Agricultural & Food Sciences

From the author of The Moth in the Iron Lung comes a riveting exploration of how science, technology, and fear transformed our relationship with one of humanity's most ancient foods. Once revered as nature's perfect nourishment, milk became public enemy number one as germ theory unleashed collective panic about the invisible world within our food. Forrest Maready uncovers the fascinating, forgotten story of how this fear—epitomized by the notorious "swill milk" scandal—reshaped our food landscape forever.

Ready to grow your own slice of perpetual summer, no matter the weather outside? Dreaming of fresh herbs in February while the world’s still scraping ice off windshields… but unsure where to start? If so, this book’s for you, greenhouse dreamer. And it’s time to make those dreams come true. Whether you’ve dabbled in gardening or your biggest green achievement is fridge mold, Greenhouse Gardening for the Absolute Beginner is your no-fuss, step-by-step roadmap to a thriving year-round garden.

The Ultimate Beginner's Guide to Raising Backyard Chickens takes you step by step from novice to expert, covering everything from choosing the best chicken breeds to building a secure coop and ensuring a healthy, happy flock.

Wildfire shares the drama, hardships, and experiences of the firefighters who try, sometimes in vain, to prevent destruction when a spark flares out of control. Hansen tells the rich and frightening stories of the firefighters themselves and the challenges they face: a safety system struggling to keep up with fire seasons that are lengthening, fires that are becoming more extreme, and agencies that are struggling to cover the bills.

There’s no denying it: we treat our planet like dirt. Humanity’s impact has become a geologic force changing the climate and threatening oceans, glaciers, and the lands that feed us. Living in rural Indiana, author Kelsey Timmerman witnesses first-hand the damage modern industrial agriculture has done to our land and our communities. He’s afraid to let his kids swim in the nearby pond filled with farm runoff. There are times, after manure from giant chicken factories has been spread on the surrounding fields, that it’s hard to breathe.