Overview

Harness the power of permaculture to thrive, not just survive, the great transition from fossil fuels 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 an alternative renewable energy future. But what proven tools are available to aid in making a successful, deliberate transition to resilient and sustainable living? 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 permaculture resource for resilient and sustainable living. The Permaculture Transition Manual is packed with information on permaculture design principles, gardening, 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, alternative renewable energy production, low-carbon housing, and a plethora of nearly forgotten and cozy 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 and sustainable living you'll want to take with you. Ross Mars is a scientist with a PhD in Environmental Science, entrepreneur and highly-regarded permaculture teacher and designer. Author of The Basics of Permaculture Design , he manages Candlelight Farm, a permaculture demonstration site and training center in Western Australia.

Full Product Details

Author:   Ross Mars ,  Rob Hopkins ,  Simone Willis
Publisher:   New Society Publishers
Imprint:   New Society Publishers
Dimensions:   Width: 18.40cm , Height: 1.50cm , Length: 22.90cm
Weight:   0.579kg
ISBN:  

9780865718357

ISBN 10:   0865718350
Pages:   288
Publication Date:   26 September 2016
Recommended Age:   From 16 years
Audience:   General/trade ,  General ,  General
Format:   Paperback
Publisher's Status:   Active
Availability:   Temporarily unavailable  
The supplier advises that this item is temporarily unavailable. It will be ordered for you and placed on backorder. Once it does come back in stock, we will ship it out to you.

Table of Contents

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

Reviews

Finally a resource that holistically connects the dots between all the elements of permaculture. <i>The Permaculture Transition Manual</i> reaches beyond the design and planting side and serves as an inspiring guide to craft a lifestyle rooted in permaculture principles, from cooking in the kitchen to cultivating community.---Lisa Kivirist, author, <i> Soil Sisters: A Toolkit for Women Farmers</i> Drawing on his experience as both a teacher and permaculture practitioner, Mars presents a complete blueprint for anybody to make their rural property or suburban home more beautiful, economical, and resilient. He also offers inspiring ideas to de-clutter and make the most out of smaller urban spaces.---Erik Curren, Publisher, <i>Transition Voice</i> Definitely a book for these crucial times, <i>The Permaculture Transition Manual </i>discusses all the steps necessary to initiate positive change. Ross Mars covers all the bases both new converts and readers already conversant with permaculture will find suggestions to complement and facilitate their journey towards a more sustainable existence. The writer s scientific background does not prevent him from keeping the information accessible to all with point by point analysis of what s required to halt the devastating ecological freefall that s been instigated by the profligate lifestyle of today s society.---Jenni Blackmore, author, <i>Permaculture for the Rest of Us.</i> Holistic solutions rather than piecemeal fixes are required to address the many converging crises in our world. <i>The Permaculture Transition Manual </i>reviews the problems we face, then builds on the view from 30,000 feet with an excellent exploration of the permaculture design process, peppered with information on compost, graywater, alternative energy, and much more. Ross Mars has written an excellent introduction for the beginner!---John Wages, Publisher, <i>Permaculture Design Magazine</i> The Transition and the Permaculture movements offer road maps to a future that will not only be sustainable, but will allow people to thrive. Ross Mars is the perfect tour guide with <i>The Permaculture Transition Manual</i>. Offering a comprehensive and integrative approach to living that anyone can incorporate into their lives, this book offers a treasure-trove of creative practices and vital information. This is the book I would want on a desert 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, <i>Permaculture Magazine, North America</i>

Author Information

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, as well as two DVDs on energy efficient housing design and renewable energy systems. Ross manages Candlelight Farm, a permaculture demonstration site and training center in Western Australia. Over the past decade, he has delivered dozens of basic, design, advanced and diploma-level Permaculture Courses. 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.

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