Friends in the Neighborhood

Book and Magazine Reviews by Chris Roth

The Raccoon Next Door:
Getting Along with Urban Wildlife

by Gary Bogue
illustrations by Chuck Todd

Heyday Books, Berkeley, CA, 2003, 144 pages.

This is a personable, informative book about how to coexist peacefully with urban wildlife rather than declare "war" on them. The back-cover blurb accurately sums up the author's guiding motivation: "As humans continue to overrun their habitat, these creatures have learned to live with us; the least we can do is reciprocate." Over the course of his long career in wildlife rehabilitation and journalism, Gary Bogue has assembled a wide-ranging body of anecdotes, advice, and insights-everything from "How to Be a Good Songbird Neighbor" to how to neutralize the smell of skunk spray on household pets (no, it's not by bathing the pet in tomato sauce--this new method apparently works better). These innovative methods of peaceful coexistence also lead to appreciation of these animals with whom we humans are sharing "home turfs." In truth, I have had time so far only to skim through this book, but based on what I've seen I wouldn't hesitate to refer to it for advice about any urban (or even rural) wildlife "issue." I truly believe that we humans can do better than war-whether it's waged against one another, against plants, or against "problem animals." We need guidebooks to help us learn about practicing peace, and this is one of them.

Bummers & Gummers

Available for $10 (four issues) from PO Box 66, Yoncalla, OR 97499.

We reviewed this 'zine a few years ago, but it's worth another mention. A homespun journal of back-to-the-land eclecticism, local community-building, and downright uniqueness, it is the creation of Lokiko Hall and a collection of co-conspirators, each well-endowed with a sense of humor combined with practical eco-social consciousness. Perennially relevant columns like "Ask Milo Life" ("advice for people who want to live low in high style"), "News from Wiseacres" (describing, most recently, Benito Marconi's "Oregon Hacienda"), and "Ask Mo'Torhed" ("advice for people stuck using cars") are supplemented each issue by new columns on herbs and "Neighbors and Friends" as well as features on such things as building bike trailers, fomenting the art of fermentation, and "backing the darkest horse" (reflections on Dennis Kucinich and an admirably exhaustive transcript of his speech and question-answer session in Eugene last July). Unlike many periodicals, Bummers & Gummers is worth perusing cover-to-cover, and is definitely one of a kind. If you're very lucky, you'll find a free copy somewhere--but to be sure to get it, you'll need to subscribe.

Gaian Voices:
Earth Spirit, Earth Action, Earth Stories

Subscriptions $20, sample copies available for a small donation, from 132 Fish St., Fryeburg, ME 04037, [email protected] , 207-697-2002, www.gaianvoices.com .

Gaian Voices is a limited-edition newsletter published by Susan Meeker-Lowry (see her letter this issue). Like Bummers & Gummers, it is filled with material relevant to anyone trying to live more closely (in body and spirit) with the earth. Recent issues featured articles on such topics as "Reintegrating the Feminine," "Finding Our Way Home," "Recipes from Gaia's Garden," and "The Peace Movement and Oil." Thus far each issue has been rather slim (through printed, admirably, on virgin-tree-free paper), and its future will depend on what revenues it generates. Gaian Voices' newly established website is www.gaianvoices.com .

 

©2004 Talking Leaves
Spring/Early Summer 2004
Volume 14, Numbers 1 & 2
Person and Place: Adventures Here, There, & Everywhere