Strange Harvests：The Hidden Histories of Seven Natural Objects

Anoriginalandmagicalmapofourworldanditsriches,formedofthestoriesofthesmall-scaleharvestsofsevennaturalobjectsInthisbeguilingbook,EdwardPosnettjourneystosomeofthemostfar-flunglocalesontheplanettobringussevenwondersofthenaturalworld--eiderdown,vicuñafiber,seasilk,vegetableivory,civetcoffee,guano,andediblebirds'nests--thatpromisewaysofusingnaturewithoutdamagingit.Totherestoftheworldthesematerialsaremerecommodities,buttotheirharvesterstheyareimbuedwithmyth,tradition,folklore,andritual,andformpartofasharedidentityandhistory.StrangeHarvestsfollowsthejourneysoftheseuncommonproductsfromsomeofthemostremoteareasoftheworldtoitsmostpopulatedurbancenters,drawingonthevoicesofthepeopleandlittle-knowncommunitieswhoharvest,process,andtradethem.Blendinghistory,travelwriting,andinterviews,Posnettsetsthesehumanstoriesagainstourchangingeconomicandecologicallandscape.Whatdotheytellusaboutcapitalism,globalmarketforces,andoverharvesting?Howdolocalmicroeconomiessurviveinahyperconnectedworld?Isitpossibleforustolivetogetherwithdifferentspecies?StrangeHarvestsmakesusseetheworldwithwonder,curiosity,andnewconcern.