author of&nbsp;The Horse Whisperer&nbsp; A master craftsperson explores the ways in which working with our hands reveals the essence of both our humanity and our relationship with the natural, material world In our present age of computer-assisted design, mass production and machine precision, the traditional skills of the maker or craftsperson are hard to find. Yet the desire for well-made and beautiful objects from the hands (and mind) of a skilled artisan is just as present today as it ever has been. Whether the medium they work with is wood, metal, clay or something else, traditional makers are living links to the rich vein of knowledge and skills that defines our common human heritage. More than this, though, many of us harbor a deep and secret yearning to produce something - to build or shape, to imagine and create our own objects that are imbued not only with beauty and functionality, but with a story and, in essence, a spirit drawn from us. Nick Kary understands this yearning. For nearly four decades he has worked on commission to make fine, distinctive furniture and cabinets from wood, most of it sourced near his home, in the counties of South West England. During this time, he has been both a teacher and a student; one who is fascinated with the philosophy and practice of craft work of all kinds. In Material, Kary takes readers along with him to visit some of the places where modern artisans are preserving, and in some cases passing on, the old craft skills. His vivid descriptions and eye for detail make this book a rich and delightful read, and the natural and cultural history he imparts along the way provides an important context for understanding our own past and the roots of our industrial society. Personal, engaging, and filled with memorable people, landscapes and scenes, Material is a rich celebration of what it means to imagine and create, which in the end is the essence of being human, and native to a place. As Kary puts it, "Wood and words, trees and people, material and ethereal - it is here I love increasingly to dwell." Perfect for fans of The Hidden Life of Trees&nbsp;or&nbsp;Norwegian Wood,&nbsp;Material&nbsp;is a rich, inspiring read for woodworkers, potters, craftspeople, bibliophiles and anyone who enjoys working with their hands.&nbsp;

Material: Making and the Art of Transformation

Biographies & Memoirs

Kary, Nick

Arts & Literature

Master mythologist Martin Shaw uses timeless story-wisdom to examine our broken relationship with the world There is an old legend that says we each have a wild, curious twin that was thrown out the window the night we were born, taking much of our vitality with them. If there was something we were meant to do with our few, brief years on Earth, we can be sure that the wild twin is holding the key. In Courting the Wild Twin, Dr. Martin Shaw invites us to seek out our wild twin--a metaphor for the part of ourselves that we generally shun or ignore to conform to societal norms--to invite them back into our consciousness, for they have something important to tell us. He challenges us to examine our broken relationship with the world, to think boldly, wildly, and in new ways about ourselves--as individuals and as a collective. Through the use of scholarship, storytelling, and personal reflection, Shaw unpacks two ancient European fairy tales that concern the mysterious wild twin. By reading these tales and becoming storytellers ourselves, he suggests we can restore our agency and confront modern challenges with purpose, courage, and creativity. Courting the Wild Twin is a declaration of literary activism and an antidote to the shallow thinking that typifies our age. Shaw asks us to recognize mythology as a secret weapon--a radical, beautiful, heart-shuddering agent of deep, lasting change.

Courting the Wild Twin

Literature & Fiction

SHAW, MARTIN

Genre Fiction

"What Wales is doing today, the world will do tomorrow."--Nikhil Seth, UN Assistant Secretary General The story of how one small nation responded to global climate issues by radically rethinking public policy for future generations In #futuregen, Jane Davidson explains how, as Minister for Environment, Sustainability and Housing in Wales, she proposed the Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015--the first piece of legislation on Earth to place regenerative and sustainable practice at the heart of government. Unparalleled in its scope and vision, the Act connects environmental and social health and looks to solve complex issues such as poverty, education and unemployment. Davidson reveals how and why such groundbreaking legislation was forged in Wales--once reliant on its coal, iron and steel industries--and explores how the shift from economic growth to sustainable growth is creating new opportunities for communities and governments all over the world. #futuregen is the inspiring story of a small, pioneering nation discovering prosperity through its vast natural beauty, renewable energy resources and resilient communities. It's a living, breathing prototype for local and global leaders as proof of what is possible in the fight for a sustainable future.

#FutureGen, Lessons from a Small Country

Davidson, Jane

Barn Club: A Tale of Forgotten Elm Trees, Traditional Craft and Community Spirit

"In today's ego-techno-centred world, Robert Somerville's . . . Barn Club approach is a way forward that utilizes local traditions, local materials, and local hands to create a built environment that is more harmonious with the natural world and of course more beautiful."--Jack A. Sobon, architect, timber framer, and author of Hand Hewn "Somerville knows more about wooden barn construction than almost anyone alive."--The Telegraph Natural history meets traditional hand craft in this celebration of the elm tree and community spirit. When renowned craftsman Robert Somerville moved to Hertfordshire in southern England, he discovered an unexpected landscape rich with wildlife and elm trees. Nestled within London's commuter belt, this wooded farmland inspired Somerville, a lifelong woodworker, to revive the ancient tradition of hand-raising barns. Barn Club follows the building of Carley Barn over the course of one year. Volunteers from all walks of life joined Barn Club, inspired to learn this ancient skill of building elm barns by hand, at its own quiet pace and in the company of others, while using timber from the local woods. The tale of the elm tree in its landscape is central to Barn Club. Its natural history, historic importance, and remarkable survival make for a fascinating story. This is a tale of forgotten trees, a local landscape, and an ancient craft. This book includes sixteen pages of color photographs, and black and white line drawings of techniques and traditional timber frame barns feature throughout. Perfect for fans of Norwegian Wood and The Hidden Life of Trees.

Crafts, Hobbies & Home

Somerville, Robert

Crafts & Hobbies

"These art avengers...took on toxic debt culture--and won."--The Guardian "[They] want to blow up the whole financial system."--The&nbsp;New York Times Art hacks life when two filmmakers launch a project to cancel more than £1m of high-interest debt from their local community. Bank Job is a white-knuckle ride into the dark heart of our financial system, in which filmmaker and artist duo Hilary Powell and Dan Edelstyn risk their sanity to buy up and abolish debt by printing their own money in a disused bank in Walthamstow, London.&nbsp;Tired of struggling in an economic system that leaves creative people on the fringes, the duo weave a different story, both risky and empowering, of self-education and mutual action. Behind the opaque language and defunct diagrams, they find a system flawed by design but ripe for hacking. This is the inspiring story of how they listen and act upon the widespread desire to change the system to meet the needs of many and not just the few. And for those among us brave enough, they show how we can do this too in our own communities one bank job at a time.

Bank Job

Powell, Hilary

Edelstyn, Daniel

SHORTLISTED FOR THE 2020 WAINWRIGHT PRIZE The&nbsp;Sunday Times&nbsp;Best Nature Writing Books 2020 A naturalist's passionate dive into the lives of bees (of all stripes)--and the natural world in her own backyard Brigit Strawbridge Howard was shocked the day she realised she knew more about the French Revolution than she did about her native trees. And birds. And wildflowers. And bees. The thought stopped her--quite literally--in her tracks. But that day was also the start of a journey, one filled with silver birches and hairy-footed flower bees, skylarks, and rosebay willow herb, and the joy that comes with deepening one's relationship with place. Dancing with Bees is Strawbridge Howard's charming and eloquent account of a return to noticing, to rediscovering a perspective on the world that had somehow been lost to her for decades and to reconnecting with the natural world. With special care and attention to the plight of pollinators, including honeybees, bumblebees, and solitary bees, and what we can do to help them, Strawbridge Howard shares fascinating details of the lives of flora and fauna that have filled her days with ever-increasing wonder and delight.

Dancing with Bees: A Journey Back to Nature

Strawbridge Howard, Brigit

Professionals & Academics

Product Description 
"The book gives adults ideas for activities to get kids outside after the sun goes down, from night hikes to trapping moths. It’s also a fascinating meditation on humans’ relationship with darkness.”―Outside 
"A fun, inventive adventure guide about helping children explore nature after dark . . . Its activities are a great excuse to turn off the television, set down smartphones, and explore the rich, mysterious world just beyond the back door."―Foreword Reviews 
The go-to guide for exploring nature at night, whether on summer holidays, weekends away or even back garden adventures! 
Foreword by Chris Packham, author, naturalist, and BBC presenter 
Learn how to call for owls, walk like a fox and expand your sensory perceptions. Wild Nights Out is a wonderful new hands-on guide for those who wish to take kids (of all ages) outdoors for fun, thrilling nighttime nature adventures. 
Parents, grandparents, teachers and nature educators alike will discover a wealth of unique activities to explore the natural world from dusk till dawn. Alongside games, walks and exercises to expand our senses, storyteller and outdoor educator Chris Salisbury will bring this unexplored nocturnal dimension to life with lore about badgers, bats and minibeasts as well as tales of the constellations and planets to share around the campfire. 
In Wild Nights Out you can expect to find:\n25 fun and informative games and activities 
Practical information on how to conduct night walks safely 
Animal facts and stargazing stories 
Beautiful black-and-white illustrations throughout\nNature has so much to offer at night, so let Wild Nights Out be your guide to the dark. It will boost the resilience and self-confidence of children and adults, and instill a lifelong love of having fun in the outdoors when the sun goes down. 
 Review 
‘So inspiring! Reading Wild Nights Out is like being given an invitation to a whole new dimension of life. Exploring and nature spotting don’t need to stop when the sun goes down. For grown-ups, children, and anyone in between, this book offers guidance, ideas, challenges to try and games to play in the dusk and dark. But, more than anything else, it encourages us to cross a threshold into a new world and go on a nocturnal ramble to look and listen for where the wild things are.’―Simon Reeve, author and broadcaster\n‘If you are a creature intrigued about the dimpsy hours and its goings-on, this is the perfect companion for your adventures. As the planet spins us away from the sun, a world less explored is to be found – a time of new creatures, celestial bodies, new sights, sounds and smells. This book gently holds your hand and guides you into the mysterious folds of the darkness, helping you get the most out of the night. Nocturnal empowerment for the curious.’―Nick Baker, naturalist, TV presenter and author\n‘If you once wished the days to never end, with Chris’s glorious and concise re-enchantment of the night, you too will soon become a nocturnal convert, willing your children to stay up and out as late as possible. Wild Nights Out isn’t so much about conquering the fear of the dark but redeeming this realm through ancient and intrepid means of befriending it, inspiring wonderful ways to play beyond the reach of electricity’s falsifying security.’―Sam Lee, folk singer, Radio 4 presenter, and Mercury Prize–nominated artist\n‘Chris Salisbury knows of what he speaks. This storyteller has been thoroughly drubbed in nature’s mood swings and come up the wiser for it. Wild Nights Out is an inventive mapping of that accumulated knowledge. Long before it was even vaguely fashionable, Chris was walking the roads of wildness and story, and this book is a lovely testament to his devotion. Both pragmatic and poetic, Wild Nights Out will be a worthy companion for anyone who yearns for a fresh and unexpected relationship to the living world. There are big, powerful energies out there in the dark, and a few have sli

Wild Nights Out: The Magic of Exploring the Outdoors After Dark

Salisbury, Chris

Design a garden for the future--because what we grow matters. "Matt Rees-Warren explains why every square inch of Earth, including our gardens, has ecological significance... Excellent, timely, essential!" --Douglas W. Tallamy, author of Nature's Best Hope Transform your garden into a self-sustaining haven for nature and wildlife. Ecological garden designer Matt Rees-Warren shares inspirational design ideas and practical projects to help you create a garden that is both beautiful today and sustainable tomorrow. The Ecological Gardener will give you the tools to create an abundant, healthy garden from the soil up--a garden that welcomes birds and bees and allows native planting and wild flowers to flourish, with minimal carbon impact or need for fresh water. This book can guide both novice and experienced gardeners alike in their journey to a more ecological approach, and is full of practical projects and information, including:&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <ul> <li>Finding the right design for your space</li> <li>Creating a wildflower meadow</li> <li>Building rainwater catchments and other tips for water conservation</li> <li>Making compost from kitchen waste, leaf mold, compost tea and more</li> <li>Creating a space for wildlife such as hedgehogs, bees and other pollinators</li> <li>Finding beauty in your garden during the winter</li> </ul> Matt will show you how to re-imagine how you garden, working with nature instead of controlling it, to create a space that promotes both wildlife and beauty.&nbsp;

The Ecological Gardener: How to Create Beauty and Biodiversity from the Soil Up

Self-Help

Rees-Warren, Matt

Personal Transformation

Selected as a Best Cookbook of the Year by The Guardian, The Independent, Stylist and Daily Mail "Towpath is one of the reasons I live in London."--Keira Knightley "Dive in and cook up a Towpath feast for your friends and family."--Fergus and Margot Henderson Inspired recipes from the beloved East London cafe, along with stories capturing the ebb and flow of community, food, and the seasons A lot has changed since Towpath first rolled up its shutters 10 years ago on the Regent's Canal in Hackney and everything but the toasted cheese sandwich was cooked from home across the bridge. And a lot hasn't. It is still as much a social experiment as a unique and beloved eatery. What happens when seasonality means you close every year in November, because England's cold, dark winters are simply inhospitable to hospitality from a little perch beside a shallow, manmade waterway that snakes through East London? What if you don't offer takeaway coffees in the hopes that people will decide to stay awhile and watch the coots skittering across the water? If you don't have a phone or a website, because you'd rather people just show up like (hungry) kids at a playground? &nbsp; Towpath is a collection of recipes, stories and photographs capturing the vibrant cafe's food, community and place throughout the arc of its season--beginning just before the first breath of spring, through the dog days of summer and culminating--with fireworks!--before its painted shutters are rolled down again for winter.

Towpath: Recipes and Stories

Jackson, Laura

De Mori, Lori

Industries

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Books by Chelsea Green Publishing UK