{"title":"Books by Michael Phillips","description":null,"products":[{"product_id":"9780806195360","title":"The Purifying Knife","description":"\u003cp\u003eThroughout the first half of the twentieth century, 32 states passed laws allowing involuntary sterilization on those deemed biologically \"unfit\": convicted criminals, the disabled, the poor, and people of color. Texas, despite a history of violent racism, was not one of them. In \u003cem\u003eThe Purifying Knife,\u003c\/em\u003e Michael Phillips and Betsy Friauf explore this curious instance of the Lone Star State's exceptionalism. The first history of the eugenics movement in Texas, it is a narrative that intersects with debates over race, immigration, abortion, the role of women in society, homosexuality, medical ethics, and the politics of disability in the state-debates resonating today in Texas and beyond.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eFrom the mid-nineteenth to the mid-twentieth centuries, Americans embraced eugenics. Yet the Texas legislature ultimately rejected nine of ten laws advocated by the state's eugenicists and their predecessors. Phillips and Friauf trace this unlikely resistance to a variety of influences: wealthy cotton growers concerned that the anti-immigrant politics of the eugenics movement would deprive them of a source of easily exploitable labor; a populist distrust of higher education and the academic elites who enthusiastically supported the eugenics movement; and the forces of anti-Darwinist fundamentalism and pre-millennial dispensationalism in the 1920s, among others. \u003cem\u003eThe Purifying Knife\u003c\/em\u003e also details how eugenical ideas survived long past their decline in the 1940s and have entered a disturbing afterlife in the late twentieth and early twenty-first centuries.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eA thoroughgoing look into a rare case where the eugenics movement \"failed\" in spite of its power in the United States and around the world-while still wielding a toxic influence-Phillips and Friauf's work offers insight into the history of the LGBTQ community, abortion, and immigration policies in Texas, and persuasively argues that the long arc of eugenics history has helped shaped contemporary politics in the Lone Star State.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Gardners","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":56295030653301,"sku":"9780806195360","price":31.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/7193\/3106\/files\/9780806195360_25e7004f-f950-452c-b1f1-51049bc72317.jpg?v=1786015956"},{"product_id":"9781603586580","title":"Mycorrhizal Planet","description":"\u003cb\u003eRegenerative practices for the farm, garden, orchard, forest, and landscape\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eMycorrhizal fungi have been waiting a long time for people to recognize just how important they are to the making of dynamic soils. These microscopic organisms partner with the root systems of approximately 95 percent of the plants on Earth, and they sequester carbon in much more meaningful ways than human “carbon offsets” will ever achieve. Pick up a handful of old-growth forest soil and you are holding 26 \u003ci\u003emiles\u003c\/i\u003e of threadlike fungal mycelia, if it could be stretched it out in a straight line. Most of these soil fungi are mycorrhizal, supporting plant health in elegant and sophisticated ways. The boost to green immune function in plants and community-wide networking turns out to be the true basis of ecosystem resiliency. A profound intelligence exists in the underground nutrient exchange between fungi and plant roots, which in turn determines the nutrient density of the foods we grow and eat.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eExploring the science of symbiotic fungi in layman’s terms, holistic farmer Michael Phillips \u003ci\u003e(\u003c\/i\u003eauthor of \u003ci\u003eThe Holistic Orchard \u003c\/i\u003eand \u003ci\u003eThe Apple Grower)\u003c\/i\u003e sets the stage for practical applications across the landscape. The real impetus behind no-till farming, gardening with mulches, cover cropping, digging with broadforks, shallow cultivation, forest-edge orcharding, and everything related to permaculture is to help the plants and fungi to prosper . . . which means we prosper as well.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eBuilding soil structure and fertility that lasts for ages results only once we comprehend the nondisturbance principle. As the author says, “What a grower understands, a grower will do.” \u003ci\u003eMycorrhizal Planet\u003c\/i\u003e abounds with insights into “fungal consciousness” and offers practical, regenerative techniques that are pertinent to gardeners, landscapers, orchardists, foresters, and farmers. Michael’s fungal acumen will resonate with everyone who is fascinated with the unseen workings of nature and concerned about maintaining and restoring the health of our soils, our climate, and the quality of life on Earth for generations to come.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e\"\u003ci\u003eMycorrhizal Planet\u003c\/i\u003e is an awesome book because it not only describes the importance of respecting living soil dynamics, it teaches how to act upon it.”—Jean-Martin Fortier, author of \u003ci\u003eThe Market Gardener\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e","brand":"Gardners","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":56305157210485,"sku":"9781603586580","price":30.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/7193\/3106\/files\/9781603586580_77750153-2fa5-46ec-8687-b2635495d29c.jpg?v=1786023103"},{"product_id":"9781931498913","title":"The Apple Grower","description":"\u003cb\u003eFor decades fruit growers have sprayed their trees with toxic chemicals in an attempt to control a range of insect and fungal pests. Yet it is possible to grow apples responsibly, by applying the intuitive knowledge of our great-grandparents with the fruits of modern scientific research and innovation.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eSince \u003ci\u003eThe Apple Grower\u003c\/i\u003e first appeared in 1998, orchardist Michael Phillips has continued his research with apples, which have been called “organic’s final frontier.” In this new edition of his widely acclaimed work, Phillips delves even deeper into the mysteries of growing good fruit with minimal inputs. Some of the cutting-edge topics he explores include:\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe use of kaolin clay as an effective strategy against curculio and borers, as well as its limitations\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCreating a diverse, healthy orchard ecosystem through understory management of plants, nutrients, and beneficial microorganisms\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHow to make a small apple business viable by focusing on heritage and regional varieties, value-added products, and the “community orchard” model\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe author’s personal voice and clear-eyed advice have already made \u003ci\u003eThe Apple Grower\u003c\/i\u003e a classic among small-scale growers and home orchardists. In fact, anyone serious about succeeding with apples needs to have this updated edition on their bookshelf.","brand":"Gardners","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":56309117288821,"sku":"9781931498913","price":30.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/7193\/3106\/files\/9781931498913_5f284cae-c0f2-43f0-97ff-67be5a25c842.jpg?v=1786030966"},{"product_id":"9781933392134","title":"The Holistic Orchard","description":"\u003cb\u003eWinner of the American Horticulture Society Book Award\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e“Phillip’s first-hand knowledge anchors this innovative and highly readable book in practical wisdom that both beginner and long-time fruit growers will find invaluable.”—Toby Hemenway, author of \u003ci\u003eGaia’s Garden\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eMany people want to grow fruit on a small scale but lack the insight to be successful orchardists. As \u003ci\u003eThe Holistic Orchard\u003c\/i\u003e illustrates, growing tree fruits and berries is something virtually anyone can do. A holistic grower knows that producing fruit is not about manipulating nature but more importantly, fostering nature.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe Holistic Orchard\u003c\/i\u003e demystifies the basic skills everybody should know about the orchard ecosystem, focusing on:\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eOrchard design\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSoil biology\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eOrganic health management\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eGrafting\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePlanting\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePruning\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eChoosing the right varieties for your climate\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIncludes a step-by-step instructional calendar to guide growers through the entire orchard year!\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cbr\u003eFruit profiles include:\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003epome fruits (apples, pears, asian pears, quinces)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003estone fruits (cherries, peaches, nectarines, apricots, plums)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eberries (raspberries, blackberries, blueberries, gooseberries, currants, and elderberries)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003cbr\u003ePhillips completely changed the conversation about healthy orcharding with his first bestselling book, \u003ci\u003eThe Apple Grower\u003c\/i\u003e, and now he takes that dialogue even further by exploring:\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe connections between home orcharding and permaculture\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe importance of native pollinators\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePlantings with shade-tolerant berry bushes and other insectary plants\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eInformation on cover crops and biodiversity\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSafe, homegrown solutions to pest and disease challenges\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAll along the way, Phillips’ expertise and enthusiasm for healthy growing shines through, as does his ability to put the usual horticultural facts into an integrated ecology perspective. With \u003ci\u003eThe Holistic Orchard\u003c\/i\u003e in your hand you have every reason in the world to confidently plant that very first—or next—fruit tree!","brand":"Gardners","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":56313202246005,"sku":"9781933392134","price":35.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/7193\/3106\/files\/9781933392134_f1bd94c9-f415-4370-bb8f-dca45c618b90.jpg?v=1786031049"}],"url":"https:\/\/backstory.london\/collections\/author-michael-phillips.oembed","provider":"Backstory","version":"1.0","type":"link"}