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.
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Wow, looks like a book I’ll have to add to the wish list if I don’t win a copy. I’ve wanted an earth oven for ages, and the garden is totally a work in progress (or not, depending on the time of year). I can use all the help I can get!
Oh wow! This book is what I’ve been hoping someone would write! Thank you for making permaculture and an edible yard design practical and doable and fun. I just got rain barrels hooked up to my new roof and want to use them for irrigation. And I’m ready to change my ecolawn into veggies.
As for FB, (as the young’uns call it): Not happening in this household. I use a pen and paper about as often as I call or thumbtype on my ittybitty smartphone, but I say no to Facebook. I’m sorry. I’m sure your FB pages are lovely and effectively reach many people, especially those whose life stories aren’t still straddling two millennia.
But books? YES! I love books. And this one seems worth the sad deaths of trees. I promise to take good care of it and share it with my grandson.
I NEED this book! We moved onto a blank slate three years ago and have been starting over from scratch. I’m working in permaculture here & there as my twitchy brain allows me glimpses of WhatCouldBe. But, man, it’s overwhelming and, every time I turn around, there’s a shiny detail to distract me from the big picture. Sounds like the book might help me focus.
I liked ’em on FB.
This looks awesome! I’ll put it on my must read list! Honestly, all I have right now is a raised bed and some pots but this’ll help me plan to expand my little suburban oasis in the most useful way! I liked the page and have been looking through it. Thanks for the recommendation!
What a cool book. Liked the FB page, and hoping I win it! I’m really interested in doing more with guilds in my garden. And uncommon fruits. And mushrooms. And probably the rest of what is in the book. 🙂
The FB site looks great. And whoever suggested a plant exchange, ditto, altho’ I might not benefit from it here in BC.
Just moved to the countryside and planning on doing a lot of reshaping the yaed. Since I am new at this–the book would be a great help to me.
Oooh this sounds like the book for me! I think I would like permaculture but I’m overwhelmed and don’t know where to start. I don’t know the vocabulary either so I’m left not knowing whether I want to attend a workshop on hug molding (spell check suggestion- you know whatchamacallit beds that start with H)
Off to tap trees. Way to early to plant in zone 4 but tapping maples we can do
Liked the page and looking forward to more useful info in the future. Just started planning the transition from a typical backyard to a permaculture oasis. Would love to be inspired to try more new ideas!
I took a permaculture course a few years ago, and loved it! Don’t always remember everything I learned in the course and would love a resource like this!
I’m interested in this book because I just bought my first home and am suddenly the proud owner of a nice sized yard! Would love a beginner’s guide to permaculture to help me get started.
My biggest challenge is being able to put in edible landscaping despite the lack of drainage on my property during the winter. The standing water has really limited my ability to grow edibles on my property.
I was happy to go like their page, looks like someone I’d love to be connected with anyways. Permaculture is my goal, edible landscaping is part of that for me. I will likely get this book if I win it or not, but I’ll leave a bit up to luck just for fun. 🙂
I “liked” the page. I am interested in learning how to wedge edibles into landscapes so that they look good and produce well for the amount of sun they will receive.
This sounds like just what I need to get over the overwhelming in starting to garden with permaculture techniques.
Even if I don’t win, I am excited to know about the book and to follow the FB page 🙂
It would be great to have this book, as I am just becoming acquainted with Permaculture by signing up for the free course that was offered through FB, on line. I’ve been gardening for years but there is so much to learn. I’ve “liked” the Edible Landscaping page and look forward to getting posts from it. I have also been gathering wild herbs for years and make my own lung tea, for instance. I have lived on the same land (small country farm) for nearly 40 years, and looking at it in a new light will be most enlightening, I’m sure. Spring is coming and I can’t wait to get my hands in the soil again!
I’m excited to turn a portion of my two-acre lot into a delicious permaculture landscape. The section on unusual fruit is probably what I’m most excited to learn about. And yes, I “liked” the Edible Landscaping facebook page. Thanks for the info!
I have only been gardening for a couple of years now so I am still a newbie and have so much to learn! I love it and the info in this book would be so useful!
I liked them on facebook.
Thanks!
I am most interested to learn how my postage stamp sized, sloping angular backyard might feasibly benefit from edible landscaping or permaculture. Such an awesome thing it would be if it is a doable thing. I have liked the Edible Landscaping page on Facebook.
I just liked Edible Landscaping on FB. I’m an avid student of permaculture, but I really want a resource I can recommend to people who are just figuring out what permaculture is or want to go at it on their own. I’m especially interested in uncommon fruits and outdoor mushroom cultivation.
I am so interested in learning more about permaculture and this book looks like the one for me to start learning and implimenting 🙂 I liked the Facebook page but I am.now off to really browse the page.
Perfect! This is seriously filling a gap for me right now. The bridge from edible landscaping to permaculture in a simple “just get in done and see what happens” way. I’m most interested in watershed irrigation and making swales. Thank you for introducing us to the book and facebook page.
I would be most interested in the edible landscaping. I have started this somewhat, but found I needed to move things. I have a small space that I want to get the most out of. I love the idea of my kids going outside and picking up something to eat. This book would be a fantastic support with that.
I am super excited to get this book – either by winning or purchasing it. We are flooded here with all the rain of late – its pouring now! – and I’ve been thinking permaculture and swales for years, but have had a case of info overload paralysis. Yahoo – can’t wait to get the book. I’m not a FB fan so I have not liked his page.
I am in a new home and just getting my first beds put in, and would love to get going with edible landscaping (not to mention getting something, anything, to grow in this clay)!
Love the idea of gradually transforming my front lawn into a pretty food forest with DG paths. I liked Edible Landscaping on FB. Thanks for all you do, Erica.
I love the idea of turning my whole back yard into a usable garden and had no idea were to start. So I’m excited to find a resource that breaks it down into easy steps. 🙂
I also liked the facebook page.
I’ve got my front yard done in all native plants for the pollinators and am about to embark on the back, which I want to be mostly (all?) edibles–and as permacultured as possible so it’ll be pretty, too (since it’s also the “come over and hang out and drink beer!” area)….
I’d love to read the book but can’t afford to buy it right now.
I’d like to make my whole yard work for me by growing food and herbs I can use, as well as have it look great. I liked the Edible Landscape page on Facebook.
I don’t know what my first step is, but as a true beginner, it’d be great to learn more.
This looks like exactly what I need! I am particularly interested in plant guilds and watering systems, but have no desire to take a backhoe to the backyard. I don’t use Facebook, however.
I am most interested to learn how to make areas beautiful and functional and to produce enough to bless others-with food as well as inspiration to try their hand at Edible Landscaping. Thanks for the opportunity.
This looks like it covers so many smaller and easier to accomplish projects….that is what I have been wanting to find. I’m excited about this book! Thanks, not only for the opportunity to try and win a copy, but bring it to our attention.
would love to turn my lawn into eatable human food
Sorry, I am not into Facebook, but am a long-time reader of yours! Thanks for understanding. The book sounds amazing, you are so right that other books make it sound way too daunting a task and something left only for dreaming. I have been interested in cob and earthen ovens and looking for a reliable source to get me started. Not to mention, anything edible. Swales? Hmmm, hadn’t even thought about that. I suppose I really need this book!
Me, me me!
The herb spiral looks really interesting but I like everything I saw on the FB page; looks like a wonderful item to add to my “favorites” page. The book looks like a real gem.
I’d like to learn more about herb spirals and fruit tree pruning, for sure. I’ve done away with most of the lawn in the front yard, put in tons of edibles in the front, and now we’re working on the several-years’-neglected, very-shady backyard. I’m trying to keep with the edibles theme, with all the shade, *and* work it up with as much native planting as possible (as opposed to the edible front yard, which is all sorts of fruit & vegetables). I also want to learn some more about mushrooms, as they tend to do well in my area, and most of my household loves them.
(And I liked them on FB)
Consider it liked on Facebook. This is so awesome! My hubby and I just bought a house on 9.5 acres, most of which is wooded, and I am itching to get out there and play in the dirt (ie plant things, rip other things up, etc.). The section on fruit trees and their pruning should be extremely useful as I am wanting to get some in the ground once the weather turns agreeable. I am also interested in doing something with hugels as well.
I liked the FB page. I am excited to read this book (whether I win or not), as I live on a very small lot in town, and love to grow edibles, I’d like to mix them into my yard, so it’s not just “the garden” vs “the yard,” but rather a space for all kinds of beautiful plant life to grow 🙂
We have a small sunny front yard and 10 years ago I ripped out that horrible grass and have been happily making do with edible landscape. I have no idea what the heck I’ve been doing but sure do enjoy the experiments. I’d love to see what this book has to offer.
I have 11 1/2 acres and not much of an idea how permaculture would work on it. I need ACCESSIBLE! Actually I have run a little CSA on my back 2 1/2 acre field for the last five years and I’m ready to downsize back to a really big home garden. (Haven’t been able to make use of my veggies, what with all the growing and delivering for other people.) I’ve like the page and am not sure whether I can wait to find out if I win.
Not on FB for the month but I would love this book! I’m living in a new house on 2.3 acres and want to use permaculture techniques in building my new gardens!
I ‘liked’ the FB page and wonder if this book would finally help get me over my ‘black thumb’ disease. A friend just challenged me to try just a couple of plants and move up from there so I may just have to pick this book up regardless of the results of the draw. Thanks!
We bought some property in the Pac. NW in Oregon 25 years ago. We’ve had a dream of building a small place and living there simply and efficiently ever since then. After working on ‘real life’; college, kids, careers, we may finally make it in 21 months, 26 days, and 22 hours. But who’s counting. I constantly check out books from the local library on this kind of stuff in hopes of roaming around the soon-t0-be garden all day, grazing on homegrown delights as well as the wild kind. It’s pretty rainy there, so I when I win this book I will use all the hints that apply to that. (As well as to the lovely garden I currently have in my back yard.) I just discovered gambling after my parents from the Midwest visited for several weeks, so thanks for letting me put my name in this drawing. 🙂 (Plus, your blog is my favorite.)
I liked Michael’s Facebook page and I’d be interested in finding new ways to make my garden a more sustainable system. Any time I can grow things instead of buying it (like mulch or compost) is a big win in my book.
I liked the page 🙂 and I think the book would be awesome to read and get inspired by! And I am a resident, living right by the Canadian border 🙂 so please, please include me in the draw!
I looking forward to learning how to eliminate some my front lawn with something more useful than just shrubs and grasses, such wasted space and wasted time mowing. Our town doesn’t allow vegetable gardens in the front of houses (?!) so I have to be clever and use this space for my herbs, berries, etc.