"This combination of history, mythology, lore, science and sheer entertainment takes us on a tour of the world's most unusual plants." — Sacramento BeeThe Big, Bad Book of Botany introduces a world of wild, wonderful, and weird plants. Some are so rare, they were once more valuable than gold. Some found in ancient mythology hold magical abilities, including the power to turn a person to stone. Others have been used by assassins to...

The world's wildest collection of animal knowledge and lore!Lions, and tigers, and bears . . . and dinosaurs, dragons, and monsters. Oh my!For hundreds of years, the most popular books in the Western world next to the Bible were "bestiaries," fanciful encyclopedias collecting all of human knowledge and mythology about the animal kingdom. In these pages, eagles and elephants lived next to griffins and sea monsters. Now, in The Big, Bad Book of Beasts, award...

Join QI's expedition into the animal kingdom to encounter 100 of its most remarkable subjects. Marvel at the elephants that walk on tiptoe, pigs that shine in the dark, and the woodlouse that drinks through its bottom.Albatrosses can fly non-stop for ten years without touching the ground. Box jellyfish have twenty-four eyes. Geese mourn their dead. Koalas don't drink. Monkeys pay to look at porn. Lobsters live for a century. Mice sing while having sex. Spiders can fly....

21 Native Wild Edible PlantsThe few wild plants listed here are likely the only ones that are about as close as domestic plants can be in digestability. Of the 1800 flowering plants in Alberta, about 800 are mentioned as being used as food. I suspect some wild edible plants may require weeks to really acclimatize to them.Written by Mors Kochanski

An invaluable resource whether you are a stranded soldier, a wilderness hiker, or you just want to know which plants growing in your backyard are edible.Nothing is more important for the outdoorsman than being prepared to survive in the wild, and the ability to recognize edible plants is an indispensable way to do so. When survival is the chief objective, often plants are one’s best (and only) source of nutrition and medicine. The key is being familiar with their b...

One of America's great nature-writers explores the magic and science of feathers.**“An illuminating study of an evolutionary marvel.” ―**EconomistWinner of the John Burroughs MedalFeathers are an evolutionary marvel: aerodynamic, insulating, beguiling. From flying dinosaurs to showgirls on the Las Vegas Strip, their story spans hundreds of millions of years—yet has never been fully told. In Feathers

Consider, if you can, the case of Jacob Fowler, who heard what he thought was the sound of his own skull cracking between the jaws of a grizzly bear - only to discover that it was.Or the Arizonan jogger who ran a mile back to her car with a rabid fox clamped to her arm before driving to hospital for live-saving inoculations. Or the woman who was attacked by a hyena, dragged from her tent by her face and survived to tell of her ordeal.The dangers of the anim...

Soap making is really easy and there are basically only two ingredients:LardLyeIf that seems a bit complicated there is an even easy method. One tremendous secret of soap making is that soap melts! This might not seem earth shattering. But, as it melts you can use simple cheap soaps as a base for your own creations.There are certain cautions that you do need to take, however, thousands of people around the world make homemade soap every day of the year safely an...

"Fifty Birds of Town and City" by Peter A. Anastasi and Bob Hines is an engaging exploration of urban avian life. This book serves as a guide to the diverse bird species that inhabit towns and cities, showcasing their unique adaptations to urban environments. With vivid illustrations and insightful descriptions, the authors highlight the beauty and resilience of these birds, making it an essential read for birdwatchers and nature enthusiasts alike. The book encourages readers to appreciate...

Make rich, natural soap using only milk and simple ingredients!This concise, beginner-friendly guide shows you how to craft gentle, creamy soap from scratch using milk and natural ingredients. With clear instructions and helpful tips, you'll gain the confidence to create your own bars at home—safely and successfully.Inside you’ll learn:How to make soap step-by-stepSafe handling and use of lyeRecipes featuring different kind...

Growing herbs is something that is very beneficial to gardeners for several different reasons. Herbs may be used to flavor food, for potpourri, for tea, for medical purposes or to even control pests in the garden. Herb gardens can be specialized towards one of these specific areas or a mixture of a few different purposes. They can also be grown in a garden with other species of plants or in containers indoors.Although growing your own herbs in a ho...

If you are considering bees as a hobby or as a sideline business, there are things you will want to keep in mind before making that decision. Since there are many factors involved with making money with the honeybees produce, you might want to start doing it as a hobby. There is a significant amount of money in the start-up of beekeeping. Before investing any amount of money in your beekeeping project, you might want contact beekeepers in your area. As a rule, they will more than happy to ...