Arborist Matthew Largess began his forestry career by killing giant redwoods as part of an experimental helicopter operation in the Oregon wilderness. When he wasn't busy killing trees he could be found partying on Ken Kesey's bus, sawing through a crowded bar with his chainsaw in a drug and alcohol-induced rage, or hopelessly attempting to quench his sex addiction with some questionable act with a random woman. Treehugger is the story of how he turned his life around to become one of the leading national spokesmen for the preservation of trees and old-growth forests in America. It is the story of Oakland Forest in Portsmouth, Rhode Island, which was slated to be clear-cut to make way for condominiums until Largess intervenes. While all evidence suggests that the forest is a lost cause, Largess hangs on to a shred of hope provided by reclusive futurist Crystal Powers. Powers tells him that he is the "voice of the forest," that angels will rise from the forest floor to thank him when he is done saving the forest, and that this is only the first forest he will save in a line of many worldwide. Author Shamus Flaherty narrates the ride at Largess' side as an employee of his tree-trimming business. Flaherty flashes back into the wildness of Largess' past and looks on skeptically in the present as Largess battles his inner demons and risks his livelihood in an effort to save the forest. Treehugger is a story of recovery, of comedy, of committment in the face of temptation, of magic in a world that doesn't believe, and of how little things can make a difference when it comes to saving our environment.

A journalist recounts the surprising history of accidents and reveals how they’ve come to define all that’s wrong with America. We hear it all the time: “Sorry, it was just an accident.” And we’ve been deeply conditioned to just accept that explanation and move on. But as Jessie Singer argues convincingly: There are no such things as accidents. The vast majority of mishaps are not random but predictable and preventable. Singer uncovers just how the term “accident” itself protects those in power and leaves the most vulnerable in harm’s way, preventing investigations, pushing off debts, blaming the victims, diluting anger, and even sparking empathy for the perpetrators. As the rate of accidental death skyrockets in America, the poor and people of color end up bearing the brunt of the violence and blame, while the powerful use the excuse of the “accident” to avoid consequences for their actions. Born of the death of her best friend, and the killer who insisted it was an accident, this book is a moving investigation of the sort of tragedies that are all too common, and all too commonly ignored. In this revelatory book, Singer tracks accidental death in America from turn of the century factories and coal mines to today’s urban highways, rural hospitals, and Superfund sites. Drawing connections between traffic accidents, accidental opioid overdoses, and accidental oil spills, Singer proves that what we call accidents are hardly random. Rather, who lives and dies by an accident in America is defined by money and power. She also presents a variety of actions we can take as individuals and as a society to stem the tide of “accidents”—saving lives and holding the guilty to account.

The BP oil spill, the 2008 global financial collapse, and revelations of scandalous working conditions at Chinese electronics supplier Foxconn show why so many are suspicious of promises of corporate responsibility. But slowly and fitfully, corporations are changing. It’s not just because of the high cost of making amends and a fear of negative publicity. Consumers are demanding better corporate behavior, and an increasing number of executives are eager to make their organizations more of a force for good. But corporations can’t act in responsible ways if no “treehuggers” are working inside the system to lead the effort. For more than two decades, Timothy J. Mohin has worked to improve working conditions, clean up factories, and battle climate change—all while being employed by some of the biggest companies in the world. In Changing Business from the Inside Out he’s written the first practical, authoritative insider’s guide to creating a career in corporate responsibility. Mohin describes how to get started and what the day-to-day experience of being “the designated driver at the corporate cocktail party” is really like. He recounts colorful case studies from his own career, provides advice on how CSR workers can have greater impact, and even looks into how employees in other corporate functions can make a difference. He details the programs and processes needed to support a comprehensive CSR effort, but perhaps most importantly, he identifies the personal and professional skills needed to navigate corporate politics and get buy-in from sometimes skeptical colleagues. With more than 80 percent of the Fortune 500 now publishing “sustainability reports,” a new career path has been forged in corporate responsibility. From strategy to data mining to supply chains and communication, this book is the “operator’s manual” for this new career path.

The pace, intensity, and scale at which humans have altered our planet in recent decades is unprecedented. We have dramatically transformed landscapes and waterways through agriculture, logging, mining, and fire suppression, with drastic impacts on public health and human well-being. What can we do to counteract and even reverse the worst of these effects? Restore damaged ecosystems. The Primer of Ecological Restoration is a succinct introduction to the theory and practice of ecological restoration as a strategy to conserve biodiversity and ecosystems. In twelve brief chapters, the book introduces readers to the basics of restoration project planning, monitoring, and adaptive management. It explains abiotic factors such as landforms, soil, and hydrology that are the building blocks to successfully recovering microorganism, plant, and animal communities. Additional chapters cover topics such as invasive species and legal and financial considerations. Each chapter concludes with recommended reading and reference lists, and the book can be paired with online resources for teaching. Perfect for introductory classes in ecological restoration or for practitioners seeking constructive guidance for real-world projects, Primer of Ecological Restoration offers accessible, practical information on recent trends in the field.

Born and raised in the Free Territories, Magnolia Lee Winthrop prefers the company of trees and nature to spending time with most people. Although she's not much of a talker, she's got plenty of strong opinions about life and how it should be lived, just like her grandmother. But it's her best friend, Graham, who understands their deep connection to the earth. The Tree Hugger is a dystopian retelling of Han's Christian Andersen's "The Dryad." Once Upon a Time Today is a collection of contemporary fairy tale retellings for those who have already left home. The Girl Who Believed in Fairy Tales is a prelude to the collection and includes the three short stories: "The Girl Who Watched for Elves" "The Girl Who Dreamed of Red Shoes" "The Girl Who Couldn't Sing" Novellas in the Once Upon a Time Today collection: Beautiful Beautiful Dreaming of the Sea The Tree Hugger I Am Lily Dane Tags: Dryad, Dystopian, Fairy Tale, Fantasy, Fiction, Green, Grief, Hans Christian Andersen, Happily Ever After, Literature, Loss, Magic, Magical Realism, Mother & Daughter, Novella, Once Upon a Time Today, Paranormal, Romance, Short Read, Spirituality, Supernatural, Survival, Teen, Young Adult

Raise a Greener Generation Teach your kids to be eco-conscious and spark their imagination with 101 interactive science, food and craft-based activities in Grow Your Own Tree Hugger. Each of the activities in this easy-to-follow book includes step-by-step instructions you can use to pass on sensible sustainable living behaviors your child will understand and enjoy. Among the 101 activities to choose from: • Teach pesticide-free pest control by hosting a special event to release ladybugs into the garden • Create a new tie-dyed T-shirt or easy-sew beach bag from recycled garments and accessories • Explore alternative energy by making a solar oven that really works Perfect for children ages 4 to 10, each activity includes a chat point for discussion, plus hundreds of websites for furthering your sustainable knowledge. Learn to Grow Your Own Tree Hugger - Our Planet is Counting on You!