People Plants And Landscapes

People, Plants, and Landscapes showcases the potential of modern paleoethnobotany, an interdisciplinary field that explores the interactions between human beings and plants by examining archaeological evidence. Using different methods and theoretical approaches, the essays in this work apply botanical knowledge to studies of archaeological plant remains and apply paleoethnobotany to nonarchaeological sources of evidence. The resulting techniques often lie beyond the traditional boundaries of either archaeology or botany. With this ground-breaking work, the technically and methodologically enhanced paleoethnobotany of the 1990s has joined forces with ecological and evolutionary theory to forge explanations of changing relationships between human and plant populations. Contents and Contributors: The Shaping of Modern Paleoethnobotany, Patty Jo Watson New Perspectives on the Paleoethnobotany of the Newt Kash Shelter, Kristen J. Gremillion A 3,000-Year-Old Cache of Crop Seeds from Marble Bluff, Arkansas, Gayle J. Fritz Evolutionary Changes Associated with the Domestication of Cucurbita pepo: Evidence from Eastern Kentucky, C. Wesley Cowan Anthropogenesis in Prehistoric Northeastern Japan, Gary W. Crawford Between Farmstead and Center: The Natural and Social Landscape of Moundville, C. Margaret Scarry and Vincas P. Steponaitis An Evolutionary Ecology Perspective on Diet Choice, Risk, and Plant Domestication, Bruce Winterhalder and Carol Goland The Ecological Structure and Behavioral Implications of Mast Exploitation Strategies, Paul S. Gardner Changing Strategies of Indian Field Location in the Early Historic Southeast, Gregory A. Waselkov Interregional Patterns of Land Use and Plant Management in Native North America, Julia E. Hammett

An inspirational and practical book about the benefits of enhancing cities with well-planted gardens, parks, and streets. An internationally renowned public garden designer, with 27 years’ experience and an artist’s eye, Lynden Miller has changed the face of New York City’s public places by providing a connection with nature for neighborhoods, rich and poor. Parks, Plants and People describes the elements of successful public space and tells how to design, improve and maintain year-round plantings, how to advocate for increased public funding and how to attract private dollars. She calls on the general public, gardeners, urban designers, architects, landscape architects and public officials—everyone who cares about the quality of life in urban areas—to create and support well-planted parks and gardens as essential urban oases that reduce crime and have positive effects on the economic welfare of cities and their citizens. Miller demonstrates the power of plants to soften and civilize public life and proves that beautiful public spaces, planted and maintained to high standards, have the power to transform the way people behave and feel about their cities. Her motto is: Make it gorgeous and they will come. Keep it that way and they will help.

In this eloquent plea for compassion and respect for all species, journalist and gardener Nancy Lawson describes why and how to welcome wildlife to our backyards. Through engaging anecdotes and inspired advice, profiles of home gardeners throughout the country, and interviews with scientists and horticulturalists, Lawson applies the broader lessons of ecology to our own outdoor spaces. Detailed chapters address planting for wildlife by choosing native species; providing habitats that shelter baby animals, as well as birds, bees, and butterflies; creating safe zones in the garden; cohabiting with creatures often regarded as pests; letting nature be your garden designer; and encouraging natural processes and evolution in the garden. The Humane Gardener fills a unique niche in describing simple principles for both attracting wildlife and peacefully resolving conflicts with all the creatures that share our world.

For millennia, plants and their habitats have been fundamental to the lives of Indigenous Peoples - as sources of food and nutrition, medicines, and technological materials - and central to ceremonial traditions, spiritual beliefs, narratives, and language. While the First Peoples of Canada and other parts of the world have developed deep cultural understandings of plants and their environments, this knowledge is often underrecognized in debates about land rights and title, reconciliation, treaty negotiations, and traditional territories. Plants, People, and Places argues that the time is long past due to recognize and accommodate Indigenous Peoples' relationships with plants and their ecosystems. Essays in this volume, by leading voices in philosophy, Indigenous law, and environmental sustainability, consider the critical importance of botanical and ecological knowledge to land rights and related legal and government policy, planning, and decision making in Canada, the United States, Sweden, and New Zealand. Analyzing specific cases in which Indigenous Peoples' inherent rights to the environment have been denied or restricted, this collection promotes future prosperity through more effective and just recognition of the historical use of and care for plants in Indigenous cultures. A timely book featuring Indigenous perspectives on reconciliation, environmental sustainability, and pathways toward ethnoecological restoration, Plants, People, and Places reveals how much there is to learn from the history of human relationships with nature.

What can we do, right now, in our own landscapes, to help solve climate change? Gold Winner, Foreword INDIES Book Awards: Ecology & Environment “Read this book carefully. Everything you need to know to help heal our relationship with planet Earth and empower you to make a much-needed difference is within these pages.”—From the foreword by Doug Tallamy Praise for the first edition: “The volume of information here is impressive, and each action is accompanied by an explanation of why it’s important. . . . Useful whether read cover-to-cover or dipped into for specific topics.”—Booklist “Beautifully designed, the book is user-friendly and attractive. The information is current and science-based, with end-notes that give readers access to further research.”—Virginia Native Plant Society “This fantastic resource is filled with climate-wise solutions for anyone who owns or manages a piece of ground—even if it’s just a few containers on a tiny rooftop garden.”—Claudia West, ASLA, Principal, Phyto Studio LLC “[Reed and Stibolt] articulate a new gardening aesthetic. . . . The result is a positive and hopeful story of how people can use their imagination and ingenuity to help craft more resilient landscapes.”—Dr. Peter Robinson, former CEO, David Suzuki Foundation “Beautiful photos and pleasing graphics illustrate key ideas and actions while informative sidebars and inspiring quotes from climate and landscape experts provide clarity of complex systems and motivation to adapt to a changing future.”—Julie Richburg, Ph.D., ecologist “A book on climate-wise landscaping could not be more timely or more necessary. We are moving into a new and critical era, and this book takes landscape professionals and home gardeners where they need to go.”—Owen Dell, RLA, ASLA, landscape architect, educator, author, Owen Dell & Associates “A very useful guide to designing landscapes for the twenty-first century which clearly respond to our changing climate.”—Darrel Morrison, honorary associate faculty member in landscape architecture, University of Wisconsin-Madison Predictions about future effects of climate change range from mild to dire—but we’re already seeing warmer winters, hotter summers, and more extreme storms. Proposed solutions often seem expensive and complex and can leave us as individuals at a loss, wondering what, if anything, can be done. Sue Reed and Ginny Stibolt offer a rallying cry in response—instead of wringing our hands, let's roll up our sleeves. Based on decades of the authors' experience, this book is packed with simple, practical steps anyone can take to beautify any landscape or garden, while helping protect the planet and the species that call it home. Topics include:  Working actively to shrink our carbon footprint through mindful landscaping and gardening Creating cleaner air and water Maximizing resource efficiency Supporting birds, butterflies, pollinators, and other wildlife.  As climate change continues to intensify around the globe, the information in this second edition of Climate-Wise Landscaping is needed now more than ever. This book is the ideal tool for homeowners, gardeners, and landscape professionals who want to be part of the solution to climate change.

In a time of climate change and mass extinction, how we garden matters more than ever: “An outstanding and deeply passionate book.” —Marc Bekoff, author of The Emotional Lives of Animals Plenty of books tell home gardeners and professional landscape designers how to garden sustainably, what plants to use, and what resources to explore. Yet few examine why our urban wildlife gardens matter so much—not just for ourselves, but for the larger human and animal communities. Our landscapes push aside wildlife and in turn diminish our genetically programmed love for wildness. How can we get ourselves back into balance through gardens, to speak life's language and learn from other species? Benjamin Vogt addresses why we need a new garden ethic, and why we urgently need wildness in our daily lives—lives sequestered in buildings surrounded by monocultures of lawn and concrete that significantly harm our physical and mental health. He examines the psychological issues around climate change and mass extinction as a way to understand how we are short-circuiting our response to global crises, especially by not growing native plants in our gardens. Simply put, environmentalism is not political; it's social justice for all species marginalized today and for those facing extinction tomorrow. By thinking deeply and honestly about our built landscapes, we can create a compassionate activism that connects us more profoundly to nature and to one another.

Offers the most comprehensive guide to landscaping with native plants available.