Rodale's 21st-Century Herbal: A Practical Guide for Healthy Living Using Nature's Most Powerful Plants
After many years of research and writing, I'm delighted that the "21st Century Herbal: A Practical Guide for Healthy Living Using Nature's Most Powerful Plants" was released by Rodale Press on April 29th. This book was a lot of fun to work on--it's modeled after the "Herball, Or Generall Historie of Plantes" written by John Gerard and published in 1597. His was a remarkable book, a medical self help reference that physicians and families could turn to for healing wisdom, using herbs. I've tried to do something similar, while updating the medical, horticultural, botanical, phytochemical, culinary, craft and gardening information. Included are "Field Notes" or observations made on traditional uses of plants during NYBG ethnobotanical journeys. There is also an extraordinary collection of color photos--180+ herbs taken by my friend Steven Foster, the noted herbalist and very talented plant photographer. I'm grateful that other friends contributed to this project, including Drs. Tieraona Low Dog and Andrew Weil. This book resulted from a discussion that Ethne Clarke and I had way back when during a visit hosted by Tom Newmark at his spice farm and ecolodge in Costa Rica, Finca Luna Nueva. A great environment to think, talk, plan and be humbled and inspired by the wisdom and beauty of nature. Thanks to many friends who contributed in so many ways and to the great folks at Rodale and NYBG for a beautifully designed book and remarkable writing experience!