Rooted in Wild Places

From the tea fields of China to the Himalayan foothills of India, from the classrooms of Wisconsin to the prairies and woodlands of Lake Michigan, Rooted in Wild Places traces the extraordinary life of Myra VanUxem (née Downie).

Born to missionary parents in China during a time of war and upheaval, Myra's early years were shaped by resilience, curiosity, and cross-cultural friendships. Her journey carried her through India's Woodstock School, higher education in the United States, and a lifelong vocation as teacher, naturalist, quilter, and community volunteer.

Drawing from letters, diaries, photographs, and interviews, this biography brings to life not only Myra's personal story but also the larger history surrounding her-from mid-20th-century China and India to the social and environmental challenges of modern America. Along the way, readers meet the people who shaped her-family, mentors, fellow students, and friends-and glimpse the values that guided her: faith, stewardship, and an abiding love for the natural world.

At once intimate and historical, Rooted in Wild Places is both the portrait of a remarkable woman and a meditation on belonging, resilience, and the enduring call to care for the land and one another.