In a Dark Wood: The Fight Over Forests and the Myths of Nature

Customer Reviews:

Ina a Dark Wood: The Fight Over Forests and the Myths of Nature.......2007-01-10

A very well researched and well written account of the "Old Growth Forest" controversy. I strongly encourage students of enviromentalism to read it. It clearly lays out some of the seminal disagreements of forest management that stil plague our forests today.

ignorant and angry but useful.......2005-05-03

Chase's angry critique of "environmentalists" and their myths of nature has its points, but he ignores most of the substantial efforts to manage our ecosystem holistically -- e.g. including land, people, and money. He criticizes "biocentrism" but many of us recognize that human life, for example, is totally dependent on other organisms, E. coli to start. The question is not hierarchy, but interdependence.

Hundreds of pages on what's wrong in my edition, and only two pages that mention possible pathways to the future in the form of the Quincy Library Group and Applegate Partnership.

eye-opening clear analysis that changed my views.......2002-11-28

Until reading "In a Dark Wood" I espoused "politically correct" environmentalist views -- such as "all old growth forests must be saved at any cost from evil logging" -- in a knee-jerk, emotionally charged, self-righteous way, without ever taking the trouble to study or think through what was really at stake, and what premises about reality underlay my views. Alston Chase's thinking on conservation is so clearly presented, so well backed by evidence, so carefully analysed, and so full of good will and integrity, that I find it impossible to read his book without respecting his intentions -- and his conclusions, which challenge everything I had unthinkingly assumed in the past. This is the kind of book that not only addresses concrete problems, such as the political struggle between, say Earth First and Maxxam Corporation, but also inspires the reader to think more deeply, and question his/her assumptions. This is the kind of book I think most self-labeled "environmentalists" -- especially those who come from white, middle class, college-educated backgrounds -- will dismiss prior to investigation, and will never read. If so, it is a sad loss. It's a book that can change your views and help you learn to think better -- and I believe most people would rather not do so, since thinking better might well spoil the dramatic excitement of waging a war of good against evil, nature against humanity. Still, I hope people will read this book. It's one that changed my life.

Plants Of The Pacific Northwest Coast: Washington, Oregon, British Columbia & Alaska

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Outstanding
A classic.
An essential tool
The best for it's purpose
Great Guide

Plants Of The Pacific Northwest Coast: Washington, Oregon, British Columbia & Alaska

Manufacturer: Lone Pine Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1551055309

Customer Reviews:

Outstanding.......2007-09-04

This is simply an outstanding text. I used to work outdoor school in the pacific northwest, and this book ranked space in my day pack every day of the week. Very clear photos show you exactly what the plants look like, and text is clear and interesting. Highly recommended.

A classic........2006-07-10

I'd actually give this 4.5 stars if I could. This is a great all around guide for the west side of the Cascades. It doesn't include every plant, particularly in the sections towards the end on bryophytes, but most plants you'll want to see are in there. I'm torn on the aboriginal use data tht is presented throughout the book. On one hand, it really is quite fascinating, but on the other hand, probably several dozen more species could have been covered if these data were omitted. The maps can be a bit difficult to decipher given the range this book covers, and although most of the photos are good, a few are pretty poor. Still, it is a must-have for any nature buff in the PNW.

An essential tool.......2006-05-04

For anyone interested in Northwest Native Plants, this is an essential reference. Arthur Lee Jacobsen's "Wild Plants of Greater Seattle" is another useful book, although not as detailed. "Vascular plants of the Pacific Northwest", by Charles Leo Hitchcock, in 7 volumes for $300.00, is much more detailed but not as handy. I have used my "Pojar" so much that I wore it out and had to get a second copy. I found it useful when I was just beginning to learn about native plants, and now that I can identify over 200 species on sight, I still use it to learn about ethnobotany, which plants are edible, and where to plant them in my garden.

Another reviewer complained that the book does not list common names in the index. This is just plain wrong. You can look up plants in the index by common name or scientific name, or you can browse through the photos until you get a match. You can also use the keys, which is the best way to learn about the relationship of one species to another, but I'm usually too lazy to work through the process. The way the plants are grouped, it's easy to narrow it down and find your plant.

My one complaint about the book is that it is sometimes difficult to pin down whether or not a particular plant is actually a native. This is usually implied, especially when they tell how indigenous peoples used the plants in everday life, but I wish the plants were clearly marked Native and Non-Native.

The best for it's purpose.......2005-12-05

This is by far the best study and field guide to Northwest plants. Nothing else comes close to being so inclusive. Because of that, I think, the book can be a bit difficult to get through. I little knowledge of plants will help tremendously in using the guide. There are a couple dozen or so keys for various plant families but be warned that keying plants can be difficult. The pictures are great and the notes that accompany each picture are top notch. One thing I like is that the author gives copious notes about aboriginal and regional use of the plants as well as notes about their natural history. There's really a life time of learning here. Great book.

Great Guide.......2005-07-27

I used this book extensively in a field class this summer and it was extremely helpful. Everything I would possibly want to know about NW flora was included in detail (even with sketches of individual leaves). Also, the ethnographic information regarding the uses of various herbal medicines was fascinating.

Deadfall: Generations of Logging in the Pacific Northwest

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Captures The Soul Of The Logger & Decline of the Industry
Deadfall, an honest account of a changing industry
Sacrifices past, present and future

Deadfall: Generations of Logging in the Pacific Northwest
James Lemonds
Manufacturer: Mountain Press Publishing Company
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0878424210
Release Date: 2000-10-01

Product Description

Through the life stories of the author s grandfathers, father, uncles, and cousins, Deadfall documents the dramatic changes in the logging industry since the early 1900s. The book focuses on the influence of international timber giant Weyerhaeuser Company in the Pacific Northwest, yet its themes resonate from Alaska to the American Southeast wherever timber is king. While spurning nostalgia for logging s glory days, Deadfall attempts to view a future for today s timber workers.

Customer Reviews:

Captures The Soul Of The Logger & Decline of the Industry.......2002-01-11

They say write about what you know...LeMonds knows the soul of the past and modern logger and writes with as unpretentious style as I've seen in a long time. He uses the language (always loggers...never lumberjacks) and shares with the reader the language and techniques of everything from falling, bucking, setting chokers, to trucking the logs. Furthermore, he does it based upon the real-life experiences of his family. You learn how they used to rig a spar tree and what went through the climbers mind as he accomplished this task 150-200 feet in the air. LeMonds also shares the future of forestry (hand-seeding, herbicides, fertilizer & thinning) to move the life span of high-productive crops like Douglas Firs from hundreds of years to perhaps as little as 35 years as well as what the modern equipment does now and probably into the future.. Perhaps you might find the short chronology of the work history of each of his family members in the logging business too detailed but it's more than worth the wonderful stories and perspectives that go with them. LeMonds acknowledges the scars on the landscape of the past but also the enduring scars on these tremendous men who contributed so much to this Country's development of the 20th century. I don't think one could ask for a more balanced view of this industry and have it written with such class. This is the best book I ever expect to read about this subject, which is so dear to my heart having been raised in a nearly identical community in Southern Oregon. Today I ordered a second copy to send to a dear friend still working in the woods.

Deadfall, an honest account of a changing industry.......2001-08-30

James Lemonds peels away the Bunyonesque macho image that has been falsely hung on the loggers of the Northwest and shown them as they are; broken down, disabled and discarded by the industry that exacted a terrible toll on both the workers and the forests.
Anyone wanting to research the human cost the industry extracted should start with this book. Death and disabilty rates beyond the range of nightmares were considered standard and acceptable, simply because the carnage took place outside the public view.
The hard work, honest efforts and caring that the workers brought to the job were repaid with lack of respect and now, lowering wages, no job security and disdain from the general public.
As bad as it is in Lemonds description, the list at the end of the book does not include all the co-workers of any current or former loggers that I have talked to who have read this book, nor co-workers of mine, who were killed on the job. The toll suffered by the workforce was at least equal to that suffered by the forests.
Lemonds tells the story in an even-handed, personal way through his extended family and community. This is a must-read book by any student of Northwest culture of the past century.

Sacrifices past, present and future.......2001-02-12

Logging in America's Northwest, an industry and occupation which arouses strong passions and polarizing viewpoints.

Jim LeMonds, though not neglecting the emotional and substantive areas of contention, focuses primarily on the human contribution and in some cases sacrifices of the loggers themselves.

This book should be read by anyone with even the vaguest interest in forest management and environmental issues. Although he is from a logging family, I feel that the author has been exceedingly fair in his description of todays industry and what the future holds for this industry and more importantly for logging communities.

To me the efforts and accomplishments of the people featured in this book, and the many thousands like them, are what has made our country great. It is ironic that their contibutions and in some cases sacrifices have not received the recognition that they are rightfully due.

Book Description

The remarkable web of plants and animals living around a single old fir tree takes on a life of its own in this stunningly illustrated story. Carol Reed-Jones' repetitive, cumulative verse--a poetic technique that children universally enjoy--aptly portrays the amazing ways in which the inhabitants of the forest depend upon one another for survival. Christopher Canyon's memorable full-color paintings manage to be both magical and true to life. Complete with a guide to the forest creatures and their interrelationships, this book is a valuable learning tool as well as fun for kids.

Customer Reviews:

Wonderful story and Beautiful pictures!.......2007-03-11

I purchased this as a gift for my daughter's teacher. I love the poem-like story explaining how everything is connected to something else. The pictures are very beautiful with a lot of detail.

Life in a conifer forest, up close & vivid!.......2002-12-14

Come into a deep, old northern forest where trees reach for the sky, hundreds of feet high. Where their roots beneath the duff, spread out in vast tendrils seeking food, creating food for voles & mice, who, in turn, are fattened up for the owls hunting for food for their owlets.

Carol Reed-Jones has created a lyrical story of life around an old-growth fir tree, & Christopher Canyon's illustrations are bright, powerful & absorbing.

A keeper, its story is delightful & its images memorable.

Outstanding depiction of the Circle of Life!.......2000-03-28

"The Tree in the Ancient Forest" depicts the"circle of life" concept in a beautifully presented, easilyread format. The author, Carol Reed-Jones captures the essence of the importance and beauty of an ancient forest, presenting a different element on each page. Christopher Canyon's illustrations offer additional beauty to the ideas penned by the author. A wonderful book for children and adults alike -- a great gift book for the ecologically-minded, nature-lover! Highly recommended!

Wild Orchids of the Pacific Northwest And Canadian Rockies

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Wild Orchids of the Pacific Northwest And Canadian Rockies
Paul Martin Brown
Manufacturer: University Press of Florida
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0813029007

Book Description

Native orchid expert and author Paul Martin Brown continues his successful series on the wild orchids of North America with Wild Orchids of the Pacific Northwest and Canadian Rockies. Whether beginner or professional, curious orchid hunters will be able to locate the nearly 50 species to be found in a wide variety of this region's local habitat—from seashore to temperate rain forest to alpine meadow. Brown reveals the best spots to find the orchids he describes and offers expert advice on how to plan and execute an enjoyable (and environmentally responsible) outing. As with Brown's other guides, all information is presented in a simple, straightforward style and with ample illustration so that proper identification is a snap.

Customer Reviews:

Good educational sourcebook.......2005-12-20

We use this book on NOLS expeditions specifically because it treats conservation as a dilemma of competing moral values. It really helps our students, whether they are greenies or industrialists, to see all sides of an issue. And if we choose to carry a book like this at NOLS, it means we literally carry it in a backpack for the entire 30 day expedition, which speaks highly for the value of this book.

A balanced view.......2005-02-22

"I hope you read it [the book] for whatever understanding it provides. Then, when you get a chance, go and read the living things that it came from."
This, the last sentence in the book, powerfully wraps up an engrossing examination of both sides of the controversy on logging old-growth forests. Always on the side of the environmentalists, I came to understand and sympathize with the loggers who cut them down. Not an easy task for any writer to undertake. But Dietrich has done it, and done it well. No wonder he won a Pulitzer Prize. The writing is clear and sharp, and at times, poetic in imagery. Yes, I have been to the Olympic old-growth forests of which he speaks, and he is right when he says that the minute you enter them, there is magic. Even the loggers feel this. The stories of individuals, both on the side of timber and the side of trees, eloquently speak of passions and lifestyles, battles won and lost. Anita Goos is not someone I will soon forget. Dietrich tells of men and women who choose their battles, sometimes unwillingly, but who enter the fray with hearts and minds wholly in the cause.
It is well to follow this book with "The Hidden Forest" by Jon Luoma, written seven years later.

this book is great!.......2004-03-06

I read this book for my research paper on old growth forests. Originally I was going to just try to fly through it and take out the information that I needed for my paper, but as I read it I got really into it and almost forgot about my paper altogether! I think the best thing about this book is that it represents all sides of the issue. William Dietrich talks to cutters, truck drivers, biologists, environmentalists, foresters, and the community itself and tells all sides of the situation in his book. When I originally chose to do my paper on preservation of old growth forests, I was completely against cutting down of trees, and even though I am still not exactly for it, this book really helped me to be more open-minded and understand the different point of views...

All sides of the story.......2001-10-18

I gained a deeper understanding of the conflicts surrounding forestry in the Pacific Northwest. The stories told in this book could never be explained or understood in a 30 second television news broadcast. And while much of the news is depressing, this book offers hope for a brighter future where science, conservation, forestry, and consumer interests can meet for the future use of our forest resources.

A Usefully Complex Treatment of a Complex Issue.......2000-04-07

Natural resource management, like abortion, is one of those enormously complex political issues that too often gets reduced to dueling slogans and sound bites. William Dietrich does readers a great service by letting people from all sides of the issue (there are many more than two) speak at length, and by juxtaposing their views in ways that highlight similarities as well as differences. One of the book's running themes is that both loggers and environmentalists love the forests, but that each group has great difficulty seeing that quality in the other. Their mutual incomprehension is rooted in their utterly different ideas of why forests are important, and how humans ought to relate to them.

This deep philosophical difference is at least as old as the 20th century. John Muir, founder of the Sierra Club, and Gifford Pinchot, first chief of the US Forest Service, fought battles similar to the ones Dietrich describes back at the (last) turn of the century. Dietrich, a journalist writing about a present-day controversy, says very little about that history, and that choice makes the book less informative (and less helpful as a means to understanding the problem) than it might be.

Still, _The Final Forest_ is a valuable, well-balanced piece of journalism. It's a great resource for open-minded people on either side of the preservation vs. development debate, and a superb introduction for anyone coming to the issue for the first time.

Average customer rating:
Common Plants of the Inland Pacific Northwest

Manufacturer: Diane Pub.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Ring-bound
ASIN: 0756712386

Product Description

Provides a handy reference for the person engaged in identifying vascular plants commonly found in the intermountain Pacific Northwest. Contains a selection of 200 trees, shrubs, forbs, grasses & sedges; it is not meant to be comprehensive. Provides a "user friendly" format for the important diagnostic species used to properly key to plant associations & habitat types for the upland vegetation in portions of eastern OR, eastern WA & adjacent west central ID. Includes color plates & line drawings to provide assurance that the plant shown & the plant identified were one & the same. Info. on the champion big trees, plus a listing to the new plants codes used nationally for the species.

Field Guide to Old-Growth Forests: Exploring Ancient Forest Ecosystems from California to the Pacific Northwest

Average customer rating:

more please!
Brings the magic alive
Outstanding contribution to forestry & ecological studies.

Field Guide to Old-Growth Forests: Exploring Ancient Forest Ecosystems from California to the Pacific Northwest
Larry Eifert
Manufacturer: Sasquatch Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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One might wonder why a field guide to old-growth forests is even necessary. After all, can't you just drive around the Pacific Northwest and get your fill of the big trees? Well, unfortunately, it's not that easy. With ancient forests in the region reduced to a tiny fraction of their former splendor in the space of a single human lifetime, most folks will need precise directions in order to navigate the burned-over clear-cuts and tree farms that now cover the land. This guide will get you into the storied woods--and much more. Locations and maps of many (but not all) great stands of old growth are provided, such as Northern California's Headwaters Forest, Oregon's Opal Creek Wilderness, Washington's Hoh Rainforest, and others north into British Columbia and Southeast Alaska. Additionally, a brief crash course in forest ecology places the giants in a broader ecosystem context, while descriptive passages cover identification and natural histories for common species.

However, "this field guide is not about the weighty scientific details, or the disputes about or denunciation of past timber practices," as the introduction cautions. "Instead, it's about access and appreciation." True, but once you learn how to find one of these impressive remnant forests, you'll wonder how so many others could be squandered.

Book Description

Old-growth forests contain more than just the world's tallest trees. Interactions between trees, plants, insects, fungus, streams, fish, and animals create a unique and delicate ecosystem that develops over many hundreds of years. This unique guide includes maps and directions on where to find these ancient forests, plus a wealth of natural history information.

Customer Reviews:

more please!.......2004-02-29

Larry Eifert assumes that only Portlanders and Seattleites will be reading his book. This book only mentions the old growth forests closest to Seattle. It fails to mention any old growth locations North of Mt. Rainier. If you live in Bellingham you would find this book close to useless. Although Washington has more old growth locations, he seems to cover the old growth sites in Oregon with more depth. Keep searching, you'll find a better book.

Brings the magic alive.......2001-10-21

This slim volume is fascinating, easy to read and beautifully illustrated. While it is not a thorough scientific treaty on the subject and doesn't provide information on the locations of ALL old growth (something I kind of expected from the title) it is nevertheless an exquisite introduction.
Having contacted Larry Eifert about the book I have to also say that he and wife Nancy are extremely friendly and helpful, not only pointing me in the direction of other information and advising on the best places to visit but also sending me further of his works gratis! In particular, a wonderful little chart describing the creatures and plants of the Redwoods which was the perfect suppliment to the Field Guide.

Outstanding contribution to forestry & ecological studies........2000-06-04

Field Guide to Old Growth Forests isn't a scientific treatise on old growth forests, but a guide to accessing and appreciating them, blending a science guide with a travel handbook. A review of the natural history of old growth forests blends with the author's pen and ink drawings and tips on where to find the remaining old growth forests.

Trees Of The Pacific Northwest (Trees of the Us)

Average customer rating:

Not in color, but handy.

Trees Of The Pacific Northwest (Trees of the Us)
George A. Petrides
Manufacturer: Stackpole Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0811731677

Book Description

For wilderness travelers and backyard naturalists alike, the sheer number and variety of North American trees can make identification a daunting task. For those who have struggled to distinguish the Pacific Yew from the Redwood or the Quaking Aspen from the Fremont Cottonwood comes Trees of the U.S., a user-friendly series of field guides. Ingeniously organized to allow for easy reference, each book in the series offers complete coverage of a given region of the United States and includes detailed and accurate illustrations of each species. Best of all, these guides are compact and lightweight, making them easy to throw in a pack and take along on a hike or camping trip.

Customer Reviews:

Not in color, but handy........2007-05-12

Enjoying this book. It is well organized and includes many species that are imported to the PNW, not just native species.

The book could use more color, but it is inexpensive and a book that can take abuse outdoors and not feel bad about maybe ruining it.

Douglas Fir (Habitats (Childrens Press).)

Average customer rating:

Clear, effective nature education

Douglas Fir (Habitats (Childrens Press).)
Wendy Davis
Manufacturer: Children's Press (CT)
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Ages 4-8 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0516260642

Customer Reviews:

Clear, effective nature education.......2005-10-26

Although pitched at children ages 4-8, this book could effectively serve as a brief introduction to old growth forests of the Pacific Northwest for any reader. The story follows a Douglas fir tree's life cycle, including its vital role after death. The well-chosen color photographs clearly present the animals and plants of this wondrous ecosystem, and the text descriptions, though concise, include enough colorful adjectives to avoid boring readers. The design is much less busy than that of the Dorling Kindersley books, promoting a calmer pace that allows beginning readers to focus more clearly on the text.

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