Featured Resource: Regenerating the Ecology of Place

How does ecology play a role in our sense of being part of a community and a specific place? Let's look at the root meaning of ecology: Eco — or "oikos" in Greek — means "home," as in a good fit where connections and interactions are managed as a unit or system. Dr. Wayne Teel is a professor of geography in James Madison University’s Department of Integrated Science and Technology where he teaches about soils and their management and protection and explores the role of ecology in its care.

 In his recently published textbook Regenerating the Ecology of Place, Wayne shares from his ongoing research and experience in working with farmers and landowners in the U.S., Kenya, Mozambique, and other countries where landscapes are brittle and the care of natural resources can be tenuous. Wayne emphasizes that context and history are critical and that we can always learn what not to do by learning from our past and the history of previous civilizations. We all have to do our part in the communities, places, and contexts that we find ourselves. We can manage ecological interactions better and reconnect with cropping and livestock systems that heal soils, land, local waterways, and build a greater sense of home and place.

Teel, W.S. (2022). Regenerating the Ecology of Place, 1st edition. Cognella Academic Publishing. Available to order in eBooks and hard copies athttps://titles.cognella.com/regenerating-the-ecology-of-place-9781516585656