A radical proposal for healing the relationship between humans and forests through responsible, sustainable use of local and regional wood in home building American homes are typically made of lumber and plywood delivered by a global system of ruthless extraction, or of concrete and steel, which are even worse for the planet. Wood is often the most sustainable material for building, but we need to protect diverse forests as much as we desperately need more houses. Brian Donahue addresses this modern conundrum by documenting his experiences building a timber frame home from the wood growing on his family farm, practicing “worst first” forestry. Through the stories of the trees he used (sugar maple, black cherry, black birch, and hemlock), and some he didn’t (white pine and red oak), the book also explores the history of Americans’ relationship with their forests. Donahue provides a new interpretation of the connection between American houses and local woodlands. He delves into how this bond was broken by the rise of a market economy of industrial resource extraction and addresses the challenge of restoring a more enduring relationship. Ultimately, this book provides a blueprint and a stewardship plan for how to live more responsibly with the woods, offering a sustainable approach to both forestry and building centered on tightly connected ecological and social values.

Robert Frost was a practicing farmer, a skilled naturalist and one of America's best-loved poets. His body of work provides a vivid and compelling narrative of New England's changing environment--though it can be hard to discern when its parts are scattered through hundreds of different poems, voices and moods. This book pieces together Frost's environmental commentary, examining his poems thematically and in a logical order. In them, homesteads are carved out of the forest, families make their living from an obdurate land, property is abandoned when it fails to sell, and plants and animals reclaim deserted farms. Frost bemoaned the loss of people from the land but also celebrated the flora and fauna that thrived in fallow fields and empty barns.

Master the art of barbecue with expert-backed recipes and guidance This comprehensive barbecue and grilling cookbook gives you the tricks, tips, and recipes to create finger-licking goodness in your backyard—from American classics to international favorites. You'll get insider info on how to maximize the flavor of different cuts of meat, vegetables, rubs, and marinades, with "Secret Sauce" tips for every recipe. With this barbecue cookbook, you'll be grilling and smoking like a pro in no time. Fall-off-the-bone recipes—Discover 100 different recipes organized by protein, plus dedicated chapters on appetizers, sides, rubs, marinades, and sauces. Barbecue 101—Learn the ins and outs of every BBQ cooking technique—from low-and-slow smoking to hot-and-fast grilling. Equipment guides—Ensure perfect results every time with pointers for keeping your equipment clean and performing at its best. Find everything you need to hone your craft with this complete BBQ cookbook.

Biochar is the carbon-rich product which occurs when biomass (such as wood, manure or crop residues) is heated in a closed container with little or no available air. It can be used to improve agriculture and the environment in several ways, and its persistence in soil and nutrient-retention properties make it an ideal soil amendment to increase crop yields. In addition to this, biochar sequestration, in combination with sustainable biomass production, can be carbon-negative and therefore used to actively remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, with potentially major implications for mitigation of climate change. Biochar production can also be combined with bioenergy production through the use of the gases that are given off in the pyrolysis process. The first edition of this book, published in 2009, was the definitive work reviewing the expanding research literature on this topic. Since then, the rate of research activity has increased at least ten-fold, and biochar products are now commercially available as soil amendments. This second edition includes not only substantially updated chapters, but also additional chapters: on environmental risk assessment; on new uses of biochar in composting and potting mixes; a new and controversial field of studying the effects of biochar on soil carbon cycles; on traditional use with very recent discoveries that biochar was used not only in the Amazon but also in Africa and Asia; on changes in water availability and soil water dynamics; and on sustainability and certification. The book therefore continues to represent the most comprehensive compilation of current knowledge on all aspects of biochar.

Fossils document the existence of trees and wood-associated organisms from almost 400 million years ago, and today there are between 400,000 and 1 million wood-inhabiting species in the world. This is the first book to synthesise the natural history and conservation needs of wood-inhabiting organisms. Presenting a thorough introduction to biodiversity in decaying wood, the book studies the rich diversity of fungi, insects and vertebrates that depend upon dead wood. It describes the functional diversity of these organisms and their specific habitat requirements in terms of host trees, decay phases, tree dimensions, microhabitats and the surrounding environment. Recognising the threats posed by timber extraction and forest management, the authors also present management options for protecting and maintaining the diversity of these species in forests as well as in agricultural landscapes and urban parks.

Turn Attraction into a Long-Lasting, True Relationship With the power of the Five Elements, discover what you truly want in a relationship, find a lover who matches you energetically, and make your relationship longer-lasting and romantically charged. By learning the Elemental Energy types of you and your partner, you can build a true connection without unrealistic expectations. The Energy of Love shows you how to use ancient Chinese wisdom and the Five Elements—Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, and Water—for positive relationships, love, and happiness. With entertaining and empowering instruction, authors Leta Herman and Jaye McElroy explain how to find your energetic strengths, embrace them for better living, and accept your partner’s flaws as the gifts they really are. Use this modern guide to better understand yourself, your lover, and the energy of the world around you. Praise: “Ancient knowledge meets Match.com! [The Energy of Love] takes us beyond the guessing game of relationships . . . This approachable and generous presentation explains so much.”—Cyndi Dale, author of Beyond Soul Mates

Part of an ongoing series of manuals covering the range of applications of remotely sensed imagery, Volume 4 addresses the use of this technology in natural resource management and environmental monitoring. Comprehensive, authoritative, and up-to-date, it covers terrestrial ecosystems, aquatic ecosystems, and agriculture ecosystems, as well as future directions in technology and research.