Under the blade

About this book

Under the Blade: The Conversion of Agricultural Landscapes proposes essential principles for sustainable land management. Its seven orienting chapters examine the loss of farmland and other rural lands from the interacting perspectives of law, economics, landscape characteristics, population growth, social and political forces, ethics, and aesthetics. The chapters present as well tools and strategies for preserving farmland and guiding rural development. The application of these tools is illustrated by 22 case studies of towns and regions throughout the United States, each posing variations of challenge, response, and degree of success (or failure).