Book Description

This book examines how culture in South Jersey relates agriculture and landscape in the region. Recognizing culture as the central force of social, economic, and ecological change, it looks at how communities might push themselves towards cultures that are more reflective of agricultural an ecological rhythms. The writing is best described as a reflection of the humanistic side of the social sciences, in the tradition of works like Robert Bellah's Habits of the Heart. The book is about re-embedding the culture of Southern New Jersey in the agriculture and ecology of the region and stresses that doing so involves not only looking at the lives of families farmers and the work of environmentalists or local naturalist but also at the arts, architecture, history, philosophy, and religion. The book's four main essays, which focus on farms suburbs, capitals, and celebrations, create an effective mode for the local application of the ever-negotiated principles of ecological thought. Together they offer direction as to how we might begin to embed our social systems in the natural systems that surround us. This book is thoroughly illustrated. Hawaii.