Motivated by a deeply rooted sense of place and community, Appalachian women have long fought against the damaging effects of industrialization. In this collection of interviews, sociologist Shannon Elizabeth Bell presents the voices of twelve Central Appalachian women, environmental justice activists fighting against mountaintop removal mining and its devastating effects on public health, regional ecology, and community well-being. Each woman narrates her own personal story of injustice and tells how that experience led her to activism. The interviews--many of them illustrated by the women's "photostories"--describe obstacles, losses, and tragedies. But they also tell of new communities and personal transformations catalyzed through activism. Bell supplements each narrative with careful notes that aid the reader while amplifying the power and flow of the activists' stories. Bell's analysis outlines the relationship between Appalachian women's activism and the gendered responsibilities they feel within their families and communities. Ultimately, Bell argues that these women draw upon a broader "protector identity" that both encompasses and extends the identity of motherhood that has often been associated with grassroots women's activism. As protectors, the women challenge dominant Appalachian gender expectations and guard not only their families but also their homeplaces, their communities, their heritage, and the endangered mountains that surround them. 30% of the proceeds from the sale of this book will be donated to organizations fighting for environmental justice in Central Appalachia.

This spiritually satisfying collection of stories celebrates the bond of family and the enduring value of leaving a legacy of caring and character. Here you'll discover the richness of your own life and faith and lasting treasures to be handed down with love. Book jacket.

Our Roots Grow Deep- The Story of Rodale by Rodale, Inc. Hailed by some as a "visionary" and others as a "quack," Jerome Irving Rodale and his wife, Anna, moved from New York City to the rural community of Emmaus, Pennsylvania, where they bought a farm and lived the life they had only dreamed about. J. I.'s interest in chemical free food and his own health led to the creation of Organic Farming and Gardening magazine in 1942, and in 1950, to Prevention magazine. After J. I. suffered a fatal heart attack on the Dick Cavett Show in 1971, his son, Robert, took over and incorporated organic gardening and farming and preventive health care into more far-reaching areas of organic living, active lifestyles, and regenerative agriculture. After Bob died tragically in 1990, Ardie, Bob's widow, and their family carried on the tradition. The company, still privately owned and run, brought the concepts of organic food, healthy active living, and environmental responsibility to the mainstream, and now reaches some 25 million customers through Prevention, Organic Gardening, Men's Health, Women's Health, Best Life, Bicycling, Mountain Bike, Runner's World, and Running Times magazines; best-selling books such as An Inconvenient Truth, The South Beach Diet, The Doctors Book of Home Remedies, and Eat This, Not That!; multimedia Web sites; and numerous philanthropic activities. In this gorgeous, full-color volume loaded with photos and memorabilia, the story of the modest beginnings of this fascinating family and their sixty-plus years of tireless work that now helps millions of people worldwide live a more whole life is now available for the first time.

Understanding Roots uncovers one of the greatest mysteries underground—the secret lives and magical workings of the roots that move and grow invisibly beneath our feet. Roots, it seems, do more than just keep a plant from falling over: they gather water and nutrients, exude wondrous elixirs to create good soil, make friends with microbes and fungi, communicate with other roots, and adapt themselves to all manner of soils, winds, and climates, nourishing and sustaining our gardens, lawns, and woodlands. Understanding Roots contains over 115 enchanting and revealing root drawings that most people have never seen, from prairies, grasslands, and deserts, as well as drawings based on excavations of vegetable, fruit, nut, and ornamental tree roots. Every root system presented in this book was drawn by people literally working in the trenches, sketching the roots where they grew. The text provides a verydetailed review of all aspects of transplanting; describes how roots work their magic to improve soil nutrients; investigates the hidden life of soil microbes and their mysterious relationship to roots; explores the question of whether deep roots really gather more unique nutrients than shallow roots; shares the latest research about the mysteries of mycorrhizal (good fungal) association; shows you exactly where to put your fertilizer, compost, water, and mulch to help plants flourish; tells you why gray water increases crop yields more than fresh water; and, most importantly, reveals the science behind all the above (with citations for each scientific paper). This book contains at least eighty percent more new information, more results of the latest in-depth and up-to-date explorations, and even more helpful guidelines on roots than the author’s previous book (Roots Demystified: Change Your Garden Habits to Help Roots Thrive). This is not a revised edition—it’s a whole new stand-alone book.

Gathers stories and essays about Pennsylvania childhoods, cities, heritage, and state history.

For over four decades, John Coykendall’s passion has been preserving the farm heritage of a small community in rural southeastern Louisiana. A Tennessee native and longtime master gardener at Blackberry Farm, Coykendall has become a celebrity in a growing movement that places a premium on farm-to-table cuisine with locally sourced, organic, and heirloom foods and flavors. While his work takes him around the world searching for seeds and the cultural knowledge of how to grow them, what inspires him most is his annual pilgrimage to Louisiana. Drawn to the Washington Parish area as a college student, Coykendall forged long-lasting friendships with local farmers and gardeners. Over the decades, he has recorded oral histories, recipes, tall tales, agricultural knowledge, and wisdom from generations past in more than eighty illustrated and handwritten journals. At the same time, he has unearthed and safeguarded rare varieties of food crops once grown in the area, then handed them back to the community. In Preserving Our Roots: My Journey to Save Seeds and Stories, Coykendall shares a wealth of materials collected in his journals, ensuring they are passed on to future generations. Organized by season, the book offers a narrative chronicle of Coykendall’s visits to Washington Parish since 1973. He highlights staple crops, agricultural practices, and favorite recipes from the families and friends who have hosted him. Accompanied by a rich selection of drawings, journal pages, and photographs—along with over forty recipes—Preserving Our Roots chronicles Coykendall’s passion for recording foods and narratives that capture the rhythms of daily life on farms, in kitchens, and across generations.

"Takes theology out of the ivory tower and enables you to apply it to where you live every day."--Back cover.