Wild Plant Culture covers the ecological restoration of native edible and medicinal plant communities with a focus on Eastern North America. Integrating restoration practices, foraging, herbalism, rewilding, and permaculture, it provides tools to engage with wild plant communities in mutually beneficial relationships.
Jared Rosenbaum is a botanist, native plant grower, and ecological restoration practitioner. He and his wife run Wild Ridge Plants LLC, which grows local ecotype native plants using sustainable practices, performs botanical surveys, and provides ecological restoration planning services. Jared has extensive experience in stewardship and monitoring of natural communities. He is known as an educator in plant ecology, ecological restoration, and the cultural uses of wild plant foods and medicines. Jared is the author of two prior books on native plants, including the children’s book The Puddle Garden, and maintains an active blog at wildplantculture.com. He is a Certified Ecological Restoration Practitioner by the Society for Ecological Restoration. He lives in New Jersey.
Juanita Wierzba –
This is an important book – written as a guide to understanding the human place in the restoration of the wild natural landscapes of the North East (USA). Whilst the plant species may be, the ideas in this book are not specific to a geographic address. It s a practical and insightful guide, discussing new ways of mending and or tending our spaces – and applicable to any place on our planet).
I live in South Africa and have gleaned much out of this book to start consciously thinking about what I see around me in terms of our natural landscape and how we can be a part of our natural community in a way that restores the wildness of our natural home.
I love the the way Jared sees the restoration of our planet as a positive opportunity to use the gifts we have as human beings and ultimately, the stewards of our environment’s as the starting point of integrating ourselves once again (just as our indigenous communities did) into our environment for the good of all its inhabitants.
Section One of the book covers the understanding that human beings are supposed to be an integral part of the relationship to the natural world . The reciprocal relationship between man and our relationship with what grows around us is so important and Jared expounds on this beautifully. Section Two and Three are more practical, covering the “how” of learning and restoring the land.
This book has so much to offer anybody who is interested in land restoration and regeneration. its a book that you will read and re-read, finding each time, more to inspire or educate yourself.
Thank you for a great book.
Theresa O’Connell –
I recieved this as an ARC from New Society Publishers. Thank you.
As I am reading this book. I am currently working on some re-wilding projects. The descriptions of the plants mentioned in this book, are helpful to that work. And it has inspired me to search out more plants.
What I enjoyed the most was, how the author tied in information from First Nations. He drew upon knowledge that often has been lost and needs to be re-taught.
I plan on sharing copies of this book with friends, as well as my urban neighbours. Then my neighbours will know that it is more than just weeds, and possibly join in.