I am glad you will be exposed to BOTH Now in November and Grapes of Wrath. Few people have read the former, and that's a pity, I think.
I am especially interested in how Johnson's novel has started to be rediscovered by eco-critics, so I would like to hear observations about her views of land stewardship and nature. Dr. Perry
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As a topic of interest and discussion, I researched land stewardship, and found "Four Guiding Principles" that were published by The Landship Stewardship Centre, a Canadian based non-profit charity. On this website www.landstewardship.org, the following "Four Guiding Principles were stated:
ReplyDelete1.Caring for the system as a whole - understanding the fundamental roles and values of natural systems, building up biological fertility in the soil, incorporating an understanding of the ecological cycles on the landscape (water, energy, nutrients) and how land-use practices can either benefit, be in harmony, or negatively impact these cycles and other land-users, flora and fauna.
2.Resource conservation - maximizing efficiency and striving to reduce the one-time consumption of renewable and non-renewable resources; aiming for long-term optimization versus short-term maximization of production.
3.Maintaining, building and enhancing stability in Nature - maintain and encourage natural biological diversity and complexity; maintaining natural areas and functions on the land (a.k.a. wildlife habitat conservation).
4.Cultural values and ethics - caring for the health of the land for future generations and long-term economic stability; the link between civilization, urbanization, and the land-base and ecosystems that are vital to survival; the intrinsic value and right to exist of all life on Earth.
Though I only focused on the first "Two Guiding Principles", I asked the following questions:
-How does Frank display characteristics of "caring for the system as a whole?"
-What examples are shown in the book showing Frank practice "resource conservation"?
Also, regarding the theme of nature, I asked the following:
-Describe Marget and Merle's close relationship to nature.
-What examples in the book show nature's healing power through the characters of Marget and Merle?
Delete the name Frank and insert Arnold.
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