Close to the Land: Reflections on Re-Connecting

By Jim Byford

"A powerful, sometimes poignant, and ultimately persuasive plea to reestablish closer ties with the earth. . . . When Jim Byford says 'come with me and share my soul, ' it is an invitation no one who shares even some small portion of his feelings should ignore."--from the foreword by Jim Casada

"I can honestly say," Jim Byford tells us, "I've never met a piece of land I didn't like." In these engaging essays--drawn from a lifetime of observation and enjoyment of the earth's natural bounty--Byford shares with us his love of the land. He reminds us of our dependence on the land, how we have drifted away from it, and our need to re-connect to it.

Byford opens by entreating us to slow down, to savor and respect the land, and to get in touch with its rhythms. He follows with his reflections on the four seasons and the qualities that define each one. Then he invites us to take a look at the animals, both four-legged and feathered, that share the land with us and make it interesting. Finally, he guides us toward a fuller understanding of the land, helping us recognize our own place within the larger natural world and our duty to conserve what nature gives us. Throughout these pieces, Byford deftly interweaves tales of his outdoor adventures, practical advice on managing the land's resources, and bits of his personal insight and philosophy. Whether writing about how to prepare wild game, about the feeding habits of crows, or about how the lessons of nature might be imparted to young children, Byford maintains a direct, appealing style that is sure to entrance anyone who seeks a keener understanding of the land offers.

The Author: Jim Byford, a native of Trenton, Tennessee, is dean of the School of Agriculture and Human Environment at the University of Tennessee, Martin. Trained in wildlife, forestry, fisheries, and agriculture, he has been an educator for nearly three decades. He has received numerous awards for his work in conservation, including the Tennessee Conservationist of the Year in 1981.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1572330295
• ISBN13: 9781572330290
• Release Date: February 1999
• Publisher: University of Tennessee Press
• Length: 173 Pages
• Weight: 0.75 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 6.0" x 8.9"

Customer Reviews

Balanced, sane environmentalism

A landowner with his head squarely on his shoulders, Byford writes beautifully of what responsible land management and conservation means in this day and age. Recommended.