Additional information
by Frederick L. Kirschenmann (Author), Constance L. Falk (Editor)
Theologian, academic, and certified Biodynamic farmer Frederick L. Kirschenmann is a celebrated agricultural thinker. In the last thirty years he has tirelessly promoted the principles of sustainability and has become a legend in his own right. Kirschenmann was a keynote speaker at the 2010 Biodynamic National Conference. Cultivating an Ecological Conscience: Essays from a Farmer Philosopher documents Kirschenmann's evolution and his lifelong contributions to the new agrarianism in a collection of his greatest writings on farming, philosophy, and sustainability.
Working closely with agricultural economist and editor Constance L. Falk, Kirschenmann recounts his intellectual and spiritual journey. In a unique blend of personal history, philosophical discourse, spiritual ruminations, and practical advice, Kirschenmann interweaves his insights with discussion of contemporary agrarian topics. This collection serves as an invaluable resource to agrarian scholars and introduces readers to an agricultural pioneer whose work has profoundly influenced modern thinking about food.
Front Jacket
For more than thirty years, Frederick L. Kirschenmann has explored the ethical and practical principles of sustainable agriculture. An accomplished theologian, philosopher, and third-generation farmer, Kirschenmann is a dynamic leading voice in the dialogue about the challenges of modern agriculture.
Cultivating an Ecological Conscience: Essays from a Farmer Philosopher follows Kirschenmann's personal and professional evolution as a lifelong proponent of new agrarianism. Together with agricultural economist Constance L. Falk, Kirschenmann has compiled a collection of his essential writings on farming, philosophy, and sustainability. In this fascinating blend of personal history, philosophical discourse, spiritual ruminations, and practical advice, Kirschenmann shares candid, valuable insights into the agricultural challenges facing the modern world and the necessity of achieving ecologically sound and responsible stewardship of the land.
Cultivating an Ecological Conscience follows the development of Kirschenmann's long and distinguished career, from childhood lessons learned on the family farm to his inventive approaches for addressing contemporary agrarian issues. More than a mere retrospective, these essays serve as an introduction to the life and work of an extraordinary agricultural thinker.
Though sustainability has been a concern for ages, modern farming practices typically value quantity over quality and profit over ecology, increasing the need for sustainable agriculture and natural cultivation methods. In Cultivating an Ecological Conscience, a modern-day agricultural pioneer addresses the complex challenges inherent in meeting the world's increasing food needs and the many environmental obstacles we must overcome.
Author Biography
Frederick L. Kirschenmann, Distinguished Fellow at the Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture in Ames, Iowa, and president of the Stone Barns Center for Food and Agriculture at Pocantico Hills, New York, has published articles in many books including Farm Aid: A Song For America and Sustainable Agroecosystem Management. He lives in Ames, Iowa.
Constance L. Falk, professor of agricultural economics and agricultural business at New Mexico State University, has been published in the Journal of Food Distribution Research, HortTechnology, and the Journal of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Education. She lives in Las Cruces, New Mexico.
