
A thoughtful meditation on humanity’s place within the living world, this work opens by urging readers to see the earth not merely as a resource but as a sacred partner in a larger cosmic design. Drawing on philosophy, science, and spirituality, it challenges the complacency that comes from treating the planet’s bounty as an endless gift, and asks us to reconsider what true responsibility looks like beyond everyday moral conventions.
Through clear, measured prose, the author explores how modern industry and materialism have distanced us from the natural foundations that sustain us. He proposes a renewed vision in which the earth’s “native” materials are regarded with reverence, reshaping ideas of ownership, community, and personal fulfillment. The early chapters set the stage for a compelling call to align our actions with a deeper, more cooperative relationship to the planet, inviting listeners to reflect on how their everyday choices echo within the broader tapestry of life.
Language
en
Duration
~3 hours (211K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Produced by Bryan Ness, Asad Razzaki and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This book was produced from scanned images of public domain material from the Google Print project.)
Release date
2010-07-15
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

1858–1954
A pioneering horticulturist and writer, he helped shape modern American gardening while urging people to look at plants, farming, and rural life with fresh curiosity. His work at Cornell and his many books made him one of the most influential voices in agriculture and botany of his era.
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