This summer I read The Lord of the Rings to my eight-year-old and was struck by how much the themes continue to be relevant for the modern environmentalist movement. Ents destroying Isengard (the industrial power) is the classic example, but there's so much more. Mordor as an imperial, extractive power. Hobbits regenerating the land after it has been degraded. Gimli trying to preserve the Glittering Caves of Aglerond. And of course, growing trees symbolizing renewal and prosperity. So, I decided to write all these themes down, and compare them to instances where similar things are happening today.

I just reached a milestone in the writing process and wanted to share a sample my work so far! Please take a look and let me know what you think.

Full disclosure, I work with a few soil scientists and I now understand how critical it is that we know the potential of the land if we're relying on it to produce ag or to be used as rangeland.

I had never heard of a land trust being used to keep rates affordable - sounds like a very cool model!

I especially enjoy reading examples of how Solarpunk principles have been applied in the real world, or fiction that breaks down my own mental barriers about whether a better world is possible. So, I started this reading list to document my favorites. It's starting to grow as a community project, so if you want to make a contribution you're welcome.

Happy reading!

I've been trying to find ecological fiction. The famous one is Dune, but The Terraformers puts a focus on balancing ecosystems that feels fresh and unique. People on a built world struggle to find balance when the owners of this world exploit and break it and its inhabitants try to keep things together. There's a lot of exploration ojf "personhood" as well.

Invisible Solar is a new PV technology that take on the appearance of any building material. Each Invisible Solar module is more than a photovoltaic panel, it also is an active architectural element with various functionality.