Rating: 
Summary: The Permaculture Bible
Review: If ecology was the primary intellectual response to the environmental and agricultural crises of the twentieth century, permaculture (or permanent agriculture) was its practical application. Born in the mid-seventies, permaculture co-founder Bill Mollison defines this new field as "the conscious design and maintenance of agriculturally productive ecosystems which have the diversity, stability, and resilience of natural ecosystems. It is the harmonious integration of landscape and people providing their food, energy, shelter, and other material and non-material needs in a sustainable way. Without permaculture there is no possibility of a stable social order." In other words, permaculture is the practical science of sustainability - a whole-systems approach life in the biosphere - and this near-encyclopedic tome covers every aspect of the subject, from soil conditions to climactic factors. The only conceivable drawback of this book is that it is rather difficult to ascertain and won't come cheap. If you enjoy tracking down rare and expensive books, there are none better than Mollison's Permaculture: A Designer's Manual. Large, comprehensive and filled with helpful illustrations and explanations, it is nothing less than the permaculture bible. On the other hand, if you are on a tight budget, and do not wish to spend your time searching for an unworn copy, there are newer and more accessible titles on the subject: like the other permaculture co-founder David Holmgren's Permaculture: Principles and Pathways Beyond Sustainability, or the concise and slim Earth User's Guide to Permaculture, by Rosemary Morrow. Whatever book you choose, this fascinating subject is perhaps humanity's only hope for a sustainable (read livable) future. Should not be overlooked.
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Summary: Practical and Inspirational !
Review: This is one of those few books that when you've read it you wonder why arent we doing any of these things and why have'nt more people read it! It is a sizable volume, which may be one reason why it not more widely read, and it covers a range of issues such as homesite layout and design (and probably not the one's you're used to... ever consider an underground home?), getting maximum production from your garden in a minimum of space, and other ideas for designing your way of living in harmony with the climate and geography where you live. It does wax philisophical often but to me that was the best part of the book, it is truly and integrated way of considering how to live with your environment and not just simply in it.
Rating:
Summary: Practical and Inspirational !
Review: This is one of those few books that when you've read it you wonder why arent we doing any of these things and why have'nt more people read it! It is a sizable volume, which may be one reason why it not more widely read, and it covers a range of issues such as homesite layout and design (and probably not the one's you're used to... ever consider an underground home?), getting maximum production from your garden in a minimum of space, and other ideas for designing your way of living in harmony with the climate and geography where you live. It does wax philisophical often but to me that was the best part of the book, it is truly and integrated way of considering how to live with your environment and not just simply in it.
Rating:
Summary: Text Book for Permaculture Design Course
Review: This is the definitive Permaculture design manual in print since 1988. It is the text book and curriculum for the 72-hour Certificate course in Permaculture Design. Written for teachers, students and designers, it follows on and greatly enlarges on the initial introductory texts, Permaculture One (1978) and Permaculture Two (1979) both of which are still in demand over twenty years after publication. Very little of the material found in this book is reproduced from the former texts. It covers design methodologies and strategies for both urban and rural applications describing property design and natural farming techniques. Topics include:design methods, understanding patterns in nature, climatic factors, water, soils, earthworks and their use in earth repair, techniques and design strategies for both urban and rural applications, the temperate climates, dry lands, cold climates, humid cool climates, humid tropics , trees and their energy transactions, aqua-culture, waste management, energy efficient architecture, legal strategies and trusts, effective working groups, right livelihood, money and finance, ethical investment. bio-regional organisation, effective aid.
Rating:
Summary: Text Book for Permaculture Design Course
Review: This is the definitive Permaculture design manual in print since 1988. It is the text book and curriculum for the 72-hour Certificate course in Permaculture Design. Written for teachers, students and designers, it follows on and greatly enlarges on the initial introductory texts, Permaculture One (1978) and Permaculture Two (1979) both of which are still in demand over twenty years after publication. Very little of the material found in this book is reproduced from the former texts. It covers design methodologies and strategies for both urban and rural applications describing property design and natural farming techniques. Topics include: design methods, understanding patterns in nature, climatic factors, water, soils, earthworks and their use in earth repair, techniques and design strategies for both urban and rural applications, the temperate climates, dry lands, cold climates, humid cool climates, humid tropics , trees and their energy transactions, aqua-culture, waste management, energy efficient architecture, legal strategies and trusts, effective working groups, right livelihood, money and finance, ethical investment. bio-regional organisation, effective aid.
Rating:
Summary: Still the best
Review: This may well be the most useful one book you will ever read. Bill Mollison is the consumate intellectual wild-crafter, gathering ideas and techniques from around the globe and spinning them all into one coherent volume. Permaculture strives to create human systems that mimic the stability of a healthy ecosystem. This book lays out the philosophy and the grounded techniques to do just that. ... It IS possible to live on this planet without turning it into a cinder ball, but only if we use our brains to do so. Start with this book. Start soon.
Rating:
Summary: Still the best
Review: This may well be the most useful one book you will ever read. Bill Mollison is the consumate intellectual wild-crafter, gathering ideas and techniques from around the globe and spinning them all into one coherent volume. Permaculture strives to create human systems that mimic the stability of a healthy ecosystem. This book lays out the philosophy and the grounded techniques to do just that. ... It IS possible to live on this planet without turning it into a cinder ball, but only if we use our brains to do so. Start with this book. Start soon.
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