Writing the Land: Northeast

(second edition)

Writing the Land: Northeast is an anthology of 11 land trusts and 40 poets who wrote poems inspired by their adopted lands. Information about the land trusts and lands open to the public is included within each chapter as well as the poems. Foreword by Tom Butler. Purchase your copy from any participating land trust.

“Writing the Land is an attempt to honor nature and our relationship with it in a way that is as equitable and transparent as it is deep and entangled. We intend to be as inclusive—to humans and places
—as we hope the mantle of protection that land trusts offer can be. Our work will never be complete but gains strength, depth, beauty, and energy in a multitude of voices.” —-Lis McLoughlin, editor

Praise for Writing the Land: Northeast

What a timely endeavor Writing the Land is, gathering poets and sending them to land trust preserves, asking only for their responses to being there.  I applaud the anthology for the attention it brings to these trusts, whose foresight and hard work preserves land that could be spoiled by human encroachment.  And I applaud these poets for their faithfulness to the natural world and their ability to find words and forms for their feeling and thoughtful responses.

—Margaret Gibson, Poet Laureate of Connecticut (2019-2022)

 We have always relied on poets to help us better understand our world and articulate the human experience. Understanding the essential relationship between people and nature has never been more important. Writing the Land describes the inspirational efforts of land trusts across New England to conserve our land and also includes a thought provoking collection of poetry about the land itself. In combing these elements, this book explores the critical connection between ecological and human well-being.

—Paul Catanzaro, Professor & State Extension Forester, Co-Director Family Forest Research Center, Environmental Conservation Department, University of Massachusetts

It was a pleasure to read this book - a collection of poems that honor the beauty of the land, our connection to it and the vital work of land trusts.

—Jen Plowden, New England Program Manager, Land Trust Alliance

Reactions to Writing the Land: Northeast

“I just received one carton of books. They are simply gorgeous! I love how our photographs came out!! Beautiful!”
—Sherry Jennings, Monadnock Community Land Trust (November 2021)

“Such a fabulous publication! The cover art is magnificent. I bought extra copies to give as gifts this Christmas.” —-Sylvia Karman, poet (November 2021)