permaculture
articles
by paul wheaton

permaculture books

paul wheaton's obnoxious list of books and stuff

	Square Foot Gardening by Mel Bartholomew amazon amazon.co.uk green-shopping.co.uk The best book for the first time gardener on a small piece of land. If you are going to grow some veggies, and you are going to buy only one book, this is that book. Me, I prefer to have more land and to scatter seeds willy-nilly. I like to let Nature decide what grows where, and next to what. Discussion of Square Foot Gardening .
Gaia's Garden by Toby Hemenway amazon amazon.co.uk green-shopping.co.uk The best book permaculture book for those new to permaculture, but with experience gardening. Toby is an excellent permaculture instructor, poetic writer, and makes some excellent points on the topic of native vs. non-native plants. And if you want a model for an apple tree guild, this will have it. Discussion of Gaia's Garden. Discussion with author, Toby Hemenway. Gaia's Garden podcasts. Toby Hemenway podcasts. Toby on Native Plants.
	Permaculture: A Designer's Manual by Bill Mollison and David Holmgren amazon amazon.co.uk THE book on permaculture - especially for larger systems. Discussion of Permaculture: The Designer's Manual.
Liquid Gold by Carol Steinfeld amazon amazon.co.uk green-shopping.co.uk An excellent book giving you the straight poop on pee. Urine is almost always sterile, and provides nitrogen for all your growies. It usually needs to be watered down though so the salt content isn't too strong. Don't flush this golden resource! Discussion of Liquid Gold.
	The Humanure Handbook by Joseph Jenkins amazon amazon.co.uk green-shopping.co.uk This is the best book at this time on this topic. Not poop-a-phobic enough for me. Looking forward to a better one. Discussion on humanure.
The Ruth Stout No-Work Garden Book by Ruth Stout amazon Ruth talks about year-round mulching, planting between beds of hay, and spreading her uncomposted kitchen scraps around the yard. She is the lady who accidentally got it right and cried, "Eureka" louder than anyone else since Archimedes (and liked to garden in the buff). Discussion of Ruth Stout's No-Dig Straw Mulch Gardening videos. Discussion of Ruth Stout's Gardening Without Work.
	Water Storage by Art Ludwig amazon amazon.co.uk THE book on water storage. Discussion of Water Storage.
Create an Oasis with Greywater by Art Ludwig amazon amazon.co.uk THE book on greywater. Discusses Art's story, (which I find rather funny), defines terms like "greywater" and "blackwater," talks about different septic scenarios, and how to be sure your bad things get filtered out before they hit your groundwater or edibles. Art is not afraid to use a microscope. Discussion of Create an Oasis with Greywater. Greywater podcasts.
	The Hand-Sculpted House by Ianto Evans amazon amazon.co.uk green-shopping.co.uk How to make a hand-sculpted home seem larger and how to make a house a home. An amazing book on cob and eco-architecture. Cob takes forever, requires bringing in lots of materials, and is labor-intensive, but...Cob. Is. Beautiful. Discussion of The Hand Sculpted House. Video 1 of Cobville. Cobville part 2.
Rocket Mass Heaters by Ianto Evans amazon amazon.co.uk True innovation in heating your home with wood: Heat your home with 80% to 90% less wood; exhaust is nearly pure steam and CO2 (a little smoke at the beginning); the heat from one fire can last for days; you can build one in a day and half; and folks have built them spending less than $20. Article on rocket mass heaters.
	Mortgage Free by Rob Roy amazon amazon.co.uk Do something good for your future self. Cut your living expenses to the bone and save up a "grubstake;" buy a chunk of bare land outright and build a crappy shack on it; while living in the crappy shack, build a tiny home that is designed for future extension; then remodel and expand as needed. Create a home for yourself without needing to get a mortgage. Some discussion of Mortgage Free.
The Woodland Year by Ben Law amazon amazon.co.uk green-shopping.co.uk A beautiful book about living symbiotically with woodland. Ben Law is the man. Discussion of The Woodland Year. Discussion of author, Ben Law.
	The Woodland Way by Ben Law amazon amazon.co.uk green-shopping.co.uk Ben Law is the man. Discussion of author, Ben Law.
Roundwood Timber Framing by Ben Law amazon amazon.co.uk green-shopping.co.uk Ben Law is the man. Discussion of author, Ben Law. Roundwood Timber Framing podcast.
	The Encyclopedia of Country Living by Carla Emery amazon amazon.co.uk If you are going to buy just one book on homesteading, this is the book. It is HUGE! And contains mountains of detailed information on preserving food, beekeeping, animal husbandry, gardening ... everything a homesteader needs! Discussion of The Encyclopedia of Country Living.
Back to Basics: A Complete Guide to Traditional Skills by Reader's Digest amazon amazon.co.uk Farm dreaming. Discussion of Back to Basics.
	Salad Bar Beef by Joel Salatin amazon amazon.co.uk Doing the paddock-shift system with cattle. Discussion of the author, Joel Salatin.
Pastured Poulty Profits by Joel Salatin amazon amazon.co.uk The best book on raising chickens. Discussion of the author, Joel Salatin. Discussion of Joel Salatin's raising poultry.
	Everything I Want to Do Is Illegal by Joel Salatin amazon amazon.co.uk Expresses some major frustration farmers share. Discussion of Everything I Want to Do Is Illegal. Discussion of the author, Joel Salatin.
The Sheer Ecstacy of Being a Lunatic Farmer by Joel Salatin amazon amazon.co.uk Poetry. Discussion of the author, Joel Salatin. Discussion of The Sheer Ecstacy of Being a Lunatic Farmer.
	You Can Farm by Joel Salatin amazon amazon.co.uk Good info on succeeding as a farmer. Discussion of the author, Joel Salatin.
Holy Cows and Hog Heaven by Joel Salatin amazon amazon.co.uk Good info. Discussion of the author, Joel Salatin.
	The Rebel Farmer by Sepp Holzer amazon amazon.co.uk green-shopping.co.uk The mighty, the amazing, the glorious...Sepp Holzer. Number 1 on the Wheaton Eco Scale. Article on Sepp Holzer. Sepp Holzer podcasts.
Sepp Holzer's Permaculture by Sepp Holzer amazon amazon.co.uk green-shopping.co.uk The mighty, the amazing, the glorious...Sepp Holzer. Number 1 on the Wheaton Eco Scale. Lots of good growing and land re-shaping info. Gets into hugelkultur, bone sauce, mushroom cultivation, as well as Sepp's story. Article on Sepp Holzer. Sepp Holzer podcasts.
	Holistic Management by Allan Savory amazon amazon.co.uk Savory's work is the basis for the paddock-shift system, which will save the world. Reversing desertification through the grazing of large ruminants. Video on holistic management. Allan Savory, on reversing desertification. On paddock shift systems and how they will save the world.
The Botany of Desire by Michael Pollan amazon amazon.co.uk A plants-eye view.
	The Omnivore's Dilemma by Michael Pollan amazon amazon.co.uk An excellent primer on food. Pollan really gives vegetarians a fair shake. He tries it for a month and studies it profusely. He finds a book that is apparently the greatest persuader for vegetarianism and exchanges some emails with the author. A lot of the argument is why would you eat a pig and not a person? And then there are lots and lots of explorations down these sorts of paths. Pretty interesting. For a while, Pollan was pretty convinced. And then he did some math and exploration of a vegetarian diet eating conventional (non-organic) food. Just for the pesticides sprayed on wheat, millions of birds are killed. So then you go to organic. The author spends a lot of time in the book exploring organic factory farms. Tilling is done far more often to fight weeds. Tilling kills all sorts of little furry creatures in the soil. Based on the tilling alone, the organic omnivore kills fewer animals than the organic vegetarian. Discussion on The Omnivore's Dilemma and vegetarianism.
In Defense of Food by Michael Pollan amazon amazon.co.uk Eat what your body is really asking for. Pollan makes the case that our Western diet, full of chemically raised, big agriculture foods, refined grains, too few foods, too much sugar and too little of the right kinds of fats makes people sick.
	The Good Life by Scott and Helen Nearing amazon amazon.co.uk Scott and Helen Nearing are back-to-the-land icons.
One Straw Revolution by Masanobu Fukuoka amazon amazon.co.uk Masanobu Fukuoka's excellent techniques. Discussion of author, Masanobu Fukuoka. Podcasts discussing Fukuoka. Larry Korn tells about how Fukuoka got better soil with no till. Larry Korn tells about Fukuoka's rice and orchard techniques.
	The $50 and Up Underground House Book by Mike Oehler amazon amazon.co.uk green-shopping.co.uk I have been studying alternative building for 25 years. Every eco structure has up sides and down sides and often the down sides give the upsides just a narrow margin of benefit over conventional building. If you paid for the labor, nearly all eco structures would end up costing more than a conventional building. Except for Mike Oehler's designs. Mike Oehler's designs are a complete overhaul of many aspects of building structures. If you embrace one simple idea, the cost of materials and the time it takes to build are cut by a factor of THREE! Further, no other design aligns with the earth as much as a Mike Oehler structure. Includes above ground stuff. If you are going to buy just one book on eco building, this is the book. Discussion with the author, Mike Oehler. More on Mike Oehler's work. Video on a 30 year old $15 earth berm house. Video for The $50 and up Underground House book.
The Earth Sheltered Solar Greenhouse Book by Mike Oehler amazon amazon.co.uk green-shopping.co.uk I have been studying alternative building for 25 years. Every eco structure has up sides and down sides and often the down sides give the upsides just a narrow margin of benefit over conventional building. If you paid for the labor, nearly all eco structures would end up costing more than a conventional building. Except for Mike Oehler's designs. Mike Oehler's designs are a complete overhaul of many aspects of building structures. If you embrace one simple idea, the cost of materials and the time it takes to build are cut by a factor of THREE! Further, no other design aligns with the earth as much as a Mike Oehler structure. If you are going to build a greenhouse, this is a far superior technique. Discussion with the author, Mike Oehler. Video of an Oehler pit greenhouse.
	Shelter by Lloyd Kahn amazon amazon.co.uk green-shopping.co.uk This book is a soul building experience. It is filled with pictures of all kinds of alternative buildings. Discussion of Shelter.
Home Work by Lloyd Kahn amazon amazon.co.uk green-shopping.co.uk This book is also a soul building experience. Shelter Part 2.
	Creating a Life Together by Diana Leafe Christian amazon amazon.co.uk The definitive book on intentional community. Discussion of Creating a Life Together. Discussion of author, Diana Leafe Christian.
Finding Community by Diana Leafe Christian amazon amazon.co.uk green-shopping.co.uk Intentional communities and eco-villages. Discussion of Finding Community. Discussion of author, Diana Leafe Christian.
	The People of Cascadia by Heidi Bohan amazon Talks about how the agriculture practiced by the Native Americans of the Pacific Northwest resembled permaculture. Heidi Bohan on PNW Native Americans. Heidi Bohan on how the agriculture of the PNW Native Americans resembled permaculture.
The Earth Care Manual by Patrick Whitefield amazon amazon.co.uk green-shopping.co.uk Well-written. Discussion of author, Patrick Whitefield.
	Permaculture in a Nutshell by Patrick Whitefield amazon amazon.co.uk green-shopping.co.uk Well-written. Discussion of author, Patrick Whitefield.
Carrrots Love Tomatoes by Louise Riotte amazon amazon.co.uk green-shopping.co.uk This was a well-done book, even though I am no longer into companion planting. Go willy-nilly polyculture!
	Early Retirement Extreme by Jacob Lund Fisker amazon amazon.co.uk Gets you to examine the way you live, and creatively plan financially for yourself. Emphasizes the value of your independence and working smart so you can play later. About giving a gift to your future self. The general idea is to work a normal job, but live so frugally that you are squirreling away 75% of your income. Then try to get your living expenses under $500 per month. (He outlines how this can be done). After five years, your saved money is invested. The return on the investment is about $500 per month. You can now retire. Before the age of 30. I like how the book gives a map so you can find the numbers that fit you best. I also like how he lays out mortgages, loans, working all your life, and all sorts of stuff like that "for others". Discussion of Early Retirement Extreme. Early Retirement Extreme podcast.
Ecotopia by Ernest Callenbach amazon amazon.co.uk How life could be if several western states separated from the U.S. Discussion of Ernest Callenbach's Ecotopia. More discussion of Ecotopia.
	Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand amazon amazon.co.uk A book on having integrity, no matter how much people fuck with you. A lot of people get something political out of it, but I don't. Ayn Rand had a philosophy she wanted to express, and she was very clear about it. If this book were a painting, it would be black and white--no gray. Discussion of the Atlas Shrugged podcast. Discussion of the Atlas Shrugged movie. Atlas Shrugged podcast.
Gap Creek by Robert Morgan amazon amazon.co.uk A girl goes through a lot of life trials, and learns to live through them.
	Drop City by T.C. Boyle amazon amazon.co.uk On commune life and living in the wild.
Alas Babylon by Pat Frank amazon amazon.co.uk On survival.
	Damanhur amazon amazon.co.uk Shows pictures of the amazing temples at Damanhur. There is an artist's community there, that functions very smoothly, even with people living in groups of 20. The founder of Damnhur chose its location because 6 ley lines came together there. Discussion of the Damanhur communities.
Green Woodwork amazon amazon.co.uk Green wood is far easier to work with, but it shrinks a bit when it dries. This book is essential for success.
	Weeds And What They Tell amazon amazon.co.uk Weeds heal what we have messed with, and let us know what's up with the soil and ecosystem. Weeds are good more often than they are bad. Stop making Mother Nature your personal bitch. Michael Pilarski (Skeeter) on Weeds in a Young Food Forest.
Mycelium Running amazon amazon.co.uk green-shopping.co.uk Mycelium will save the world. Discussion of Paul Stamet's work. Interview with author, Paul Stamets.
	Roots Demystified amazon amazon.co.uk green-shopping.co.uk Good info. Discussion of Roots Demystified.
Edible Forest Gardens 1 & 2 amazon amazon.co.uk green-shopping.co.uk, part 1 green-shopping.co.uk, part 2 Both volumes together make the best permaculture resource. Discussion on Volume 1 of Edible Forest Gardens. Discussion on Edible Forest Gardens.
	Permaculture Magazine website An excellent mag that every permie will thoroughly enjoy. I find about 2 articles per issue that I find interesting. I have done podcasts with Maddy Harland, who is great. Discussion of Permaculture Magazine.
Acres USA Magazine amazon A fairly liberal magazine that focuses on subjects like GMOs and such, yet many in their audience still monocrop. My favorite ag mag. Some of the reporting at the beginning is more of an editorial. Discussion of Acres USA.
	Farm Show amazon Cover to cover innovation, covering inventions farmers come up with.
Countryside Magazine amazon Offers tidbits of information from the masses, much like permies.com. An all-volunteer magazine. Discussion of Countryside Magazine.
	Mother Earth News amazon Every other issue or so, I find something I really enjoy. They tend towards organic, homesteading, what's a good car/tractor to buy, gardening, country living/urban homesteading. Discussion of Mother Earth News.
Sawmill and Woodlot amazon Teaches you a lot about all the contraptions out there, what's good/bad practice, and why.
	Backhome Magazine amazon Like "Mother Earth News lite." A little candied. Will occasionally find an interesting article of substance. Discussion of Backhome Magazine.
Small Farm Today amazon A tiny, passionate, well-researched, organically-focused magazine based out of Missouri.
	Living Woods website One of my favorite magazines. Discussion of Living Woods.
Backwoods Home website I especially love Jackie Clay's page.
	Permaculture Activist Magazine website I have to admit that when it comes to an "activist" I think I personally fall short. And tend to skip over the more activist-esque articles. After that, I find several excellent articles in every issue.
The Stockman Grass Farmer Journal website Assumes an undertanding of the rotational grazing philosophies of Allan Savory. Excellent.
	The Man Who Planted Trees amazon amazon.co.uk An artistically-done, animated short film about a man who dedicates his life to a piece of land planting trees. He is able to bring back the creeks, and bring peace and happiness back to a physically and psychologically unhealthy place. Discussion of The Man Who Planted Trees. The Man Who Planted Trees podcast.
Roundwood Timber Framing with Ben Law amazon amazon.co.uk green-spping.co.uk Ben Law shows how it's done. Discussion of author, Ben Law. Roundwood Timber Framing podcast.
	The Agro-Rebel with Sepp Holzer amazon green-shopping.co.uk The mighty, the amazing, the glorious...Sepp Holzer. I use these films when I give presentations. Article on Sepp Holzer. Sepp Holzer podcasts.
Broken Limbs amazon I do a podcast review of this. Discussion of Broken Limbs. Broken Limbs Podcast.
	Vanishing of the Bees amazon amazon.co.uk Some good info on colony-collapse disorder. Video on Colony Collapse Disorder. Vanishing of the Bees podcast.
Fathead with Tom Naughton amazon amazon.co.uk An excellent, witty response to Supersize Me. Some more grounded science, including how animal fat is good for you and ultimately helps you lose weight. Debunks the lipid hypothesis. Discussion of Fathead. Fathead podcast.
	Dirt! The Movie amazon amazon.co.uk I do a podcast review of this. Dirt! the movie podcast.
Fresh amazon Another "Future of Food"-"Food Inc." type movie. Fresh podcast.
	Alone in the Wilderness amazon Good to know. Discussion of Alone in the Wilderness.
Urban Permaculture with Geoff Lawton website Geoff Lawton shows off some great urban permaculture plots. Discussion of Urban permaculture. Urban Permaculture trailer. Discussion of Geoff Lawton. Urban Permaculture podcast. Geoff Lawton podcast 1. Geoff Lawton podcast 2.
	Food Forest with Geoff Lawton website green-shopping.co.uk Geoff Lawton shows off some great food forests, of several different ages. My favorite film of his. Discussion of Geoff Lawton. Geoff Lawton podcast 1. Geoff Lawton podcast 2. Food Forest podcast.
Permaculture Soils with Geoff Lawton website green-shopping.co.uk Geoff Lawton talks about composting and soil. Permaculture Soils podcast. Discussion of Permaculture Soils podcast. Discussion of Geoff Lawton. Geoff Lawton podcast 1. Geoff Lawton podcast 2.
	The Man Who Stopped the Desert website Talks about zai, something similar to permaculture. Discussion of The Man Who Stopped the Desert. The Man Who Stopped the Desert podcast.
Wildcraft! An Herbal Adventure Game amazon Build your knowledge of wildcrafting/botany/herbs through this game.
	Neuton Cordless Electric Mower amazon Cordless mower I tried and really like - quiet, clean and quick. Contrary to a lot of permaculture folk, I like lawns. Discussion on good, non-gas mowers. A Neuton corless electric mower in action.
Diatomaceous Earth, Food Grade amazon It can be hard to find the right DE. THIS is the right DE. Sprinkle it around your house for flea or bug problems. You can even eat the stuff, and it is totally harmless for you. It is in most grain bins. Article on diatomaceous earth. Diatomaceous Earth podcast.

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