Nature

A holistic appraisal of 24 of the best-loved trees of Europe and North America, presented with stunningly beautiful paintings, drawings and photographs.

Trees are one of Earth's oldest life forms; silent witnesses to human evolution and the passing of time. Many people today are unaware of their significance in Earth's ecology, their medicinal and nutritional properties, or the veneration bestowed on them by ancient peoples.

This book captures all these elements in an inspiring holistic appraisal. Hageneder looks in detail at 24 of Europe and North America's best-loved trees: their physical characteristics, their healing powers, the traditions associated with them and how they have inspired human beings through the ages.

Beautifully illustrated with black and white photographs and illustrations.

• By an acclaimed author in his field
• Challenges the ideas of our modern scientific culture
• Far-reaching consequences for how we understand and relate to the natural world

Our scientific culture, which gave birth to modern technology, is in desperate need of change. Science has largely meant groups of specialists working in separate disciplines, seeking answers to narrowly defined questions which have little or nothing to do with the living world. The last few years, however, have seen a shift to a more integrated, holistic approach to how we view and understand our world. 

There is still much work to be done. Most modern people have come to accept a fragmented culture whereby science isolates us from the natural world. As a result, we feel we can govern it and dominate it as we please. Brian Goodwin, acclaimed author of How the Leopard Changed Its Spots, argues for a view of nature as complex, interrelated networks of relationships. He proposes that, in order for us to once again work with nature to achieve true sustainability on our planet, we need to adopt a new science, new art, new design, new economics and new patterns of responsibility. We must be willing to pay nature its due: to recognise what we owe to the natural world and resist exploiting it solely for our own ends.

This is an ambitious, wide-ranging book with far-reaching consequences, and will be essential reading for all those interested in how nature and human culture can co-exist in the future.

• Pioneers a new Science of Nature
• Offers striking new arguments against GM technologies
• Proposes startling solutions to our energy needs
• Foreword by David Bellamy

Austrian naturalist Viktor Schauberger (1885-1958) was far ahead of his time. From his unusually detailed observations of the natural world, he pioneered a completely new understanding of how nature works. He also foresaw, and tried to warn against, the global waste and ecological destruction of our age. 

This book describes and explains Schauberger's insights in contemporary, accessible language. His remarkable discoveries -- which address issues such as sick water, ailing forests, climate change and, above all, renewable energy -- have dramatic implications for how we should work with nature and its resources.

Bees make honey; we all know that. But what happens between the bee buzzing around our backyard, and the sticky knife in the jar, is a mystery to most of us. How many bee-hours does it take to make just one jar of honey? What do the honeybees' waggling dances really mean? Why do bees swarm? What is a 'house bee'?

From exploring their life cycle and development, to revealing their societies and behavior, expert biodynamic beekeeper Michael Weiler answers these questions and many more.

Combining poetic observations with scientific detail, The Secrets of Bees vividly and affectionately describes the mysteries of the honeybee uncovering the incredible world of these remarkable insects.

In a world all too familiar with environmental disasters, Horst Kornberger argues that the bee crisis is a more significant problem than deforestation, pollution and global warming put together, as it points to the causes behind all these.

Global Hive is a rallying cry for a new understanding of world ecology. More than a study of bees, this book offers both an entirely new way of thinking about the bee crisis and its causes, and a way to use the crisis to explore wider social and ecological issues.

Kornberger despairs of the dominant scientific worldview that reduces everything to minute detail and fails to see the larger holistic picture. He argues that we urgently need to start thinking about ecology in a different way – with empathy and imagination – if we want to mend our relationship with the natural world. From this perspective, the worldwide threat of the bee crisis becomes a starting point for global change.

Global Hive is a thought-provoking treatise on what colony collapse teaches us about our society, our choices and how we can build a more sustainable world.

A unique understanding of individual mammals, fish and birds which also offers insight into human nature.

Karl Konig, the founder of the Camphill movement, had great compassion and empathy for people on the margins of society. He also felt the same brotherly feelings towards the animal world. This remarkable book offers a closer understanding of some specific mammals, fish and birds and, along the way, great insight into human nature as well.