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THE UNTRAINED ENVIRONMENTALIST by John Fenton Allen & Unwin, Australia, 2010 ISBN 978-1-74237-019-4 (320pp tpb) Available: www.allenandunwin.com Tee THE UNTRAINED ENVIRONMENTALIST. aw as astiwken n 1957, at twenty-one, John Fenton took over his family's degraded grazing property in southwestern Victoria. Over the decades, John, his wife Cicely and family transformed it into a lush, productive, ecologically sustainable farm by planting trees for windbreaks and shade, creating lakes and forest stands, restoring wetlands and establishing wildlife reserves. The photographs documenting the transformation over the years show stunning comparisons. Initially the Fentons were derided by their neighbours, but it didn't take too long for their property, "Lanark", to show positive signs of recovery. In time, the huge enterprise took its toll on John and Cicely: many times they asked if they were sacrificing their economic livelihoods for the sake of saving the environment. John Fenton admits to being an untrained, even accidenta environmentalist, but he's learned so much over the years that he's passed on to his children as well as to fellow graziers, students, agriculturalists, scientists and academics. To him, farmers are custodians of the land they tend, and he thinks there's a case for governments to provide incentives and funds for farmers to restore their land when costs might be prohibitive: As, RE E S QUALITY HEALTH SUPPLEMENTS! ee VITAMINS, MINERALS, PURE MSM, PERSONAL THE UNTRAINED Fenton's experience, recounted ENVIRONMENTALIST with anecdotes and grounded, CARE, HOME CARE, by John Fenton practical advice, is an inspiration for BOOKS & MORE! Allen & Unwin, Australia, 2010 those who want to work the land in ISBN 978-1-74237-019-4 (320pp tpb) “harmony with nature. OMNIHE, ALTH Available: .allenandunwin.com Tye Screns “we THE SELF-SUFFICIENCY BIBLE Becante ie ome " wwew.omnihealt by Simon Dawson TRL A - Watkins Publishing, London, 2010 vorveneretam pencilled ISBN 978-I-906787-68-4 (323pp hc) Avail: www.watkinspublishing.co.uk hether you're aiming to become TAKE NUMEROL OG A more self-reliant in the city or in QUANTUM LEAP FORE: RD the country, there's something here THE UNTRAINED for you whatever your needs or USE THESE ENVIRONMENTALIST circumstances. The Self-Sufficiency Bible . S001 GUITAR 4 is written by Simon Dawson, a former TOOLS TO. ee London real estate agent who in 2000 a pera! net anus E : left the fast lane and, with his wife o _ cmua en ' Pe dGAN FENTON Debbie, bought eight hectares on ae. & Tatura dicections Exmoor, Devon. They grow their own « Macter year n 1957, at twenty-one, John Fenton __ fruit and vegetables, raise livestock Destiny took over his family's degraded and teach courses on self-sufficiency, - «Live your bre grazing property in southwestern smallholding and basic butchery. In . birth poteatial Victoria. Over the decades, John, his —_ 2008 they received an award ina wife Cicely and family transformed it "Local Food Hero" campaign—a into a lush, productive, ecologically reward on a long learning curve. sustainable farm by planting trees for Sure, knowing how to look after windbreaks and shade, creating lakes farm animals and prepare cuts of and forest stands, restoring wetlands meat may not be for everyone, but and establishing wildlife reserves. he information is here, spelled out The photographs documenting the with easily understandable text and transformation over the years show illustrations. For the green of thumb, stunning comparisons. here's advice on planning, planting Initially the Fentons were derided and harvesting a kitchen garden or by their neighbours, but it didn't take even a window box if you're a city too long for their property, "Lanark", dweller with limited space. to show positive signs of recovery. In Simon Dawson has a down-to- time, the huge enterprise took its toll Earth waste-not, want-not auver-numabersulle, com. on John and Cicely: many times they philosophy, so he has plenty of Safire lho UCR, BT AAT OC asked if they were sacrificing their handy hints on recycling and economic livelihoods for the sake of harnessing renewable energy as well PURE MSM-NO ADDITIVES! saving the environment. as on curing and preserving foods John Fenton admits to being an and foraging in the countryside for untrained, even accidental edible greens. There's advice on environmentalist, but he's learned so baking, brewing and dairying, natural METHYLSULFONYLMETHANE much over the years that he's passed _health/beauty solutions, arty-crafty PURE ORGANIC SULFUR on to his children as well as to fellow pursuits including basket-weaving graziers, students, agriculturalists, and clothes-making, and creating : scientists and academics. To him, nutritious home-cooked meals. Plus, farmers are custodians of the land they __ there are tips on how to involve the OMNIHEALTH tend, and he thinks there's a case for __ kids. Simon Dawson writes with an governments to provide incentives infectious joy and passion in this Www. ormn nihealth. com.au and funds for farmers to restore their practical, modern approach to self- land when costs might be prohibitive: sufficiency and sustainable living. Fenton's experience, recounted with anecdotes and grounded, practical advice, is an inspiration for those who want to work the land in harmony with nature. NEXUS ¢ 77 OCTOBER - NOVEMBER 2010 www.nexusmagazine.com