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List of best permaculture readings | (Read 352 times) |
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MJ Solaro
Administrator
Posts: 131
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February 24, 2008, 09:41:14 AM |
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Hey everybody,
I'm trying to come up to speed on permaculture, organic farming, composting, and a number of other related topics.
One thing that would be really helpful for me and other newbies in the forum would be to compile a list of the best reading on these subjects.
Here's what I'm reading right now:
The Omnivore's Dilemna by Michael Pollan
Following the food trails with Michael has been an inspiring read and definitely motivating to learn more about organic farming.
Permaculture: The Essence by David Holmgren (e-book)
Free online e-book with great summary of the 12 principles.
http://holmgren.eatthesuburbs.org/DLFiles/PDFs/Essence_of_PC_eBook.pdf
Permaculture: A Beginner's Guide by Graham Burnett
Recommended to me by a friend, this also covers permaculture basics, with a lot of humor sprinkled throughout. Has a focus on the urban side, which is of interest to me. Also touches on sustainability principles.
What are other books this community can recommend?
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paul wheaton
Administrator
Posts: 1471
western WA
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February 24, 2008, 09:46:45 AM |
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Gaia's Garden by Toby Hemenway. It's the best intro and the best reference. I read all of the permaculture books printed by late 2004 / early 2005 and this was the best at that time. There have been some new books published since then that I haven't read.
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forest_gardener
Posts: 6
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November 01, 2008, 08:17:40 AM |
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You missed the best four-
#1 designing and maintaining your edible landscape naturally by Robert Kourik
#2 How to make a Forest Garden by Patrick Whitefield
#3 Plants for a Future, Edible and Useful Plants for a Healthier World, Ken Fern
#4West Coast Food Forest- A permaculture Guide by Rain Tenaqiya ebook- http://www.scribd.com/doc/2029243/West-Coast-Food-Forestry
If you only buy four these are the best!
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paul wheaton
Administrator
Posts: 1471
western WA
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November 01, 2008, 10:28:01 AM |
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I have heard a lot of raving about the two volume forest garden books.
And the earth care manual is excellent!
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Susan Monroe
Posts: 521
Western WA
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November 01, 2008, 10:56:44 AM |
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And don't forget Bill Mollison's books:
Introduction to Permaculture
Permaculture One: A Perennial Agriculture for Human Settlements
Permaculture Two: Practical Design for Town and Country in Permanent Agriculture
Permaculture: A Designer's Manual
Sue
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tranquil
Posts: 20
permie padawan
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November 01, 2008, 12:21:39 PM |
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I used to be turned off by how theoretical permaculture came off as. Gaia's Garden by Toby Hemenway broke this stereotype for me. Tried reading Holmgren's Beyond Sustainability and it was way too abstract for me. Now, I really like Mollison's writings and see why some in permaculture see Gaia's Garden as not really permaculture but a book on various gardening techniques; techniques that are only a small piece of the holism of permaculture, like how praying is only a small aspect of religion. Nevertheless, I still think the book is useful for illustrating those techniques.
Mollison's Introduction to Permaculture is very good and accessible. Also, I think the Designers' Manual and Design Course Pamphlets are good for getting into the nitty gritty of it. The pamphlets can be found in HTML or PDF form at:
http://nmag.soton.ac.uk/tf/permaculture/
http://www.barkingfrogspermaculture.org/PDC_ALL.pdf
I think the film "In Danger of Falling Food" is a good, concise summary of Mollison's ideas and examples of it in practice:
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=3162503821561656641&ei=gqkMSc-aKpKYrQKosuG_CA&q=danger+of+falling+food
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paul wheaton
Administrator
Posts: 1471
western WA
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November 02, 2008, 05:43:40 PM |
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If we're gonna wander into the world of films: the best stuff is sepp holzer's videos.
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Susan Monroe
Posts: 521
Western WA
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November 02, 2008, 07:46:26 PM |
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Has anyone read Sepp Holzer's book Rebel Farmer? What did you think?
Sue
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paul wheaton
Administrator
Posts: 1471
western WA
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November 03, 2008, 11:02:17 AM |
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Is it in English?
Well, whatever language it is in, I've asked my local library to try and get a copy.
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Kelda O.
Posts: 358
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November 18, 2008, 08:58:37 PM |
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As far as readings, I'll also throw in some from the more radical/anarchist side that combine permaculture strongly with other social movements.
The Earth Path by Starhawk
and
Food Not Lawns by Heather Flores
(I have so many favorites though, these two are just lucky they popped out of me right away)
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Susan Monroe
Posts: 521
Western WA
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November 19, 2008, 10:04:25 AM |
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+1 vote for Kourik's book. I'm just reading it now. Permaculture isn't mentioned much, but that's what it is. Of course, I think the word was trademarked or something back then.
Sue
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