Hard as it is to imagine, there seem to be more books than people can manage in the world. Every day, thousands of books get thrown away because no one wants them any more. Often they’re oldish, the material is out of date, perhaps they’re just a bit too beaten up for anyone to want them. And there are the stray water stains where the book got dropped while reading in the bathtub.If you aren’t familiar with book art, you are in for a treat! I’ve selected an image from Su Blackwell because it has trees. You can see more of her work here. And My Modern Met has a great page with lots of images. Not all book art is small and on the scale of a single book. Furniture and assorted large sculptural creations can be made as well.

I came across an eventbrite listing for a hedgerow management talk with Nigel Adams of Countryside Management in the UK. The talk was full and closed but it prompted me to search for other possibilities.

We read about hedgerows when we read Sproutlands. A hedgerow is a fence and I’m reminded of that expression ‘good fences make good neighbors.’ I can speak personally to the concept that no fences can make bad neighbors. In response to my complaining about something, my neighbor suggested that if I didn’t like it, I should build a wall…

Hedgerows are a fence with a long history. They do require maintenance but they never require repainting… And they aren’t subject to much in the way of vandalism. The art of creating and maintaining hedgerows seems to have declined but like many things is coming around again. A hedgerow is created through the process of hedgelaying, which looks to me like weaving together sturdy shrubs and sometimes trees to create a living barrier that changes with the season and provides habitat for wildlife.

Poking around on eventbrite to say nothing of the internet in general uncovered all manner of information, videos, and trainings.

Today I came across some free and some pay what you can webinars.

A website called Plantlife has a series called fall into nature with Plantlife. From their website: “Plantlife’s autumnal series of online events includes discussion, plant identification and other training opportunities and a chance to connect with nature and explore conservation. All events are free, but if you would like to donate to support our work you can add an optional donation. Plantlife relies on its members and donors. the more you give, the more plants we can save. Thank you.”

The Oxford Botanic Garden and Arboretum is offering their autumn science lecture series – five, free online talks exploring the world of plant microbe interactions.