Workshop on Nature-Study Fundamentals

More than merely "viewing the landscape," EarthFooters want to know about the land they move through. What are the typical plants and animals, and which are the unique ones? What's special about each particular habitat? How can you find out more about what you've seen? Not only does this section show you how to answer these and many similar questions, it does so by relating the basic principles of nature study to the plants and animals in your own backyard. The idea is that once you've learned your local natural history, you can extend that learning into your ecotouring.

Workshop on Mercados: Mexico's Traditional Markets

Mercados are one of the most colorful, rambunctious, sensory-challenging and accessible of all Mexican traditions. In this section you can discover what they are like, where they are, what their history is, and how to visit them and use them like the Mexicans. There are extensive lists of mercados, handicraft-producing towns and villages, and word lists to help the non-Spanish speaker navigate through and get the most from any mercado encountered. This is much more than a merely academic treatment. Here you meet not only some hard-working, down-home folks, but also charlatans and prostitutes, and you discover a connection between a beautiful but stupid goat, and a truckful of odoriferous basil.