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From field guides to poetry, there is no shortage of words about the Island’s natural beauty.
The Wampanoag Tribe of Martha's Vineyard: Colonization to Recognition
By Thomas Dresser
The Wampanoag Tribe of Martha’s Vineyard: Colonization to Recognition celebrates the enduring spirit of the Island’s indigenous people. Tom’s interviews with elders and current members of the tribe breathe life into this thorough exploration of the Wampanoag legacy on Martha’s Vineyard.
Walking to Martha's Vineyard
By Franz Wright
Franz Wright’s Pulitzer Prize-winning poetry collection Walking to Martha’s Vineyard ties nature's beauty to the complexities of the human condition. Through gratitude and regard for life in all its forms, Wright finds hope that transcends his tendency toward loneliness.
Martha's Vineyard Fish Tales
By Nelson Sigelman
Traversing the Island’s fishing seasons, former MV Times editor and fish columnist Nelson Sigelman shares personal anecdotes, practical tips, and colorful stories of local fishermen in Martha’s Vineyard Fish Tales. The book’s subtitle, How to Catch Fish, Rake Clams, and Jig Squid, with Entertaining Tales About the Sometimes Crazy Pursuit of Fish, perfectly captures the charm of this personality-packed how-to guide.
Living off the Sea: On the Island of Chappaquiddick
By Melinda Fager
In Living off the Sea, Melinda Fager captures the unique beauty of Chappaquiddick through writing and photography. Melinda has lived on Chappy for more than 30 years with her husband Jeff, an avid fisherman. Accessible recipes made with what can be caught, foraged, or farmed locally accompany Fager’s photos in this delightfully evocative narrative cookbook.
A Meeting of Land and Sea: Nature and the Future of Martha’s Vineyard
By David Foster
Packed with gorgeous photographs and maps, David Foster’s A Meeting of Land and Sea explores the powerful natural and cultural forces that have shaped the Martha’s Vineyard we know today. David also looks to the Island’s future, shining a hopeful light on how the local community can continue a legacy of conservation and caring for the land. (See our conversation with David.)
Martha’s Vineyard: A Field Guide to Island Nature
By Suzan Bellincampi
Suzan Bellincampi’s Martha’s Vineyard: A Field Guide to Island Nature is impressively illustrated and packed with beautiful photographs from around the Island. Suzan, the Mass Audubon Islands Sanctuary Director, shares some of her favorite walking trails and explains how eons of glacier movement created the unique geological formations of Martha’s Vineyard.
Weedy Wisdom for the Curious Forager
By Rebecca Randall Gilbert
Learn beginner-friendly tips and tricks on foraging from Rebecca Gilbert of Native Earth Teaching Farm. From gathering edible flowers to processing plants with natural healing properties, Weedy Wisdom for the Curious Forager is packed with insight and inspiration.
Perennial Secrets: Poetry & Prose
By Jennifer Smith Turner
Maya Angelou writes that Jennifer Smith Turner’s “Perennial Secrets is an elegant work. The language is sheer and the imagery delicate. It shimmers with light. I am very glad to put it on my poetry shelf.”
Plant Local Martha’s Vineyard: A Nature-Based Landscaping Guide
This free, downloadable guide is the perfect place to start for homeowners looking to embrace nature-based landscaping. Produced by Plant Local MV, a collective of conservation groups, botanists, and landscaping practitioners, Plant Local Martha’s Vineyard is comprehensive and suitable for novice gardeners and professionals alike.
In Praise of Protected Lands and Special Places on Martha’s Vineyard
By Tess Bramhall
“People speak for themselves but the land cannot talk,” Tess Bramhall writes in In Praise of Protected Lands and Special Places on Martha’s Vineyard. “So we who love Martha’s Vineyard must speak for it.” Tess brings the reader along with her on a walking tour of the Island, sharing favorite stories, geological history, and more. Plus, Tess’s writing is accompanied by beautiful paintings and illustrations from local artists, including her husband, Kib Bramhall.
