ALBANY, NY.- Audubon Lifestyles Aannounces the release of a new book entitled On The Farm - The Uncertain Future of an American Legacy written by Ron Dodson, author of several books on conservation and sustainability, and illustrated with paintings that capture the spirit of farm life by Adriano Manocchia, Official Conservation Artist of ISC-Audubon. The soft cover book that measures 10.5"x7.5", retails for $21.95, and contains 74 pages with 28 color plates. The forward is written by Stephen Jones, Ph.D. President of Antioch University New England, an Senior Fellow, ISC-Audubon. The book was made possible through the financial support of Gerald Forsythe of the Forsythe Family Farms. Mr. Forsythe who was born in Marshall, Illinois, is an American businessman and auto racing magnate who is also active in cattle ranching and farming, and maintains a farm in his native Marshall.
Ronald G. Dodson is an award winning wildlife biologist, who resides in the Albany, NY area, but was born and raised amidst the farm fields of Southern Indiana. Adriano Manocchia, who was born in New York City but moved several years ago in the picturesque village of Cambridge in upstate New York, a community surrounded by a pristine farm-life environment, is considered a Master in contemporary realism. Their collaborative efforts have resulted in the creation of a book that is both entertaining and educational. Inspired by the need to promote sustainability in a society where its rapidly changing and urbanizing tendencies often result in loosing connections with the source of our food, the book is intended not only as a celebration of farming heritage in America, but also as a way of showcasing sustainability examples and lifestyles.
Mr. Dodson’s text reveals unexpected facets of farm life sometimes frustrating, sometimes exhilarating, bringing to the forefront the need to embrace again a way of life that had been nearly universal for most of recorded history and that only in the last few decades has experienced an unsustainable collapse. In contraposition the serene and lyrical images that Adriano Manocchia was inspired to create after his extensive research, speak of a serene world of bucolic beauty and strong family ties.
“While this book is titled “On The Farm: The Uncertain Future of an American Legacy”, - writes Mr. Dodson – “the story is really about those individuals who refer to themselves as farmers. There are all sorts of people who consider themselves to be farmers. I am related to many farmers and I personally spent many hours working on a farm in my youth. Just like the old saying about it taking effort to turn a house into a home, so does it take hard work and special, dedicated people to turn a piece of land into a farm.”
The International Sustainability Council-Audubon (ISC-Audubon) is a not-for-profit organization that works to foster sustainable living and lifestyles. ISC-Audubon encourages people from all walks of life to embrace and practice conservation and stewardship of the Earth, where they live, work and play. A selection of paintings featured in the book will be offered for sale. Proceeds from the sale of the book and other related products, will benefit the Seeds Fund of ISC-Audubon's.
