Between Urban and Wild

Reflections from Colorado

Nonfiction, Science & Nature, Nature
Cover of the book Between Urban and Wild by Andrea M. Jones, University of Iowa Press
View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart
Author: Andrea M. Jones ISBN: 9781609382124
Publisher: University of Iowa Press Publication: November 1, 2013
Imprint: University Of Iowa Press Language: English
Author: Andrea M. Jones
ISBN: 9781609382124
Publisher: University of Iowa Press
Publication: November 1, 2013
Imprint: University Of Iowa Press
Language: English

In her calm, carefully reasoned perspective on place, Andrea Jones focuses on the familiar details of country life balanced by the larger responsibilities that come with living outside an urban boundary. Neither an environmental manifesto nor a prodevelopment defense, Between Urban and Wild operates partly on a practical level, partly on a naturalist’s level. Jones reflects on life in two homes in the Colorado Rockies, first in Fourmile Canyon in the foothills west of Boulder, then near Cap Rock Ridge in central Colorado. Whether negotiating territory with a mountain lion, balancing her observations of the predatory nature of pygmy owls against her desire to protect a nest of nuthatches, working to reduce her property’s vulnerability to wildfire while staying alert to its inherent risks during fire season, or decoding the distinct personalities of her horses, she advances the tradition of nature writing by acknowledging the effects of sprawl on a beloved landscape.

Although not intended as a manual for landowners, Between Urban and Wild nonetheless offers useful and engaging perspectives on the realities of settling and living in a partially wild environment. Throughout her ongoing journey of being home, Jones’s close observations of the land and its native inhabitants are paired with the suggestion that even small landholders can act to protect the health of their properties. Her brief meditations capture and honor the subtleties of the natural world while illuminating the importance of working to safeguard it.

Probing the contradictions of a lifestyle that burdens the health of the land that she loves, Jones’s writing is permeated by her gentle, earnest conviction that living at the urban-wild interface requires us to set aside self-interest, consider compromise, and adjust our expectations and habits—to accommodate our surroundings rather than force them to accommodate us.

View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart

In her calm, carefully reasoned perspective on place, Andrea Jones focuses on the familiar details of country life balanced by the larger responsibilities that come with living outside an urban boundary. Neither an environmental manifesto nor a prodevelopment defense, Between Urban and Wild operates partly on a practical level, partly on a naturalist’s level. Jones reflects on life in two homes in the Colorado Rockies, first in Fourmile Canyon in the foothills west of Boulder, then near Cap Rock Ridge in central Colorado. Whether negotiating territory with a mountain lion, balancing her observations of the predatory nature of pygmy owls against her desire to protect a nest of nuthatches, working to reduce her property’s vulnerability to wildfire while staying alert to its inherent risks during fire season, or decoding the distinct personalities of her horses, she advances the tradition of nature writing by acknowledging the effects of sprawl on a beloved landscape.

Although not intended as a manual for landowners, Between Urban and Wild nonetheless offers useful and engaging perspectives on the realities of settling and living in a partially wild environment. Throughout her ongoing journey of being home, Jones’s close observations of the land and its native inhabitants are paired with the suggestion that even small landholders can act to protect the health of their properties. Her brief meditations capture and honor the subtleties of the natural world while illuminating the importance of working to safeguard it.

Probing the contradictions of a lifestyle that burdens the health of the land that she loves, Jones’s writing is permeated by her gentle, earnest conviction that living at the urban-wild interface requires us to set aside self-interest, consider compromise, and adjust our expectations and habits—to accommodate our surroundings rather than force them to accommodate us.

More books from University of Iowa Press

Cover of the book Art Quilts the Midwest by Andrea M. Jones
Cover of the book Take Nothing With You by Andrea M. Jones
Cover of the book The American H.D. by Andrea M. Jones
Cover of the book Woman Suffrage and Citizenship in the Midwest, 1870-1920 by Andrea M. Jones
Cover of the book How to Live, What to Do by Andrea M. Jones
Cover of the book Esther's Town by Andrea M. Jones
Cover of the book Teaching Tainted Lit by Andrea M. Jones
Cover of the book Pynchon's California by Andrea M. Jones
Cover of the book The Promise of Failure by Andrea M. Jones
Cover of the book Ghostly Figures by Andrea M. Jones
Cover of the book Poisonous Muse by Andrea M. Jones
Cover of the book The Mythical Bill by Andrea M. Jones
Cover of the book Coming Close by Andrea M. Jones
Cover of the book Invisible Hawkeyes by Andrea M. Jones
Cover of the book Congotronic by Andrea M. Jones
We use our own "cookies" and third party cookies to improve services and to see statistical information. By using this website, you agree to our Privacy Policy