Various (Berg, Peter (Editor); Means, Russell; Helm, Michael; Koethke, William; Snyder, Gary et al.)

Raise the Stakes: The Planet Drum Review No. 5 (Spring 1982)

San Francisco, CA: The Planet Drum Foundation, 1982. First Edition. Loose Folded Sheets. “…the periodical Raise the Stakes was of immeasurable importance in defining and disseminating the ideas and possibilities of bioregionalism…(Gary Snyder, planetdrum.org/raisethestakesarchive). This vintage number of the newspaper-format cultural-environmental journal published by the Planet Drum Foundation dedicated to "Reinhabitory culture, restoration of the biosphere..." (from masthead, pg. 15) features a very important & insightful front-cover article entitled Natural Provisions, an in-depth look at the salmon enhancement efforts in Northern California's Mattole Watershed by Canadian novelist Michael Helm (b. 1961). Helm also contributed an update on the limits of the Hydraulic Society of California (pg. 1), an interview with Eritrean environmentalist Alem Mezgebe (1938-1992, pgs. 6-7), and an interview with reforester Victoria Stockley ("Reforestation" pgs. 10-12). Also in this issue are reports on "Big Mountain" (pg. 5) and "Mogollon Highland" (pg. 4) by American environmental poet William Koethke. Editor Peter Berg (1937-2011), the noted environmental writer who was the founder of the Bioregional movement espoused by The Planet Drum Review, spiritedly interviews Russell Means (1939-2012), Indigenous American poet, political actvist and voice of Chief Powatan in Disney's Pocahontas (Freedom to be Respectful, pgs.12-13). At Index page/Back cover The Planet Drum Review has re-printed the poem "Old Woman Nature" by Gary Snyder (b. 1930), the canonical primary poet & environmentalist of the Beat Generation/ San Francisco Renaissance-&-Beyond; reviews & with much more. From the archive of Thomas Rain Crowe (b. 1949), the acclaimed American poet who co-founded & was at the center of the Baby Beat Generation/Second San Francisco Renaissance during the 1970s. The TRC archive was acquired, catalogued & offered as a single item by Third Mind Books (see our item No. 1010), & its individual pieces are being curated & incrementally presented throughout this year of 2025. See also Starting From San Francisco (item No. 3071), published by TMB, wherein Crowe provides a complete anecdotal history-memoir of the BBG/SSFR & its critical collaborations/mentorships with key members of the original Beat Generation/ San Francisco Renaissance. Snyder was of course among the foremost mentors to Crowe & his group, & is referred to extensively in SFSF. Newspaper-format journal in loose sheets folded once each horizontally & vertically, presumed first-&-only printing, with a stamp in red ink stating "Sample Copy" at upper right margin of front cover. A wonderful Crowe archive relic with multiple significances, in its singularly rarest contemporary form. See our other "Raise the Stakes" issues (item No.s 7782, 7784, 7788, 7790). In relatively good-to-near-fine condition with mild rubbing, age-toning, faint scratching & moderate staining to surfaces esp. covers (we note that the paper used here is of a quality superior to regular newspaper stock); slight wear & some tiny bumps, creases & chips at edges & corners (beyond sawtooth irregularities at side edges as issued); occasional short, closed tears & tiny holes (the latter likely as issued); some tearing at fold likely caused from age/use; mailing address sticker affixed at blank right margin of back cover/index page. Good-Near Fine. [Item #7786]

Price: $30.00