The Permaculture Transition Manual

Harness the power of permaculture to thrive, not just survive, the great transition from fossil fuels.

This is the book I would want on a deserted island as a survival guide. It is a great resource for any community or individual looking to create a better future.

• HANNAH APRICOT ECKBERG, Editor, Permaculture Magazine , North America

  CAUGHT BETWEEN climate change and a fossil fuel-driven economy that demands ever more growth, the world faces a great transition-by design or disaster-away from fossil fuels to a less energy-intensive future. But what proven tools are available to aid in making a successful, deliberate transition to a resilient, sustainable future?

  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 resource for resilient living.

  The Permaculture Transition Manual is packed with information on permaculture design principles, soil building, nutrient-dense food growing, including top plant and tree selections for all climatic zones.

  Coverage extends to rainwater harvesting and irrigation, human waste management, and strategies for rural properties plus a unique focus on applying permaculture to small urban spaces for decluttering and efficient food growing. Also covered are hand tools, food preservation, energy production, and low-carbon housing and a plethora of nearly forgotten skills such as soap making, basket weaving, seed saving, rope and candle making, and more.

  On the desert island of a world in decline this is the one-stop guide to vibrant, resilient living you'll want to take with you.

  ...A complete blueprint for anybody to make their rural property or suburban home more beautiful, economical, and resilient.

• ERIK CURREN, Publisher, Transition Voice

  ...An excellent exploration of the permaculture design process, peppered with information on compost, graywater, alternative energy, and much more.

• JOHN WAGES, Publisher, Permaculture Design magazine

  Finally, a resource that holistically connects the dots between all the elements of permaculture!

• LISA KIVIRIST, author, Soil Sisters: A Toolkit for Women Farmers

ROSS MARS is a scientist with a PhD in Environmental Science, an entrepreneur, and a highly regarded permaculture teacher and designer. Author of the landmark The Basics of Permaculture Design , he manages Candlelight Farm, a permaculture demonstration site and training center in Western Australia.

Auteur

Ross Mars is a highly regarded permaculture teacher, designer and consultant. He is author of landmark The Basics of Permaculture Design and three other permaculture books. Both a scientist with a PhD in Environmental Science and an entrepreneur, Mars also manufactures and supplies greywater and rainwater tank systems, and installs waterwise gardens and water-sensible irrigation systems.

Contenu

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