Customer Reviews

Inspiring must read for all permies Review by Carl Legge

Review

As a distillation of more than 40 years' experience this is a surprisingly easy read. I did my first read through in a day: I'm sure to be going back to the book frequently in the years ahead.

The range of the permaculture applications covered is extensive. From major landscape design & works to small scale projects in high rise apartments.

Holzer presents new ways of thinking about & practising:
- agriculture
- growing fruit trees and fungi, and
- kitchen & medicinal gardening.

At the end of the book are some inspiring case studies of projects from around the world.

For me this book is an essential read for anyone interested in permaculture because of the attitude of mind it encourages and stimulates. What comes through loud & clear is Holzer's sense of challenge to the orthodoxy. And it's not just a theoretical, academic challenge; it's more practical. He's constantly asking us to examine why we do what we do and think of more sustainable ways of doing it.

In addition to this, there are detailed examples of how he manages his farm on the macro & micro scale. From using schnapps residue as a 'chuck & see' method to seed fruit trees to planting hungry feeding plants on an area to out compete unwanted herbage and to large scale landscaping to utilise water resources sustainably.

The book is well and helpfully illustrated with photographs and clear diagrams. There are extensive listings of recommended plant species and varieties. On the negative side, the absence of an index makes it harder to find and cross check interesting information. I hope that any new edition might have this rectified.

For me, the great advantage of the book was in the combination of these two elements: the attitude and some detailed methods. It's prompted me to re look at what we do on our smallholding and to try some new methods. I'm certain it will mean that the holding is both more sustainable and productive.
(Posted on 05/05/2011)