From The Land: Articles from The Land, 1941-1954

by Nancy Pittman (Editor), Wes Jackson (Introduction)

Begun in 1941 as an outgrowth of Friends of the Land, the journal The Land was an attempt by editor Russell Lord to counteract -- through education, information, and inspiration -- the rampant abuse of soil, water, trees and rivers. But for all its seriousness of mission, The Land was a stimulating mix of fact and charm. It included literature, philosophy, art, and the practical observations of farmers and conservation workers, to encourage small farmers to understand and apply conservation principles to their lands. This anthology, a fascinating mosaic, compiled from the 13 years of The Land tells in fiction, non-fiction, poetry, and philosophy the story of how we changed from a nation of small farms to the agribusiness we have today. Among the 40 authors included are conservation and literary giants such as Aldo Leopold, E. B.White, Louis Bromfield, Paul Sears, Allan Patton and Wallace Stegner.

491 pages, Hardcover

First published December 1, 1988

Reviews

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting historical perspective of land management policy and theory in the 40's and 50's. Some of their ideas, like the enthusiatic support of DDT use, didn't pan out. There are many articles arguing for sound principles of soil and water conservation that are still in use today. A great read for a back to the land enthusiast, especially if looking to restore some degraded land.