The Kennebec Estuary Land Trust (KELT) invites the public to participate in the fifth annual Winter Read, a community book discussion on March 12. This year’s selection is Hope Beneath Our Feet: Restoring Our Place in the Natural World edited by Martin Keogh. This anthology is the collection of responses from prominent environmentalists, grassroots activists, religious figures, CEOs, artists, and writers to the question “In a time of environmental crisis, how can we live right now?”

The planet’s threshold for environmental change and destruction has been thrust into the spotlight, especially over the recent decades. A battle of data, theories, and beliefs, it can be come overwhelming to the regular citizen picking through a large amount of conflicting content and often ends with the defeated response of, “It’s too big a problem. I can’t help.” Hope Beneath Our Feet collects the mediations, stories, and essays from a slew of contributors including Diane Ackerman, Barbara Kingsolver, Bill McKibben, Michael Pollan, and Vandana Shiva. Their responses help illustrate to readers positive actions, mediations, and ideas in which to channel energy and fight helplessness through engagement and participation.

The public discussion event will be at the Hyde School Mansion on March 12 starting at 6 p.m. Joining participants will be an informal panel of community leaders, lead by KELT Volunteer Jen Van Deusen, to add local and regional insight as the discussion group tackles the central question of Hope Beneath Our Feet.

Please contact Bath Books in Bath or Gulf of Maine Books in Brunswick for a copy of Hope Beneath Our Feet to read the book before the event. This program is free and open to the public thanks to generous sponsorship from First Federal Savings Bank (www.firstfederalbath.com) and The Merrymeeting Bay Trust.

The Kennebec Estuary Land Trust is a membership supported organization dedicated to protecting the land, water and wildlife of the Kennebec Estuary. It maintains nine preserves for public enjoyment and has protected 2,668 acres of land since founding in 1989. FMI visit www.kennebecestuary.org or call (207) 442-8400.