In the Culture of the Land series.

Theologian, academic, and third-generation organic 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.

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.

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.

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.

Reviews:

"Kirschenmann is right up there with the other agronomic philosophers- Wendell Berry and Wes Jackson. His book is an unfailingly interesting reflection on his own farming experience. It should inspire everyone to start planting and to think deeply about the food we eat." -Marion Nestle, author of Food Politics: How the Food Industry Influences Nutrition and Health and What to Eat

"Fred Kirschenmann is a first-team All-Agrarian. His message in this fine collection is both unique and essential for solving what Wes Jackson rightly calls the ten-thousand-year problem of agriculture." -Bill Vitek, coeditor of The Virtues of Ignorance: Complexity, Sustainability, and the Limits of Knowledge

"Folks who care about farming and the land will enjoy this book. . . . You can't go wrong"-University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign