Bad Naturalist
One Woman's Ecological Education on a Wild Virginia Mountaintop
0 of 2 copies available
Wait time: About 15 weeks
When empty nester Paula Whyman climbs to a peak in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, her plans for a backyard ecology project quickly morph into a massive endeavor. In Bad Naturalist, Whyman struggles with conflicting advice from experts, an influx of invasive species, delayed plans, and the occasional rattlesnake—but none of it dampens her irrepressible passion for protecting the land.
Bad Naturalist is woven with Whyman's delightful storytelling as she attempts to coax a beautiful piece of land back into shape. Putting her preconceived notions aside, she forms a deep connection with the earth, reminding us that the quest to tame it is a fool's errand.
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Creators
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Publisher
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Release date
January 7, 2025 -
Formats
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OverDrive Listen audiobook
- ISBN: 9781668646229
- File size: 295698 KB
- Duration: 10:16:01
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Languages
- English
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Reviews
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December 1, 2024
A child of the suburbs, with their grassy lawns and generic shrubs, Whyman always dreamed of owning land. By land, she didn't necessarily mean an entire mountaintop in northern Virginia, but that's what she got. Encompassing more than 200 acres with views across the Blue Ridge, it includes 73 acres that were formerly a cow pasture. Whyman thought it would now make a perfect meadow. But what she didn't know about land restoration was staggering. She needed to know the difference between a vole and a mole. Was that vine snaking down the hillside friend or foe? And speaking of snakes, she'd need a good pair of snake-proof boots ASAP. Everything, she discovers, is connected, and any plans to tackle one perceived problem could have countless consequences, good and bad, seen and unseen. Help arrives in the form of experts and agencies, and while mistakes were made, the mission was accomplished. Albeit a cautionary tale, Whyman's sprightly memoir of her supersized endeavor provides valuable insight for like-minded gardeners, no matter how large or small their project.COPYRIGHT(2024) Booklist, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
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