Sticky Fingers in the African Forest


Book Description

Folk tale from the Shona African proverb Kukurukura hunge wapotswa which teaches children that stealing is never a good idea.




One Green Thumb and Nine Sticky Fingers


Book Description

The mythic Greek Sphinx—part lion, woman, and eagle—has endured erosion for five thousand years. She is a symbol of wisdom and mystery and my personal symbol of an invisible, toxic plague that continues to seep into Mother Earth. In ancient Greece, she was a symbol of an enigmatic death demon. If no traveler could answer her riddle, he or she was strangled. Today she represents civilization's pollution time bomb that Mother Earth may soon be unable to defuse. In Neolithic times (Stone Age), the first humans painted with ochre earth and animal blood on cave walls to capture the animal's spirit, mana. The tribe's survival depended on the hunter's kill. Mother Earth was revered. She nourished man, beast, and spirit. Through ritual offerings, humans created the necessary structure to reduce chaos and allowed them to survive and flourish. One Green Thumb and Nine Sticky Fingers is both a serious and humorous guide that highlights some of the ancient sacred rituals and cycles and will inspire both novice and expert gardeners of today. Natural cycles are the spine and theme of One Green Thumb. This book reminds my readers that to survive, modern man must live in balance with plants and animals. This book will inspire individuals and families who want to learn how to understand and grow organic vegetables and flowers, enjoy the protection and privacy of trees, and promote a more balanced lifestyle for themselves and humanity. Mother Nature's rhythmic cycles are signposts that guide the reader through mankind's eons of trial and error with her gifts: the ability to recognize wild weeds as edible herbs as well as to plant and harvest healthy organic plants. The reader learns here to follow the simplest rules of horticulture to maintain humans', animals', and insects' life cycle integrity. We can learn to re-educate ourselves to respect all creatures right to life without poisoning ourselves with toxic chemicals. With inspiration and education, today's gardeners will contribute toward a more harmonious and productive future environment for humanity.







Lost Crops of Africa


Book Description

This report is the second in a series of three evaluating underexploited African plant resources that could help broaden and secure Africa's food supply. The volume describes the characteristics of 18 little-known indigenous African vegetables (including tubers and legumes) that have potential as food- and cash-crops but are typically overlooked by scientists and policymakers and in the world at large. The book assesses the potential of each vegetable to help overcome malnutrition, boost food security, foster rural development, and create sustainable landcare in Africa. Each species is described in a separate chapter, based on information gathered from and verified by a pool of experts throughout the world. Volume I describes African grains and Volume III African fruits.




Horns, Tusks, and Flippers


Book Description

Since the extinction of the dinosaurs, hoofed mammals have been the planet's dominant herbivores. Native to all continents except Australia and Antarctica, recent paleontological and biological discoveries have deepened understanding of their evolution. This text reveals their evolutionary history.




Watchers of the Dead


Book Description

An escaped assassin. A group of cannibals on the run. A threatening letter. Newspaper reporter Alec Lonsdale is on the case in this compelling Victorian mystery. “All Londoners will see what the Watchers are capable of on Christmas Eve ..." December 1882. Attending the opening of the new Natural History Museum, Pall Mall Gazette reporter Alec Lonsdale and his colleague Hulda Friederichs are shocked to discover a body in the basement, hacked to death. Suspicion immediately falls on a trio of cannibals, brought over from the Congo as museum exhibits, who have disappeared without trace. Alec however has his doubts – especially when he discovers that three other influential London men have been similarly murdered. When he and Hulda discover a letter in the victim’s home warning of a catastrophic event planned for Christmas Eve, the pair find themselves in a race against time to discover who exactly the Watchers are and what it is they want ...




Useful Trees of East Africa


Book Description

Useful trees of East Africa, is the second book of the author on indigenous trees for the East African region. The first book, Growth and Cultivation of 85 Indigenous Trees of Uganda, published in 2010 is out of print. This new version describes 130 mostly indigenous species of Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania. Special attention is given to services of the trees to humans and the environment. It includes a complete botanical description, wood properties, wood products, propagation, management, and distribution of the trees. For identification purposes icons are used, local and botanical names are provided, as more than 500 pictures of the trees, made by the author.




Field Guide to the Frogs & Other Amphibians of Africa


Book Description

815 species of amphibian have been described on the African continent – 788 frogs, 23 caecilians and four salamanders. Field Guide to the Frogs & other Amphibians of Africa is the first guide ever to cover all these species. The book features a brief introduction with tips for handling and identifying amphibians. A useful illustrated guide to each family group serves as a first step towards species ID. Species accounts describe physical features, distribution, habitat, biology, advertisement calls and conservation status, and are supported by colour photographs and up-to-date distribution maps. Field Guide to the Frogs & Other Amphibians of Africa will prove invaluable to nature lovers, tour guides, students and scientists. Sales points: A first of its kind; facilitates identification of hundreds of species; photographic guide to amphibian groups; informative species accounts; glossary (partially illustrated) explaining all technical terms




Nature Watch -- Lizards


Book Description

With over 150 superb action shots and artworks of lizards, children will not fail to be hooked on learning more about these fascinating creatures.




Mammals of Africa


Book Description

Mammals of Africa (MoA) is a series of six volumes which describes, in detail, every currently recognized species of African land mammal. This is the first time that such extensive coverage has ever been attempted, and the volumes incorporate the very latest information and detailed discussion of the morphology, distribution, biology and evolution (including reference to fossil and molecular data) of Africa's mammals. With 1,160 species and 16 orders, Africa has the greatest diversity and abundance of mammals in the world. The reasons for this and the mechanisms behind their evolution are given special attention in the series. Each volume follows the same format, with detailed profiles of every species and higher taxa. The series includes some 660 colour illustrations by Jonathan Kingdon and his many drawings highlight details of morphology and behaviour of the species concerned. Diagrams, schematic details and line drawings of skulls and jaws are by Jonathan Kingdon and Meredith Happold. Every species also includes a detailed distribution map. Extensive references alert readers to more detailed information. Volume I: Introductory Chapters and Afrotheria (352 pages) Volume II: Primates (560 pages) Volume III: Rodents, Hares and Rabbits (784 pages) Volume IV: Hedgehogs, Shrews and Bats (800 pages) Volume V: Carnivores, Pangolins, Equids and Rhinoceroses (560 pages) Volume VI: Pigs, Hippopotamuses, Chevrotain, Giraffes, Deer and Bovids (704 pages)