These books came recommended by the National Wildlife Federation Blog.

The Home Place: Memoirs of a Colored Man’s Love Affair with Nature

Written by J. Drew Lanham

Author, poet, birder and wildlife biologist, J. Drew Lanham explores the story of his love of nature and how its impacted by being a Black man in a predominately white space. The memoir manages to depict the full range of human emotion, from anger to humor, to reflect on the idea of belonging in nature spaces.  Lanham was awarded a fellowship in the MacArthur Fellows 2022 Program for his work “combining conservation science with personal, historical, and cultural narratives of nature.”

“The wild things and places belong to all of us. So while I can’t fix the bigger problems of race in the United States — can’t suggest a means by which I, and others like me, will always feel safe — I can prescribe a solution in my own small corner. Get more people of color “out there.” Turn oddities into commonplace. The presence of more black birders, wildlife biologists, hunters, hikers, and fisher-folk will say to others that we, too, appreciate the warble of a summer tanager, the incredible instincts of a whitetail buck, and the sound of wind in the tall pines. Our responsibility is to pass something on to those coming after. As young people of color reconnect with what so many of their ancestors knew — that our connections to the land run deep, like the taproots of mighty oaks; that the land renews and sustains us — maybe things will begin to change.”J. Drew Lanham, The Home Place: Memoirs of a Colored Man’s Love Affair with Nature

Black Flora: Profiles of Inspiring Black Flower Farmers + Florists

Written by Teresa J. Speight

Teresa J. Speight is a mother, grandmother, steward of our land, garden writer, history lover, and Certified Wildlife Habitat® owner and ambassador. Her book not only lists amazing Black entrepreneurs that provide beauty, design, and sustainably floral resources, she also lifts up a community that has a long tradition in this space and inspires younger generations with their success and dynamism. This book also includes a broader profile on another Black leader in the slow flower movement and a Certified Wildlife Habitat® owner, Dee Hall, featured in National Wildlife Magazine last spring.

“…Younger generations of Black plant-lovers are seeking inspiring examples of successful floral artists and entrepreneurs. When they see their potential—through

Soil: The Story of a Black Mother’s Garden

Written By Camille T. Dungy 

Camille Dungy has been working on reclaiming her yard to become natural habitat space for the past few years. Her lessons learned as a gardener connect to a larger story of Black experience in America and memories of childhood. As noted in the publisher description, Dungy’s book is for anyone looking to gain a better understanding of intersectional environmentalism.

“Whether a plot in a yard or pots in a window, every politically engaged person should have a garden. By politically engaged, I mean everyone with a vested interest in the direction the people on this planet take in relationship to others. We should all take some time to plant life in the soil. Even when such planting isn’t easy.”Camille T. Dungy, Soil: The Story of a Black Mother’s Garden