Description
Book Synopsis Harness the power of permaculture to thrive, not just survive, the great transition from fossil fuels
Caught between climate change and a fossil fuel-driven economy that demands ever more growth, the world faces a great transitionby design or disasteraway from fossil fuels to an alternative renewable energy future.
But what proven tools are available to aid in making a successful, deliberate transition to resilient and sustainable living?
For the first time, the power of permaculture design has been brought to bear on the great transition problem. In the process, acclaimed permaculture teacher and designer Ross Mars has distilled his considerable knowledge into the ultimate permaculture resource for resilient and sustainable living.
The Permaculture Transition Manual is packed with information on permaculture design principles, gardening, soil building, nutrient-dense food growing, including top plant and tree selections for all clim
Table of Contents
Foreword
Preface
Dedication
1. Setting the Scene
What is changing? Is there a problem? Climate change. Peak oil. Food sovereignty.
2. Sustainable Living Practices
Sustainability. Permaculture: designing for a sustainable future. Permaculture design fundamentals.
3. Planning a Garden
Ecological principles. How ecosystems work. The design process. Designing for others. Implementation schedule. Sharing the surplus, thriving and surviving.
4. Getting the Soil Right
What is soil? Compost making. Soil amendments. Mulch. Green manure crops. Fermented fertilizers. Weeds as indicators of soil conditions. Simple soil tests. Other soil tests.
5. Edible Food Plants
Top ten vegetables. top ten garden salad fruits. Handy hints.
6. Fruit and Nut Trees
Dryland fruit and nut trees. Cold climate fruit and nut trees. Warm humid climate fruit and nut trees. Some other considerations.
7. Heavenly Herbs
Herbs used in cooking. Herbal teas. Pest-repellent herbs. A herb medical cabinet.
8. Other Useful Plant Groups
Dryland plants. Cool climate plants. Warm humid climate plants.
9. Fodder and Forage Shrubs and Trees for Farm Animals
Dryland plants. Cool climate plants. Warm humid climate plants.
10. All About Water
Saving water in the home. Water conservation. Irrigation practices. Graywater reuse. Rainwater harvesting. Integration of water systems. On-site domestic wastewater systems. Water in the landscape.
11. Strategies for Rural Properties
Organic farming. Biodynamic farming. Holistic management. Cell grazing. Polyface. Natural sequence farming. Pasture cropping. Keyline. Regenerative agriculture. Water capture. Other aspects of farming.
12. Strategies for Small Spaces
Inside the house. Outside the house.
13. Hand Tools
Personal protective equipment (PPE) and general work clothing. Ten basic hand tools. Handyperson set of ten tools. Supplementary set of ten tools. Ten basic garden hand tools. Ten handyperson garden tools.
14. Foods You Can Easily Make at Home
Ten simple foods to make. Others to try. Ten fermented foods. Preserving your foods.
15. It's Energy That Matters
Embodied energy. Saving and reducing energy. Energy-efficient housing. Active solar systems. Energy generation.
16. Forgotten Skills
Some simple knots. Handmade paper. Making soap. Homemade laundry detergent. Splitting bamboo. How to make playdough. Saving seeds. Weaving (fiber basketry). Making rope from plant material. How to make candles.
Conversion Formulae
Acknowledgments
Index
About the Author
A Note About the Publisher
