Self-sufficiency and sustainable lifestyle(s) Books

Book SynopsisBe Well Prepared and Well Fed!With all the uncertainty in the world today, there is peace in preparing. In an emergency, you don''t want to depend on a grocery store or government agency to feed your family. Storing food assures your family''s self-sufficiency year-round and benefits your budget when you plan correctly.This in-depth, nuts-and-bolts guide to storing food teaches you a variety of food storage methods that you can customize to meet your family''s unique circumstances including family size, tastes, ages, health concerns, income, and living conditions. This is not a generic manual on stocking dehydrated meals that have ten-year shelf lives. It''s the guide to storing foods your family loves so you can eat well no matter what challenges life throws at you.Inside you''ll find:   • Food-storage options for 72-hour emergency kits, short-term emergencies and long-term survival.   • Food-storage

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Book SynopsisThird-generation syrup makers Alison and Steven Anderson show you how to collect sap using a tree-friendly tubing system and then cook, package, and even market your own syrup. With expert advice for first-time bottlers, the Andersons share their passion with a contagious excitement that is as inspiring as a bowl of sugar on snow.

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Book SynopsisThe illustrated guide to profitable, vibrant and sustainable permaculture-based market gardeningTrade ReviewBringing permaculture's holistic thinking to the problems of market farming, Zach Loeks has done this burgeoning economic sector a world of good with his pithy words and lovely drawings. Not a book about carrots, but one in which vegetables, children, customers, trees, vision, and earthworms shape a matrix of success. Business planning was never before this colorful, soulful, or needed for the times. ---Peter Bane, author, The Permaculture Handbook. A commendable permaculture guide. If you're serious about generating a livelihood in partnership with the land, this book is your compass. Zach Loeks details an approach to informed ecological decision-making so close to my own work I can be sure this book will improve agricultural landscapes and lives. ---Jason Gerhardt, permaculture designer, Real Earth Design A legacy of grateful land is surely a memorial that can capture both our imagination and our physical effort. Such a sacred mission deserves the level of thought Zach beckons us to pursue. Engaging in this discovery and planning process is worth the effort, and Zach gives us another tool to engage more strategically. Now get out paper, pencil, ruler, and graph paper. It's that simple, and that rewarding. ---Joel Salatin, Polyface Farm There are few books that delight the senses, satisfy the scientific itch and leave the inner environmentalist contented. I'm indebted to Zach for his work, not only for my own education, but for the many clients that seek a tome of collected wisdom as they embark into their own farming dreams. ---Javan K. Bernakevitch, B. Comn, All Points Land Design Zack strikes me as the guy you want to spend a week on your property. Not just for his company, but to access his wealth of knowledge and experience in learning to understand the natural systems at work in any given landscape. The Permaculture Market Garden is playful in approach yet completely pragmatic in reasoning and methodology and should be seen as the permaculturist's guide to placemaking through Homesteading. This chewy tome of goodness will help you assess the ecology, geological history and potential future of the land you live on and work with. A wonderful guidebook to help anyone- with land big or small -- to thrive not just survive, in tandem with their natural environment. ---Sharon Kallis, author, Common ThreadsTable of Contents Introduction 1 Farm Ecosystem EARTH SYSTEMS AND NATURAL SCIENCE ECOSYSTEM SERVICES 2 Whole Farm Mapping WHY MAP YOUR FARM? 3 Holistic Planning DEFINING THE WHOLE AND MAKING A HOLISTIC GOAL HOLISTIC BUDGETING FOR PROFIT RESILIENCE GUILD ENTERPRISE PRODUCTION 4 Design Management WHY DESIGN? DESIGN MANAGEMENT 5 Our Permabed System THE PERMABED SYSTEM PERMABED PRINCIPLES LAYOUT AND LAND PREPARATION ORGANIZED GARDEN PATTERNING GUILD CROP PRODUCTION GUILD CROP DESIGNS PERMA INVESTMENT Conclusion Glossary Resources Index About the Author About New Society Publishers

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Book Synopsis Fight garden pests and increase your yields the natural way with this tried-and-true technique!Planting vegetables and flowers together is one of the oldest ways to create a healthy, bountiful garden. Adding flowers to your food garden improves biodiversity, enhances pollination, and increases the numbers of beneficial pest-eating insects—with the bonus of providing beautiful bouquets of cut flowers to brighten your home and give to your family and friends.Vegetables Love Flowers explains the benefits of interplanting flowers and vegetables; offers detailed advice on how to add a cutting garden of vibrant annuals to your vegetable garden; gives profiles of a range of pollinators and beneficial predators; and provides plenty of general gardening guidance featuring natural methods.Alongside gorgeous garden photography, you’ll learn about:  Garden planning, seed-starting, growing, and harveTrade Review“Vegetables Love Flowers does a marvelous job of taking you down the garden path of the ins and outs of companion planting.” -- Julie Bawden-Davis * Community Table @ Parade.com *“Whether you are a gardener or just enjoy reading about the gardening adventures of others, this book is for you.” * Gardening Products Review *

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Book SynopsisThis is the first book to explore how to use permaculture design and principles for people - to restore personal, social and planetary well-being. People & Permaculture widens the definition of permaculture from being mainly about land-based systems to include our own lives, relationships and society. This book provides a framework to help each of us improve our ability to care for ourselves, our friends, families and for the Earth. It is also a clear guide for those who may be new to permaculture, who may not even have a garden, but who wish to be involved in making changes to their lives and living more creative, low carbon lives. People & Permaculture transforms the context of permaculture making it relevant to everyone. Including over 50 practical activities, People & Permaculture empowers readers with tried and tested tools to initiate positive change in their lives. It is a hands-on yet powerful guide to creating a sustainable world.Trade ReviewPicking up this book for the first time is to hold a route map to the future in the palm of your hand. Use what you learn from it and be warned your life will change forever. You will become a co-creator of a beautiful new world. People & Permaculture is a pathway to this new world. It will indeed change your life if you absorb its wisdom and apply its tools and techniques. It will enhance your personal and professional relationships and help you to design better projects. It is a big step forward in permaculture thinking and a valuable addition to any library. May it bring you balance and fulfilment and enable you to become an even more effective advocate for the Earth. Polly Higgins, Barrister, author of Eradicating Ecocide

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Book SynopsisAn inspirational and informative illustrated guide to help you embrace each season and find peace, mindfulness and joy throughout the year.Illustrated throughout with newly commissioned sketches, prints and paintings by the author, Ebb and Flow introduces seasonal living and explains why it is increasingly vital for us to reconnect with the seasons. Tiffany Francis-Baker offers practical, science-backed advice demonstrating the mental and physical health benefits of practising mindful, seasonal living.Following the Pagan Wheel of the Year' through a nature-led calendar, Francis-Baker explains the origins of seasonal Pagan and Celtic names, traditions and events. She outlines the short- and long-term benefits of leading slower lives and encourages us to enjoy closer connections with nature and healthier relationships with our own well-being. Each section begins with an introduction to the season, then details what you can grow and forage, the wi

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Book SynopsisThe artist Celia Pym lives in London and has been exploring damage and repair in textiles since 2007. Working with garments that belong to individuals as well as items in museum archives, she has broad experience with stories of damage, from moth holes to accidents with fire. Textile language crops up in the body: mending language works on the body as well as on garments. We describe the body as mending after illness or injury – ‘I’m on the mend,’ someone might say if they’re feeling better. You might hear a doctor or nurse describe a broken bone as ‘mending well’, or broken bones are often described as knitting back together as the break heals. Pym is interested in exploring the varied evidence of damage, and how repair draws attention to the places where garments and cloth wear down and grow thin. These personal tales document the intimate damage caused to clothing by everyday use and the parallels with the consequent wear and tear on the body. Mending work builds on what is left behind. It’s not replacing, or remaking, or cutting apart and putting back together, instead it is slow work that makes things better. It conjures an unhurried recovery or change. In textiles, the act of mending wear-and-tear, thinning cloth or accidental damage builds on what already exists, anchoring threads and yarn into the robust healthy fabric and filling in the holes or reinforcing the areas that are weak. ‘Darning is small acts of care,’ she says, ‘and paying close attention.’ Trade Review'Celia Pym sees touch as an act of tenderness, whether that’s mending clothes or caring for others. Mending clothes that once belonged to someone you loved can take on a different significance. “It used to sit on the skin of someone you loved, it’s like a diffused kind of touch,” says Celia. “Touch isn’t only through your hands – your skin is your biggest organ – and clothing will take on the shape and the smell of someone and become an evocative reminder of the owner.” In her book, Celia tells the story of ten special items she’s mended. One that really illustrates the connection of touch to memory: “I mended my mother’s childhood sweater that my brother also wore – it was so small I couldn’t imagine my mother ever wearing it, but I could picture struggling to hold my brother when he was one and I was three,” she recalls. “The tactility of the sweater really conjured up that memory.”' Katie Antoniou, The Simple Things; Pym has been exploring mending since 2007 and has extensive experience of repairing small holes at heels, elbows and inside pockets, as well as working on more dramatic damage, whether it be from water, animals or moths. For Pym, the greater the damage, the better. Pym studied sculpture at Harvard and has an MA in constructed textiles from the Royal College of Art. She was a finalist in the Woman's Hour Craft Prize (2017) and Loewe Craft Prize (2017). Her work has been exhibited internationally, including at the Nouveau Muse National de Monaco and the Textile Arts Centre, New York and the Curator's Cube in Tokyo.' Toast Magazine; 'Pym acknowledges that in the process of mending she is, in fact, mending more than just the garment. The process enables people to approach her for advice and also to talk candidly about the meaning implied in restoring a treasured piece of clothing. Sometimes, the garment will have been the property of a loved one who has died, so repairing it, she says, enables the relationship to continue. The act of mending artfully is a form of caring and memorialisation.' Janet McKenzie, Studio InternationalTable of ContentsIntroduction Stories Roly’s Sweater Elizabeth’s Cardigan Hope’s Sweater The Norwegian Sweater Bill’s Sweater The Gold Cape Lara and Lolu’s backpacks Siri’s Sweater Vivien Leigh’s Suit Freddie’s Family Rugs

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Book SynopsisAre you soothed by the water's ebb and flow and inspired by its beauty and power?These cards are a gift from the Ocean to your soul.Created to encourage and support personal reflection and growth, each card is a potent guide to the wisdom of the Ocean. A friend and companion to accompany you through life's ever-shifting waters, they offer a pathway to the Sea, even when you're far away.Explore 48 uplifting Ocean Qualities, using the Sea to awaken your intuition. Dive into the cards' four transformative themes and explore a series of guided Sea Soul Journeys.The accompanying guidebook offers additional Reflections, Blessings and Mantras and will help you practise meditation, mindfulness and self-kindness.Let the Sea be your guide.To reduce environmental impact this deck is printed on recycled and recyclable material. The production values reflect this choice.

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Book SynopsisWonderlands of bounty and beauty, orchards offer an abundance of fruit in a wildlife haven full of diversity. A well-managed orchard works with nature to provide maximum harvest for minimal effort. Wade Muggleton has distilled 20 years of orchard know-how into this practical handbook to help you plan, plant and manage your orchard, whatever your garden size or budget. With his expert guidance you can have an orchard on any plot-garden, yard, allotment or smallholding-and both maximise your harvest and minimise your outlay. The book covers: Rootstocks and fruit varieties Planting plans Maintenance strategies Pruning Propagation Eco-friendly pest and disease management Harvesting Storing Preserving the harvest The diversity, history and heritage of apples and other fruit trees is fascinating, and Wade's passion for them is infectious. Let him draw you into a world of apples and pears, walnuts and cobnuts, cherries and plums; of ancient varieties such as quince, medlar and mulberry; and even of juicy apricots, figs and peaches. Imagine having organic fruit all year round from your own little nature haven and use Wade's tried and tested experience to create your perfect orchard.

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Book SynopsisDIY Sourdough is the essential beginner's guide to crafting simple whole grain sourdough starters, breads, snacks, and more that can be incorporated into your weekly routine. Packed with tips and tricks for consistent, nutritious, and delicious results. Table of ContentsAcknowledgmentsIntroduction How We Got into Sourdough Why Sourdough? Why Whole Grains? Why We Recommend You Stick with Organic Grains and Flours What You Need for Sourdough Flour Buying Tips and Tricks Grind Your Own Grains, Not As Hard As You Think Grain-to-Flour Conversions Home Milling Tips How Much to Mill at a Time Fineness FreshnessWhy Spelt and Other Older Grains for Sourdough Hey, Batter Batter! The Importance of Batter Consistency 1 Simple Sourdough Basics A Simple Sourdough Schedule Starters Take time How to Create Your Own Sourdough Starter Simple Step-by-Step Instructions for Whole Grain Sourdough Starter Maintaining Your Sourdough Starter Timing of Feedings and Finding Your Sourdough's Sweet Spot The Not-So-Uncommon Failed Sourdough Starter What to Do When You Need to Travel or Take a Few Days Off? The Need for a Backup Starter Waking Up Stored Starter Buying Starters Borrowing Starters Common Problems that Cause Sourdough Consternation Mold House Too Hot, House Too Cold Cross Contamination Metal and Sourdough? Too Sour Not Enough Rise 2 Breakfast English MuffinsHell Hath No Pastry Like My Wife's SconesPancakes and WafflesPancakes Zucchini Waffles French Toast 3 Lunch Breads Irish Soda Bread/English Muffin Bread Croutons Crackers Rolling Crackers Scoring Crackers Basic Crackers Beyond Basic Crackers Artisan Spelt Bread 4 Dinner Biscuits What's the Difference Between a Biscuit, Roll, Muffin, and So Many Other Baked Goods? Rolls Empanadas 5 Snacks and Special Treats Muffins Basic Muffins Blueberry Muffins Cast Iron Skillet Cinnamon Rolls Cream Cheese Frosting Cinnamon Raisin Bread Banana Bread 6 Resources and Sundry Matters Kitchen Equipment Cast Iron Glass Stoneware Measuring Equipment Grain Mills Online Resources Traditional Cooking School Cultures for Health Homemade Food Junkie About the Authors A note About the Publisher

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Book Synopsis''It''s important that everyone with an interest in fashion reads this book so we can live on a healthier planet'' Arizona Muse ''The most timely book you''ll read this year'' India Knight* * * * * Running out of space for the clothes you can''t stop buying? Curious about how you can make a difference to the environmental challenges our planet faces? Join Orsola''s care revolution and learn to make the clothes you love, last longer.This book will equip you with a myriad of ways to mend, rewear and breathe new life into your wardrobe to achieve a more sustainable lifestyle. By teaching you to scrutinise your shopping habits and make sustainable purchases, she will inspire you to buy better, care more and reduce your carbon footprint by simply making your loved clothes last longer.Following Orsola''s practical tips to lavish care and attention on the clothes you already own will not only have a positive environmental impact, but will be personally rewarding too: hand wash, steam and spot clean your clothes, air dry instead of tumble drying, or revive your clothes by sewing or crocheting.Fast fashion leaves behind a trail of human and environmental exploitation. Our wardrobes don''t have to be the finish line; they can be a starting point. We can all care, repair and rewear. Do you accept the challenge?* * * * *''An incredibly thoughtful, must-read guide'' Kenya Hunt''A must read for anyone who wants to understand the fashion industry as an outsider and wants direction as to where we go next'' Aja BarberTrade ReviewOrsola's writing is musical and I hear her song through every word. It's important that everyone with an interest in fashion reads this book so we can live on a healthier planet * Arizona Muse *An incredibly thoughtful, must-read guide to future-proofing our wardrobes and most importantly the planet [...] Loved Clothes Last will change the way you see your wardrobe and how our day to day actions impact the environment * Kenya Hunt, Fashion Director, Grazia UK *The most timely book you'll read this year. We all know that the people who make our clothes are mistreated and underpaid, and we all feel a free-floating anxiety about it. But what to do? This brilliant, witty, eye-opening book will tell you * India Knight *This book is a must read for anyone who wants to understand the fashion industry as an outsider and wants direction as to where we go next. The industry is often shrouded in mystery and this book breaks it down in bite size pieces * Aja Barber, writer, activist and fashion consultant *An indispensable guide to the ethical and sustainable fashion resistance, from the woman who helped launch it into the stratosphere * Elizabeth L. Cline *Loved Clothes Last walks the small steps we can take to stop participating in this throw away culture. She talks of clothes as our "chosen skin" [...] With a needle we sew and repair clothes, but also the tears and ruptures in our relationship with nature and society. Read her book to bring love and beauty, uniqueness and permanence back in your life * Dr Vandana Shiva, scholar, author, environmental activist, and food sovereignty advocate *Congrats Orsola on crafting such a complex far reaching and urgent global issue into a helpful inspiring book with simple steps that we can all commit too and benefit from straight away * Melissa Hemsley, author and columnist for British Vogue *This book is the culmination of Orsola's lifetime of experience as a clothes healer, a mender, a designer, a radical thinker and a constant source of inspiration. She is a true pioneer, the Queen of Upcycling, an unending source of brilliant advice and truly creative ideas that will literally turn the way you think about fashion and your relationship with your clothes upside down * Tamsin Blanchard, Fashion Journalist and author *Loved Clothes Last serves as a wonderful antithesis to the idea that fashion is inherently bad. Showing us the problems that we are facing, however, showing us even more solutions and ways to individually, and collectively, make a change * Wilson Oryema, artist and writer *Always a fan of Orsola, her thinking & doing. You'll not want to put her new book down! * Safia Minney, MBE, Founder People Tree, Author & Climate Activist *A high energy book which brings powerful ideas of change to a new audience * Professor Kate Fletcher, Centre for Sustainable Fashion, University of the Arts London *This is such a progressive step for humanity! Orsola makes changing our consumption habits and saving our planet a fun and doable practice. With all the glaringly obvious facts, how can we not take part in the fashion revolution? Yes to mending, repairing and rewearing! * Samantha Moyo, ‘Extinction Rebellion Together’ Diversity Coordinator *A helpful inspiring book with simple steps that we can all commit too and benefit from straight away * Melissa Hemsley, author and columnist for British Vogue *I'm a huge admirer of Orsola and her work. I love this book's mindful approach to looking after our clothes, giving us the tools to love them for longer and show respect to the people who made them * Venetia La Manna 'Slow fashion campaigner, broadcaster and co-founder of Remember Who Made Them' *Hands down Academic Couture. Loved Clothes Last is a beautifully constructed and eloquently written masterpiece. Orsola weaves the importance of the cultural influence of the fashion industry, how it's destroyed us and how it can save us with the economic and environmental impact on people and planet, the beauty of buttons and how to darn a sock, she successfully interlaces "why we wear" with "why we should care * Patrick Duffy *Orsola represents both radical grace and graceful radicalness. This book is a super inspiring how to guide for all of us that want to emulate her * Alice Jay, activist and conservationist *

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Book SynopsisNow in its third edition, this is the ultimate guide to becoming self-sufficient all year round by storing your garden produce.Even half-acre plots can grow enough to feed a family of four for an entire year, yet with most produce ready to harvest in the summer and autumn, many gardeners struggle to use all of their fresh fruit and vegetables before it spoils. With proper storage techniques, there''s no need for any of your hard work to go to waste, and you can enjoy home-grown goodness all year-round while saving money, lowering your food miles and avoiding the plastic packaging of a typical supermarket shop.Jam-packed with creative storage techniques and 92 delicious recipes, How to Store Your Garden Produce is beautifully organised to showcase the best ways to preserve your produce, including dehydrating, freezing, fermenting and pickling. Illustrated with aspirational photographs throughout, the new edition features a useful AZ of garden produce, wi

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Book SynopsisA necessary addition to any prepper's or survivalists's shelf! A one-year food supply means freedom. It means that you are less subject to the whims of the economy or personal financial emergencies. You can handle small disasters with aplomb. You aren't reliant on the government if a crisis strikes. You can’t be manipulated because your family is hungry. This edition provides to a detailed compendium of all things food storage. Geared towards preppers, it teaches you: Why everyone needs a food supply in their homes How much food you need How your pantry is directly related to your health The components of a perfect pantry Prepping for those with dietary restrictions A thrifty new way of shopping so you can afford to build your pantry How to store the food you purchase to extend the shelf life for as long as possible A week-by-week plan, complete with shopping lists and menu ideas How to save money by making items most people purchase ready-made at the store Pantry inventory and maintenance Where to store all of that food Bonus: 25 frugal and delicious recipes If you’re new at this, you can take the most important step today--the step of getting started. You'll have a year's supply of food in no time at all!

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Book Synopsis When life happens, an Insta-worthy organized closet is not worth striving for…but, your home can still be your soft place to land.Karissa Barker (@karissaathome) loves to pore over aesthetic home organization and décor books. But to be perfectly honest, none have ever given her the tools to change the way things work in her home. Most are little more than a motivational speech with pretty pictures. When she was new to keeping house and life got extra busy or overwhelming, she wished she had someone to hold her hand and give her not just a visual guide, but habits and strategies for a better, easier path to an organized home. After years of experimentation and finding out what works, Karissa offers just that in The Home Reset.This indispensable guide collects the essential strategies and skills you can rely on to make any space—apartment, condo, or house—cleaner and better organized on a daily basis. Moving thro

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Book SynopsisThis book is a modern guide that will help you simplify your beauty regime. Discover how to create your own sustainable, natural products to use every day.Homemade Beauty will help demystify your skin type and discover how to combat bathroom plastic and minimising your routine through 13 projects including soaps, bodycare, skincare and haircare products. This is a beautiful and inspiring lifestyle guide that will encourage you to green up your bathroom with all natural, organic ingredients that are kinder to both the planet and your skin.Homemade Beauty is perfect for those who want to be less wasteful, more sustainable and take control of their beauty regime.

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Book SynopsisWake up and reclaim your one wild and precious life. New York Times best-selling author Sarah Wilson shows you how in this radical spiritual guidebook, the book we need NOW! From the New York Times bestselling author of First, We Make the Beast Beautiful 'A brilliantly raw book that reveals the truth of what really matters' - Fearne Cotton broadcaster, presenter, and author of Bigger Than Us: The Power of Finding Meaning in a Messy World 'I've encountered no other book that articulates with so much passion or clarity the unique feeling of this moment in history. This One Wild and Precious Life is the ideal guidebook for our long overdue journey back to nature, to each other, and to sanity in the deepest sense of the word' Oliver Burkeman journalist and author of Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals We live in truly overwhelming times. The climate crisis, the pandemic, AI advances, conspiracy theories, political polarisation...and the rest...have left many of us in a state of 'spiritual PTSD', feeling disconnected from one another, from our values, from our joy. In this radical spiritual guidebook, New York Times-bestselling author Sarah Wilson puts on her backpack and spends three years hiking around the world - in Jordan, Cornwall, the Lake District, the Australian Outback, Japan the Sierra Nevada and beyond - to find a path through it all. She follows in the footsteps of Nietzsche, Wordsworth and other favourite poets and thinkers, venturing deeper into nature, going to 'spiritual edges' and meeting monks, lovers and renegades along the way. And she emerges with a blueprint for living a wilder, more connected life, and one that must just save our precious life on this planet.Trade Review'This book will stay with me; I loved it so much. It gets to the roots and truth of what really matters and shakes us from the numbness that has crept in' Fearne Cotton 'I've encountered no other book that articulates with so much passion or clarity the unique feeling of this moment in history. This One Wild and Precious Life is the ideal guidebook for our long overdue journey back to nature, to each other, and to sanity in the deepest sense of the word' Oliver Burkeman 'This One Wild and Precious Life is what the UK has been waiting for; Sarah Wilson's journey is inspiring' Rio Ferdinand "Sarah Wilson is a force of nature - quite literally. She has taken her pain and grief about our sick and troubled world and alchemized it into action, advocacy, adventure, poetry, and true love." - ELIZABETH GILBERT; "This practical actionable, spiritual guidebook proposes a path to joy even amid pandemics, climate change, social injustice, and other profound crises." - USA Today; Wilson explores why it's worth it to take the risk and move past the comfortable, assuring her readers that doing this is how we find meaning-and hope." - Spirituality and Health magazine; "Anxiety and disconnection are natural consequences of over-consumptive modern life, argues Australian journalist Wilson (First, We Make the Beast Beautiful) in this vibrant take on how to build a more joyful existence and sustainable world. [...] The author ranges widely, interspersing personal stories with interviews, scientific research, and quotes from religious texts, making for a reading experience that has the feel of an impassioned conversation with a friend [...] engaging prose and timely advice." - Publishers Weekly; "Her thought-provoking call to action shines light on the personal fog and spiritual trauma experienced while living with consumerism, climate change, COVID-19, social injustice, and collective anxiety. [...] this book is inspiring." - Booklist; "This may be one of the first books that culminates in the events of 2020 and offers a solution for moving forward....[ Wilson's] stories are fascinating and her message is universal and hopeful. Readers with wanderlust will be inspired by her journey and calls to action." - Library Journal; "Sarah Wilson is a traveler of worlds, outer and inner. And her reports from the journey are both intensely personal and germane to a sick and distracted world. In the midst of the collective malaise, she zeros in on her determination to live her life, not someone else's, and on the work to which we are all summoned if this species is to survive. Her work is, as the world is, both wild and precious." - James Hollis, Ph.D., Jungian analyst and author of Living Between Worlds: Finding Personal Resilience in Changing Times

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Book SynopsisWith in-depth information on electric fencing, watering, and husbandry for ruminants, poultry, and pigs, plus butchering, dairying, and more “If we work hard, we sleep well.” Twenty years ago, when authors Shawn and Beth Dougherty purchased the land they would come to name the Sow’s Ear, the state of Ohio designated it “not suitable for agriculture.” Today, their family raises and grows 90% of their own food. Such self-sufficiency is largely the result of basing their farming practices around intensive pasture management. Pioneered by such luminaries as Allan Savory, Greg Judy, and Joel Salatin, the tenets of holistic grazing—employed mostly by larger-scale commercial operations—have been adapted by the Doughertys to fit their family’s needs. In The Independent Farmstead, The Sow’s Ear model for regenerating the land and growing food—“the best you ever tasted”—is elucidated for others to use and build upon. In witty and welcoming style, The Independent Farmstead covers everything from choosing a species of ruminant and incorporating it into a grass-based system to innovative electric fencing and watering systems, to what to do with all of the milk, meat, and, yes, manure that the self-sustaining farm produces. Within these pages, the Doughertys discuss how to: Find and improve poor, waste, or abused land and develop its natural water resources; Select and purchase the appropriate ruminant for regenerating your farmstead; Apply fencing strategies and pasture management basics; Implement basic, uncomplicated food processing, including large and small animal butchering and cheese making; and Integrate grass, gardens, and livestock to minimize or eliminate the need for off-farm inputs. As the Doughertys write, more and more people today are feeling “the desire for clean, affordable food, unmodified, unprocessed, and unmedicated and the security of local food sourcing for ourselves and our children.” The Independent Farmstead is a must-have resource for those who count themselves as part of this movement: both new and prospective farmers and homesteaders, and those who are interested in switching to grass-based systems. Best of all it’s the kind of rare how-to book that the authors themselves view not as a compendium of one-size-fits-all instructions but as “the beginning of a conversation,” one that is utterly informative, sincere, and inspiring.Trade ReviewChoice- “Literature about small, independent farms might be divided into books that focus broadly on sustainable farming and those that constitute a how-to guide. Here Shawn Dougherty and Beth Dougherty (both have been farmers for several decades) offer a whimsical fusion of practical application and agrarian philosophy to great effect. Unlike most monographs on the subject, this volume begins with the assertion that plant life, pasture, and forage (in particular) form the core of an effective small farmstead. From this foundation, the Dougherty’s discuss practical aspects of forage, including water, grasses, and fencing, as well as the dynamics of intensive rotational processes. A good portion of the book is devoted to leveraging forage using livestock, particularly ruminants. Their clear favorite is the dairy cow, although they do discuss the virtues of sheep, goats, and swine—but little on beef. The latter part of the work discusses the harvesting of meat and milk and the appropriate use of by-products. The book’s entertaining approach is tempered by a realistic view of the mindset required to productively nurture and incorporate the rigors of an independent farmstead into one’s lifestyle. Summing Up: Recommended. All readers.” Booklist- "As mortifying and implausible as creating one’s own self-sustaining farmstead might sound to most city folk, the Doughertys, who embarked on their own farmstead 20 years ago, make the venture entirely feasible—even ennobling in the face of climate change—on as little as a half-acre of land. In a conversational style that is both welcoming and reality-based, the authors offer a big-picture plan—selecting property, sourcing water, building soil, choosing ruminants (chickens, goats, sheep, pigs, or cattle)—that is fully supported by a level of detail both practical and comforting to anyone new to the idea. Some examples: milking techniques for cows and goats, what grasses or fencing to consider for which animals, slaughtering techniques, watering tanks, and using paddocks for livestock. Highly recommended for libraries where such farmsteads are even remotely possible.”Library Journal, Starred Review- "Husband and wife Shawn and Beth ­Dougherty have written about the 'self-sustaining' grass-based farming movement on their blog, ­onecowrevolution.wordpress.com. Their first book, a well-organized overview of managing a diversified ‘farmstead,' takes the concept of backyard hobby farming to the next level. Drawing on their 20 years of experience on the Sow’s Ear Farm in eastern Ohio, the Doughertys offer practical know-how on a variety of farming topics, with photos and philosophical considerations of their methods. Although not exhaustive on any given issue, there is enough information for most readers to get started with confidence. They encourage readers to adopt holistic and creative problem-solving techniques. Oft-ignored subjects such as seasonal rhythms and interpersonal dynamics—the 'people aspect' of the farm ecosystem—are addressed. Easily navigable sections let readers skim as needed, but the conversational style lends a cohesive narrative. With a compelling foreword by holistic farmer Joel Salatin, this is right at home on a workbench or bedside table. VERDICT A solid choice for those embarking on a serious animal-based hobby or enterprise, aspiring homesteaders, and sustainable farmers who already have basic knowledge of animal husbandry and agriculture. The authors’ blog provides a nice supplement; for more introductory guides, try Carleen Madigan’s 'Backyard Homestead' books.”Modern Farmer- "Shawn and Beth Dougherty divulge how they used intensive pasture management to transform 24 seemingly uncultivable Ohio acres into a thriving livestock and vegetable operation capable of feeding their family of 10. Expect clear-eyed advice on rotational grazing methods, improving soil fertility, and much more." “With grace and grit, Shawn and Beth show you how to cultivate and care for an often overlooked but integrally important part of our food chain—grass—as well as the diverse livestock that transform pasture into the most wholesome foods on earth.”--David Asher, author of The Art of Natural Cheesemaking“Shawn and Beth cover a broad range of topics in this readable and user-friendly book. They manage to touch on most of the essential information a small-scale farmer needs to graze a cow and make cheese, feed the waste milk to the pigs and make bacon, and practice sustainable land use and animal husbandry along the way.”--Sarah Flack, author of The Art and Science of Grazing “Playing off its title, this informative, companionable book could be called The Interdependent Farmstead: It notes how a successful operation relies on interactions among animals, soil, grass, sunlight, and community as well as human ingenuity and, invariably, humor. The book’s wisdom is that building on these synergies helps one realize the potential of any given piece of land.”--Judith D. Schwartz, author of Cows Save the Planet and Water In Plain Sight“In The Independent Farmstead, Shawn and Beth Dougherty have rooted a wealth of practical and useful farming information in the fertile soil of social and economic reality and timeless ecological wisdom. Their farm is a grass-based homestead, and their personal story is compelling, but their insights are important for beginning or experienced farmers of any type or scale who don’t yet know—or have forgotten—what real farming is about.”--John Ikerd, professor emeritus of agricultural economics, University of Missouri

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Book SynopsisIn Walking with Trees, Glennie Kindred takes us on an intimate and profoundly connecting walk with thirteen of our native trees. She leads us into their worlds and opens our hearts to their wonders, their qualities and their potential to heal. This is a book about relationships and inter-relationships: Our relationship with the trees, their relationships with each other and with the natural world around them, and the flow of our communal relationship, past and present, which affects us all as the web of life on Earth. Illustrated with the authors exquisite pencil drawings, Glennie's passion for trees is infectious, and inspires us to look more closely, listen more intently and walk with trees more often. She shares her stories and encounters with trees and weaves together many ways to deepen our engagement with them, from growing them, harvesting and using them for medicine, food, and craftwork. She also encourages us to find our way into a more subtle and intuitive relationship with the trees, as part of our journey to heal our fractured relationship with the Earth. As with all of Glennie's books, the seasonal cycles and the Earth festivals are interwoven and provide further ways to deepen our journey with trees. This is a book about possibilities, for those who care for our environment. This is a book that reminds you of what you might have missed or forgotten, and reminds you of your power. This is a book of our time, where we recognise our deep interconnectivity with the trees, with all of life and with the Earth herself. It inspires us to open our arms and hearts wide, and joyfully embrace the changes.

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Book Synopsis Raise Happy Chickens is a quickly accessible but authoritative guide, suitable for total beginners, that provides all the information you need to start keeping your own chickens. Telling you which breed of bird lays best and providing useful guidance on housing, equipment and the necessities of day-to-day care, it meets all the needs of anyone who dreams of a garden full of happy, clucking birds. It also goes beyond just chickens to other types of poultry, and gives advice and practical guidelines on housing, with full explanation of key areas like welfare, behavior, and diet. Trade Review"A comprehensive introduction to poultry keeping." * - Country Smallholding *Table of Contents Intro:: short history of poultry 1.: Chickens 2.: Ducks 3.: Geese 4.: Turkeys 5.: Other birds: Guineafowl and Quail : 6. Meat production : 7. Diseases and problems: quick reference chart 8.: Egg recipes : Appendices : Vermin control : Transport regulations : Exhibiting : Troubleshooting : Glossary : Useful addresses : Further reading : Index

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Book SynopsisIn twenty short books, Penguin brings you the classics of the environmental movement.In The Democracy of Species Robin Wall Kimmerer guides us towards a more reciprocal, grateful and joyful relationship with our animate earth, from the wild leeks in the field to the deer in the woods.Over the past 75 years, a new canon has emerged. As life on Earth has become irrevocably altered by humans, visionary thinkers around the world have raised their voices to defend the planet, and affirm our place at the heart of its restoration. Their words have endured through the decades, becoming the classics of a movement. Together, these books show the richness of environmental thought, and point the way to a fairer, saner, greener world.

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Book SynopsisGardening for Everyone is a sustainable guide to growing vegetables in five simple steps: planning, building, planting, tending and harvesting. With the same wisdom and stunning aesthetic as Simply Living Well, Julia''s beautiful new book is a guide to creating and growing a garden simply and sustainably with profiles of essential vegetables and herbs, ecological tips, and fun and creative projects.Growing food in your backyard (or even on a porch or windowsill!) is one of the simplest and most rewarding ways to nourish yourself, be self-sufficient and connect with nature in a hands-on way. Here sustainability expert Julia Watkins shares everything you need to know to grow your own vegetables, fruits and herbs, as well as wildflowers and other beneficial companion plants.The book covers all the nuts and bolts of creating and caring for your garden - planning, building, planting, tending and harvesting - followed by a deeper dive into the plants Trade ReviewJam-packed with beautiful colourful photographs and helpful tips, this is just right for aspiring eco-friendly gardeners * Publishers Weekly *

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Book Synopsis Produce your own milk, cheese, meat, fiber, fertilizer, and more Incorporating dairy goats into a diversified homestead can be the key to greater self-sufficiency. Responding to questions and concerns from readers from all over North America and beyond, this fully revised and expanded edition of Raising Goats Naturally will help readers work with nature to raise dairy goats to produce milk, cheese, meat, fertilizer, leather, fiber, and soap all without relying on drugs or following the factory farm model. By observing your own animals closely and educating yourself about their specific needs, you can create an individualized plan for keeping them healthy and maximizing their productivity. This unique, fully-illustrated guide will teach you to help your herd thrive with: Breed-specific descriptions to help you choose the right goats for your goals and lifestyle Detailed information on housing, fencing, breeding, health, milkingTable of Contents Acknowledgments Preface to the Second Edition Introduction Part I: Planning, Purchasing, and Protecting 1. Choosing Your Goats Breeds Does Bucks Registration Pedigree Purchasing 2. Housing Your Goats Shelter Bedding 3. Protecting Your Goats Fencing Livestock Guardians Part II: Raising, Remedies, and Reproduction 4. Day-to- Day Life With Goats Behavior Anatomy Health Grooming First Aid Supplies Medicating the Sick Goat 5. Feeding Your Goats Rotational Grazing Hay Grain Minerals Baking Soda 6. Parasites Internal Parasites Controlling Internal Parasites Preventing Infection External Parasites Controlling External Parasites 7. Injury, Illnesses, and Diseases Abortion and Stillbirth Abscesses Acidosis Bloat Brucellosis Caprine Arthritis Encephalitis Constipation Cryptosporidiosis Enterotoxemia Floppy Kid Syndrome Foot Rot Hardware Disease Hypocalcemia Infertility in Bucks Infertility in Does Johne's Disease Ketosis Listeriosis Mastitis Nutritional Deficiencies Neonatal Mortality Pinkeye Polio (Polioencephalomalacia) Respiratory Conditions Ringworm Scours Scrapie Skin Cancer Sore Mouth Tetanus Tuberculosis Urinary Stones (Urinary Calculi) White Muscle Disease Vaccines 8. Breeding Breeding Season Breeding Age Signs of Estrus Breeding Methods Buck Behavior Successful Breeding Artificial Insemination Feeding for Fertility 9. Pregnancy Gestation Signs of Pregnancy False Pregnancy Feeding During Pregnancy 10. Birthing Getting Ready Signs of Labor Birth Feeding Post Birth Newborn Check Kid Complications 11. Raising Kids Getting Started With Dam Raising Getting Started With Bottle-feeding Poop Feeding Grain and Forage Horns Castrating Males Tattooing and Ear Tags Weaning Barn Hygiene 12. Milking Managing Milkers Naturally Teaching a Doe to Milk Milking Equipment Milking by Hand Milking With a Machine Handling Milk Storing Milk Part III: Milk, Meat, and More 13. The Dairy Kitchen Equipment Ingredients 14. Dairy Products Buttermilk and Sour Cream Yogurt Sweets 15. Acid-ripened Cheeses Vinegar Citric Acid 16. Culture-ripened Cheeses Choosing Cultures Flocculation Cutting Curds Semi-hard and Hard Cheeses 17. Meat Meat Quality Butchering Cooking 18. Soap Processes Safety Equipment Ingredients Step-by- Step Soap Making Final Thoughts Notes Glossary Suggested Reading Recipe Index Index About the Author About New Society Publishers

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Book SynopsisWelcome to the world of safer, greener household cleaning. This friendly book will help you become more self-sufficient and benefit your health, the environment, and your bank balance. Natural Household Cleaning is packed with clear, easy-to-follow cleaning recipes to replace common commercial cleaning products with natural alternatives. You may be pleasantly surprised to discover that your kitchen cupboard already contains many harmless options for transforming your home into a clean and fresh-smelling haven. Lemons, salt, vinegar, baking soda, and club soda are just some of the natural ingredients that can be used to clean the kitchen, bathroom, bedroom, floors, and everything in between. Many of us don’t realize just how easy it is to make your own cleaning products and achieve truly amazing results. Turn a chore into a pleasure and discover a whole new way to clean!

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Book SynopsisSelf-sufficiency and organic living have never been more prominent and hen keeping is becoming increasingly popular. Part of a growing series of authoritative and inspirational titles, this book provides an introduction to some of the key aspects of aspiring to a self-sufficient lifestyle by keeping your own chickens and benefiting from the produce.You don't need a large garden to keep poultry and an average family only needs a couple of hens to keep them well stocked in fresh eggs all year round. The set-up costs are minimal and you don't need a whole host of expensive gadgets or equipment to care for your chickens.Packed with information on poultry keeping (housing, food and water, daily care, disease prevention and cure, encouraging egg production and breeding), there is also comprehensive information on breeds and a list of useful contacts should you need them.

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Book SynopsisThis hardworking addition to the best-selling Backyard Homestead series offers expert advice on what tasks to do around your farm and when to do them — no matter where on the planet you call home. Author Ann Larkin Hansen sets the priorities for each area of the farm, including the barn, garden, orchard, field, pasture, and woodlot. For every critical turn of the year (12 in all), Hansen provides an at-a-glance to-do list along with tips and a more in-depth discussion of key topics for the season. Easy-reference charts, checklists, and record-keeping sections help you keep track of it all. Also available in this series: The Backyard Homestead, The Backyard Homestead Book of Building Projects, The Backyard Homestead Guide to Raising Farm Animals, and The Backyard Homestead Book of Kitchen Know-How.

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Book Synopsis‘Our favourite stylist is back – we can't stop drooling over Selina Lake's new book...’ Mollie Makes In Natural Living Style, Selina Lake reveals how to create a beautiful and stylish home that is as natural, plastic-free and sustainable as possible. In Inspirations, Selina starts by revealing the concepts that inspire her: natural decor, living simply, mindful consumption, recycling, upcycling and reducing plastic waste. She looks at materials suited to the natural living look, including wood, bamboo, cork, recycled glass and upcycled materials. In Textures, she focuses on organic fabrics, fibres such as coir and rattan and eco-friendly paints. Finally, she shows how to style the home using lighting, decorative objects, vintage pieces, garden flowers and house plants. In the second section, Natural Living Spaces, Selina shows how sustainability and style can go hand in hand in living rooms, kitchens, bedrooms, bathrooms, home offices and even utility rooms. In The Natural Garden, she steps outside to discuss green gardening, growing your own produce and venturing further afield to camp, travel and explore. Throughout, eco-friendly tips and hints will inspire those who want to lighten their footprint on the planet. Last but not least, the Natural Resources section will help readers get the look and create a sustainable, eco-friendly home of their own.Trade Review‘the best new books on eco-living’ – The Sunday TimesThey say change starts at home. What I’ve come away with from Natural Living Styleare all kinds of ideas for reducing plastics and waste around the home in favour of natural or greener alternatives. As it turns out, they can be functional, sustainable and That’s inspired living. – Try Small ThingsBeautifully illustrated with photography by Rachel Whiting, ‘Natural Living Style’ will motivate you to take the next steps to living well, happy in the knowledge that you are making a difference now and for future generations. – Arkansas Democrat GazetteLake demonstrates how to make your home ecofriendly, while not sacrificing style. – Flea Market Décor

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Book SynopsisA family cow can provide an endless supply of delicious fresh milk, but also requires a large investment of time and money. In this practical guide, Dirk van Loon provides detailed information on choosing an appropriate breed for your needs, nutrition, milking, health care, and bovine behavior. With expert advice on everything you need to know keep your animal healthy, happy, and productive, you'll soon be enjoying all the benefits a family cow can bring.

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Book SynopsisHow going flight-free can save the planet - and change how you see the worldTrade ReviewHelen Coffey’s book is an inspiration to share the joys of terrestrial travel – whether on high-speed rail, a slow boat to Africa or, as a pilgrim, on two feet. Be transported to a gentler, more analogue world – with simple pleasures such as the splash of the Adriatic less than 24 hours after leaving London -- Simon Calder, author of No Frills: The Truth Behind the Low-Cost Revolution in the SkiesZero Altitude is passionate, entertaining and compelling, yet light-hearted. Helen puts forward a strong case for travelling without flying that will have you yearning to follow in her grounded footsteps -- Anna Hughes, director of Flight Free UK

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Book SynopsisAquaponics is a revolutionary system for growing plants by fertilising them with the waste water from fish in a sustainable closed system. A combination of the best of aquaculture and hydroponics, aquaponic gardening is an amazingly productive way to grow organic vegetables, greens, herbs and fruits, while providing the added benefits of fresh fish as a safe, healthy source of protein. On a larger scale, it is a key solution to mitigating food insecurity, climate change, groundwater pollution and the impacts of overfishing on our oceans. This is the definitive do-it-yourself home manual, with an introduction by Charlie Price, head of Aquaponics UK. It focuses on giving you all the tools you need to create your own aquaponic system and enjoy healthy, safe, fresh and delicious food all year round. Starting with an overview of the theory, benefits and potential of aquaponics, this book goes on to explain: system location considerations and hardware components; the living elements - fish, plants, bacteria, and worms; and, putting it all together - starting and maintaining a healthy system. Aquaponics systems are completely organic. They are four to six times more productive and use 90 percent less water than conventional gardens. Other advantages include no weeds, fewer pests, and no watering, fertilising, bending, digging, or heavy lifting - in fact, there really is no down side! Anyone interested in taking the next step towards self-sufficiency will be fascinated by this practical, accessible and well-illustrated guide.Trade ReviewThis isn't just another book for dummies; this is a comprehensive handbook on how to grow real food...so meticulously documented, that failure is not an option. -- Jeff Edwards - President, Progressive Gardening Trade Association (PGTA)"I have always wanted to put my money where my mouth is and figure out how to do sustainable aquaculture in the context of my home garden. Finally I've got the book to help me do it." -- Paul GreenbergThis is a delightful book to read! ... I've been involved with hydroponics and aquaculture for 30 years and still learned from reading this very thorough how-to book. -- Henry A. Robitaille, PhD - Former General Manager, The Land Exhibit, Epcot Center

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Book SynopsisHow to Permaculture Your Life is a resource book for anyone who wants to live a more environmentally-friendly lifestyle. It discusses: some of the most nutritious food and fodder plants, how to build gardens and improve our soils, strategies for rural properties, how to harvest, store, conserve and reuse water and energy, and much more!

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Book SynopsisSimple, illustrated and step-by-step techniques for creating jewellery from recycled materials. This handbook considers the importance of using recycled and reused materials to minimise the environmental impact of your craft and increase its sustainability potential. Through treatment and presentation, and whilst balancing creativity and necessity versus choice, you can find ideas for making common objects valuable and precious. The variety of projects included teach you how to make a necklace from tin, pendants from keys, use fabric for a cuff, and to use plastic, cardboard, cork and foam to make bangles, necklaces, earrings and brooches. There is also a handy and extensive list of scrapstores and suppliers of recycled materials as well as guidance to find free or cheap materials from other sustainable sources.Trade ReviewAimed at the serious jewellery maker who wants to make seriously stylish, contemporary jewellery, this book is all about sustainability - recycling, re-using & looking after the environment. * Waterstones Craft Newsletter *The latest addition to A&C Black's growing 'Jewelley Hnadbooks' series, this topical 'how to' guide features the work of internationally renowned jewellers providing inspiration for any budding jeweller! * Craftsman (March/April 2009) *I would recommend this book for the novice or more experienced jewellery maker; it will suit anyone and the resources are all around us. * Greener View (April 2009) *...will inspire the more experienced jeweller in new areas and challenge amateurs with new techniques. * Craftsman Magazine (November 2009) *MacDonald delivers a deliciously green alternative and the skills to succeed. * Frosting Magazine *Table of ContentsAcknowledgements Introduction 1. The Ethos of Reuse and Recycling in Contemporary Jewellery Practice Reuse within other cultures Waiting to be used Challenge Process and experimentation Sourcing materials Places to explore Practises within the mining industries The notion of preciousness 2. Getting Started Health, safety and environmental considerations Basic tools Cold-connection tools 3. Materials Metals Plastics and plastics techniques Findings 4. Techniques Basic techniques Making cold connections Other techniques Applying heat-thermal bonding techniques Textile techniques Applying colour 5. Projects Plastic Foam Metal Cork Fabric Glossary Useful Addresses and Websites Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisA practical back-to-basics guide to achieving food security and financial independence. What if you could really raise or grow all the food your family needs? In this fully illustrated book, you’ll learn to create an autonomous, diversified, and sustainable garden and to cultivate and maintain it following the main principles of permaculture. If you want to move towards greater food autonomy and you have sufficient space, you can also grow grains, keep chickens, and have a few beehives. Design and grow a prolific organic vegetable garden Learn how to save seeds from one year to the next Discover techniques for collecting water Read about beekeeping tools and how to use them Learn about chicken breeds and how to keep your birds healthy and happy Gaining food autonomy means depending less on grocery stores and food supply chains. But it is also offers the pleasure of eating healthy and delicious products straight from your land, while respecting the environment.

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Book SynopsisLooking to live a life that goes beyond 'sustainability'? Welcome to the circular economy.But what it is exactly? Taking inspiration from nature, the circular economy is a series of interconnecting systems that make everyday life more sustainable. Plus, we can all be part of it: you, your second cousin, that guy that lives down the street and the person you follow on Instagram on the other side of the world.In this handy book, Claire Potter helps explain what the circular economy is, how we as individuals fit into a bigger landscape, how we can demand more of brands, corporations and governments - and how all the decisions we make really do make a difference.

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Book SynopsisIn No-Waste Composting, you’ll discover the hows and whys of composting and find over a dozen practical step-by-step plans for building both indoor and outdoor composting systems that require a minimal amount of space. “I don’t have enough space to compost.” “I don’t know what’s safe to compost and what isn’t.” “I live in the city, so I don’t think I can compost.” “Indoor composting systems are smelly.” “I don’t have a garden, so I don’t need to compost.”If any of these is your excuse for not composting, then this is the book for you! Small-space composting has never been easier, more efficient, and more eco-friendly. Composting keeps millions of tons of waste out of landfills and creates carbon-sequestering, nutrient-dense compost that can be used to help fuel plant growth (Table of ContentsIntroduction Chapter 1 No-Waste Lifestyle and Benefits of Composting . Chapter 2 Composting Basics Chapter 3 Low-Maintenance Outdoor Composting Chapter 4 Integrate Composting into Your Garden Chapter 5 Unique Indoor Composting Systems Chapter 6 Composting Pet Manure in Your Backyard Chapter 7 Harvesting and Using Your Finished Compost Bibliography and Reference List Acknowledgments About the Author Index

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Book SynopsisThis clear and concise directory provides all the essential information readers need to grow, use, and store a wide selection of flavor-enhancing herbs and spices. Some herbs are annuals, some are perennials, and some can be grown indoors—but all of those highlighted here can be grown either in pots or directly in the soil. Each individual plant profile includes detailed growing advice. Home and garden expert Linda Gray tells how to prepare the soil, when to sow and plant out, and when to harvest and gather. Linda also examines the culinary uses of each herb and spice, and explores other uses from medicinal remedies to insect repellents and sleep remedies. Tips on container growing and hints on how to store the harvest make Self Sufficiency: Herbs and Spices an indispensable guide.

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Book SynopsisPermaculture is more than just the latest buzzword; it offers positive solutions for many of the environmental and social challenges confronting us. And nowhere are those remedies more needed and desired than in our cities. The Permaculture City provides a new way of thinking about urban living, with practical examples for creating abundant food, energy security, close-knit communities, local and meaningful livelihoods, and sustainable policies in our cities and towns. The same nature-based approach that works so beautifully for growing food—connecting the pieces of the landscape together in harmonious ways—applies perfectly to many of our other needs. Toby Hemenway, one of the leading practitioners and teachers of permaculture design, illuminates a new way forward through examples of edge-pushing innovations, along with a deeply holistic conceptual framework for our cities, towns, and suburbs. The Permaculture City begins in the garden but takes what we have learned there and applies it to a much broader range of human experience; we’re not just gardening plants but people, neighborhoods, and even cultures. Hemenway lays out how permaculture design can help towndwellers solve the challenges of meeting our needs for food, water, shelter, energy, community, and livelihood in sustainable, resilient ways. Readers will find new information on designing the urban home garden and strategies for gardening in community, rethinking our water and energy systems, learning the difference between a “job” and a “livelihood,” and the importance of placemaking and an empowered community. This important book documents the rise of a new sophistication, depth, and diversity in the approaches and thinking of permaculture designers and practitioners. Understanding nature can do more than improve how we grow, make, or consume things; it can also teach us how to cooperate, make decisions, and arrive at good solutions.Trade ReviewBooklist- "For the past six years, Hemenway’s acclaimed first book, Gaia’s Garden (2009), has been the world’s best-selling guidebook on home and garden permaculture. He now continues to champion this environmental philosophy that involves working with nature, instead of against it, for maximum sustainability. Although permaculture practices originally began with small-scale farms and gardens in mind, in his latest work Hemenway presents a much larger vision of applying them to metropolitan settings. In what is more than simply a handbook on finding space to grow fruits and vegetables in the concrete jungle, the author demonstrates just how widely the permaculture net can be cast by including advice on sustainably managing critical urban resources such as water, shelter, electricity, and even community centers. After introductory chapters on permaculture principles and the history and evolution of cities, Hemenway covers the basics of designing urban home gardens before moving on to discuss “water wisdom” and home energy solutions. An invaluable resource for city planners and dwellers alike, as well as an optimistic exploration of the possibilities for ecological well-being in our future urban landscapes.”Library Journal- "Permaculture refers to a method of agricultural design that uses natural approaches. While several chapters address the unique challenges and opportunities in creating an urban garden, Hemenway refers often to his first book, Gaia’s Garden, the initial major volume published in North America on permaculture principles, for further detail. Here, the author’s focus narrows to an urban setting, where permaculture means more than having a sustainable garden but can generate powerful change and community growth. Combining anecdotal stories of local U.S. neighborhoods practicing permaculture principles with black-and-white and color photos, Hemenway describes ways in which urban dwellers can not only create their own backyard oasis but join with their neighbors to build shared spaces in which to produce food, culture, and identity. Valuable tips on water conservation via rain harvesting and graywater collection mingle with advice on reducing energy consumption, producing local energy resources, and decreasing your foodshed and carbon footprints. Notes and index provide a reliable reference for further reading. VERDICT: An enlightening read for anyone interested in green gardening, environmental ethics, social justice issues, and seeking positive community change.”Publishers Weekly- "This eagerly awaited book from West Coast permaculture expert Hemenway, author of the classic Gaia's Garden, pushes permaculture design beyond its usual realm of homesteading and gardening, applying it to the complex systems that make up contemporary urban life. Other permaculturalists are also exploring these ideas, but Hemenway's intelligent, down-to-earth analyses, astute systems thinking, and clear organization offer a particularly comprehensive, open-ended, and sophisticated yet understandable overview to readers who want to discover, evaluate, utilize, and integrate the untapped resources abundant in any city or town. Hemenway focuses on the philosophical, ‘whetting appetites' and providing toolkits rather than in-depth instruction, with the goal of teaching readers 'to become adept at a whole-systems approach to living in and finding solutions in cities, towns, and suburbs.' Referencing livable-city innovators such as Jane Jacobs and human-scale design thinkers such as Christopher Alexander, Hemenway shows how permaculture concepts can be stretched and rethought in an urban setting to include not just one's house, garden, and yard but also neighbors, parks, and city agencies.”"Many people who are searching for a more fulfilling life, wanting to reduce their ecological footprint and build resilience for uncertain futures, grasp that permaculture might be part of the solution but are often unsure how it applies to their particular situation. For residents of towns and cities in the modern affluent world, The Permaculture City shows how permaculture design makes common sense."--David Holmgren, co-originator of the Permaculture concept"Toby Hemenway’s Gaia’s Garden is the go-to book I always recommend for those interested in permaculture. His new book, The Permaculture City, is the much-needed urban version, a great introduction and full of important information on adapting permaculture to an urban environment."--Starhawk, permaculture designer and author of The Empowerment Manual“The Permaculture City is a triumph in bringing the wisdom of permaculture practices to city dwellers. This book is a ‘bridge book’ for greening our urban landscapes. Rich in practical knowledge, Toby Hemenway is a trailblazer in demystifying the art of living sustainably within ecosystems: teaching how YOU can be a collaborative partner in a healthy urban biosphere. This book’s impact will be increasingly significant as we inevitably march toward living in built environments. For urban planners, architects, green builders, and simply citizens who want to enjoy a higher quality of life, The Permaculture City is The Book to lead the way.”--Paul Stamets, author of Mycelium Running: How Mushrooms Can Help Save the World “Permaculture is applied ecology, and its practice is evolving as society becomes more urbanized. As Toby Hemenway puts it, ‘We’re not just gardening plants but people, neighborhoods, and even cultures.’ Whether you’re new to permaculture or a seasoned ‘permie,’ The Permaculture City is essential: it captures the explorative state of the art in readable, often delightful prose. And, like all good permaculture books, it is eminently helpful at solving a myriad of practical problems in the home and garden.”--Richard Heinberg, Senior Fellow, Post Carbon Institute “Toby Hemenway combines the skill of a storyteller with the vigour of experience and insight. He shows us an urban landscape with gardens, food, energy systems, and architecture that can ensure genuine sustainability. Beyond these vital elements, he also creates a template for a new kind of city: a human scale collection of village communities where quality of life is valued above quantity of output. With the majority of the human race becoming city dwellers, this is vital information for a more collaborative, intelligent, and resilient urban landscape, one that will enable us to face serious challenges now, and in the future.”--Maddy Harland, co-founder and editor of Permaculture magazine and Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts "Toby Hemenway is among the true visionaries who can turn vision into practical action. The Permaculture City is a landmark book that will be used for decades as a compass and field guide to regenerate our world and communities. Toby depicts the virtuous circle people are already creating across the country and world, from small acts an individual can take, to larger systemic changes that only communities and societies can make. This is the gospel of building resilience from the ground up, and Toby is a true hero of our age—he shows us we’re all invited to the party.”--Kenny Ausubel, cofounder and CEO of Bioneers“Half the world’s people now live in cities, and as Toby Hemenway convincingly demonstrates, they can be at the very forefront of the revolution in how we live. This book will thrill you!”--Bill McKibben, author of Deep Economy“I'm someone with a strong bias towards country living and I've always thought that the phrase 'urban permaculture' is oxymoronic. I've often thought master planners should be working to revive small towns, not build more cities. Toby Hemenway has shown me the error of my ways. The function of a well-conceived city, he says, is to inspire. His book inspires.”--Albert Bates, president, Global Village Institute for Appropriate Technology"We stand at a crossroads where long-held societal beliefs are shattered and assumptions fall before knowledge and reality. Human civilization is in the balance. Few people have grasped the significance of the moment in the way that Toby Hemenway has. His voice is particularly important at this time. The Permaculture City is his attempt to understand what we are confronted with and to skew the discussion toward sustainability. There is no doubt that his message is timely and relevant. Read this book like the life of your children depended on it … because it does.”--John D. Liu, director of the Environmental Education Media Project and visiting fellow at the Netherlands Institute of Ecology"What a great, accessible, and timely book! The Permaculture City is a must-read for anyone who loves where they live, wishes to deepen their relationship and pleasure in and with it, and realizes that our food, water, and community resilience may depend upon it. Toby Hemenway offers great guidance for applying the lens of intentional design to increasing food self-reliance (and pleasure!), improving water efficiency and usage, and growing community, three elements that promise to improve the quality of relatedness to place as well as resilience in the face of weather and other uncertainties. "Whether the topic is gardening in a window box or creating a community garden, catching and channeling rainwater, or redesigning an edible landscape around a suburban home, this timely book offers everyone a window into the joy and longterm fulfillment of permaculture."--Nina Simons, co-founder of Bioneers and founder of Everywoman’s Leadership

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Book Synopsis'Brilliant... Equal parts irreverent, cheeky and vitally important... Charming... Much too valuable to tuck away until the zombies come... A gardening manual that you can put to use immediately, regardless of your situation' Zombie Research Society. Climate change? Brexit? Screaming brain-biters? Don't lose the plot, this book can help! Irreverent, straightforward and useful, it shows even complete beginners how to grow enough of their own food to survive when Armageddon arrives and imports collapse. Or even if they don't. A grow-your-own guide for the generation who'd rather eat compost than watch Gardeners' World, it tells you how to sow and grow 20 key crops, whether you have two pots, a patio or a whole allotment to play with. It takes you through what seeds, tools and other kit you'll need, teaches you how to plan and plant your site for maximum nutrition, and suggests gardening projects to get underway while civilization still stands, from growing dinner in a dustbin to a juice bar on a balcony. All while sticking a garden fork in the eye of the undead. Gardening for the Zombie Apocalypse: surviving has never been so much fun.Trade ReviewThere really is a lot more to this fabulous book than you might think... It is an accessible and comprehensive guide to all aspects of gardening... We live in uncertain times and this is one book that will definitely be found on my bookshelf, for info and entertainment' * Amateur Gardening *However the apocalypse might begin [...] this straightforward and entertaining guide will help you master the necessary horticultural skills to survive Armageddon, whether you have two pots, a patio or a huge garden... From growing dinner in a dustbin to creating a juice bar on a balcony, their light-hearted, irreverent look at post-apocalyptic gardening will help even the complete beginner to grow their own' * Countryside *Brilliant... Equal parts irreverent, cheeky and vitally important... Charming... Much too valuable to tuck away until the zombies come... A gardening manual that you can put to use immediately, regardless of your situation' * Zombie Research Society *An interesting and fun way to sell some gardening tips, and probably the ideal gift for anyone into horror movies, particularly of the zombie variety, and remember spades are not just for digging, they are pretty good at lopping off heads too! * Concatenation *

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