John’s articles appear in such diverse publications as the scientific journal Environmental Health Perspectives to the adventure-oriented Canoe & Kayak. Here is a sampling:
No River for Old Men-- The December, 2010, issue of Canoe & Kayak features John’s riveting account of a canoe trip gone awry on Oregon’s Owyhee River. No River for Old Men showcases John’s ability to capture character details and setting, as well as write a fast-paced narrative. The story also features John’s photography.
Balancing Act: Creating the Right Regulation for Coal Combustion Waste--This feature in the November, 2009 issue of Environmental Health Perspectives describes a host of legislative initiatives that could encourage the recycling of 56 millions tons of coal combustion wastes, while ensuring protection of the nation’s land, air and water.
Plumbing the Depths—The federal government has recently opened 2.9 million acres of ocean bottom off North Carolina and Virginia for offshore oil and gas leases. This feature in Wildlife in North Carolina outlines the challenge of safely drilling and transporting oil in an area renowned for swirling ocean currents and high concentrations of endangered sea turtles and sea birds.
Tar Heel Pride—In the midst of a recession, North Carolinians are volunteering in droves to help construct a thousand-mile-long hiking trail from Clingman’s Dome in the Smoky Mountains to Jockey’s Ridge on the Outer Banks. Read in Appalachia about the history of this trail, the people who are making it a reality, and the challenges that remain to completing it.
Pools of Hope—Published in the Nov/December, 2009, issue of Orion, this essay heralds the beauty of water gardens and argues for their place in providing refuge for amphibians and reptiles in a drying planet.
Sharon's Wish— This is the third in a three-part series on stream restoration published in Wildlife in North Carolina in 2008. The series researches how stream restoration projects are galvanizing individual landowners and communities across North Carolina to undertake broad-based conservation measures throughout their watersheds. Other parts of the series include Little Sugar sees the Light and Revival on the Mitchell.
River Dance— Short pieces often deliver the greatest punch. This lyrical essay from Canoe & Kayak illustrates John’s ability to bring his heart into writing about nature and the environment.