“It could almost be the beginning of a folk tale: Once upon a time, an independent publisher set up shop in a small clapboard house in Chelsea, VT, ‘on the town’s south green, adjacent to the county courthouse.’ The company began by publishing three titles a year; 30 years later the output has increased to 25 to 30 books per annum, and they’re still in Vermont. The Reader shows Chelsea Green’s wide range: excerpts from more than 100 publications encompass poetry and fiction, memoirs, nature and adventure travel, gardening, politics, green living, food, permaculture and agriculture, and many more categories. The foreword by cofounder and publisher emeritus Ian Baldwin proudly notes how often Chelsea Green was ahead of the curve: such subjects as fermented foods, hemp farming, community-supported agriculture, and reducing car dependency were covered in the company’s titles before they became trendy or even widely accepted. Each entry is prefaced with a short introduction discussing when the original book was published (and often, republished), with a bio of the author or authors and a mention of any awards or citations. A quick glance through some of the intros shows the interconnectedness of the books and their authors—a back-to-the-land pioneer motivated another author to write his own account; a father and son both published with Chelsea Green in a 25-year span.”—Library Journal-“Independent publishing owes its edgy, authentic reputation to a handful of fiercely original publishers like Chelsea Green, the indisputable leader in crafting beautifully written books on sustainable farming, homesteading, green building, and such. They may also reign supreme in their ability to produce works with decades-long shelf lives. This collection of two- or three-page excerpts from more than one hundred Chelsea Green books published over the past thirty years will rightfully serve as a definitive resource in the pursuit of ethical living.” —Foreword Reviews”It would have been too easy to place The Chelsea Green Reader in our Science/Nature or Home and Garden section, as many of the articles selected here, which come from 30 years of independent publishing from 1984-2014, center around these topics—but then, what to do with the large sections that include food topics, or politics and social policy? The unifying themes with all these diverse reads is that they appeared in Chelsea Green and they reflect a special kind of craft in writing that represents a well-done story no matter what the topic—and so it’s recommended here, for literary readers and collections seeking exceptional, literary works. Diverse in nature, this anthology holds everything from a canoeist’s diary to discussions of fermentation and whole foods, the idea of low-maintenance edible forest gardens, and the ‘end of money’ concept. All are exceptional reads, making for a powerful gathering recommended for a wide audience.”—Midwest Book Review
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