Sustainable agriculture Books

Book SynopsisBiodynamic methods are increasingly used by farmers, gardeners and winemakers. Dennis Klocek argues that, in order to use such methods effectively, the practitioner must undergo constant self-development.Based on numerous lectures, Klocek discusses the kind of inner development and understanding required to work with the elemental nature of the earth. His views are presented in a framework that includes alchemy, the classical four elements, Goethean observation, and the work of Rudolf Steiner.This is not a book of how-to techniques, but a conceptual guidebook to those looking to implement biodynamics at the deepest level.Trade Review'Well worth the effort of reading it through from cover to cover and discovering the many priceless gems it contains.'-- New View

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Book SynopsisThe first in-depth guide for farmers and gardeners who have access to an established woodland and are looking for productive, innovative ways to create a natural forest ecosystems that produces a wide range of food, medicinals, and other non-timber products. "What a joy to read! Nice pictures, great case studies, and well organized. . . . Farming the Woods is the source for temperate climate agroforestry."—Jonathan Bates, Owner of Food Forest Farm While this concept of “forest farming” may seem like an obscure practice, history indicates that much of humanity lived and sustained itself from tree-based systems in the past; only recently have people traded the forest for the field. The good news is that this is not an either-or scenario; forest farms can be most productive in places where the plow is not: on steep slopes, and in shallow soils. It is an invaluable practice to integrate into any farm or homestead, especially as the need for unique value-added products and supplemental income becomes more and more important for farmers. Farming the Woods covers in detail: How to cultivate, harvest, and market high-value non-timber forest crops Comprehensive information on historical perspectives of forest farming How to mimic the forest in a changing climate Cultivation of medicinal crops How to create a forest nursery Harvesting and utilizing wood products The role of animals in the forest farm How to design and manage your forest farm once it’s set up Forest crops covered include: American ginseng Shiitake mushrooms Ramps (wild leeks) Maple syrup Fruit and nut trees Ornamental ferns And many more! This book is a must-read for farmers and gardeners interested in incorporating aspects of agroforestry, permaculture, forest gardening, and sustainable woodlot management into the concept of a whole-farm organism. Trade ReviewChoice- "This excellent book by Mudge (Cornell Univ.) and Gabriel (educator, forest farmer, and ecologist, Finger Lakes region, New York) highlights the diverse income streams that forest landowners or individuals who want to design a forested environment on their land can cultivate. The book begins with clear definitions of forest farming, agroforestry practices, and a historical perspective on cultivating crops in the forest. A foundational understanding of forest ecology is presented, including forest food webs, succession and disturbance, nature mimicry, and adaptation as the climate changes. Later chapters focus on cultivating trees for fruits, nuts, or syrups; using nontimber forest products; growing mushrooms for food and medicine; gathering high-value medicinal plants; producing forest products in nurseries; harvesting wood products; and incorporating animals in the system as possible forest farm endeavors. The discussions of crops suggested in this detailed text are supported with diverse charts and interesting case studies to help readers find the path that best suits their interests. The conclusion provides guidelines for success in the design of forest farms. Summing Up: Highly recommended. All levels/libraries.”Permaculture- Forests, Ken Mudge and Steven Gabriel write, have long been humanity’s pantry, where our species and many others have found the food, medicines and materials needed for survival. It is only within the last few hundred years, that we have become, as the saying goes, unable to see the forest for the trees. Land populated primarily with trees often only means lumber or an uncleared building site. Farming the Woods seeks to remind readers of those days, encouraging and enticing future forest farmers with thoughts of savory mushrooms, sweet saps, hearty nuts, and the rich meat of animals raised under the leaves, presenting all a farmer needs to begin making that dream a reality. Farming the Woods is sure to become a trusted companion for all farmer types. Whether one plans to solely work the forest or to use forested ground as a working farm, Ken Mudge and Steve Gabriel have crafted a tome destined to become a classic. The calm, friendly and knowledgeable voices of experience present a well-written book that will be useful for generations.”Booklist- "It seems that the only thing farming and forestry have in common is that they both take place outdoors. Yet, according the authors of this unorthodox but exceptionally useful handbook, 'forest farming,' which involves gathering a wide variety of plants, from mushrooms to medicinals, predates agriculture. Aiming their advice at readers living in temperate climate zones, including the upper half of North America, Mudge and Gabriel draw on their expertise in the rapidly emerging field of agroforestry to provide in-depth tips on cultivating mushrooms, gathering fruits and nuts, harvesting popular herbs such as ginseng, and even managing goats for maintaining canopy sheltered grasses and ornamentals. Along with sumptuous illustrations and invaluable case studies, their work provides a wealth of information for anyone with wooded land looking for ways to better manage it as well as reap a little extra profit from its rich agricultural potential.”“What a joy to read! Nice pictures, great case studies, and well organized. I can tell the authors put their heart and soul into this book. Farming the Woods is the source for temperate climate agroforestry, particularly for Northeast permaculture designers and teachers.”--Jonathan Bates, Owner of Food Forest Farm & contributing author of Paradise Lot“My particular focus of research is in mushrooms, and Farming the Woods not only offers detailed methodology and techniques for woodland mushroom cultivation, but also adds insight on scheduling and calendars to help orchestrate yields in seasonal climates. I have always wanted to find this information on forest farming bundled together into a collaborative matrix with nut, berry, and rhizome production, and this book helps bridge sustainable agriculture and a healthy, circular systems approach. The authors urge us to take advantage of forested acreage we may have thought was unusable. Fill your forests with food!”--Tradd Cotter, author of Organic Mushroom Farming and Mycoremediation“At last, a comprehensive forest farming guide for cool temperate climates! The authors have done a superb job explaining forest ecology and describing how to integrate fruits, nuts, mushrooms, medicinals, animals, and more into forest systems. A must-read for anyone interested in agroforestry, forest gardening, or utilizing forests for specialty crops.”--Martin Crawford, author of Creating a Forest GardenPublishers Weekly- "In this latest of the publisher’s serious, readable, and eminently useful books on cutting-edge permaculture practices, Cornell University professor Mudge and Fingerlakes forest farmer and horticulturalist Gabriel take a step outside the permaculture trend toward forest gardening—gardening that emulates forest patterns—and focus on farming in the woods by maintaining a healthy forest 'while growing a wide range of food, medicinal, and other non-timber products.' Beginning with a nuanced cultural history of forest farming, Mudge and Gabriel share their expertise on an abundance of woodland products: pollination techniques for paw-paws; the comparative economics of shiitakes and ginseng; maple, birch, and walnut sugaring methods; hazelnut breeding; and the safe use of a chain saw, to name but a few. A thoughtfully speculative but practical section on the possible effects of climate change reflects the authors’ humble and hopeful perspective that 'much of the trouble in the world today is due to disconnection from ... larger cycles. Forest farming invites us to change these cycles and to offer a gift for generations to come.’”

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Book SynopsisBest practices for the eight most profitable crops: tomatoes, eggplant, cucumbers, peppers, leafy greens, lettuce, herbs, and microgreens "Mefferd’s book fills a gaping void in the literature for market growers. I highly recommend it to anyone growing in greenhouses, or who aspires to."— Ben Hartman, author of The Lean Farm Whether growing in a heated greenhouse or unheated hoophouse, this book offers a decision-making framework for how to best manage crops Today only a few dozen large-scale producers dominate the greenhouse produce market. Why? Because they know and employ best practices for the most profitable crops. The Greenhouse and Hoophouse Grower’s Handbook levels the playing field by revealing these practices so that all growers—large and small—can maximize the potential of their protected growing space. Whether growing in a heated greenhouse or unheated hoophouse, this book offers a decision-making framework for how to best manage crops that goes beyond a list of simple do’s and don’ts. Author Andrew Mefferd spent years consulting for growers using protected agriculture in a wide variety of climates, soils, and conditions. The Greenhouse and Hoophouse Grower’s Handbook brings his experience and expertise to bear in an in-depth guide that will help readers make their investment in greenhouse space worthwhile. Every year, more growers are turning to protected culture to deal with unpredictable weather and to meet out-of-season demand for local food, but many end up spinning their wheels, wasting time and money on unprofitable crops grown in ways that don’t make the most of their precious greenhouse space. In The Greenhouse and Hoophouse Grower’s Handbook comprehensive chapters include: Protected Growing Structures and their features Heating, Cooling, Lighting, and Irrigation Plant Basics Propagation, Pruning, and Trellising Grafting And Much More! Mefferd’s book is full of techniques and strategies that can help farms stay profitable, satisfy customers, and become an integral part of re-localizing our food system. From seed to sale, The Greenhouse and Hoophouse Grower’s Handbook is the indispensable resource for protected growing. Trade Review“This comprehensive book is a must-have for organic greenhouse and hoophouse producers, whether experienced or just getting started. Andrew Mefferd’s years as both a grower and a writer shine through. He clearly explains the basics of structures and environmental management, while also covering the nuances of grafting and ‘steering’ plants to be most productive. Growers will be pleased with the attention devoted to the best practices they’ll need to succeed with eight different crops.”--Vern Grubinger, vegetable and berry specialist, University of Vermont Extension“The Greenhouse and Hoophouse Grower’s Handbook answers the questions that both new and established farmers are asking, including which staple crops will sustain a farm’s operation and how to best maximize yield. As protected agriculture continues to grow in popularity and necessity, Andrew’s book will help farmers at every level achieve higher profits as they use this reference to guide them through the seasons under film. A must-have for any grower."--Nick Burton, owner, Victory Gardens, Paris, Texas; founder, State of the Soil“From small hobby farmers to advanced greenhouse growers, I don’t know anyone who wouldn’t benefit from reading The Greenhouse and Hoophouse Grower’s Handbook. Andrew does an exemplary job of highlighting basic principles of plant growth and microclimate modification to help producers design their own management systems and diagnose problems in the greenhouse or hoophouse.”--Cary Rivard, extension specialist, Kansas State University“When we started our wholesale greenhouse back in 1974, the best references were the equipment catalogs, and we pored over them each night. Now Andrew Mefferd has created the most complete greenhouse grower’s manual in the world. It contains the full spectrum of proper greenhouse growing for organic vegetable production and all its factors and, importantly, is detailed from a foundation of experience. This book is a fact-filled treasure, accessible for all. Thank you for debriefing, Andrew. You are a hero of horticulture!”--Alice Doyle, cofounder, Log House Plants“Finally! A book that makes the specialized and highly refined techniques of the big European and North American hothouse growers accessible to farmers, market gardeners, and growers at all scales, with clear explanations of the practices and why they work. It took me twenty years to figure out half of this on my own; I’m glad I don’t have to wait another twenty to figure out the rest.”--Josh Volk, author of Compact Farms; consultant, Slow Hand Farm“Hats off to Andrew Mefferd and his comprehensive guide to growing in a protected environment! While covering all the basics, this book takes growers to the next level, with in-depth discussions on the physical environment, plant biology, and their intriguing relationship. Once hard-to-find info on topics such as plant steering and grafting is presented thoroughly and clearly. Importantly, the last chapters cover the practical ins and outs of growing eight of the most significant crops for protected culture. Every grower will learn lots from this book; I sure did.”--Richard Wiswall, author of The Organic Farmer’s Business Handbook“Andrew Mefferd’s book fills a gaping void in the literature for market growers. I highly recommend it to anyone growing in greenhouses, or who aspires to. With experience few others have, Mefferd explains growing techniques used in advanced greenhouses, and then shows how smaller-scale growers might put them to use. I kept a pencil by my side and plan to use lots of ideas on our own farm.”--Ben Hartman, author of The Lean Farm“This is an important book that will give growers the tools and resources to increase production and profits in protected culture environments. In one book, Andrew has packaged the detailed technical growing information that took us years and thousands of dollars to acquire for our farm. This book will be one I refer to and recommend often.”--Michael Kilpatrick, farmer; cofounder, In the Field Consultants“The Greenhouse and Hoophouse Grower’s Handbook is a must-read for beginners as well as a valuable, up-to-date resource for experienced growers. Mefferd has written a comprehensive overview of the elements of growing crops under cover. So much of the food available now is from greenhouse production, and most from faraway lands. This book will help you be the one growing crops for your local market.”--Eric Sideman, PhD, crop specialist, Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association“Although greenhouse and high-tunnel food production is a well-established industry, small and beginning growers have never had easy access to information about how the professionals do it. Andrew Mefferd has bridged that gap with this important new book. He makes technical information accessible in a lively and lucid style. Everyone who owns or plans to buy a greenhouse or hoophouse should read this book.”--Lynn Byczynski, author of Market Farming Success and The Flower Farmer; founder, Growing for Market“With this book, Andrew Mefferd, a firm supporter of the local food movement, offers a knowledgeable contribution to help growers (especially in cold climates) develop skills to deal with challenges and reap the benefits of protected cropping. This is not a generalist hoophouse book but a menu where growers can select specialized professional practices to suit their situation, whether growing microgreens; grafting, pruning, and trellising vine crops; or ‘crop steering’ to select for leaf growth or fruit development.”--Pam Dawling, author of Sustainable Market Farming; contributing editor, Growing for Market “The production of organic vegetables using protected culture to modify the natural environment and optimize plant growth is one of the most highly productive systems for organic vegetables. This handbook provides a broad spectrum of knowledge on growing structures and climate control as well as propagation, pruning, trellising, crop steering for maximum production, and grafting plants for natural disease control. For aspiring market gardeners, young and old, The Greenhouse and Hoophouse Grower’s Handbook is a must-read!”--Dr. Merle H. Jensen, professor, Controlled Environment Agriculture Center, The University of Arizona“Finally, a seasoned greenhouse grower has taken the time to share professional greenhouse techniques with the small-scale farming community. Such valuable work was a long time in the coming! Whether you’re currently growing in a greenhouse or hoophouse or planning to do so (and you should!), this book will teach you the best practices. It concisely and methodologically demystifies the all-encompassing skill set that you need to become successful at growing lucrative crops in protected space. Andrew Mefferd knows his stuff, and his book is absolute gold. Can’t recommend it enough.”--Jean-Martin Fortier, author of The Market Gardener

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Book SynopsisFarmers like Charles and Perrine Hervé-Gruyer are among the beacons of light. Their work allows the rest of the world to see that there is another life, there is another way. From the foreword by Eliot Coleman, author of The New Organic Grower This book, more about philosophy than a how-to, describes how two inexperienced beginners succeeded in creating a gorgeous, productive, self-sustaining farm Marion Nestle, author of Food Politics What began as a simple dream in an historic Normandy village has turned into one of the world’s most radical, innovative experiments in small-scale farming. When Charles and Perrine Hervé-Gruyer set out to create their farm in a historic Normandy village, they had no idea just how much their lives would change. Neither one had ever farmed before. Charles had been traveling the globe teaching students about ecology and indigenous cultures. Perrine had been an international lawyer in Japan. Their farm Bec Hellouin has since become an internationally celebrated model of innovation in ecological agriculture. Miraculous Abundance is the eloquent tale of the couple’s quest to build an agricultural model that can carry us into a post-carbon future. The authors dive deeper into the various farming methods across the globe that contributed towards the creation of the Bec Hellouin model, including: Permaculture and soil health principles Korean natural farming methods Managing a four-season farm Creating a productive agroecosystem that is resilient and durable Using no-dig methods for soil fertility Modelling an agrarian system that supports its community in totality; from craft, restaurants and shared work spaces to jobs, agritourism, energy and ecological biodiversity Perfect for aspiring and experienced farmers, gardeners and smallholders, Miraculous Abundance is a love letter to a future where ecological farming is at the centre of every community. Trade Review"This book, more about philosophy than a how-to, describes how two inexperienced beginners succeeded in creating a gorgeous, productive, self-sustaining farm on 1000 square meters of land in Normandy—La Ferme du Bec Hellouin….If the color photographs are any indication, the results are magnificent….The mandala garden alone made me want to get on the next plane just to see how it works in controlling weeds. The moral: you could do this at home."--Marion Nestle, author of Food PoliticsPublishers Weekly- "Charles Hervé-Gruyer tells the starry-eyed, dirty-nailed story of how he and his wife, Perrine, transformed a 'dilapidated cottage' and 'a mediocre field' into an idyllic, prolific 37-acre farm and educational center in Normandy over the course of eight years. La Ferme du Bec Hellouin, one of the few French farms employing permaculture and intensive, nonmechanized agriculture, has attracted the attention of aspiring microfarmers and mainstream agronomists. Grounded in permaculture and inspired by intuition and beauty, Charles modestly acknowledges that their techniques are not original. They draw on a multitude of sources from indigenous Asian and South American cultures to 19th-century Parisian market gardeners and modern California biointensive gardening, and their teachers include English agrarian-self-sufficiency author John Seymour, Maine year-round farming expert Elliot Coleman, Quebec market gardener Jean-Martin Fortier, and a number of French organic-farming pioneers. Charles extrapolates from his own experience and environmental concerns to propose a worldwide agricultural transformation into “agrarian solidarity systems,” quasi-land trusts managed and cultivated by multiple individual farmers and the cottage industries that develop from them.” “’Dare to imagine the new,’ Perrine and Charles Hervé-Gruyer tell us. ‘Take the best of the many traditions of humanity, and the best of modernity, to shape a world that has never existed.’ These authors synthesize the best from multiple indigenous cultures with successful patterns of modern small-scale farming to create a soaring example and vision of a future—one in which human beings are an essential and positive force helping to preserve the biosphere, and even a quarter acre can be a full-fledged and productive farm yielding amazing agricultural bounty.”--Carol Deppe, author of The Tao of Vegetable Gardening and The Resilient Gardener“Miraculous Abundance is a true marvel! Like Perrine and Charles Hervé-Gruyer's amazing farm, their book blends science and anthropology, but it also mixes memoir and travelogue to create a beautiful whole that will inspire the next generation of farmers.”--Novella Carpenter, author of Farm City; coauthor ofThe Essential Urban Farmer“This book will be a source of inspiration and guidance for those striving toward an agriculture that is not merely sustainable but also regenerative and rewarding. Charles and Perrine are trailblazers, courageous visionaries who have drawn inspiration from sources as varied as 19th century Parisian market gardeners and Amazonian tribes people. As their method is a fusion, so too is the book; practical, historical, and philosophical in tone, it shows us how practicing agriculture as part of the ecosystem is not only economically viable but also spiritually fulfilling. We need people like the Hervé-Gruyers to show us what is possible in reality rather than just theory, and in sharing their journey, they tell an important story for the future of humankind.”--Caroline Aitken, permaculture teacher and consultant at Patrick Whitefield Associates; coauthor of Food from Your Forest Garden“At their farm in Normandy, France, Perrine and Charles Hervé-Gruyer have created an inspiring example of how it is possible to intensively farm a small plot of land and produce an abundance of food while at the same time enriching the fertility of the soil and the health of the people, plants, and animals that live there. Their work demonstrates how people and nature can again co-exist for mutual benefit—and their self-sufficient way of living and farming is certainly the future of agriculture.”--Larry Korn, author of One-Straw Revolutionary; editor of Masanobu Fukuoka’s The One-Straw Revolution and Sowing Seeds in the Desert“Miraculous Abundance is a dynamic combination of permaculture, biointensive, four season, natural farming, and Amazonian farming approaches with exciting practical goals to pattern after. The book is about healing ourselves and the Earth in a post-carbon era. Worth reading for inner growth and outer growing of food, compost materials, income, and soil!”--John Jeavons, author; biologically intensive farming specialist“Miraculous Abundance is absolutely the right book for right now. I don't know when I have been more encouraged about the future. The authors tell how, after some ten years of upward—not always successful—experimentation, going directly against the grain of modern industrial farming, they have advanced the renaissance of small-scale agriculture to near biological perfection. They are combining biointensive farming and permaculture to make a viable, diversified microfarm on test plots that are little more than two acres with the possibility of reducing that size down to as small as one fourth acre. They do their farming almost entirely by hand and with the utmost refinements and advances in agronomic soil enrichment. They use hardly any fossil-fuel energy at all, calling what they do the ‘agriculture of the sun.’ Along the way they provide solid evidence from sources all over the world to back up the conclusions they are drawing from their work, including achieving more healthful food, food security for the coming population increases, more jobs, effective sequestration of CO2, and indeed a whole new world order that would insure better social stability out of the chaos we presently face.”--Gene Logsdon, author of A Sanctuary of Trees and The Contrary Farmer “In this lovely, hopeful book, an unlikely couple creates an astonishingly productive edible landscape in Normandy, weaving together the insights, materials, and techniques of dozens of acknowledged predecessors. Miraculous Abundance is a modestly written song of defiance, a demonstration that the world can readily feed its projected 9 billion with an agriculture that restores the biosphere.”--Joan Gussow, author of Growing, Older and This Organic Life“Miraculous Abundance offers one of the most readable, visceral blueprints for earth-healing abundance I've ever seen. Absolutely captivating. Only true-blue practitioners, hands in the soil, can offer the kind of eclectic synthesis—combining the best of all the earth-healing traditions and technologies—discovered on this permaculture microfarm. A fantastic book with iconic potential. I couldn't put it down.”--Joel Salatin, owner , Polyface Farm; author of Fields of Farmers"Miraculous Abundance tells the story of a pioneering permaculture market garden in France. Small, highly diverse, highly productive microfarms are a critical part of climate-change mitigation; their 'agroecological intensification’ means we can grow more on less land and reduce deforestation at the same time. Perrine and Charles Hervé-Gruyer's book covers more than the logistics of their operation—it delves into their philosophy and historical roots in French market garden history. Miraculous Abundance is a powerful case study of an intensive, commercial permaculture production system."--Eric Toensmeier, The Carbon Farming Solution“Can farming a tiny quarter-acre piece of land be sustainable, economic, and fulfilling? In Miraculous Abundance, Perrine and Charles Hervé-Gruyer tackle that very questions and answer it positively in the affirmative. This fascinating book describes the evolution of their farm from its beginnings in 2004, when the authors knew little, over the next ten years as they discovered biointensive agriculture, permaculture, forest gardens, and more. The authors are passionate about small, human-scale farming and the role it can play in the future, and they envisage a future with numerous small farms, enabling many more people to live on the land and lessening the effects of climate change. Their farm in France now attracts farmers, chefs, and scientists and also hosts a school to teach how a diverse edible landscape can be created to both earn a living and make a beautiful space and a fulfilling life.”--Martin Crawford, author of Trees for Gardens, Orchards and Permaculture

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Book SynopsisWith this absolute beginner’s guide, learn how to set up your backyard hives, select and raise bees, and harvest honey, with the added bonus of bringing pollinators to your yard and garden. You’ve decided to try beekeeping—so where do you start? Beekeeping for Beginners, adapted from the best-selling The Backyard Beekeeper, covers everything you need to know, from selecting the right kind of hives, and finding and bringing bees home to your yard, right up to the collection and enjoyment of the glorious reward—golden honey. Rewarding and environmentally beneficial, reading this complete and introductory guide is the first step in your journey to becoming a successful beekeeper, whether you decide to have one hive or twenty-five. Renowned beekeeping expert Kim Flottum shares his vast knowledge from years of teaching beekeeping to all levels of enthusiasts for a no-fail approach to bringing a productive bee colony o

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Book SynopsisFollowed by millions @epicgardening, Author Kevin Espiritu has built a modern, high-tech homestead on a modest urban lot. In Epic Homesteading, he teaches you how to do the same, wherever you live. As Kevin has proven—thanks to his enthusiasm and willingness to experiment—there’s no need to go “back to the land,” live off-grid, and leave behind modern conveniences to improve your self-sufficiency and autonomy. Anyone can do it. Follow in Kevin’s footsteps with this accessible, beginner-friendly guide to embracing today’s technology to grow and preserve food, raise mini livestock like bees and chickens, set up automated systems like irrigation and greywater recycling, and so much more. The high-tech homesteading concepts and projects introduced in Epic Homesteading show you that, wherever you are in the world—city, country, or suburbia—homesteading is for YTrade Review“This book is sure to inspire, motivate and educate anyone who wants to start a homestead, no matter how small or large. Because of the care taken to encourage growing in climates of all types. (Including metric conversions and discussion of growing zones) this is not just a book for U.S. gardeners and homesteaders. The world over will befit from Kevin's insights that are based on his actual experiences.” —Diane Blazek, Executive Director, National Garden Bureau * Diane Blazek, Executive Director, National Garden Bureau *“Kevin’s Epic Homesteading book is a comprehensive guide to food growing, small livestock keeping, and harvest preservation written in his famous, easy-to-understand, and realistic way of delivering information that will improve your homesteading knowledge. Get into it!” —Mark Valencia from @selfsufficientme * Mark Valencia from @selfsufficientme *"Every now and then, a book comes along that reshapes our understanding and ignites a passion. This comprehensive guide to homesteading is just that. Whether you're a seasoned gardener or just dipping your toes into the world of self-sufficiency, this book covers it all — from choosing the perfect garden spot to reaping bountiful harvests both indoors and out, from establishing a thriving orchard to understanding energy systems. The depth of topics like composting, water conservation, mini livestock rearing, and food preservation ensures that every aspect of self-sufficient living is covered. But what sets this book apart is its step-by-step approach, making the dream of running a productive homestead achievable for anyone. Equip yourself with the best resource available; it's not just a book, it's a journey to a self-sustained future. Highly recommended for anyone keen on embracing the full homesteading experience and it inspired even me to scale up my small urban garden in London, UK" —Alessandro Vitale, Founder & CEO, Spicymoustache * Alessandro Vitale, Founder & CEO, Spicymoustache *"...readers will find some good suggestions on what to consider when going green. It’s a competent introduction to living off the land." * Publishers Weekly *

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Book Synopsis‘If you want real food, food security and a truly biodiverse countryside, please, please read this book.’ John Lewis-Stempel, author of Meadowland ‘[A] timely response to those who are constructing a dystopia of farms without farmers, food without farms, while promoting more industrialisation of the food system.’ Vandana Shiva, activist and author of Terra Viva ‘Brilliant and compelling … at once hopeful and persuasive about the future of food.’ Dan Barber, chef at Blue Hill Named the Inc. Non-Obvious Book Awards 'Best Books of 2023' Saying NO to a Farm-Free Future is a powerful and timely response to the ongoing search for our sustainable food future. In the face of ongoing food, energy and environmental crises, Chris Smaje, farmer and social scientist, has become one of the most prescient voices on the future of farming. In his new book, he explores the false promises and unconsidered consequences of food techno-solutions advocated by ecomodernists like George Monbiot, arguing that we should not divorce ourselves from rural living and must embrace a future that includes farming. Saying NO to a Farm-Free Future passionately argues for scaling up the pro-nature principles of low-energy, biodiverse and agroecological farming, and for putting the power back into the hands of small-scale farmers and producers, and the local communities that support them. ‘A case for a rural agricultural landscape that delivers food without wrecking the planet’. Jake Fiennes, author of Land Healer ‘Everyone in the food business needs to read this … lively and superbly written polemic.’ Joel Salatin, co-founder of Polyface FarmTrade Review'We are heading to hell in a techcart driven by the unlikely twins of Extremist Rewilding and Big Food; if we don't pull on the brakes sharpish, our countryside will be reduced to a monoculture of lynxy scrub and our food grown in vats. If you want real food, food security and a truly biodiverse countryside, please, please read this book.' John Lewis-Stempel, author of Meadowland 'A thought-provoking, intelligent response to George Monbiot’s Regenesis. As the author remarks, this is a provocation to thought rather than a summation of the truth. Setting out the principles of good agriculture that can have benefits to people, land and nature. A case for a rural agricultural landscape that delivers food without wrecking the planet. Agrarian localism as an alternative that may succeed given present challenges on alternative land use.' Jake Fiennes, author of Land Healer'Chris Smaje’s Saying NO to a Farm-Free Future is a timely response to those who are constructing a dystopia of farms without farmers, food without farms, while promoting more industrialisation of the food system. Farming with care on a small scale is the path of ecological regeneration and returning to the earth. Thank you, Chris, for writing this important book for all of us.' Vandana Shiva, activist and author of Terra Viva'Chris Smaje has laid down an indictment – as unremitting as it is undeniable – that cuts through the jargon-filled, techno-worshipping agricultural futurists who promise silver-bullet fixes for having your cake and eating it too. This brilliant and compelling book is at once hopeful and persuasive about the future of food.' Dan Barber, chef at Blue Hill and author of The Third Plate'Everyone in the food business needs to read this book. If you think the future rests in time-tested local authenticity, Smaje’s arguments sound like affirming angels. If you think the future lies in techno-sophisticated urban manufacturing plants, you owe it to yourself to learn the best arguments from the opposing view. For many of us in the local authentic food space, George Monbiot is our nemesis in the public debate of food’s future. Will it be local, democratised and heritage driven, or will it be manufactured by techno-sophisticates suddenly converted to humble, charitable ends? Smaje cuts precisely and directly, eviscerating Monbiot with superb and quotable verbalese. Never have I enjoyed reading a blow-by-blow narrative as much as this lively and superbly written polemic.' Joel Salatin, co-founder of Polyface Farm, and author of You Can Farm and Polyface Micro'Chris Smaje shows us that it is people, working in communities and in tune with their local environment, who can provide answers to our food, energy and climate questions. In Saying NO to a Farm-Free Future, Chris has written an intelligent and absorbing analysis of a complex problem, and one that should be essential reading for us all.' Hunter Lovins, founder of Natural Capitalism Solutions and author of A Finer Future'Chris Smaje provides a comprehensive and reasoned counter to George Monbiot’s Regenesis, politely demolishing Monbiot’s ecologically naïve belief that urban dwellers can subsist on food manufactured by corporations, presumably without the use of fossil fuel energy. Smaje’s deeper, more global coverage of the social, cultural, economic and environmental realities of the agricultural dilemma raises issues that no one can afford to ignore. Without agriculture, we cannot have an orchestra, church, economy, city or any business. It is the foundation of civilisation under global threat of climate change.' Allan Savory, author of Holistic Management'This book is the much-needed antidote to the crazy excesses of ecomodernism in all its guises. A paean to sanity and to humanity’s reconnection with the living planet, this is essential reading for anyone who wants to understand how we can move beyond the industrial paradigm to something that is actually regenerative; for anyone who wants to know how we can feed ourselves without recourse to fantasy fuel sources or further empowerment of the see-want-take value systems pushed by the multinationals and their outriders. It’s essential reading, really, for anyone who eats, but most especially for farmers and growers and anyone involved in the creation of policy, at whatever level.' Manda Scott, author of the Boudica: Dreaming series and host of the Accidental Gods podcast'Chris Smaje is a powerful, humane and practical thinker on our relationship to land and farming, and this book offers a convincing rejection of the ‘ecomodern’ theology currently being promoted by many prominent environmentalists. In a time of division, Smaje offers a human-scale and heartening alternative to elite green technocracy.' Paul Kingsnorth, author of Confessions of a Recovering Environmentalist'This is a much-needed book – and Chris Smaje is exactly the person to write it. He builds his case with care and humility, highlighting the gaps in the evidence used by advocates of a ‘farm-free’ future, but also bringing into view the assumptions that are hidden behind their loud insistence that ‘you can’t argue with arithmetic’. For anyone disoriented by the ecomodernist turn in environmentalism, this is a book that will help you find your bearings.' Dougald Hine, author of At Work in the Ruins'Chris Smaje’s devastating critique of the farm-free future projected by ecomodernists is also an intriguing forecast of what Lewis Mumford in The City in History called the ‘end of the megalopolitan cycle’, and an eloquent appeal for reruralisation.' Simon Fairlie, author of Going to Seed'A real powerhouse of a book. Chris meticulously disentangles the case for a future of our food being grown in laboratories for what it really is: energy intensive, corporate driven and lacking resilience. His justification for a mixed small-scale farming landscape, for a nature-rich, job-rich and food-rich world, is not just convincing for the betterment of our collective economic, social and environmental health, it’s really humanity’s only hope to restore our connection to this planet, and heal.' Lynn Cassells, coauthor of Our Wild Farming Life'An eloquent and articulate defense of agroecological, small-scale farming and a robust critique of an industrialized future, Saying NO to a Farm-Free Future: The Case For an Ecological Food System and Against Manufactured Foods by Chris Smaje is critically important reading for anyone with an interest in learning about the difference between a congenial, ecological living and a dystopian, factory-centered existence. While especially and unreservedly recommended for personal, professional, community, college, and university library Sustainable Agriculture collections and supplemental Environmental Economics curriculum studies lists.' Midwest Book Review

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Book SynopsisWith decades of knowledge and proven, common-sense methods from The Barefoot Farmer, this practical guide to biodynamic principles and practices will appeal to growers of every scale and experience level.In Barefoot Biodynamics, organic grower Jeff PoppenThe Barefoot Farmercombines tales from his personal history in rural Tennessee with the practical applications of biodynamic principles and the deep aspects of the biodynamic methods that continue to make his farm a success today.Jeff's friendly, direct, and humorous writing will appeal not only to the biodynamic-curious, but also to farmers and gardeners who have experimented with the biodynamic approach and are looking for a deeper understanding of the practice.Rooted in the teachings of biodynamic pioneer Rudolf Steiner, Jeff's unique insights and deep reflections on guiding lines of biodynamic growing are an invaluable resource. Those guiding lines include:<

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Book SynopsisTrade Review‘This impressive Handbook captures and reflects the vibrancy of, and will propel further, the rapidly expanding field of critical agrarian studies. It is an indispensable reference in the field for students, teachers, researchers, policy experts, and activists.’ -- Saturnino M. Borras Jr., International Institute of Social Studies, the Netherlands and Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Peasant Studies‘The Handbook of Critical Agrarian Studies is a magnificent field-building achievement. Ambitious and comprehensive, it marks the coming of age of critical agrarian studies, with first-rate contributions from foundational thinkers and emerging stars on everything from agroecology and land, to financialization, territoriality, extractivism, migrant labour, and dozens of other topics.’ -- Marc Edelman, Hunter College and The Graduate Center, City University of New York‘Critical agrarian studies is not a sentimental journey into the past but ways of rethinking how the dynamics of agrarian change reflect and shape some of the most important issues of our time. In these creative and thoughtful short chapters, leading scholars provide new angles on familiar questions such as land ownership, the ways we eat, agrarian extractivism, ecological crisis and rural social movements and on many new issues as well. Authors also lead readers through current debates and introduce them to the particular methodological problems of agrarian studies.’ -- Bridget O’Laughlin, International Institute of Social Studies, the Netherlands and Co-Editor of the Journal of Agrarian Change'The Handbook of Critical Agrarian Studies is an excellent and solid work that takes us through the foundational and current debates of this research field, its main concepts and methodological approaches, the intersection of the agrarian question with environmental, territorial, techno-science and financialization issues, among other topics. An essential reference book.’ -- Carla Gras, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Argentina‘This Handbook will surely become the point of departure for anyone planning research on agrarian issues from a critical perspective. The 72 contributions – most by well-regarded experts in the field—provide both succinct literature reviews and substantive insight on a broad range of relevant topics. Some of the chapters, such as on The Agrarian Question, Land Grabs, and Feasible Utopias are superb. Whether for clarification of key concepts or to grasp the contours of current debates, the Handbook will be useful to students, researchers, those teaching in the field, as well as policy advocates and activists.’ -- Carmen Diana Deere, University of Florida, USTable of ContentsContents: Foreword xxiii Tania Murray Li Acknowledgements xxv 1 An introduction to the Handbook of Critical Agrarian Studies 1 A. Haroon Akram-Lodhi, Kristina Dietz, Bettina Engels and Ben M. McKay PART I ORIGINS 2 Frontiers, regimes and learning from history 9 Ulbe Bosma and Eric Vanhaute 3 Origins of peasant studies 15 Harriet Friedmann 4 The diversity of classical agrarian Marxism 25 A. Haroon Akram-Lodhi and Cristóbal Kay 5 Debates on the historical origins of agrarian capitalism 34 Xavier Lafrance 6 An alternative perspective on the agrarian question in Europe and in the developing countries 45 Utsa Patnaik PART II CONCEPTS 7 The agrarian question 53 Michael Watts 8 Class 67 Sara Berry 9 Land 72 A. Haroon Akram-Lodhi 10 Frontiers: Commodification and territorialization 80 Mattias Borg Rasmussen and Christian Lund 11 Labour 91 Jonathan Pattenden 12 Labor and social reproduction 99 Smriti Rao 13 Peasants 109 Jan Douwe van der Ploeg 14 Gender 120 Avanti Mukherjee 15 Gender, nature, body 131 Andrea J. Nightingale and Wendy Harcourt 16 Kinship 139 Pauline E. Peters 17 Generation 150 Ben White 18 Intersectionality 157 Carol J. Pierce Colfer, Markus Ihalainen and Bimbika Sijapati Basnett 19 Merchant and usurer’s capital 165 John Harriss 20 Agricultural markets 171 Muhammad Ali Jan and Barbara Harriss-White 21 Financialization 178 Jennifer Clapp and S. Ryan Isakson 22 Agrarian law 187 Sergio Coronado 23 Territoriality 197 Annie Shattuck and Nancy Lee Peluso 24 Agrarian/land reform 205 Ben Cousins 25 Food regimes 218 Philip McMichael 26 Crisis 232 Robert Chernomas, Ian Hudson and A. Haroon Akram-Lodhi 27 Food sovereignty, food security and the right to food 238 Priscilla Claeys, Annette Aurélie Desmarais and Jasber Singh PART III METHODOLOGIES 28 Qualitative research 251 Elisa Greco 29 Quantitative analysis 258 J. Paul Dunne 30 Geographical research 266 Oliver Pye 31 Questions and answers 272 A. Haroon Akram-Lodhi PART IV REGIONAL PERSPECTIVES 32 The agrarian question in Africa: Past, present and future 279 Samir Amin 33 Social movements in times of extractivism: The ecoterritorial turn in Latin America 285 Maristella Svampa 34 Agrarian change in China: Historical origins and competing perspectives 296 Qian Forrest Zhang 35 Beyond confrontation: Silent growers, symbiosis and subtle peasantness in post-socialist Eurasia 305 Oane Visser, Brian Kuns and Petr Jehlička 36 BRICS and global agrarian transformations 316 Gustavo de L.T. Oliveira and Ben M. McKay 37 Neoliberalism and the crisis in India’s countryside 324 Prabhat Patnaik 38 Crises of capitalism in the countryside: Debates from the South 334 Praveen Jha and Paris Yeros PART V DEBATES 39 Land grabs 346 Ariane Goetz 40 Water for agriculture 357 Larry A. Swatuk 41 Biofuels 366 Carol Hunsberger 42 Industrial fisheries and oceanic accumulation 374 Elizabeth Havice and Liam Campling 43 Forests and current transitions 387 Markus Kröger 44 Artisanal and small-scale mining 401 Boris Verbrugge and Robin Thiers 45 Footloose labour 410 John Harriss 46 Contract farming 416 Helena Pérez Niño and Carlos Oya 47 Biotechnology 427 Matthew A. Schnurr and Lincoln Addison 48 Agroecology 438 Nils McCune and Peter Rosset 49 Identities and culture in the rural world 453 Nicholas Copeland 50 Everyday politics in agrarian societies 463 Benedict J. Tria Kerkvliet 51 The state and rural politics 469 Leandro Vergara-Camus 52 Experts, land regimes and the politics of mapping 480 Facundo Martín 53 Rural social movements/transnational agrarian movements 491 Giuliano Martiniello 54 Industrial agriculture and agrarian extractivism 503 Ben M. McKay and Henry Veltmeyer 55 Rural dispossession and capital accumulation 515 Derek Hall 56 Ecological crises in the rural world 525 Marcus Taylor 57 Microfinance and rural financial inclusion 536 Marcus Taylor 58 Rural indebtedness 547 Julien-François Gerber 59 The neoliberal diet 556 Gerardo Otero 60 Meatification 561 Tony Weis 61 Digital agriculture 568 Kristina Dietz and Franza Drechsel 62 COVID-19 581 A. Haroon Akram-Lodhi PART VI TRAJECTORIES 63 The interface of critical development studies and critical agrarian studies 594 Henry Veltmeyer 64 Political ecology 601 Kristina Dietz 65 Pluriloguing postcolonial studies and critical agrarian studies 610 Johanna Leinius 66 Agrarian justice: Land, human rights and democratization 620 Jennifer C. Franco and Sofía Monsalve Suárez 67 Strategic linkages between STS and critical agrarian studies 630 Ryan Nehring 68 The Capitalocene response to the Anthropocene 636 Kees Jansen and Joost Jongerden 69 Degrowth in agrarian and fisheries studies 647 Arnim Scheidel, Irmak Ertör and Federico Demaria 70 Reconfiguring the intersection between urban food movements and agrarian struggles: Building an urban political agroecology praxis 656 Chiara Tornaghi and Severin Halder 71 Radical transformation: Creating alternatives to capitalism in the countryside 666 Kristina Dietz and Bettina Engels 72 Feasible utopias 676 Ray Bush Index 689

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Book Synopsis‘Powerful, purposeful and persuasive … This book is transformative. We must read, mark and learn, fast’ Michael Morpurgo ‘A call to action – to change our world from the ground up. A vitally necessary book’ Isabella Tree ‘Philip Lymbery pulls no punches in cataloguing the calamitous mistakes we’ve made in our food system, but he has bold and inspiring solutions to offer, too.’ Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall _______________ Taking its title from a chilling warning made by the United Nations that the world’s soils could be lost within a lifetime, Sixty Harvests Left uncovers how the food industry is threatening the planet. Put simply, without soils there will be no food: game over. And time is running out. From the United Kingdom to Italy, from Brazil to the Gambia to the USA, Philip Lymbery, the internationally acclaimed author of Farmageddon, goes behind the scenes of industrial farming and confronts ‘Big Agriculture’, where mega-farms, chemicals and animal cages are sweeping the countryside and jeopardising the air we breathe, the water we drink, the food we eat and the nature that we treasure. In his investigations, however, he also finds hope in the pioneers who are battling to bring landscapes back to life, who are rethinking farming methods, rediscovering traditional techniques and developing technologies to feed an ever-expanding global population. Impassioned, balanced and persuasive, Sixty Harvests Left not only demonstrates why future harvests matter more than ever, but reveals how we can restore our planet for a nature-friendly future.Trade ReviewPRAISE FOR SIXTY HARVESTS LEFT: Philip Lymbery pulls no punches in cataloguing the calamitous mistakes we’ve made in our food system, but he has bold and inspiring solutions to offer, too. It’s time for Big Food, and governments everywhere, to act on them. -- Hugh Fearnley-WhittingstallBeautifully crafted. A compelling, excoriating account of industrial farming – how it is driving the climate and biodiversity emergencies, while also undermining our health. Full of insights and encounters with pioneers of new ways of farming, Sixty Harvests Left is a call to action – to change our world from the ground up. A vitally necessary book. -- Isabella TreeIn this beautifully written book, Philip Lymbery describes how intensive agriculture harms the environment and inflicts suffering on sentient animals. But after visiting and talking to those on the front line – scientists, farmers and food providers – he is able to show that there are sustainable alternatives. And that they are working. There is indeed hope for the future of our planet, and each one of us can play a part. I urge you to read Sixty Harvests Left. -- Dr Jane Goodall, DBE, Founder of the Jane Goodall Institute & UN Messenger of PeaceThe chilling title is the red flag; the contents, however, lay out all the remedies to save the planet and its species, including ours, and make for absorbing and sometimes terrifying reading. Minutely researched, and written for laymen as well as experts, Sixty Harvests Left deserves to be read world-wide and acted upon immediately. I cannot recommend it highly enough. -- Joanna LumleyPowerful, purposeful and persuasive, read Philip Lymbery’s book and we know what has to be done. It’s simple really, look after the land, farm it sensitively, tread softly on this earth and all can still be well. We need to transform ourselves rapidly. This book is transformative. We must read, mark and learn, fast. -- Michael MorpurgoThe true horror story of our current dependence on factory farming and intensive agriculture gets clearer by the day. Philip Lymbery pulls no punches in painting that grim picture. This dependence will bring down our civilisation as surely as our dependence on fossil fuels. But that is not our destiny, and you need to read Sixty Harvests Left more for its utterly convincing alternative vision of farming and food production available to us in the near future – all based on the three Rs: regenerative farming, reduction of animal protein, and rewilding the soil. I’d be very surprised if you don’t end up appreciating this book as much as I did. -- Jonathon PorrittPhilip Lymbery’s great service, through beautiful prose and deep research, is to amplify the siren call from our planet and the web of life. Through him, change becomes not only necessary and desirable, but irresistible. -- Raj PatelThought-provoking. Told through the seasons and finishing with a new start in Spring, Sixty Harvests Left gives us reason to look forward to a brighter farming future and the possibilities that can be achieved through care of our greatest natural asset, soil. Home to a quarter of the world's biodiversity, soil is life and our life depends on it. Lymbery speaks to practitioners with their feet firmly on the ground and gives hope that new ways in farming will provide for a better future. A fascinating and positive read! -- Jake FiennesThis profoundly important book should be read by all who would like humanity to survive beyond one more human lifetime, and the solutions it proposes should implemented as if our futures depend on it – which they do -- Andrew Knight, Professor of Animal Welfare and Ethics, University of WinchesterAn urgent, evidence-based, visionary approach to the most challenging decisions facing humanity. This is a brave, fascinating, game-changing book. -- Sophia PavelleSixty Harvests Left is not only beautifully written, it is jam-packed with the evidence we need to change our lives in order to save our planet. Philip Lymbery draws us in, in a lyrical and seductive manner, whilst imparting vital, life-changing information. Only we can save our planet and Sixty Harvests Left shows us how. Make sure you read it before it’s too late. You won’t regret it. -- Peter EganSixty Harvests Left is excellent – personal and engaging. Lymbery’s life experiences make it very readable, allowing him to speak with authority and honesty … An important challenge to the vested interests that make our life on earth unsustainable. -- Rebecca Nesbit, author of Tickets for the ArkPhilip Lymbery is one of the few who really understand the connections between farming and nature ... He is the most important thinker writing about these crucial issues – and the way forward -- Carl Safina, author of Becoming Wild and Beyond WordsThis is a clever, insightful and well informed work that’s easy to read. While those who know Philip might expect nothing more, it lays out quite clearly for those who do not know the shocking poverty and decrepitude of our chemically farmed landscapes, the great cruelties in our systems of livestock production, the destruction of biodiversity and the pollution of the Earth's soils and water. Philip's book is an eloquent appeal against this being so. Do buy it and enjoy -- Derek GowPraise for Farmageddon: Lymbery brings to this essential subject the perspective of a seasoned campaigner – he is informed enough to be appalled, and moderate enough to persuade us to take responsibility for the system that feeds us * Guardian, Book of the Week *An engaging read ... Anyone after a realistic account of our global food chain, and the changes necessary for a sustainable future, will find much to get their teeth into here * New Statesman *

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Book Synopsis[F]or anyone who has ever sat in a city office dreaming of owning a smallholding one day and living off the land, this book will inspire them to take the plunge. Rated 5 stars by The Telegraph I raced through this beautiful story with mounting awe and excitement. What Lynn and Sandra have achieved on their croft in Scotland is a miracle of rebirth on land Isabella Tree, author of Wilding The inspiring story of two courageous women who took the leap and embraced a whole new way of life. Kate Humble, author of Home Cooked As seen on the BBC’s This Farming Life Our Wild Farming Life is what happens when you follow your dreams of living on the land; a story of how two people became farmers – and how they learned to make a living from it, their way. Lynn and Sandra left their friends, family and jobs in England to travel north to Scotland to find a small piece of land they could call their own. They had no money, no plan and no experience in farming. They had in mind keeping a few chickens, a kitchen garden and renting out some camping space, but instead, they fell in love with Lynbreck Croft – 150 acres of wild Scottish Highlands filled with opportunity and beauty, shrouded by the Cairngorms mountains. This is the inspirational true story of Lynbreck Croft – a regenerative Scottish croft rooted in local food and community – and the dreams of two women in search of a new, wilder existence. In Our Wild Farming Life, Lynn and Sandra recount their experiences as they rebuild their new home and work out what kind of farmers they want to be. They learn how to work with Highland cattle, become part of the crofting community and begin to truly understand how they can farm in harmony with nature to produce wonderful food for themselves and the people around them. Through efforts like these, Lynn and Sandra have been able to combine regenerative farming practices with old crofting traditions to keep their own personal values intact.Trade Review‘I raced through this beautiful story with mounting awe and excitement. What Lynn and Sandra have achieved on their croft in Scotland is a miracle of rebirth on land that most would have considered beyond hope. Their success is testament to the wisdom of working with nature rather than battling against it and their pragmatism, honesty and openness to new and old ideas shines through on every page. I hope it inspires legions of new farmers.’—Isabella Tree, author of Wilding‘A ripping good account of the guts, luck and perseverance it takes to create a productive and healthy farm or croft that jumps the rails of our conventional industrial agriculture.’—Nick Offerman‘Full of refreshing honesty and a burning passion to reconnect food, communities and nature, what Lynn and Sandra have achieved is nothing short of incredible. These two are the real deal; humble pioneers during a critical time working selflessly to empower others. Lynbreck Croft is the embodiment of how humans should approach food production, and this book serves as an invaluable resource for anybody who has an interest in a regenerative future.’—Huw Richards, author of The Vegetable Grower’s Handbook‘The inspiring story of two courageous women who took the leap and embraced a whole new way of life. Lynn and Sandra, I salute you!’—Kate Humble, broadcaster and author of Home Cooked‘This is a story that needed to be told. I defy anyone to be in the presence of Lynn and Sandra for ten minutes and not come away inspired and with a smile. Arriving in the Highlands with a dream and very little else apart from determination, enthusiasm, passion, warmth and humility, they were not afraid to learn from mistakes and to seek help and advice. ‘The Highlands can be a welcoming place, but you have to earn it. Folk here won’t beat a path to your door unless you leave it wide open. And they did it. Neighbours embraced their dream and wanted to make it happen. To be a part of it. The gift of a cow. The gift of fuel. The gift of thousands of years of experience, knowledge and a love for the land.’—Euan McIlwraith, BBC TV and Radio presenter‘Many of us dream of going “back” to the land. Lynn Cassells and Sandra Baer have made it happen. In this inspirational, honest and quietly revelatory book they show how farming is not a lifestyle fantasy but a way of living, working and eating that is in partnership – with the land, the community, animals and each other. This is not a step back but the key to all our futures.’—Patrick Barkham, author of Wild Child "Their work on the croft is a true community endeavor....Our Wild Farming Life is a warm yet realistic chronicle of the world of the small-time farmer, sharing a vision of how we humans can feed ourselves sustainably and ethically while living in harmony with the natural world."—Booklist

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Book SynopsisIt was on July 5, 1943, when Plowman's Folly was first issued, that the author startled a lethargic public, long bemused by the apparently insoluble problem of soil depletion, by saying, simply, “The fact is that no one has ever advanced a scientific reason for plowing.” With the key sentence, he opened a new era.Trade ReviewProbably no book on an agricultural subject has ever prompted so much discussion in this country.""- Louis Bromfield in The Reader's Digest

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Book SynopsisTrade ReviewIf you're looking for a guide through the tangled thickets of global food systems, you can do no better than Jess Fanzo's book Can Fixing Dinner Fix the Planet?.—Eat This PodcastOverall, the book provides an insightful and convincing overview for anyone interested in food and sustainability.—L. A. Reisch, F. C. Doebbe, Journal of Consumer PolicyFanzo's position as an expert and thought leader in global food systems brings a balanced, informed, comprehensive approach to the text often missing in food policy books.—Journal of Public Health PolicyTable of ContentsPreface AcknowledgmentsIntroduction: Yes, We'll Have No BananasChapter 1. Are We What We Eat, or What We're Fed?Chapter 2. Can Cooking Curry in Cambodia Trigger a Tornado in Texas?Chapter 3. Do We Have the Right to Eat Wrongly?Chapter 4. Can Better Policies Create Better Food?Chapter 5. Can One Bee Save the Hive?NotesIndex

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Book SynopsisWith carbon farming, agriculture ceases to be part of the climate problem and becomes a critical part of the solution "This book is the toolkit for making the soil itself a sponge for carbon. It’s a powerful vision."—Bill McKibben "The Carbon Farming Solution is a book we will look back upon decades from now and wonder why something so critically relevant could have been so overlooked until that time. . . . [It] describes the foundation of the future of civilization."—Paul Hawken In this groundbreaking book, Eric Toensmeier argues that agriculture—specifically, the subset of practices known as "carbon farming"—can, and should be, a linchpin of a global climate solutions platform. Carbon farming is a suite of agricultural practices and crops that sequester carbon in the soil and in above-ground biomass. Combined with a massive reduction in fossil fuel emissions—and in concert with adaptation strategies to our changing environment— carbon farming has the potential to bring us back from the brink of disaster and return our atmosphere to the "magic number" of 350 parts per million of carbon dioxide. Toensmeier’s book is the first to bring together these powerful strategies in one place. Includes in-depth analysis of the available research. Carbon farming can take many forms. The simplest practices involve modifications to annual crop production. Although many of these modifications have relatively low sequestration potential, they are widely applicable and easily adopted, and thus have excellent potential to mitigate climate change if practiced on a global scale. Likewise, grazing systems such as silvopasture are easily replicable, don’t require significant changes to human diet, and—given the amount of agricultural land worldwide that is devoted to pasture—can be important strategies in the carbon farming arsenal. But by far, agroforestry practices and perennial crops present the best opportunities for sequestration. While many of these systems are challenging to establish and manage, and would require us to change our diets to new and largely unfamiliar perennial crops, they also offer huge potential that has been almost entirely ignored by climate crusaders. Many of these carbon farming practices are already implemented globally on a scale of millions of hectares. These are not minor or marginal efforts, but win-win solutions that provide food, fodder, and feedstocks while fostering community self-reliance, creating jobs, protecting biodiversity, and repairing degraded land—all while sequestering carbon, reducing emissions, and ultimately contributing to a climate that will remain amenable to human civilization. Just as importantly to a livable future, these crops and practices can contribute to broader social goals such as women’s empowerment, food sovereignty, and climate justice. The Carbon Farming Solution is—at its root—a toolkit and the most complete collection of climate-friendly crops and practices currently available. With this toolkit, farmers, communities, and governments large and small, can successfully launch carbon farming projects with the most appropriate crops and practices to their climate, locale, and socioeconomic needs. Toensmeier’s ultimate goal is to place carbon farming firmly in the center of the climate solutions platform, alongside clean solar and wind energy. With The Carbon Farming Solution, Toensmeier wants to change the discussion, impact policy decisions, and steer mitigation funds to the research, projects, and people around the world who envision a future where agriculture becomes the protagonist in this fraught, urgent, and unprecedented drama of our time. Citizens, farmers, and funders will be inspired to use the tools presented in this important book to transform degraded lands around the world into productive carbon-storing landscapes.Trade ReviewJournal of Agroecology and Sustainable Food Systems- "Readers interested in carbon capture and climate mitigation will welcome this new resource, one of the most complete books on the market today that deals with what could be called 'carbon farming.' Although the focus is on perennial crops and systems often grouped under the topics of agroforestry, or more recently permaculture, the book also delves into creative and biodiverse annual cropping and livestock systems, new crops, and innovative designs all focused on the issue of carbon. Toensmeier is an applied ecologist with extensive experience in the Latin American tropics, and practices these principles in workshops, books, and at home. More than a reference volume, The Carbon Farming Solution is an easily read and interesting overview of this important frontier. … The appendixes to the book provide a wealth of data on species and relevant references that could keep anyone truly interested engaged for months in following up on sources and designing new systems based on these ideas. The Carbon Farming Solution is indeed a monumental project that will help guide tropical agricultural development for decades, and Toensmeier has provided a significant resource for those concerned about climate and the future.”Choice- "The terrestrial carbon pool is one of the most dynamic because it is directly affected by how people manage soils and implement cropping systems. The renewed interest in sequestering carbon into the soil reservoir creates a series of questions on how to introduce practices that are effective in increasing soil carbon along with providing plant resources to sustain the goods and services needed for a healthy ecosystem. In this volume, Toensmeier (Yale Univ.), co-author with David Jacke of Edible Forest Gardens, (v. 1) (CH, Jan'06, 43-2794), explores the carbon sequestration potential of different agroecological systems. He directly compares these systems, revealing the limitations of each and placing their dynamics in perspective. These include annual versus perennial systems and grasses and crops versus trees. As the subtitle indicates, the book uses a toolkit approach to help readers understand the value of selecting different practices and species appropriate to a given ecosystem. Included in the analysis of mitigation strategies are livestock systems and ways these can be managed in concert with plant systems to create viable agroecosystems to reduce the carbon footprint in agriculture. Summing Up: Recommended. All library collections.”Booklist- "To minimize climate change, environmental engineers have recently proposed several innovative, if controversial, schemes designed to soak up CO2 or even block sunlight altogether, including spraying aerosols in the upper atmosphere. Yet, according to permaculture expert Toensmeier, a more reliable and safer solution involves trading in conventional agriculture practices for a soil-management methodology known as carbon farming. In this weighty but well-organized handbook, Toensmeier offers a wealth of guidance on cutting-edge farming techniques that reduce greenhouse-gas emissions and capture carbon in vegetation and soils. As a successful model of what’s possible, Toensmeier cites Las Canadas, in Veracruz, Mexico, where food-cooperative owner Ricardo Romero restored 250 acres of degraded farmland within 10 years. In 5 lucidly written sections, Toensmeier covers the science of carbon sequestration, perennial crop cultivation, and key financing tips. On the coattails of the recent, successful Paris Climate Summit, Toensmeier provides invaluable information and inspiration to farmers and agricultural entrepreneurs as well as everyone interested in environmentally positive farming as part of the effort to protect food sources and mitigate global warming.”Library Journal- "Toensmeier (Perennial Vegetables) contends that shifting agricultural practices can help mitigate climate change and advocates for carbon farming, i.e., using a suite of perennial crops and practices that simultaneously seclude carbon in the soil while maintaining the amounts of crops needed globally for food, materials, and energy. The author delineates the different types of systems that are best at sequestering carbon and also provides strategies for livestock management, supplying general information on practices such as rainwater harvesting and terrace farming that will help guarantee the successful implementation of this type of farming. A large section is devoted to perennial crops that Toensmeier maintains would be strong candidates for carbon farming. VERDICT: Both small- and large-scale farmers will find ways to apply methods that segregate carbon and therefore lessen the deleterious effects of climate change in this comprehensive title.”“Agriculture is currently a major net producer of greenhouse gases, with little prospect of improvement unless things change markedly. In The Carbon Farming Solution, Eric Toensmeier puts carbon sequestration at the forefront and shows how agriculture can be a net absorber of carbon. Improved forms of annual-based agriculture can help to a degree; however to maximize carbon sequestration, it is perennial crops we must look at, whether it be perennial grains, other perennial staples, or agroforestry systems incorporating trees and other crops. In this impressive book, backed up with numerous tables and references, the author has assembled a toolkit that will be of great use to anybody involved in agriculture whether in the tropics or colder northern regions. For me the highlights are the chapters covering perennial crop species organized by use—staple crops, protein crops, oil crops, industrial crops, etc.—with some seven hundred species described. There are crops here for all climate types, with good information on cultivation and yields, so that wherever you are, you will be able to find suitable recommended perennial crops. This is an excellent book that gives great hope without being naïve and makes a clear reasoned argument for a more perennial-based agriculture to both feed people and take carbon out of the air.”--Martin Crawford, director, The Agroforestry Research Trust; author of Creating a Forest Garden and Trees for Gardens, Orchards, and Permaculture “Scientific observations and models are building an increasingly dire picture of the obstacles that must be crossed on the road to achieving climate and ecological health and stability on a planet filled with humans. The relentlessly hopeful (but not naively optimistic) author of The Carbon Farming Solution reminds us that our planet is still rich in biological resources and that humanity is capable of astonishing feats of creativity and collaborative action; the picture painted here in word and image depicts both the barriers and paths through them. Eric Toensmeier draws upon both the scientific literature and the world’s ethnobotanical knowledge bank to construct a logical and compelling road map for future research and investment to reinvent agriculture. But reason and facts alone are insufficient to sustain a global and long-term agenda; passion is required. In the end, it is the perennial plants (and their human and microbial partners) themselves—lovingly portrayed here in their glorious diversity and elegant functionality—that steal the show and our hearts. This ‘Who’s Who’ of wild or orphaned potential crops can inspire a new generation of plant lovers and gardeners to become the convention-questioning, dedicated, passionate, hopeful scientists, farmers, and leaders that the movement requires.”--David Van Tassel, PhD, senior scientist, The Land Institute“These are exciting times for soil carbon! What was once an obscure topic mainly of interest to agronomists and gardeners is now viewed by many people as a key to solving multiple challenges in the 21st century, including climate change, hunger, and drought. For urgent times, we need an urgent agriculture. That’s exactly what we get in Eric Toensmeier’s new book—a detailed, practical explanation of how to increase carbon in our soils, written with passion and skill by a leader in regenerative agriculture. We know what to do, and with The Carbon Farming Solution we know how to do it. Let’s get going!"--Courtney White, author of Grass, Soil, Hope and Two Percent Solutions for the Planet“Eric Toensmeier has done it again! The Carbon Farming Solution is a detailed vision that will become the go-to reference guide for everyone who is interested in an accessible toolkit showcasing global agroecological carbon farming in action. This indispensable book needs to be put in the hands of all climate-change policy makers, agrarians, and people who eat food, drink water, and breathe air. Mr. Toensmeier’s book is not ground-breaking—it is ground-healing!”--Brock Dolman, director, Permaculture Program and WATER Institute at Occidental Arts and Ecology Center“The Carbon Farming Solution is a book we will look back upon decades from now and wonder why something so critically relevant could have been so overlooked until that time. We are told we have a choice between chemical/GMO agriculture if we want to feed the world, or we can see children starve and adopt organic agriculture as a romantic and sentimental pursuit. Really? Toensmeier describes a future that is in alignment with how life works, a scientific and sophisticated agricultural understanding of husbandry and biology that surpasses the productivity of industrial agriculture. What is phenomenal about these land-use solutions is that they are the only way we can bring carbon back home if we are to reverse climate change. The title is accurate but humble: The Carbon Farming Solution describes the foundation of the future of civilization.”--Paul Hawken, author of Blessed Unrest“Eric Toensmeier presents a convincing argument that carbon farming is crucial to addressing global issues of the 21st century including climate change, food and nutritional insecurity, eutrophication and contamination of water, and dwindling of soil biodiversity. Implemented in a transparent manner and with payments of just and fair price based on the true societal value, carbon farming is also pertinent to alleviating poverty and addressing several Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations. Carbon farming as a strategy is in accord with the “4 pour 1000” initiative of the French Government presented during the COP-21 Summit in Paris on December 1, 2015 and The Carbon Farming Solution is a befitting tribute to the 2015 International Year of Soils.”--Dr. Rattan Lal, Distinguished University Professor of Soil Science and director of The Carbon Management and Sequestration Center, The Ohio State University; President Elect, International Union of Soil Sciences“The Carbon Farming Solution is a book whose time has come. This detailed documentation of regenerative practices from around the world, including principles and methods, provides a practical guide for others to follow and expand upon as humanity takes on the ‘Great Work of Our Time’—to restore the Earth’s natural systems to ecological health. The Carbon Farming Solution is of enormous importance.”--John D. Liu, founder and director, Environmental Education Media Project (EEMP)“If we seriously put our minds to it, we could easily provide ourselves with enough food, forever; and do so in ecologically sound ways; and at the same time—a huge bonus!—trap enough carbon in the soil to tip the battle against global warming. The methods are those of agroecology—including organic farming in general, and permaculture in particular; and as Eric Toensmeier excellently describes, farmers worldwide are already on the case. So this book offers what governments at present spectacularly do not: hope.”--Colin Tudge, author of Good Food for Everyone Forever and Why Genes Are Not Selfish and People Are Nice“Eric Toensmeier has done a hugely impressive job putting together this magnum opus. It is packed with an enormous amount of information about seven hundred plant species that have a role to play in saving the planet from land degradation and climate change, while at the same time improving the lives of millions of poor farmers, especially in the tropics and sub-tropics. The Carbon Farming Solution covers species for every use and every situation that can be assembled in infinite agroecological combinations. On top of that, the cultivation of these crops can lead to new industries in the production of food, medicines, cosmetics, and materials—creating wealth and employment. This information should be absorbed by everyone engaged in agriculture; everyone concerned about the future of the world and the well-being and health of its people; and everyone interested in protecting biodiversity. Indeed, The Carbon Farming Solution offers a path to a bright new world!”--Professor Roger Leakey, vice chairman of the International Tree Foundation and author of Living with the Trees of Life“Eric Toensmeier is one of North America’s most inventive and scientifically-minded permaculture experimenters. In this book, he offers nothing less than a new vision for world agriculture that is more resilient, supports traditional farmers, and also helps relieve the global climate crisis. The Carbon Farming Solution offers an encyclopedic but also highly readable view of new and old carbon-trapping farming methods that can be applied around the world, and a profile of the highly adaptable, soil-enhancing perennial plant species that may just be the key to a livable human future.”--Brian Tokar, director of the Institute for Social Ecology and author of Toward Climate Justice: Perspectives on the Climate Crisis and Social Change“The Carbon Farming Solution is an excellent reference book that convincingly explains the potential of farming practices based on perennial crops for carbon sequestration and climate change mitigation and adaptation. The numerous photographs and charts included help illustrate the food-security and multi-functionality attributes of agroforestry and other such farming systems. In addition to professionals who work on food security and climate stabilization issues, undergraduate and graduate students of these topics will find the book useful.”--Dr. P. K. Ramachandran Nair, Distinguished Professor in the School of Forest Resources and Conservation, University of Florida“Dealing with climate change requires action on many fronts, and this book is the toolkit for making the soil itself a sponge for carbon. It’s a powerful vision, one that I’ve seen playing out in enough places to make me very hopeful it can presage major changes in our species’ use of the land.”--Bill McKibben, author of Deep Economy“In The Carbon Farming Solution, Eric Toensmeier admirably harnesses available data with traditional wisdom to propose a practical response to climate change. Toensmeier’s solution-oriented ideas combine his clear understanding of ecology, agriculture, and the magnitude of the challenge we face with a set of agriculture-based solutions that are suited to various livelihoods, communities, and systems of production. This book will surely be a benchmark in policy-relevant knowledge.”--Dr. Cheikh Mbow, senior scientist on climate change and development, World Agroforestry Centre

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Book SynopsisOffers solutions to the issues and concerns of waste generated from industry. This book aims to conserve the natural resources by approaching 100 % utilization of various types of wastes by cradle-to-cradle concepts, using Industrial Ecology methodology documented with case studies. It reveals technologies for conservation of natural resources.Table of ContentsCHAPTER 1 CURRENT PRACTICE 1.1 Introduction 1.2 Waste Management 1.3 Treatment 1.4 Incineration 1.5 Landfill 1.6 Zero pollution CHAPTER 2 CLEANER PRODUCTION 2.1 Introduction 2.2 Promoting cleaner Production 2.3 Benefits of Cleaner Production 2.4 Obstacles and Solution of Cleaner Production 2.5 Cleaner Production Techniques 2.6 Methodology for Cleaner Production Assessment 2.7 Case Studies CHAPTER 3 SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT AND INDUSTRIAL ECOLOGY 3.1 Introduction 3.2 Industrial Ecology 3.3 Industrial Ecology Barriers 3.4 Industrial Ecology tools and indicators 3.5 Cradle ? To ? Cradle concept 3.6 Eco-Industrial Parks 3.7 Kalunberg Industrial farm CHAPTER 4 SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT AND ENVIRONMENTAL REFORM 4.1 Introduction 4.2 Sustainable development tools and methodology 4.3 Environmental Reform Structure 4.4 Sustainable Development Proposed Framework 4.5 Summary and Conclusion CHAPTER 5 MUNICIPAL SOLID WASTE 5.1 Introduction 5.2 Transfer station 5.3 Recycling of plastics 5.4 Recycling of Food waste 5.5 Recycling of rejects 5.6 Recycling of Composite material 5.7 Recycling of bones 5.8 Recycling of glass 5.9 Recycling of aluminum and tin cans 5.10 Recycling of textile CHAPTER 6 CONSTRUCTION AND DEMOLITION WASTES 6.1 Introduction 6.2 Construction Waste Management 6.3 Proposed guidelines for Construction Waste 6.4 Proposed guidelines for Demolition Waste CHAPTER 7 CLINICAL SOLID WASTE 7.1 Introduction 7.2 Management of Clinical Waste 7.3 Disinfection of Clinical Wastes 7.4 Current Experience of Clinical Wastes 7.5 Cradle ? to - Cradle For Clinical Waste 7.6 Electron Beam Technology 7.7 Electron Beam for Sterilization Of Clinical Wastes CHAPTER 8 AGRICULTURAL AND RURAL WASTES 8.1 Introduction 8.2 ABBC technologies 8.3 Animal fodder 8.4 Briqutting 8.5 Biogas 8.6 Composting 8.7 Integrated Complex 8.8 Environmentally balanced Rural Waste Complex; EBRWC CHAPTER 9 INDUSTRIAL SOLID WASTES 9.1 Introduction 9.2 Sugarcane Industry 9.3 Metal Industry 9.4 Textile industry 9.5 Marble industry 9.6 Oil and soap Industry 9.7 Petroleum Industry 9.8 Food Industry 9.9 Cement Industry 9.10 Tourism Industry 9.11 Industrial estate

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Book SynopsisBy 2050, the world population is expected to reach nine billion. And the challenge of feeding this rapidly growing population is being made greater by climate change, which will increasingly wreak havoc on the way we produce our food. This title tells the stories of the people who are working against time to create a fresh and hopeful future.

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Book SynopsisThe debate over genetically modified organisms: health and safety concerns, environmental impact, and scientific opinions.Since they were introduced to the market in the late 1990s, GMOs (genetically modified organisms, including genetically modified crops), have been subject to a barrage of criticism. Agriculture has welcomed this new technology, but public opposition has been loud and scientific opinion mixed. In GMOs Decoded, Sheldon Krimsky examines the controversies over GMOs—health and safety concerns, environmental issues, the implications for world hunger, and the scientific consensus (or lack of one). He explores the viewpoints of a range of GMO skeptics, from public advocacy groups and nongovernmental organizations to scientists with differing views on risk and environmental impact.Krimsky explains the differences between traditional plant breeding and “molecular breeding” through genetic engineering (GE); describes early GMO products

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"[A]n important study that contributes to the recentring of climate-change narratives, from those of international policymakers, post-colonial states and lowland populations to those of upland groups most vulnerable to human-induced climate change that is not of their own making." * South East Asia Research *"Clearly and sensitively thought-out exposition. The book should be recognized as a rare work of oral history and ethnography that throws down a legitimate challenge to listen to the struggling folk who live in and with “mountains of blame."" * Pacific Affairs *

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"[A]n important study that contributes to the recentring of climate-change narratives, from those of international policymakers, post-colonial states and lowland populations to those of upland groups most vulnerable to human-induced climate change that is not of their own making." * South East Asia Research *"Clearly and sensitively thought-out exposition. The book should be recognized as a rare work of oral history and ethnography that throws down a legitimate challenge to listen to the struggling folk who live in and with “mountains of blame."" * Pacific Affairs *

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"Exile from the Grasslands is a monumental work for understanding the socio-economic and cultural transformation that has taken place in recent decades among Tibetan nomads in western China." * Inner Asia *"[A] well-balanced account of Tibetan pastoralists’ responses to, and experiences of, Chinese development projects." * Pastoralism: Research, Policy and Practice *"In a refreshingly clear fashion, the author untangles and traces the often-overlapping paths of policies from the top levels of the central government to the local levels ofimplementation. In this regard, Exile from the Grasslands will be a welcome addition for introducing undergraduate and graduate students to development policy in Tibetan areas of China." * China Quarterly *"Ptáčková examines the competing explanations of why the grasslands have deteri-orated since the incorporation of Tibet into the Chinese state. What emerges from her analysis is a clear statement that while recent land-use activities by some pastoralists have contributed to the situation, the often unintended but nevertheless real conse-quences of Chinese state policies themselves and their inconsistent implementation and often contradictory goals are primarily to blame." * Journal of Anthropological Research *"Ptáčková’s work is a valuable source of information about current state-led development and transformation in Zêkog, Amdo Tibet. This book will undoubtedly be of interest and value for scholars, students and practitioners working in the fields of rural development studies." * Nomadic Peoples *"Ptáčková’s brief work takes a complicated web of history, culture, dreams of modernity (by both the state and its people) and deftly crafts a discussion that informs readers of any level of the issues facing Tibetan herding communities as China faces the expanding impacts of climate change, global economic chaos, and more." * H-Net Reviews *

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"Exile from the Grasslands is a monumental work for understanding the socio-economic and cultural transformation that has taken place in recent decades among Tibetan nomads in western China." * Inner Asia *"[A] well-balanced account of Tibetan pastoralists’ responses to, and experiences of, Chinese development projects." * Pastoralism: Research, Policy and Practice *"In a refreshingly clear fashion, the author untangles and traces the often-overlapping paths of policies from the top levels of the central government to the local levels ofimplementation. In this regard, Exile from the Grasslands will be a welcome addition for introducing undergraduate and graduate students to development policy in Tibetan areas of China." * China Quarterly *"Ptáčková examines the competing explanations of why the grasslands have deteri-orated since the incorporation of Tibet into the Chinese state. What emerges from her analysis is a clear statement that while recent land-use activities by some pastoralists have contributed to the situation, the often unintended but nevertheless real conse-quences of Chinese state policies themselves and their inconsistent implementation and often contradictory goals are primarily to blame." * Journal of Anthropological Research *"Ptáčková’s work is a valuable source of information about current state-led development and transformation in Zêkog, Amdo Tibet. This book will undoubtedly be of interest and value for scholars, students and practitioners working in the fields of rural development studies." * Nomadic Peoples *"Ptáčková’s brief work takes a complicated web of history, culture, dreams of modernity (by both the state and its people) and deftly crafts a discussion that informs readers of any level of the issues facing Tibetan herding communities as China faces the expanding impacts of climate change, global economic chaos, and more." * H-Net Reviews *

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Book SynopsisTable of Contents1. Background: Materials, Energy and Sustainability 2. What is a “Sustainable Development”? 3. Assessing Sustainable Developments: The Steps 4. Tools, Prompts and Checklists 5. Materials Supply-Chain Risk 6. Corporate Sustainability and Materials 7. Introduction to Case Studies 8. Scaling Up Biopolymer Production 9. Wind Farms 10. Case Study: Electric Cars 11. Lighting 12. Solar PV 13. Bamboo for Sustainable Flooring 14. The Vision: A Circular Materials Economy 15. Data, Charts and Databases 16. Guidance for Instructors Appendix. Useful Numbers

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Book SynopsisAround the world the focus is on the relationship between ethics and governance codes and how widely this should be interpreted. Sustainability has three main accepted dimensions: economic growth, social responsibility, and environmental protection. It is a truly multidimensional and multidisciplinary concept, and one which directly affects the risks and opportunities for markets and businesses. In three distinct parts, Sustainable Markets for Sustainable Business explores the relationship between markets and business and sustainable development, as well as issues such as climate change, pollution, land degradation and biodiversity loss. Firstly the authors, all experts from around the world, consider a variety of theoretical issues concerned with sustainability in the new environment. In Part Two the emphasis is on looking at these issues in the market and business practice under various guises. Although every chapter contains discussion and recommended solutions, the final part specTrade Review’Professor Aras has tackled the very timely subject of business sustainability. She has put together a global perspective that presents best practices, discusses the role of businesses and markets, and provides examples of innovative approaches. The book will be a valuable resource not only for scholars but also for the wider business community and policy makers.’ Reena Aggarwal, Georgetown Center for Financial Markets and Policy, USA ’This work demonstrates the multi-dimensional elements of sustainability, moving beyond conceptions of sustainable enterprise and industry, to ask fundamental questions regarding the sustainability of markets. Can markets be made to work towards sustainable development rather than environmental destruction? The book highlights how new modes of regulation, governance, incentives and strategic thinking are essential to reformulate the fundamental objectives and operations of economic endeavour towards sustainable goals.’ Thomas Clarke, University of Technology, Sydney, AustraliaTable of ContentsPart 1 Theoretical Perspectives and Current Issues: Causality and interaction: sustainable markets and sustainable business. The need for a theoretical reexamination of sustainability in economics and business. The relationship between sustainable markets and sustainable development. Part 2 Corporate and Market Approaches: The corporate world and sustainability: eco-efficiency and the doxic shareholder value. The role of small and medium-sized enterprises in sustainable development. The governance mindset: is sustainability a board issue? Sustainability issues in corporate social responsibility and strategy: sustainable or temporary competitive advantage in today's dynamic environment? Part 3 Future Perspectives and Solutions: Systemic crises in global markets: in search of regulatory and sustainable solutions. Disclosure of corporate environmental, social and governance data: toward effective and sustainable systems. What is sustainable: the need for sufficient reporting and its accounting implications. The future perspectives: what do we need for market and business sustainability?

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Book SynopsisThis book offers a comprehensive overview of the state of the art in sustainable dairy production, helping the industry to develop more sustainable dairy products, through new technologies, implementing life cycle analysis, and upgrading and optimization of their current production lines.Trade Review“In summary, a very worth-while addition to the series that provides an excellent source for those working with this technology.” (International Journal of Dairy Technology, 16 July 2013) Table of ContentsPreface ix Contributors xi 1 Introduction 1 Peter de Jong 1.1 Sustainability and the dairy industry: hype or trend? 2 1.2 Quantifying the issue: measuring footprints 4 1.3 Communication: telling the whole story 5 1.4 Structure of this book 6 References 8 2 Greenhouse gas emissions from global dairy production 9 Theun V. Vellinga, Pierre Gerber and Carolyn Opio 2.1 Introduction 9 2.2 Methods for calculating emissions 11 2.3 Total emissions of the dairy sector 14 2.4 Discussion 26 References 28 3 Life cycle assessment 31 Maartje N. Sevenster 3.1 Introduction 31 3.2 Current life cycle assessment 32 3.3 Life cycle assessment in application 37 3.4 Life cycle assessment of dairy products 41 3.5 Life cycle assessment in strategy and policy 50 Acknowledgements 51 References 52 4 Sustainability and resilience of the dairy sector in a changing world: a farm economic and EU perspective 55 Roel Jongeneel and Louis Slangen 4.1 Introduction 56 4.2 Dairy economics and sustainability 62 4.3 Sustainability evaluation of the EU dairy sector 71 4.4 Agricultural policy 79 4.5 Conclusion 83 References 85 5 Dairy processing 87 Arjan J. van Asselt and Michael G. Weeks 5.1 Introduction 87 5.2 Key unit operations and their water and energy use 89 5.3 Possibilities for optimisation 101 5.4 Revisiting dairy processing: breakthrough technologies 114 References 117 6 The role of packaging in a sustainable dairy chain 119 Erika Mink 6.1 Introduction 120 6.2 Packaging sustainability: a growing market expectation 123 6.3 Packaging’s contribution to dairy sustainability 130 6.4 Global alignment of packaging requirements: implications for dairy 139 6.5 A company response: the example of Tetra Pak 150 6.6 Outlook: growing importance of economic and social pillars of sustainability 158 References 160 7 The business case for sustainable dairy products 163 Jaap Petraeus 7.1 Introduction 163 7.2 From a process-driven to a product-driven approach 164 7.3 Success factors for creating more sustainable processes and products 169 7.4 Implementation of sustainability within the company 175 7.5 The business case for sustainability 180 7.6 Policy and strategy adopted by different dairy companies 183 7.7 Looking to the future 183 7.8 Conclusion 184 References 186 Appendix: Overview of the sustainability policy and strategy of various companies 187 8 A case study of marketing sustainability 191 Grietsje Hoekstra, Corine Kroft and Klaas Jan van Calker 8.1 Introduction 191 8.2 What is sustainability? 193 8.3 Motivations for sustainability 196 8.4 Choose your battles: sustainability strategy issues 198 8.5 Getting to work 203 8.6 Communicating sustainability 212 8.7 Conclusion 217 Acknowledgement 218 References 219 9 Cradle to Cradle for innovations in the dairy industry 221 Wil A.M. Duivenvoorden 9.1 Introduction 222 9.2 A tool for C2C®-driven innovation (PROPER model) 229 9.3 Cradle to Cradle for the dairy industry 232 9.4 Conclusion 238 References 241 10 The future of sustainable dairy production 243 Peter de Jong 10.1 Future relevance of sustainable dairy 243 10.2 Next steps in chain innovation 244 10.3 Communication and marketing 247 10.4 Business case: people, planet and profit 247 10.5 Conclusion 249 References 250 Index 251

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Book SynopsisAn urgent demand for a People's Green New Deal, foregrounding global agricultural transformation and climate justice for the Global SouthTrade Review'Hands-down the best book yet on the Green New Deal. Courageous, bold, refreshing - Ajl pushes the horizons of progressive thought and envisions an ecosocialist transition that is rooted in principles of global justice' -- Jason Hickel, author of 'Less is More: How Degrowth Will Save the World''An amazing text, truly inspirational. There are few books in which nearly every sentence is urgent and quotable, but this is one. Lucid and profound, it assembles the elements that are necessary for an actual political program of survival and renewal' -- Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz, author of 'An Indigenous Peoples' History of the United States' (Beacon Press, 2014)'You cannot purchase your way out of climate change the same way you cannot pick a 'Green New Deal' brand that suits your personal preferences. Anti-imperialism and anti-capitalism are not by-gone projects, they're very much alive in the Global South. Left climate movements in the North would be better served by following their example as well as reading this critical work' -- Nick Estes, author of 'Our History Is the Future: Standing Rock versus the Dakota Access Pipeline, and the Long Tradition of Indigenous Resistance' (Verso, 2019)‘Ajl guides us with an authority steeped in scholarship but also with panache. If you really want to learn what'll be necessary for our species to survive climate apocalypse, read this book. You'll then know the ways by which humanity's very fate can be won’ -- Rob Wallace, author of 'Dead Epidemiologists: On the Origins of COVID-19' (Monthly Review Press, 2020)'Anyone wanting to understand the limitations of the Green New Deal, and how it is being employed as a tool to rationalize Green Capitalism, and sanitize its advance within the capitalist system must read this critical work' -- Kali Akuno, Executive Director of Cooperation Jackson"In this urgent book, Max Ajl poses the question “What would visions for sustainability in Global North look like if they were anti-imperial, reparative, socialist and agroecological?” The answer, he argues, looks radically different from – and more liberating than - the Green New Deals on the table today" -- Raj Patel, co-author of 'A History of the World in Seven Cheap Things: A Guide to Capitalism, Nature, and the Future of the Planet' (Verso, 2020)'An exceedingly important and powerful book, a uniquely comprehensive report about climate change, its politics and injustices' -- Judith Deutsch, ‘Counterpunch’‘A bracing and thought-provoking call for those of us in the Global North to reconsider how we fight for social and climate justice’ -- ‘ROAR’‘A refreshing and rich scholarly alternative to how an ideal green new deal should be imagined … an exquisite sketch of ideal avenues towards eco-socialism’ -- ‘Developing Economics’‘Provides a comprehensive survey of the nuanced issues a red-green alliance must confront and resolve’ -- ‘System Change not Climate Change’'An exceedingly important and powerful book, a uniquely comprehensive report about climate change, its politics and injustices'. -- ‘Socialist Project’‘A magnificent work that should be at the top of reading lists for anyone remotely concerned about the climate crisis' -- ‘Canadian Dimension’Table of ContentsAcknowledgments Introduction Part I: Capitalist Green Transitions 1. Green Transition - or Fortress Eco-Nationalism? 2. Change Without Change: Eco-Modernism 3. Energy Use, Degrowth, and the Green New Deal 4. Green Social Democracy or Eco-Socialism? Part II: A People's Green New Deal 5. The World We Wish to See 6. A Planet of Fields 7. Green Anti-Imperialism and the National Question Conclusion Notes Index

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Book SynopsisIn The Regenerative Garden, discover 80 projects that put you and your garden in-sync with nature, which leads to reduced maintenance and a wiser use of resources, and results in a garden that practically cares for itself.Trade Review"Within each chapter are many projects that you can readily accomplish at reasonable cost and time. In fact, you might scratch your head and think….why haven’t I done that. Do not scold yourself because with this book in hand, you can do it! Follow these permaculture suggestions and you will become a better informed and more eco-conscious gardener." * George Graine, The Graine Thumb *"This is a must-need book in your gardening library." -- Maria Colletti, author of Terrariums: Gardens Under Glass * Shepherd.com *"Conservation of materials, eliminating waste and a concern for introducing children to the joys of the garden are present alongside useful tips. Anyone who yearns for planting season will appreciate this book." * Connecticut Horticultural Society *Table of ContentsForewordIntroduction1 | SoilGrowing from the Ground Up2 | WaterEfficiency in Collection and Use3 | PlantsGrowing Life4 | ClimateCreating Harmony5 | EthicsReducing Waste and Encouraging Diversity6 | CommunityBuilding Sharing Spaces for EveryoneResourcesAbout the AuthorAcknowledgmentsCitationsIndex

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Book SynopsisThis revised and updated edition of Jessica Walliser’s award-winning Attracting Beneficial Bugs to Your Garden offers a valuable and science-backed plan for bringing balance back to the garden.With this indispensable gardening reference—now updated with new research, insights, and voices—learn how to create a healthy, balanced, and diverse garden capable of supporting a hard-working crew of beneficial pest-eating insects and eliminate the need for synthetic chemical pesticides.After a fascinating introduction to the predator and prey cycle and its importance to both wild ecosystems and home gardens, you’ll meet dozens of pest-munching beneficial insects (the predators) that feast on garden pests (their prey). From ladybugs and lacewings to parasitic wasps and syrphid flies, these good guys of the bug world keep the natural system of checks and balances in prime working order. They help limitTrade ReviewPraise for the first edition of Attracting Beneficial Bugs to Your Garden: “Jessica Walliser lets readers in on the secrets to a garden that buzzes with activity. Her profiles, on the insects that fight pests and the best plants for attracting them, offer clear, practical tips.” —Martha Stewart Living “An aid for teachers as well as gardeners, who want to know more about the insects in their world.” —The Indianapolis Star “With [Jessica Walliser’s] help, you can learn how to control pests through your gardening practices rather than your choice of insecticide.” —Gardening How-To “A detailed, wholistic, and wonderfully illustrated guide to the lifestyles of all the insects that inhabit the organic garden as well as creating the conditions needed to encourage those you want in the fight against those you don’t.” —Planet Natural “A delight! Easy to read and entertaining, yet packed with information not only on the beneficial insects themselves, but on the plants that can attract and support them, and on how to incorporate them into your garden. Highly recommended!” —It’s Not Work, It’s Gardening “Attracting Beneficial Bugs to Your Garden by Jessica Walliser, is a fresh look at an unavoidable part of the gardening experience.... a must-have tool for new and experienced gardeners alike.” —Free Press “Learn to identify good bugs and bad bugs…and what to plant to lure the cavalry.” —Newsday"In this new version, Walliser offers even more science-based advice to gardeners. I recommend reading (her) updated work to get off to a running start." * Horticulture *"...offers a sciencebacked plan for bringing balance back to the garden. Filled with new research, insights, and voices, the book will help you create a healthy and diverse garden capable of supporting beneficial, pest-eating insects and eliminate the need for synthetic chemical pesticides." * Michigan Gardener *Table of ContentsIntroductionHow a Horticulturist Came to BugsAll About BeneficialsWho They Are, How They Work, and What They EatBeneficial Bug ProfilesMeet the Predators and the ParasitoidsGardening for BugsWhere Plants and Insects IntersectPlant ProfilesThe Best Plants for BeneficialsYour Beneficial BorderA Guide to Designing for the BugsCompanion PlantingBattling Pests with Plant PartnershipsPutting It All TogetherWho the Beneficials Eat and What to PlantThe Commercial StuffPurchased Beneficials, Good Bug Lures, Supplemental Foods, and Seed BlendsAcknowledgmentsAbout the AuthorResourcesIndex

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Book Synopsis In The Tiny But Mighty Farm, author Jill Ragan of YouTube’s Whispering Willow Farm teaches you how to turn a typical suburban backyard into a productive mini farm.Backyard mini farming is about regular people who live in regular houses turning all or part of their property into a productive, high-yielding mini farm. Unlike gardening, mini farming takes a very deliberate approach, with the main goal being to grow as much food as you can with as little land and as few resources as possible. Everything is done with planning and purpose, rather than as a hobby. Whether your property is one-tenth of an acre, one full acre, or somewhere in between, there are so many opportunities to grow vegetables, fruits, and herbs in creative and high-yielding ways.If concerns about food security and the rising cost of food have you feeling uneasy, or if you just want to play a bigger role in feeding your family and your community, starting a backyardTrade Review“The Tiny but Mighty Farm is a wonderful roadmap for gardeners and farmers of all types. Whether you are a hobby farmer, homesteader, or aspiring market gardener, Jill’s book is sure to inspire you to dream big. It will also equip you with the essential information needed to achieve those dreams. Small scale, sustainable farms are the answer to our broken food system, and this book shows you just how impactful they can be!” * Kim Doughty-McCannon, Bell Urban Farm * "I wish I would have had this book as a reference when I started flower farming 22 years ago. The principles of planning and implementing your dreams found in The Tiny but Mighty Farm are applicable to anything you want to cultivate as a small farm enterprise. Jill's passion for educating others about sustainable growing really shows in a writing style that is easy to understand and truly heartfelt.” * Steve Kaufer, Sunflower Steve Seed Co. *"The Tiny but Mighty Farm is a must read for anyone wanting to garden and be more self-sufficient. It is packed full of helpful tips, garden knowledge, and ways to cultivate a life well lived. There are also so many beautiful images and helpful charts to inspire your gardening journey. This book will be used in my home for many years to come" * Annette Thurmon, host of the Azure Farm podcast *“The Tiny but Mighty Farm will inspire you to dig deep, reflect, and create a life you are proud of. This is not just a book about growing food. You will gain an immense amount of knowledge, whether you are a first-time gardener or a long-time grower. It is also a book that is going to show you how to connect with your land and your community. I read it from front to back and felt moved the entire time.” * Mandi Pickering, Wild Oak Farms *“The Tiny but Mighty Farm has a beautiful, empowering way of inspiring us to not only learn more about gardening but to also evaluate our own aspirations and values. Jill encourages us to dream bigger while also giving us all of the tools and details to actually achieve our goals through everything she has learned. I know that this book will also inspire others as it has me - as a wife, mom, daughter, and farmer. I’ll definitely be sharing this book!” * Lindsey Gilbert, owner of Willow Tree Flower Market *Table of ContentsIntroduction: The Tiny Farm Journey CHAPTER 1 Small-Farm Values CHAPTER 2 What Kind of Farmer and Gardener Do You Want To Be? CHAPTER 3 Grow With Purpose CHAPTER 4 Soil: The Health & Longevity of Your Farm CHAPTER 5 In-Ground, Raised Beds & Indoor Growing: Which is Right for You? CHAPTER 6 Growing From Seed CHAPTER 7 Tools & Efficient Systems to Grow On CHAPTER 8 How Structures, High Tunnels & Greenhouses Help CHAPTER 9 Growing for Community: Turning Your Tiny Farm into a Business Conclusion: Keep Dreamin’ Acknowledgments About the Author Notes Index

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Book SynopsisJoin the permaculture revolution! Author Angela Ferraro-Fanning (Axe & Root Homestead) shares techniques and tips for a homestead with synergy between soil, plants, animals, and trees. If you’re like most homesteaders, the dream is to make the most of your land by working with it, not against it. From capturing water and building strong soil to helping your animals live their best lives, The Sustainable Homestead is about making your homestead stronger by achieving synergy between what can seem like different parts. In this book, new and veteran homesteaders alike can find detailed information to put to use this year, this month, even this week! Angela—also the co-host of the HOMESTEADucation podcast and author of the Little Homesteader/Little Country Cottage series of children’s books—has spent more than a decade building and strengthening her small acreage homestead and shares the lessonsTable of ContentsForeword Introduction Chapter 1: Site Assessment Chapter 2: Soil Chapter 3: Growing Chapter 4: Incorporating Animals Chapter 5: Designing a Pasture Chapter 6: Compost Chapter 7: The Sustainable Orchard Chapter 8: The Role of the Homesteader Resources Acknowledgments About the Author Works Cited Index

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Book SynopsisThe Backyard Beekeeper, 5th Edition is your complete honey bee resource, loaded with essential information for beginning and maintaining healthy hives. Table of ContentsPreface New Challenges To Sum It All UpIntroduction In the Beginning Evolution: Moving OnCHAPTER 1: Starting Right Getting Started Beeyards Other Than Your Backyard Extreme Urban Beekeeping The Right Tools of the Trade And Yes, the Right BeesCHAPTER 2: About Those Bees Queens Workers Drones Seasonal ChangesCHAPTER 3: About Beekeeping Review and Preparation Lighting Your Smoker Package Management Summertime Chores Keeping Records Opening a Colony Honeycomb and Brood Combs Summertime Chores Fall and Winter Management Early Next Spring InspectionsCHAPTER 4: About Honey Honey Flow Time Honey Harvest Time Comb Honey and Cut-Comb HoneyCHAPTER 5: Maladies, Problems, and Solutions IPM FundamentalsVarroa Nosema Chalkbrood European Foulbrood American Foulbrood Wax Moth Small Hive Beetle Other PestsCHAPTER 6: Beeswax Be Safe Melting Beeswax Using BeeswaxCHAPTER 7: 25 Rules of Modern Beekeeping Queen’s Rules Bees’ Rules Beekeeping RulesVarroa Rules Beekeeper Rules Glossary Resources Photographer Credits About the Author Acknowledgments Index

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Book SynopsisCovering all agricultural regions and a wide variety of commodity production and farming systems, this comprehensive survey synthesizes twenty years of research on climate change and Canadian agriculture.Trade ReviewThis timely collection will be of interest to scholars, policymakers, and agriculturalists throughout North America and beyond. It offers both a comprehensive collection of recent research on the vulnerability of Canadian farming systems to climate change and a thorough and articulate presentation of the breadth of concepts and methods currently employed in climate change vulnerability assessments. -- Debra Davidson, University of Alberta * Great Plains Research, Vol.18, No.2, Fall 2008 *Table of ContentsFigures and Tables Preface Acknowledgments Abbreviations Part 1: Research Approaches to Climate ChangeAdaptation 1 Introduction / Ellen Wall, Barry Smit, and Johanna Wandel 2 Impact-Based Approach / Michael Brklacich, Barry Smit, Ellen Wall,and Johanna Wandel 3 Context-Based Approach / Ellen Wall, Barry Smit, and JohannaWandel 4 Process-Based Approach / Johanna Wandel, Ellen Wall, and BarrySmit Part 2: Impact-Based Studies 5 Potential Impacts of Climate Change on Agriculture in EasternCanada / Samuel Gameda, Andrew Bootsma, and Daniel McKenney 6 Climate Change Impacts on Agriculture in the Prairie Region /David Sauchyn 7 Agricultural Water Supply in the Okanagan Basin: Using ClimateChange Scenarios to Inform Dialogue and Planning Processes / DeniseNeilsen, Stewart Cohen, Scott Smith, Grace Frank, Walter Koch, YounesAlila, Wendy Merritt, Mark Barton, and Bill Taylor Part 3: Context-Based Studies 8 Climate Change Adaptation in a Wider Context: ConceptualizingMultiple Risks in Primary Agriculture / Ben Bradshaw 9 Biophysical and Socio-Economic Stressors for Agriculture in theCanadian Prairies / Henry David Venema 10 Institutional Capacity for Agriculture in the South SaskatchewanRiver Basin / Harry P. Diaz and David A. Gauthier 11 The Perception of Risk to Agriculture and Climatic Variability inQuébec: Implications for Farmer Adaptation to Climatic Variability andChange / Christopher Bryant, Bhawan Singh, and Pierre André Part 4: Process-Based Studies 12 Comparing Apples and Grapes: Farm-Level Vulnerability to ClimateVariability and Change / Suzanne Belliveau, Ben Bradshaw, and Barry Smit 13 Vulnerability and Adaptation to Climate Risks in SouthwesternOntario Farming Systems / Susanna Reid, Suzanne Belliveau, Barry Smit,and Wayne Caldwell 14 Community-Based Watershed Management as an AgriculturalAdaptation to Climatic Extremes in the Canadian Prairies / R. Cynthia Neudoerffer and DavidWaltner-Toews 15 Household Access to Capital and Its Influence on Climate-RelatedRural Population Change: Lessons from the Dust Bowl Years / Robert A. McLeman Part 5: Conclusions 16 Policy Implications: Panellists’ Comments / Ellen Wall,Barry Smit, and Johanna Wandel 17 Climate Change Adaptation Research and Policy for CanadianAgriculture / Ellen Wall and Barry Smit References Contributors Index

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Book SynopsisThis book brings together information from a wide range of sources about the ecology, management, and conservation of British Columbia’s inland rainforest.Table of ContentsPreface1 Introduction2 The Physical Setting3 Ecology and Productivity4 Changing Communities, Changing Values, Changing Uses5 Changing Forests: Timber Harvesting and Silviculture6 Changing Ecosystems: Forest Management Effects on Biodiversity7 Changing Climate: Carbon Dynamics and Climate Change8 Managing Ecological Landscape Patterns and Processes9 A Vision for a Unique EcosystemAppendicesGlossary; References Cited; Indices

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