Media Notice

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:
Lisa Proctor
Utne Marketing Director
612-338-5040 ext.338; lproctor@utne.com

NEW RITES OF PASSAGE FOR ALL AGES; PLUS, FARMERS WHO UNDERSTAND THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN LAND AND FOOD EXPLORED IN CURRENT UTNE MAGAZINE

MINNEAPOLIS, MINN. -- June 2004 -- New Rites of Passage for people at all ages are explored in this month's cover story and sidebars, including Senior Editor Jon Spayde's interview with Gail Sheehy who published Passages 25 years ago. That pioneering work, writes Spayde, began to map the "the massive redefinition of middle age that is under way in America, thanks to increasing longevity and a 1960s'-spawned sense that human beings can go on growing and changing all their lives."

Not only are people thinking of leading separate "life chunks" from 20 to 80 years but many are marking personal and cultural benchmarks in their lives, including everything from faux mitzvahs to divorce ceremonies. Then there's the issue of children overstaying their welcome in their parents home as young adults ("The PermaParent Trap") and the "Quarterlife Crisis" afflicting many of such 20-somethings who may be just prolonging their adolescence. Meanwhile Utne's Anjula Razdan confronts her own aging dilemmas upon turning 30 in "The Unbearable Lightness of Adulthood."

An Uncommon Relationship Between Food and the Land

Too many Americans today think food comes from the grocery store. But four farmers in the new June-July issue of Utne magazine -- including best-selling author Barbara Kingsolver -- a Japanese woman, a California farmer and a cowboy in Wyoming -- impart the wisdom of working with land, even when it seems worthless. In "Faith in the Land: Three Farmers show us how to trust nature again," Lisa Hamilton's compelling profiles capture an understanding of land, agriculture and the inter-dependence of farmers that seems innately indifferent -- until the two parties engage each others strengths.

"Mark Gordon successfully farms a prairie dog-riddled valley in Wyoming's Powder River Basin. Peter Martinelli discovered where and how to produce an exquisite strawberry patch in Bolinas, California and Yuko Tanabe started to hand-pollinate a pear orchard outside Hiroshima after watching her family use harsh chemicals for years on their small farm. All share an almost ingenious sense of what the land requires to yield its bounty.

In a poignant and personal essay about why she became a farmer around age 40, writer Barbara Kingsolver delves into the agonies, economies and ecstasies of farming while examining the frustrations of "the imposed acrimony between producers and consumers of food." Instead, she reasons, "Recall that whatever lofty things you might accomplish today, you will do them only because you first ate something that grew out of dirt." She challenges anyone to go a week without eating food while she fasts from a movie or concert and just see how relevant the health of our soil and the food chain are, as well as having a true appreciation for America's vast but troubled agrarian culture that nurtures the nation physically and spiritually.

Also of Note

As in every issue of Utne magazine, there's much more to read:

• Gay in Saudi Arabia
• How Blogging ruined the life of Whitney Pastorek
• Increasing Your Energy IQ for personal and planetary savings
• Plus, insights into Music, Culture, Politics, Nanotech, Air America -- Goat-powered lawn mowers and Cars fueled by Anger!

About Utne magazine

Utne is a national progressive lifestyle magazine with an audience of nearly 600,000. Since 1984, Utne has been a leading voice for the alternative and independent press, bringing readers the "other side of the story" on issues ranging from the environment to the economy and from politics to pop culture. Utne provokes thought and inspires action by offering the best of the independent press as well as original writing. www.utne.com

For more information, please contact Lisa Proctor at 612-338-5040 ext.338, or online at lproctor@utne.com