Our Blog | July 2012

Kids love dirt—digging in it, throwing it, tasting it and sitting in it. And there is plenty of time left this summer to use that natural inclination for creating important learning moments. When my colleague’s son was six, he took his nine-year-old friend out to the garden to look for snacks and as they pulled carrots the friend held up a …

Despite being about to have her third baby any moment now, M. continues to share her insights with us from Sharon Astyk's "Adapting in Place" course. Her description of a late night discussion really resonated with me.  I appreciate how sharing thoughts with Sharon Astyk can keep you up at night!  My partner and I try to keep a five year plan in …

I had the pleasure today of meeting Mallory McDuff, author of Sacred Acts: How Churches are Working to Protect Earth's Climate.  She included a quick stop at the New Society Publishers' office as part of a whirlwind visit to Vancouver Island.  As gracious in person as in her writing, she paid her respects to the New Society team and reiterated …

In their book, A Nation of Farmers:Defeating the Food Crisis on American Soil, Sharon  Astyk and Aaron Newton tell us that the United States needs 100 million new farmers in order to ensure a food secure future.  Imagine what that would be like, you would meet farmers everywhere - on the street, at work, on the bus, at the doctors or even on a …

Sharon Astyk has been running her "Adapting in Place" course in anticipation of the release of her new book, Making Home: Adapting Our Homes and Our Lives to Settle in Place later this month.  This week, M., the New Society Publishers scholarship student, shares her thoughts about the benefits of interacting with people from varied backgrounds and ages.  She also discusses issues surrounding home births in her home state of Maryland.