""Winter and Nature"" offers a compelling exploration of winter's vital role in Earth's ecological systems, revealing how this seemingly dormant season actually serves as a crucial reset button for natural processes. Through a systematic examination of winter biology and seasonal changes, the book illuminates the intricate ways organisms adapt to cold conditions and how these adaptations contribute to global biodiversity. The text masterfully weaves together multiple scientific disciplines, starting with detailed explanations of how plants and animals prepare for winter through cellular and behavioral changes. It then progresses to broader ecological implications, demonstrating winter's essential functions in soil health, pest control, and species diversity. Particularly fascinating are the insights into how winter patterns shape evolution and drive ecosystem stability, supported by research from various climates ranging from arctic tundra to temperate forests. What sets this book apart is its comprehensive approach to understanding winter as more than just a challenging season to endure. By connecting climatology, biology, and ecology, it presents winter as a fundamental driver of life processes, while addressing current concerns about climate change's impact on seasonal patterns. Written in accessible language that maintains scientific accuracy, the book serves both academic audiences and nature enthusiasts, offering practical applications for conservation planning and wildlife management while highlighting the urgent need to preserve winter's ecological functions in our changing world.

A collection that includes a lengthy introduction describing historical trends in critical interpretations and theatrical performances of Shakespeare's play; 20 essays on the play, including two written especially for this volume (by Maurice Hunt and David Bergeron).

There are many paths to the sacred, whatever you hold that be. And the most ancient and primal of these is communion with the natural world. If you long to loosen the restraints of your ego, experience the spiritual power of the Creation, and embrace its timeless wisdom, Nature’s Ways can be your companion and guide. You will learn to cultivate an intimate bond with nature, providing a sanctuary from life’s tribulations and a spiritual home for sculpting your soul. Whether you are a lifelong “nature mystic” or someone newly drawn to this time-honored spiritual path, this book will help shepherd you to the mysteries of the Creation, including those residing within your own spirit. You will discover how to enter nature’s spiritual doorways, those that transport us to the miraculous power innervating all of existence. Therein we discover a clearer sense of who we are, why we are, and to what we belong. The Creation is a long and mystifying journey, a great story told through the majesty, beauty, and creative power of the natural world. We can soulfully embrace this journey by following nature’s ways.

Plays, playscripts.

Unearth the secret pantries hidden within wild landscapes, with "Nature's Bounty Unleashed," your ultimate guide to the art and science of foraging. Embark on a journey that transforms the way you see—and taste—the world around you, leading you through unspoiled habitats to discover the culinary treasures that nature has to offer. Get ready to peel back the verdant curtains of the great outdoors as you dive into twenty-five meticulously crafted chapters, each brimming with knowledge poised to turn you into a master forager. Traverse through "The Foundations of Foraging" where you will absorb the philosophy and ethics that respect the balance of nature while tickling your taste buds with wild flavors. Sharpen your skills with the essential tools and safety gear detailed in "Getting Started Forager's Toolkit." Align your hunts with Mother Nature's rhythms in "The Forager's Calendar" and learn to read the ecological texts written across diverse habitats in "Ecological Principles of Foraging." Ethics take center stage in discussions on legality and land rights, ensuring that your practice not only nourishes the body but also feeds the soul. Gain botanical prowess in identifying edibles with precision, steering clear of deceptive doppelgangers that lurk in the underbrush. "The Art of Wild Plant Harvesting" provides you the quintessential techniques for sustainable harvesting, ensuring that future generations may continue to enjoy nature's myriad offerings. From the forest floor to freshwater systems, from meadows to coastal terrains; each chapter unfurls unique foraging environments ripe for exploration. Discover and demystify the nutritional powerhouses that wild foods are, dissecting myths and highlighting truths in "Nutritional Benefits of Wild Foods." Adapt to nature's capricious moods, and savor the distinct flavors that each season unfurls, from the awakening offerings of spring to the richly yielding winter. Don't just harvest—transform your bounty with methods that lock in freshness and potency. Put your own twist on dining as you learn to incorporate wild ingredients into soulful recipes, revealing an untapped spectrum of flavors. Introduce the young and nurture communities with the spirit of foraging. Envision the future of wild food sourcing, acknowledging the influence of urbanization yet steadfast in the innovative promise it holds. With "Nature's Bounty Unleashed," you don't just read—you engage, grow, and cultivate a harmonious union with the environment. So, don your boots, capture the essence of untamed delicacies in your basket, and revolutionize not only your palate but your connection to the earth. Welcome to your wild adventure—it begins with the turn of a page.

This volume of seven essays and a late lecture by Henry David Thoreau makes available important material written both before and after Walden. First appearing in the 1840s through the 1860s, the essays were written during a time of great change in Thoreau's environs, as the Massachusetts of his childhood became increasingly urbanized and industrialized. William Rossi's introduction puts the essays in the context of Thoreau's other major works, both chronologically and intellectually. Rossi also shows how these writings relate to Thoreau's life and career as both writer and naturalist: his readings of Ralph Waldo Emerson and Charles Darwin; his failed bid for commercial acceptance of his work; and his pivotal encounter with the utter wildness of the Maine woods. In the essays themselves, readers will see how Thoreau melded conventions of natural history writing with elements of two popular literary forms--travel writing and landscape writing--to explore concerns ranging from America's westward expansion to the figural dimensions of scientific facts and phenomena. Thoreau the thinker, observer, wanderer, and inquiring naturalist--all emerge in this distinctive composite picture of the economic, natural, and spiritual communities that left their marks on one of our most important early environmentalists.

Until recently, the effortless "Zone" of peak performance was only within the reach of serious athletes. Now, with Body, Mind, and Sport, anyone can reach the Zone, regardless of fitness level. Designed to accommodate a variety of individual fitness needs, the Body, Mind, and Sport program is split into two levels. Level 1 is for non-athletes who want to improve overall fitness; Level 2 is for those who want to train for competitive or recreational purposes. Your own unique mind-body type is taken into account to guide you in achieving your personal best without stress or strain. In this revised and updated edition of Body, Mind, and Sport, fitness expert and trainer John Douillard outlines a program in which your individual seasonal constitution-Winter, Spring, or Summer-determines what exercises or sports are best suited to your mind-body type and what foods you should eat for optimum results. Using the Body, Mind, and Sport approach you can decrease heart and breath rates while improving both fitness and performance. Dozens of world-class athletes, including Martina Navratilova and Billie Jean King, have used John Douillard's expert breathing techniques, dietary recommendations, and seasonally balanced workouts. Now you can, too!