The Pull of the Earth: Participatory Ethnography in the School Garden

(Paperback)

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Description

The Pull of the Earth is Laurie Thorp's dirt-under-the-fingernails ethnography of four years in an elementary school garden and the ways in which this garden catalyzed cultural transformation and inspired hope, growth, and community. Filled with photographs, sketches, poetry, and journal entries, Thorp's engaging book describes the educational benefits of learning through the environment: lessons on nutrition, the rhythms and cycles found in nature, and the stability found in entering a reciprocal relationship with the land. It will be a valuable resource for educators, environmentalists, and ethnographers.

Reviews

The Pull of the Earth is an exemplary blend of collaborative ethnography and participatory research. With contributions from diverse school participants including the students themselves Thorp and her collaborators chart a powerful course of action for planting roots in locality, service, and citizenship. It is indeed a wonderful book. -- Luke Eric Lassiter, Marshall University

Author Bio

Laurie Thorp directs the Residential Initiative on the Study of the Environment Program for Michigan State University.