The Farm as Natural Habitat: Reconnecting Food Systems with Ecosystems,a new book by the Land Stewardship Project's Agroecology Program, available from Island Press.

Contributors to this groundbreaking collection of writings promote the idea that restoration of a relationship between farming and the natural world enhances the sustainability of both. Contributors bring together insights and practices from the fields of conservation biology, sustainable agriculture and ecological restoration to link food and farming to biological diversity, and celebrate a unique alternative to conventional agriculture. Rejecting the idea that "ecological sacrifice zones" are a necessary part of feeding a hungry world, the book offers compelling examples of an alternative agriculture that can produce not only healthful food, but also fully functioning ecosystems and abundant populations of native species.

The Farm as Natural Habitat is hopeful and visionary, grounded in stories about real farmers (several LSP farmer-members are featured), and guided by a commitment to healthy land and thriving communities. It is the first book to offer a viable approach to addressing the challenges of protecting and restoring biodiversity on private agricultural land, and is essential reading for anyone concerned with issues of land or biodiversity conservation, farming and agriculture, ecological restoration, or the health of rural communities and landscapes.

Dana Jackson, LSP's Associate Director, co-edited the book with her daughter, Laura Jackson, who is a University of Northern Iowa biology professor and LSP member. In addition, chapters were written by LSP Executive Director George Boody, Land Stewardship Letter editor Brian DeVore, LSP Board Member Cheryl Miller, and LSP members Tex Hawkins, Nick Jordan, Judith Soule and Beth Waterhouse, as well as several other contributors. Nina Leopold Bradley, a board member of the Aldo Leopold Foundation, wrote the foreword.

Order the Book
To order this 250-page book, log onto the Island Press Website and click on the
"Spring '02 Catalog" icon on the left-hand side of the screen. Scroll down until you see links to The Farm as Natural Habitat. Choose hardcover or paperback. From there you can add the book to your shopping cart.

You can also order from the publisher by calling toll free 1-800-828-1302.

LSP Members Receive 20% Discount!
Island Press is generously offering Land Stewardship Project members a special 20 percent discount on each book ordered. Follow the same ordering instructions under "Order the Book." To receive the discount, LSP members need to enter the phrase 2LSP on the Promo/Dept. line of the Island Press order form/final invoice. The discount will not show up when the initial order is placed, but confirmation of the discount will be sent later.

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Table of Contents for The Farm as Natural Habitat
Part 1 Agriculture as Ecological Sacrifice
Chapter 1: The Farm as a Natural Habitat-Dana Jackson
Chapter 2: Nature's Backlash-Brian DeVore
Chapter 3: The Farm, The Nature Preserve and the Conservation Biologist-Laura Jackson

Part 2 Restoring Nature on Farms
Chapter 4: Return to Coon Valley-Arthur (Tex) Hawkins
Chapter 5: Reading the Land Together-Buddy Huffaker
Chapter 6: When Farmers Shut off the Machinery-Brian DeVore
Chapter 7: Stewards of the Wild-Brian DeVore
Chapter 8: Why Do They Do It?-Brian DeVore

Part 3 Ecosystem Management and Farm Lands
Chapter 9: Nature and Farming in Great Britain-Heather Robertson and Richard Jefferson
Chapter 10: Restoring Prairie Processes to Farm Lands-Laura Jackson
Chapter 11: Sustaining Production with Biodiversity-Nick Jordan
Chapter 12: Conservation and Agriculture as Neighbors-Judith Soule
Chapter 13: Integrating Wetland Habitat with Agriculture-Carol Shennan and Collin Bode

Part 4 Steps Toward Agroecological Restoration
Chapter 14: Composing a Landscape-Rhonda Janke
Chapter 15: After the Deluge: Integrated Watershed Management in the Red River Valley-Cheryl Miller
Chapter 16: A Refined Taste in Natural Objects-Beth Waterhouse
Chapter 17: Food and Biodiversity-Dana Jackson
Chapter 18: Agriculture as a Public Good-George Boody

Advance Praise for The Farm as Natural Habitat
"This collection of highly readable, down-to-earth narratives of farmers and farms pays attention to real science and speaks knowledgeably to policy. Carefully considered new ideas fill these pages. This is a book to inspire innovation and serious commitment to change on farms, in landscapes, and among citizens."

     - Joan Iverson Nassauer, Professor of Landscape Architecture,
       School of Natural Resources & Environment, University of Michigan

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The Farm as Natural Habitat in the News
Since its publication, The Farm as Natural Habitat has received overwhelmingly positive reviews. Writers for scientific journals, environmental magazines and general interest publications have praised the book's levelheaded examination of how farms and ecosystems can be reconnected. Check out what's being said about The Farm as Natural Habitat:

• "Review: The Farm as Natural Habitat: Reconnecting Food Systems with Ecosystems," American Journal of Agricultural Economics, November 2003

• "From Fork to Fork…to the Gulf of Mexico," The New Farm, Dec. 1, 2003

• "Case is made for small farms," Des Moines Register, May 26, 2002

• "Putting Nature Back into the Farm," Organica Magazine

• "Reconnecting Farms and Ecosystems-If It Pays," Science, Nov. 15, 2002

• "Partnerships in Agriculture And Conservation," Ecology, January 2003

• "The Farm as Natural Habitat," Seed Savers, Summer 2003

• "Cream of the Crop," Grist, Oct. 21, 2002

• "Smart Agriculture," Sierra, Nov./Dec. 2002

• "Farmers contribute to book on alternatives," Agri News, May 7, 2002

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 ©Land Stewardship Project, 2001


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