The Alderleaf Nature Store

Welcome to the Alderleaf Nature Store! Listed below are some of the books and products recommended in our courses. Please consider supporting our work by purchasing items through Alderleaf. Books are organized by category.

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Mora Bushcraft Black Knife
Alderleaf's Pick: Best Survival Knife
On Sale: $50.00 (out of stock)

Learn more about the Mora Bushcraft Black Knife

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Wilderness Survival Books

Wilderness Survival Handbook: Primitive Skills for Short-Term Survival and Long-Term Comfort

A well organized guide to primitive survival skills. The basics of wilderness survival are laid out in a simple, easy-to-use format with clear illustrations and instructions.

(required for Wilderness Certification Program students)

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Primitive Technology

Excellent information on wilderness survival skills with great how-to information and photographs. A compilation of articles from experts in the field of primitive technology.

(required for Wilderness Certification Program students)

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Primitive Technology II

Another volume of excellent information on wilderness survival skills with great how-to information and photographs. More articles from experts in the field of primitive technology.

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Camping & Wilderness Survival: The Ultimate Outdoors Book

One of the most comprehensive books available on outdoor skills. With thousands of diagrams and pictures, the book covers an enormous range of wilderness skills. A nature store favorite.

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The People of Cascadia - Pacific Northwest Native American History

Excellent information on northwest native people, true masters of wilderness survival skills, written by expert ethnobotanist, Heidi Bohan.

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Wilderness Survival

An exciting story of wilderness survival packed with practical information on primitive skills. Co-authored by Mark Elbroch and Mike Pewtherer.

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Ethnobotany Books

Plants Of The Pacific Northwest Coast: Washington, Oregon, British Columbia & Alaska

A comprehensive guide to the plants of the Pacific Northwest. Great photos and information on identification and ethnobotanical uses.

(required for Wilderness Certification Program students)

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Edible and Medicinal Plants of the West
Excellent information on identifying, harvesting, and creating food and medicine from wild plants of the west.

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Discovering Wild Plants: Alaska, Western Canada, The Northwest

Detailed guidebook on wild edible and medicinal plants in the Northwest. Includes information on harvesting, preparation, and excellent recipes. A nature store favorite.

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Medicinal Plants of the Pacific West

Excellent guide to utilizing wild plants for medicine. Great how-to information on making tinctures, salves, infusions, and other medicinal preparations.

(required for Wilderness Certification Program students)

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Plant Technology of First Peoples in British Columbia (Royal British Columbia Museum Handbook)

A great resource on the utilitarian uses of wild plants, including baskets, cordage, fire-starting materials, and other tools. Written by renowned northwest ethnobotanist, Nancy Turner.

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Botany in a Day: The Patterns Method of Plant Identification

An excellent system for identifying wild plants and learning the characteristics shared by plant families. Includes edible, medicinal, and survival uses of many common plants.

(required for Wilderness Certification Program students)

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Wildlife Tracking Books

Mammal Tracks & Sign: A Guide to North American Species

The most comprehensive field guide on mammal tracks and sign available. Includes tracks, gaits, tree markings, scat, and other signs. Thousands of color photographs and diagrams.

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Bird Tracks & Sign : A Guide to North American Species

Field guide to bird tracks and signs. Extensive information on a wide variety of species. The only book of its kind. Written by senior tracker, Mark Elbroch.

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Peterson Field Guide to Mammals of North America: Fourth Edition
Updated information on North American mammals, including new range maps, recent taxonomic changes, photos of skulls, details on range, habitat, and much more.

(required for Wilderness Certification Program students)

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Practical Tracking: A Guide to Following Footprints and Finding Animals

An incredible resource for learning how to trail animals. Great stories and practical tips and techniques for efficiently finding an animal by following its footprints.

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Wildlife of the Pacific Northwest: Tracking and Identifying Mammals, Birds, Reptiles, Amphibians, and Invertebrates (Timber Press Field Guide)

Great newer field guide on wildlife tracks and sign in the Pacific Northwest. (Includes a few photo contributions from Alderleaf co-founder, Jason Knight).

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Naturalist Skills Books

National Audubon Society Regional Guide to the Pacific Northwest (National Audubon Society Field Guide to the Pacific Northwest)

An all-in-one field guide that includes brief information on most of the species of trees, shrubs, plants, birds, mammals, reptiles, amphibians, fish, and insects of the Northwest. A nature store favorite.

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Newcomb's Wildflower Guide

An amazing key that allows the user to identify plants quickly in the field using easily observed plant characteristics. An invaluable resource for learning to identify plants.

(required for Wilderness Certification Program students)

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The Sibley Field Guide to Birds of Western North America

One of the most comprehensive field guides on birds for the western half of North America. Great drawings, range maps, and more.

(required for Wilderness Certification Program students)

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All That the Rain Promises and More: A Hip Pocket Guide to Western Mushrooms

One of the best wild mushroom field guides, with excellent identification and information on uses.

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The Birder's Handbook: A Field Guide to the Natural History of North American Birds

Fascinating details on bird behaviors, nesting, and biology. Filled with interesting articles on bird research and avian natural history.

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The Natural History of Puget Sound Country

Detailed information on the natural history of the Puget Sound region. Includes geology, weather, plants, animals, and human influences on the land. Written by acclaimed naturalist, Arthur Kruckeberg.

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Nature-Based Teaching and Leadership Books

AMC Guide to Outdoor Leadership: Trip Planning * Group Dynamics * Decision Making * Leading Youth * Risk Management

This is one of the most comprehensive and practical books on leading outdoor programs in the wilderness. Excellent chapters on each of the components of outdoor leadership with examples, lessons, and helpful diagrams.

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Wilderness First Aid: Emergency Care For Remote Locations (American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons)

Guidebook on the basics of wilderness first aid. Includes the most up-to-date procedures for treating medical conditions when help is more than an hour away.

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Sharing Nature With Children (20th Anniversary Edition, Revised and Expanded)

A valuable resource for environmental educators. Presents a wide variety of games and activities that connect young people with the outdoors.

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Coyote's Guide to Connecting with Nature

Another great resource for environmental educators. Detailed information on activities, teaching tools, and educational philosophy.

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Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children From Nature-Deficit Disorder

Thought-provoking book on the importance of nature for human development. Presents modern research that shows the value of experiences in nature. Deeply concerning, yet powerful and inspiring.

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Permaculture Books

Introduction to Permaculture

Excellent starting point for learning permaculture - how to design sustainable human settlements. Sections on permaculture principles, food systems, soils, water management, natural building, and more.

(required for Wilderness Certification Program students)

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Edible Forest Gardens, Volume I: Ecological Vision, Theory for Temperate Climate Permaculture

Great practical information on applying permaculture principles in North America to create self-sustaining abundant food systems that work with nature.

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PERMACULTURE: A Designers' Manual

The comprehensive, definitive textbook on permaculture design. Written by the founder of the permaculture movement, Bill Mollison. Covers each design principle in depth.

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Gaia's Garden: A Guide to Home-Scale Permaculture

Practical information for implementing permaculture principles in the home garden. Great diagrams and easy-to-understand explanations for creating sustainable systems. A nature store favorite.

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The New Self-Sufficient Gardener

Explains how to cultivate and preserve all types of fruit, herbs, and vegetables, in addition to instructions on keeping bees and raising chickens.

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The One-Straw Revolution: An Introduction to Natural Farming (New York Review Books Classics)

Classic text, providing tremendous insight and inspiration for the alternative, sustainable food movement. A must read for permaculturists.

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Permaculture: Principles and Pathways Beyond Sustainability

Excellent information on each of the foundational principles of permaculture design, written by permaculture co-founder, David Holmgren.

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