I can’t explain how much I love this book.
The author, Michael Judd, sent me a copy and asked me to take a look at it. This kind of thing happens with some regularity, so I have this huge stack of books that are already in my “read and review” pile. I know if you’re a nerd like me, this sounds like the best possible problem in the world, but the truth is I feel terrible about just not having the time to tell the world about every book that comes over my desk.
So now I try to set realistic expectations when people tell me they want to send me a book. “I have kind of a long list of books to review, but sure, send it to me. No promises,” I told Michael.
What arrived was the best Permaculture book for true beginners I’ve yet seen. Edible Landscaping With A Permaculture Twist isn’t a definitive guide to permaculture. It doesn’t get poetic about the philosophy of multi-systems care that underlies a Permaculture system. It does not ask you to draw a complex schematic of your home topography before you take shovel to soil.
Instead, it provides clear, actionable techniques that you can use to bring some easy-care Permaculture style into your garden. You know how sometimes authors tell you too much and then you get kinda intimidated and don’t know where to begin? This happens a lot in Permaculture writing because Permaculture includes, like, everything. All the things get balanced and thoughtfully considered in a thriving Permaculture design.
How do you narrow “everything” down into something a beginner can really grok? How do you boil the the complexity of system-stacking and layering and watershed-style irrigation management and cooperative plant guild design and more into something that makes a beginner say, “hey, that looks fun! I can do that!”
This book has done it.
Edible Landscaping with a Permaculture Twist managed to demystify things that have left me confused for years – like how and why to build swales on the contour of your ground and the big picture overview of what to stick together for a happy fruit tree guild.
For the Permacurious beginner like me, a giant table full of every possible nitrogen fixing shrub doesn’t actually help me to understand how to create my own successful guilds. A picture, a basic “recipe” and a list of a few proven guild companions to start with is just right.
This book is full of cheerfully presented but dead-useful advice, illustrations and photos that really help to clarify key Permaculture techniques and make that system of garden design seem eminently do-able at any scale. I really feel like Michael has managed to strip out everything that didn’t need to be in a practical Permaculture primer and capture everything that did.
I am currently planning to rework the perimeter beds around my patch of lawn (soon to be eco-lawn!) into something a little more food-foresty. The chapter on Uncommon Fruits has been so helpful – I feel like someone else has given me the cheat sheet of what to plant.
So, all in all, a great introduction to Permaculture techniques that will be especially useful to the beginning Permaculturist and folks (like me) who prefer a hands-on approach to learning and just want to jump in and see what happens.
This book will give you the info you need to jump into Permaculture successfully without bogging you down in details you probably don’t need to worry about yet (when it comes time to select that perfect nitrogen fixing shrub, the entire internet is there for you).
Edible Landscaping with a Permaculture Twist has a fun, you-can-do-this tone and the book itself is of good production quality, with full-color printed, gloss pages throughout. The fact that there are periodic cocktail recipes in the book doesn’t hurt my estimation of it, either.
Highly recommended.
To give you an idea of what’s covered the book, it’s a easy-reading 143 pages long and covers herb spirals, rainwater harvesting, swales and rain gardens, growing specialty mushrooms, food forests, uncommon fruits, fruit tree care and pruning, grafting, hugelkultur, earthen ovens, how to make cob bricks, and a few thoughts on creating high-margin products from your edible landscape to make a homestead life more financially feasible.
Giveaway!
Michael, the author, is offering up three free copies of his book to readers of NW Edible. To enter to win, go like the Edible Landscaping with A Permaculture Twist page on Facebook (they post all kinds of good info on useful plants).
Then, come back here and comment on this post. Tell me what you’re most interested to learn about edible landscaping or permaculture and confirm that you like the Edible Landscaping page on Facebook. If you hate Facebook and are a social media conscientious objector, that’s fine too, just let me know.
Fine print: Open to US residents only due to shipping costs. One entry per person, additional entires will be disqualified. Three winners will be chosen. Each winner will receive one copy of Edible Landscaping with a Permaculture Twist. Contest open until Wednesday, March 12th, 8 PM PST. Winners will be emailed and will have 24 hours to respond to claim their prize or another winner will be chosen.
Purchase
If you are not a giveaway winner but want to get your hands on a copy of Edible Landscaping with a Permaculture Twist, it’s available on Amazon (check out those reviews! I’m not the only one who loves this book!) or directly from the author. If you buy from Michael, he’ll sign your copy of the book and you’ll get the warm fuzzies of knowing more of your money is going directly to the work’s creator.
All images except cover shot courtesy Michael Judd, used with permission.
3
I will be taking out my lawn this summer and would live some ideas with edible shrines and plants. Thanks so much for a chance to get your book
Teresa
Yep, liked the Facebook Page. Looking forward to reading the whole book.
This is the kind of book I need. Not 100% permaculature, but just a bit to help. Liked them on FB.
I liked the book on Facebook based on your review alone, which is saying a lot! I’ve got a handful of Permaculture books on my shelves but have yet to implement many of the concepts on my small urban lot due to the same OVERWHELM and information overload you describe. I’d love to win this book, but if I don’t, I’ll be buying it from Michael.
this book sounds like exactly what I need. I have been amassing materials (rotten) for a Hugelkulture bed, but am totally overwhelmed. I love the photos, especially of the spiral for herbs. Charming. I have just purchased Mason Bees, and wouldn’t they love to explore that spiral? Love your blog, take your recommendation seriously. Will buy this book, and if you gift me one, I will share with my compatriots who also have kids and gardens in our neighborhood. 🙂
I liked the book on facebook. That herb spiral is genius. I have been wanting to do an herb spiral but have been worried about critters and deer. I’m thinking a raised/stacked herb spiral – well genius. Love the idea of implent-able permaculture. My strategy so far this year has to just been to put stuff in the ground and hope it makes it, so I could definitely use some help.
Following an addition to my house, my yard is overdue for a re-org
This book looks like it could be a great source of inspiration
I took out my front lawn last year in favor of garden space. Right now we are mostly annuals, but I want to incorporate more permaculture ideas, add perennials, get some food forests going. I have the book Gaia’s Garden, but I’ve only made it halfway through – I need an easier way to get started! And I liked them on facebook!
You just keep adding to my reading list! 🙂 I’m turning my PNW yard into an edible garden bit by bit, and any help I get! (liked on FB)
Somehow I get stalled out in the planning with permaculture, pondering companion plantings and food forests while the chickens broke in and destroyed the broccoli and greens. We have a gunny sack full of oyster shells from our wedding, waiting in the wings for my last permaculture attempt. So this book makes it all seem so attainable, and they even have a fb page for dialogue. (And pictures. Speaking of accessible. I love pictures.) I’m all atwitter, wanting to read the whole book and to march outside right now and get going.
I can’t like FB stuff while at work, but I will when I get home. We have a new house and are getting ready to garden scape. I love the idea of mixing veggies, flowers, shrubs and fruit trees all around. This book looks lovely!
I am totally a learn by trial kind of woman! This book looks fantastic and I need ideas on how to change my AZ dust yard into something enjoyable. The trend here is just cover the dirt with rock, but I like more green in my environment.
Oh, this is wonderful! My Gaia’s Garden book is always on loan to some friend I’m converting to horticulture, comes back just long enough to read again before someone else wants it- it sounds like this one will be the same!
(and yes, I liked the FB page of course)
I own several permaculture books and it is exactly as you say. Too much info creates a kind of paralysis. I am very interested in creating swales to water a blueberry patch I have envisioned. I’ve liked the page on Facebook and if I don’t win will probably by it myself (or ask for it for my birthday). Even if i do win, i will most likely buy another copy for our kid’s school since they are doing a permaculture garden. Can’t wait to get my hands on it either way!
Liked the page and can’t wait to get a copy!! (Hoping to win one if I can!). I just started slowly transforming my yard to edible, and I’d love to do in in a Permie way if I can! So much to learn, I could use LOTS of hand-holding and this book sounds like just the ticket!
Thanks to both of you!
(me me me!! pick me!)
I would love this book! I keep trying to describe how I want my lawn to be edible but also fun and still beautiful. This book seems like the perfect thing to get me started on my way. I liked the page on facebook and I can’t wait to get more information!
Argh!! My suburbia lawn can be so much more!! I look out at my backyard and want to change the whole thing. Seems like such a waste of good area. I also want to bring my neighborhood together using permaculture. (The cul de sac round as a community garden for all our little kids?!)
How do I do this? Where do I begin?? I’ve liked the edible landscaping FB Page… Hoping to get lots of tips from that as well!
Oooh this looks great…I liked it on FB and I’m most excited to even know where to start with my little patch of Seattle lawn. I have never successfully grown anything, and I know generally what permaculture is but it definitely seems overwhelming to know where to begin! Especially in a very small space. I actually just walked around Seattle Tilth last week taking pictures of their informational signs. This would be so helpful! 🙂
My husband & I recently purchased 4.5 acres in Oregon. It is our dream to work the land and reap the benefits in an ecologically sound and sustainable way. We have always been interested in the permaculture concept and would like to put it into practice. This book look amazing! Just found the Edible Landscaping with a Permaculture Twist vis page your FB page (and “liked” it). Looking forward to all the great tips! (and would certainly love to win this contest!)
I’m a newbie to permaculture but am determined to make it all work! Would love to have this book.
I already try to do a little bit of edible landscaping with strawberries and blueberries in the flower beds around the house. I would love to learn more! And I liked their FB page. Lots of interesting ideas to try!
I love the descriptions of individual plants on the facebook page. I look forward to getting regular updates.
Some of the things I’m interested in: permaculture water features. And more on perennial vegetables and how to use them in a way my family will like. 🙂
liked the page on facebook. Permaculture always sounds good until i start to wonder how a scorching Oklahoma summer will affect results. Plus, old joints can’t get on the ground any more. I’m looking for things that require less bending and less water.
I’d love to get my mits on this book! I want to know how to take the design principles of permaculture and apply them to something like a backyard in a beautiful way that looks inviting and yet is productive.
noooooooooo….. Canada left out of another give-away! oh well…. still looks like an awesome twist on an already awesome book!
I liked the Facebook page & can’t wait to read more! I am planning a fruit orchard and would like to learn more about what to plant together. It hadn’t even occurred to me that there would be more to know than just what pollinates what. The book looks beautiful and I want to know how to build that oven!!
This books sounds perfect, as I dig into gardening with a whole new level of commitment, from bees to brussel sprouts…but the part in the review I resonated with: for true beginners. Why? I’ve been gardening since grad school to one degree and another, but I always, always, every spring feel like a beginner. The upside is I always always learn so much. Thanks for your blog!
I have a bunch of edible landscaping in the backyard, but I want to get better ideas of how to incorporate it into the front yard while keeping my “curb appeal” and fitting in with the 1920s era house style of my bungalow and my neighborhood. Right now I have lots of herbs (rosemary and lavender mostly) and a lovely fig tree, but definitely want to put more edibles into the front landscape – this book would be great for that. Thanks for the heads up about their facebook page (I am a liker and follower now!), getting photos like that in my feed is exactly what I need!
Sounds great! Trying to convert a sloped glacial till lot in w. Washington into an edible but attractive garden. This will help!
I liked the page on Facebook. I’m really interested in learning more about permaculture in general. My parents have a house with 5 acres and they are starting to think about what they want to do with it. We’ve been discussing ideas, and I’ve been researching permaculture a little bit. However, it’s so confusing what to do, so this book looks perfect for newbies!
Would love to win this book! I want to build/start a food forest and could really use some straight forward advice. Also liked the edible landscaping Facebook page, thanks for sharing this!
That is a nice Facebook page, also and I’m glad to “like” it. I enjoyed the link on it to the Arizona couple who converted their old swimming pool to a greenhouse/fish pond/chicken coop too. I’ve been interested in permaculture for years but it’s hard to know where to start. This book looks like a great “way in” to a better design, especially the herb spirals and fruit tree guilds. Thanks for posting this.
I am new to the Permaculture world. So I need ideas and directions so I don’t get lost. I went to the facebook page and liked it, and spent an hour just reading the articles and looking at the pictures.
I have become very interested in learning more about permaculture gardening because I live in a high desert area and water is a huge concern. This looks like it could work very well here. I also want to learn more about edible plants that would grow here. I have “liked” The Edible Landscaping FB page and it looks like a good place to start. Thanks for the info.
I liked them! I’m interested in hugelkultur right now. 🙂
“Liked” and looking to start something new this spring!
I went and liked the fb page… and then got distracted by all the post there! Glad you pointed us in that direction.
It would be great if I could win a copy of the book. I have always been intrigued by permaculture but the books out there can be a bit overwhelming and I have been getting a bit discouraged and so I keep growing my food at the community garden plot dreaming of a better way… I also hope to share the knowledge with my brother who also believes strongly in edible landscaping, and my mother who passed on the love for all things green along with her green thumb gene to us.
Again, thank you for bringing this book and the fb page to our attention!
I want to build that herb spiral, just ’cause it is pretty! Liked their page as well!
Liked the page on FB. Love the idea of putting the garden to use in the traditional subdivision I live in. Thanks for posting this.
I liked the Edible Permaculture page and I’m looking forward to learning more about fruiting trees and shrubs.
HI! I LOVE your blog & am entering contest to win a free copy of the book: Edible Landscaping with a Permaculture Twist. It’s so great to finally see a resource for newbies who are interested but easily overwhelmed. I also wish to share the book with two other friends: one who’s very focused on growing her own food and has been working on sustainable living and organic farming in northern CO for quite some time now, and another who recently moved to No. CO, is a young mom of three, is a first-time home owner, and is poised to start gardening and growing her own food. I think both would enjoy reading this book and are likely to benefit from the information in it. Keep your great blogs coming – happy gardening 🙂
I have liked Edible Landscaping facebook page and look forward to their posts. My husband won’t give me any more lawn for my garden (and I think we have enough that I could have much more LOL), so if I could learn to utilize more of the flower beds, that would be great!
What a great idea; permaculture made simple … sort of. At least simple enough that I won’t feel buried with data. Would love to win it, but if not in the cards for me, at least you’ve directed us to that terrific website. After entering the giveaway I’m heading back there to devour it. Thanks so much for the opportunity.
“Liked” it, and once again you have shown me a new resource. I’m very permacurious, I even signed up for the Bullock Brothers Homestead intro course in a few months, can’t wait! My yard is on its way to more food, less grass. I’d love to win this book, but if not, I’ll buy it anyway. Thanks for sharing.
I am not on facebook but would love this book for some new easy ideas on permaculture.
Thanks for posting.
Carol
Wow, even the facebook page is chock full of ideas. I would like to plant some fruit trees so that info would be most helpful.
I love growing my own food! But I have a small space to work with… and a landlord that wants everything to look pretty.. so if I could learn to accomplish both of those it would be amazing!
I liked the page and the book looks great. I’m interested in starting with herbs again, and trying some structure building.
I liked their page. And I live the idea of a permaculture approach to landscaping! Perennials and fruit trees! Woot!