Description
Regenerative Systems Bundle — Book Descriptions
1. Life Under Glass: Inside Story of Biosphere 2
What happens when eight people seal themselves inside a miniature world for two years?
Life Under Glass offers an intimate, behind-the-scenes account of Biosphere 2—one of the most ambitious ecological experiments ever attempted on Earth.
Coauthor and participant Mark Nelson walks readers through the daily realities of living inside a closed ecological system: managing air, water, food, waste, and relationships under glass. Far from a sterile scientific report, this book brings the biospherians’ experience to life—its challenges, innovations, conflicts, and deep moments of awe.
Along the way, Life Under Glass reveals what Biosphere 2 taught us about planetary stewardship, climate resilience, and how finely balanced Earth’s own biosphere truly is. It’s a compelling exploration of what it means to live consciously within the limits of a living system—and why that matters for our shared future.
2. The Wastewater Gardener: Preserving the Planet One Flush at a Time
Turning “waste” into life, The Wastewater Gardener is a visionary guide to treating human wastewater as a resource rather than a problem. Drawing from decades of ecological design work around the world, Mark Nelson introduces readers to the concept of wastewater gardens—beautiful, plant-filled systems that naturally purify water while regenerating landscapes.
With stories from Mexico, the Middle East, Greece, the Caribbean, and beyond, Nelson shows how communities can create lush gardens, wetlands, and habitats using what we normally flush away. The book combines accessible science with practical examples, making ecological sanitation real, tangible, and inspiring.
Challenging the conventional infrastructure of pipes and pollution, The Wastewater Gardener invites us to redesign our relationship with one of the most taboo aspects of human life—and, in doing so, to restore water, soil, and ecological dignity.
3. Me and the Biospheres: A Memoir by the Inventor of Biosphere 2
(included in the bundle as part of the Biosphere 2 lineage)
In Me and the Biospheres, John Allen—the polymath visionary behind Biosphere 2—shares the story of how a dream of building closed ecological systems became a reality. This memoir traces his journey through avant-garde theatre, ecological expeditions, scientific innovation, and the founding of one of the most intriguing environmental projects of the 20th century.
Allen’s reflections illuminate the philosophical and spiritual questions at the heart of Biosphere 2: How do we live well within finite systems? What does it mean to be active participants in a planetary biosphere? How can art, science, and community converge to create new models for living on Earth?
Rich with stories, characters, and big ideas, Me and the Biospheres offers essential context for understanding Biosphere 2—not just as an experiment, but as a cultural, scientific, and ecological milestone. It’s a testament to the power of imagination in service of the planet.