Living with the Earth

How do we feed humanity nutritious, wholesome food, restore our environment and mitigate climate change? Is it even possible? In 2006, Perrine and Charles Herve-Gruyer set out on a mission to discover a new form of agriculture that provides organic crops and creates meaningful employment in the local community. Using a combination of biointensive methods and permaculture design, which they have named 'ecoculture', and backed by scientific research, resulted in their farm producing abundantly, sequestering carbon and freeing up land for Nature. This beautifully illustrated, comprehensive volume will show you how natural systems work, and discover many simple and effective techniques that create an ecological diverse garden or a highly productive farm. The in-depth section on 'Nature's School' explains weather patterns, soil types, and ecosystem services to give the reader sound knowledge of the environment they are growing in. The section on 'Designing a Farm' provides everything needed to implement an abundant food system, from understanding permaculture and its design tools, the full design process and the designs used on Bec Hellouin as a successful example. Additional chapters on composting, mulching, fertilisers, green manures and working with beneficial microorganisms offers the reader a selection of tools for creating healthy soil in a closed loop system. Full of first-hand tried and tested experience from Bec Hellouin, there is also a synthesis of the authors' research and the scientific and technical monitoring carried out on the farm. This is a unique, groundbreaking book for the serious gardener, farmer, agronomist and permaculture designer. In the series: . 9781856232609 Living with the Earth: A Manual for Market Gardeners Volume 1: Permaculture, Ecoculture: Inspired by Nature . 9781856232692 Living with the Earth: A Manual for Market Gardeners Volume 2: Food Crops and Forest Gardens AUTHORS: Perrine Herve-Gruyer pursued a career as a lawyer in Asia before devoting herself to psychotherapy. She is now a farmer. An educator by training, Charles Herve-Gruyer travelled the globe aboard the training sailboat 'Fleur de Lampaul' for 22 years. He is the author of several books. Perrine and Charles became certified permaculture teachers in 2013. Colour photos throughout