Matt White, Foreword by James A. Grimshaw, Jr.
Prairie lovers will enjoy sharing the joy of prairie with Matt White, and then give away their copy to spread the word. This is more of a love story than a technical book, but you will learn about the tallgrass prairie ecosystem and life of and on the prairie. Although the prairie Matt describes is a Texas Prairie, the stories and information are universally relevant and interesting. Randy met the author at EagleFest, a little winter festival in Northeast Texas. He thought the best thing about the whole project was that Matt was finding more remnants of this tallgrass prairie than anyone thought still existed. Matt’s easy style and colorful descriptions have us anticipating his next book, whatever that may be.
From the publisher, “"Interwoven tightly within the fabric of this abused and worn-out land are countless stories of the people who wrestled a living here. Many of the stories are forgotten and many more are untold; I feel fortunate that I was allowed to hear some of them."—from the Introduction
In its prime, the Texas Blackland Prairie cut a swath of twelve million acres across the state from near San Antonio north to the Red River. Perhaps less than one-tenth of one percent of this vast prairie remains—small patches tucked away here and there, once serving as hay meadows or sprouting from rock too stony to plow.
Matt White's connections with both prairie plants and prairie people are evident in the stories of discovery and inspiration he tells as he tracks the ever-dwindling parcels of tallgrass prairie in northeast Texas. In his search, he stumbles upon some unexpected fragments of virgin land, as well as some remarkable tales of both destruction and stewardship.
Helping us understand what a prairie is and how to appreciate its beauty and importance, White also increases our awareness of prairies, past and present, so that we might champion their survival in whatever small plots remain.
MATT WHITE is the author of The Birds of Northeast Texas and is a regular nature columnist for the Mount Vernon Optic-Herald. He studies and grows prairie plants on his land near Campbell, Texas.
What people are saying about this book"It seems fair that every region, every landscape, every place deserves a champion. The imperiled prairies of northeast Texas certainly have one in Matt White, a native son and an unabashed prairie enthusiast. . . . As such, he offers a credible voice and insight into the Blackland Prairie, its history, its residents, its architecture, and its natural diversity."—Carter Smith, Texas State Director, The Nature Conservancy of Texas
"[White's] enthusiasm, which his style reflects, is contagious."
—James A. Grimshaw, Jr., Texas A&M University–Commerce
"White roams, studies, documents, and savors the remnants of what was once one of the greatest treasures of the continent. . . .This is surely to become a bible for prairie restoration."—Scooter Cheatham, Useful Wild Plants, Inc.”
Hardcover, 5 ˝ x 8 ˝ inches, 272 pages; 23 b&w photos; 1 map; Index; MAY 2006
