Gretchen Kruesi

Chelsea Green 2018 Blog in Review

Chelsea Green Publishing: A Year In Review

By Gretchen Kruesi / December 28, 2018 / Comments Off on Chelsea Green Publishing: A Year In Review

It’s been quite the year here at Chelsea Green! We opened our first international office in London, England, launched a brand new website, published a ton of amazing books, welcomed new Grasshoppers to the team, and so much more! Grab a cuppa, settle in, and join us as we look back on what a great…

Read More
Bioregulatory Medicine

Modern Diseases and the Rise of the Allopathic Model

By Gretchen Kruesi / December 26, 2018 / Comments Off on Modern Diseases and the Rise of the Allopathic Model

Chronic and degenerative illnesses are largely new to mankind. In fact, diseases such as cancer, diabetes, fibromyalgia, and multiple sclerosis have been termed modern or man-made diseases because they were relatively rare until three hundred years or so ago. But if these diseases are relatively new, why are so many people plagued with chronic illness?…

Read More
row of books

The World Needs Books: Notes from an Editor

By Gretchen Kruesi / December 24, 2018 / Comments Off on The World Needs Books: Notes from an Editor

I’ve worked as an editor for 35 years—my entire adult life. In that time I have seen many changes in the publishing industry: faster computers, better software, and greater production from fewer and fewer actual workers. We could debate just how positive all this increased “efficiency” has been for publishing and for manufacturing as a…

Read More
newspaper stack

Chelsea Green Authors in the News: Extra, Extra, Read All About It!

By Gretchen Kruesi / December 21, 2018 / Comments Off on Chelsea Green Authors in the News: Extra, Extra, Read All About It!

One of the most rewarding parts of our job is working with an amazing roster of authors who are not only leaders in their fields but also passionate about spreading their knowledge to the world. So, when those authors are featured in the news talking about their books, sharing wisdom and insight, and getting people…

Read More
oil rig

Our History: A Look at Oil, Power, and War

By Gretchen Kruesi / December 12, 2018 / Comments Off on Our History: A Look at Oil, Power, and War

For centuries, humans have had a very strong interest in oil and it’s only getting more intense. Our dependency is reaching a concerning level which Matthieu Auzanneau speaks to in his book Oil, Power, and War. The following article was written by Frank Kaminski and was published on Resilience.org. In Oil, Power, and War, French…

Read More
solar panels

An Update on Passive Solar Living from James Kachadorian

By Gretchen Kruesi / December 4, 2018 / Comments Off on An Update on Passive Solar Living from James Kachadorian

Not only are Chelsea Green authors experts in their fields, from organic farming to solar living to green building, but they’re also part of our extended family. So it’s always nice when we get an update on how things are going! The following note is from James Kachadorian, author of The Passive Solar House. To…

Read More
liz marchall and sy montgomery

Lions and Tigers and Bears, Oh My!

By Gretchen Kruesi / December 1, 2018 / Comments Off on Lions and Tigers and Bears, Oh My!

Authors Sy Montgomery and Elizabeth Marshall Thomas discuss Tamed and Untamed: Close Encounters of the Animal Kind—a “most delectable potpourri of tales about a whole host of nonhuman animals”—with writer and friend Marc Bekoff. Q: Why did you write Tamed and Untamed ? Liz: Tamed and Untamed is a collection of columns we wrote for…

Read More
holding hands

Finding Balance for Your Body: Connecting the Dots

By Gretchen Kruesi / November 28, 2018 / Comments Off on Finding Balance for Your Body: Connecting the Dots

In recent years the concept of bioregulatory medicine has become increasingly popular throughout Europe. At its core is the notion that good health is a state of balance and optimal wellbeing, rather than the mere absence of disease and symptoms. To find that perfect state, bioregulatory medicine practitioners must remove whatever agents are blocking the healing process…

Read More
youth group

How The Great Migration Led to Urban Farming

By Gretchen Kruesi / November 26, 2018 / Comments Off on How The Great Migration Led to Urban Farming

For centuries, humans have been migrating in search of better land, opportunities, and quality of life. For some, those migrations were voluntary while others were forced to move due to far more sinister circumstances. The Great Migration is one such case. During the 1900’s through 1970, over six million black people left the rural south…

Read More
business planning

Lessons in Resilience: How to Plan a Successful Farm Business

By Gretchen Kruesi / November 14, 2018 / Comments Off on Lessons in Resilience: How to Plan a Successful Farm Business

Humans specialize in resilience. We have the capability to create wondrous things out of seemingly nothing and continuously reinvent ourselves. However, when the world is against us, it may seem impossible to accomplish our goals. Leah Penniman, co-founder of Soul Fire Farm, wanted nothing more than to be able to provide nourishing food for her…

Read More
Kurt Friese

Homage to Chef Kurt Michael Friese

By Gretchen Kruesi / October 31, 2018 / Comments Off on Homage to Chef Kurt Michael Friese

Chef Kurt Michael Friese, a Chelsea Green author and  friend to staff, contributors and readers, died at age 54  in his home in Iowa City, Iowa. It would be hard to find a more multi-talented and compassionate individual in America’s heartland. A tireless innovator and promoter of Iowa’s non-profits and for-profits, Kurt was a pivotal…

Read More
Two farmers fist bump

How to End a Food Apartheid

By Gretchen Kruesi / October 30, 2018 / Comments Off on How to End a Food Apartheid

Apartheid ended in 1994, right? Not according to Leah Penniman, a young, black farmer living in the South End of Albany, NY where a modern day apartheid is taking place. At the root of this issue? Food. Or better said, the lack of access to affordable, healthy food options in Black communities across the country…

Read More
argument

How to Cheat In an Argument: A Beginner’s Guide

By Gretchen Kruesi / October 26, 2018 / Comments Off on How to Cheat In an Argument: A Beginner’s Guide

Manners. We were all taught them from a young age, and yet, they are oft forgotten when we find ourselves in the heat of an argument about a topic we are passionate about. Before we know it, we are mere shells of ourselves, using cutthroat tactics to win our case. Unfortunately, our momentary loss of…

Read More
capital building

Politics: There’s No Room for Politeness

By Gretchen Kruesi / October 22, 2018 / Comments Off on Politics: There’s No Room for Politeness

The polite thing to do when asking for something is to say “please” and wait patiently. However, this doesn’t work in politics currently. Movements and change will only occur when the people demand action, when they have strong voices delivering their messages, and when they leave politeness on the table. Take Bernie Sanders for example.…

Read More
forest

Northeastern Kvass

By Gretchen Kruesi / October 18, 2018 / Comments Off on Northeastern Kvass

When you’re on a fall hike, taking in the colorful leaves, sharp snaps of twigs beneath your feet, marveling at the beautifully knotted roots of the trees in front of you, you’re probably not thinking about how delicious they all taste together. But boy, you should be! Almost every ingredient in this nature-infused Northeastern Kvass…

Read More
farm

Farming Against Nature

By Gretchen Kruesi / October 17, 2018 / Comments Off on Farming Against Nature

When you’re walking around the grocery store looking at all of the different vegetables, it’s probably hard to imagine that a century ago there was twice the amount of options to choose from. Hundreds of years of growing crops and infusing the soil with chemicals have depleted the dirt of the essential nutrients needed to…

Read More
yoga at sunset

What is Bioregulatory Medicine?

By Gretchen Kruesi / October 11, 2018 / Comments Off on What is Bioregulatory Medicine?

Finding out you have a chronic or degenerative illness can be overwhelming and mind-numbing on its own. Add to that already spinning emotional rollercoaster the possible treatment options, and you may find yourself unable to move forward. For those who are looking for alternative methods to traditional treatment plans, Bioregulatory Medicine could provide a solution.…

Read More
mother and child

A Story for Parents: A Parent’s Worst Nightmare

By Gretchen Kruesi / October 1, 2018 / Comments Off on A Story for Parents: A Parent’s Worst Nightmare

For parents, there’s nothing more nerve wracking than making sure our children are safe and healthy. Unfortunately, it’s not always clear how to do that especially when it comes to vaccines. In his new book, How to End the Autism Epidemic, author J.B. Handley confronts the common misconceptions about vaccines and empowers parents to be…

Read More
seed oil

Heart Health: Herbal Formulas and Medicinals

By Gretchen Kruesi / September 25, 2018 / Comments Off on Heart Health: Herbal Formulas and Medicinals

Whether you use them as a precautionary measure or for their restorative properties, there’s no denying the power of herbs when it comes to caring for your heart. You may already know that garlic reduces arrhythmias but are you aware that black currants can improve lipid ratios? As always, when working with herbal formulas you…

Read More
how to end the autism epidemic

For the Love of A Child: A Family’s Fight and a Father’s Love

By Gretchen Kruesi / September 20, 2018 / Comments Off on For the Love of A Child: A Family’s Fight and a Father’s Love

It all started when his second child was just two months old. After receiving six separate vaccines at a well baby visit, J.B. Handley’s son’s health quickly deteriorated. He developed eczema. He wasn’t sleeping. His play habits changed. Right before his parent’s eyes, Jamison Handley was changing, and they didn’t know why. In his new…

Read More
four season farm

Vegetable Farm Tips: The Keys to Efficient Veggie Production

By Gretchen Kruesi / September 17, 2018 / Comments Off on Vegetable Farm Tips: The Keys to Efficient Veggie Production

If the idea of running a vegetable farm sounds daunting, you’re not alone. How can you ensure success while also being environmentally conscientious? What can you do to simplify techniques and reduce expenses? Where do you even begin? Well, young farmer, we’re here to help. Eliot Coleman, a pioneer of organic gardening, has identified the…

Read More
garden fries

Recipe: Fall Harvest Garden Fries

By Gretchen Kruesi / September 12, 2018 / Comments Off on Recipe: Fall Harvest Garden Fries

Got a lot of root veggies in your fall harvest? Garden fries are an easy and delicious way to use them up! Enjoy them sans sauce, with ketchup, or if you’re looking to impress dinner guests pair them with a garlicky leek dipping sauce. Bon appetit! The following recipe is from Cooking Close to Home…

Read More
tractor in field

Emergence of the Mechanical Mind and Its Dire Implications

By Gretchen Kruesi / September 11, 2018 / Comments Off on Emergence of the Mechanical Mind and Its Dire Implications

For as far back as we can remember, humans have been driven by the Mechanical Mind – a desire to evolve, to expand, to consume, to manipulate everything around them to meet their needs without thinking about the consequences. Yet some 200,000 years ago, before the advent of agriculture, there was a different view and…

Read More
wassail

Ancient Customs: Drinking to Good Health and More

By Gretchen Kruesi / September 10, 2018 / Comments Off on Ancient Customs: Drinking to Good Health and More

It’s a little-known fact, but we here at Chelsea Green Publishing love a good piece of trivia. (Did you know beavers have a second set of lips behind their teeth?) When we found out that the saying “to the last drop” comes from ancient Danish drinking customs, you know we were thrilled. Who doesn’t love…

Read More
mesquite in desert

Cooking with Mesquite: Ancient Nourishment

By Gretchen Kruesi / September 6, 2018 / Comments Off on Cooking with Mesquite: Ancient Nourishment

Mesquite has been a staple in desert dwellers’ diet for far longer than maize or even livestock.  With its nutritional value (it’s filled with both complex carbs and protein!) and endless possibilities for preparation, it’s no wonder it was once an integral source of sustenance for such a large region. If you happen to get…

Read More