Publishers' Weekly, July 1, 2014 Peace and conflict expert Westlund explores the complex repercussions of warfare on the minds of combat veterans and the ways in which gardening, contact with nature, and work in the air and sunshine bring about measurably positive effects on their psyches. She makes the case for green care, which she uses as an umbrella term for health care that combines traditional medicine with agriculture, therapeutic horticulture and gardening, landscape conservation, wilderness activities, [and] animal-assisted therapies. The book's individual chapters highlight the healing of a veteran through the type of green-care under discussion. Westlund asserts that contact with nature is not emphasized enough in the rehabilitation of the war-wounded and makes a case for it, both anecdotally and through a variety of studies. Both the empirical research and the stories I have gathered here point overwhelmingly to the fact that when a person finds and/or remembers her/himself in ecological relationship with their surroundings, their human psyche is changed, and sometimes transformed, she concludes convincingly. UTNE October 2014 Westlund shares the stories of men and women who are finding relief from the effects of their military experiences through outdoor activities such as farming and gardening. Review, Chuck Norris, October 31st. These former lost souls found relief from the effects of their military experience through nature, and their journey has been chronicled by Stephanie Westlund in her book, Field Exercises. Anyone with the desire to truly understand not only the impact that the stress of being in service has had on veterans but the incredible transformational impact being in nature has on healing them should read this book. In truth though, everyone can benefit from reading Field Exercises , as it is rich with wisdom and information that can reconnect all of us back to our nature as beings who are deeply connected to the earth. ---Eva Selhub, MD Specialist in Mind-Body Medicine, Author, Inspiration Teacher and Resiliency Coach, Author ofThe Love Response and Your Brain on Nature, Instructor in Medicine Harvard Medical School Clinical Associate Massachusetts General Hospital Field Exercises is an not only an outstanding synthesis of state of the art research concerning natural environments and human-animal bonds - it is brought to life by its reflection off the emotionally raw, deeply moving accounts of veterans. The result of this combination, guided by the beautiful writing style of Dr Westlund and the poignant, intelligent, experience-based words of veterans, is a call to action. If we want to Support our Troops, we should listen to them. Field Exercises makes it clear that they have much to teach all of us concerning social capital, resilience, sustainability, biodiversity, physical activity, mindfulness, and how these and other factors intersect with ecosystem services and the global metal health crisis. ---Alan C. Logan - Co-Author, Your Brain on Nature The almost constant combat since 9/11 has taken a substantial toll on many of the men and women who have served their nation with selfless dedication. In her book, Field Exercises, Stephanie Westlund has done a wonderful job of capturing the intensely personal battles some veterans continue to fight upon their return home, while simultaneously shining a light on the transformative power that nature can have for those willing to embrace it. Her thoroughly-researched book builds a powerful case for continuing to explore alternative nature-based activities as part of a broader effort to support veterans as they search to find peace at home as a result of conflict in far-off lands. ---Chad Spangler, National Director, Outward Bound Veterans If we are right, the current wave of veterans coming home from war and entering into agriculture will only continue to grow. When it does, then Field Exercises will have been one of the first looks at the complicated mix of motivations that have called veterans to serve their country again as farmers. ---Michael O'Gorman, Founder and Director, Farmer Veteran Coalition
