Author and acupuncturist Didi Pershouse will read from her new book The Ecology of Care: Medicine, Agriculture, Money, and the Quiet Power of Human and Microbial Communities at two separate readings in San Benito County on Friday, April 15. Pershouse is a nationally recognized healer who has done extensive research on the relationships between human health and ecology.

"This could become to human and environmental health what 'A Sand County Almanac' is to environmentalism," according to book critic Timothy O'Dell.

Pershouse is the founder of the Center for Sustainable Medicine, and grew up in a family of high-tech medical pioneers. Her grandfather was a neurosurgeon who accidently discovered the seat of memory in the brain. Seeing the often-destructive effects of their work first-hand led Pershouse to pioneering work of her own: she developed a practice and theoretical framework for systems-based ecological medicine— restoring health to people as well as the social and ecological systems around them.  

Her sliding-scale practice of 21 years has included community acupuncture, nutrient-dense diets, and resiliency counseling. But it has turned increasingly towards engaging patients and the public in conversations about the interrelationships between healthy soils, shifting weather patterns, capitalism, and human health; teaching deep self-care and peer support to groups of community leaders; and working directly with farmers and ranchers to understand how soil health impacts flooding and drought.

Pershouse will read excerpts from her book and lead a discussion with Q & A on Friday, April 15 at at 11 a.m. at Mars Hill Coffehouse, 610 San Benito St. and 7 p.m. on the lawn of Grogan House at the Paicines Ranch, 13388 Airline Hwy, Paicines.

For more information, contact [email protected]