When Randy Minnich turned 50, the McCandless resident thought he needed a change and decided to become a writer.
Minnich, 62, said he began writing to see and think more deeply about environmental issues and because he couldn't paint or draw.
After having his work published in several magazines and nature journals, Minnich decided in 2001 to transform his notebooks about experiences at Latodami, a 300-acre environmental education center and wildlife sanctuary in North Park, into a book.
Minnich's book, "Wildness in a Small Place," alternates poetry and prose based on his notes, and details the change of the seasons over the course of a year.
"I wanted to go out and really understand the continuity of the seasons," Minnich said. "You see the birds leave, and the same birds come back."
Minnich, a member of the environmental council, works for the Wildlife Habitat Council -- an organization he learned about through his job as a chemist before retiring from the Bayer Corporation -- and the American Chestnut Foundation.
He hopes his book and his work with environmental causes will help raise awareness about the importance of preserving areas like Latodami.
"People can't care about something they don't know about," Minnich said. "People are actually really decent about things they understand."
A portion of the proceeds from the book sales will be donated to Latodami.
"His book reawakens the magic of places that are really close to you, in your backyard," said Bill Moul, president of the North Area Environmental Council. "These areas are important."
The book is available on a print-as-ordered basis from Internet publisher www.lulu.com .
