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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I don’t have the greenest thumb but I keep trying! I like that this book takes the guessing out of permaculture! Sometimes, just telling someone exactly what to do is tge way to go!
As someone who’s failed at keyhole beds and herb spirals and just today decided to give up and stick some regular old raised beds in her yard, I’d love some fresh permaculture inspiration that’s practical and doable on a suburban scale.
And I liked the page on FB!
love gardening but have really wanted to learn more about permaculture. this book sounds perfect for me…. and i liked on FB,,,,,,
I’m from Denmark and would have loved to enter.
I just ordered the book instead.
Having failed at an herb spiral, taken keyhole beds to new geometric shapes that are not very keyholey, and tackled Bill Mollison’s textbook, I could use some simplicity in my permaculture knowledge. This book looks fantastic! I liked the facebook page and plan on following Michael’s process! Thanks for sharing! Even if I don’t win I will likely purchase this book!
I am looking for affordable way to cover about 300 feet of my chicken wire fence with edible vines. Preferably evergreen, but that might be just wishful thinking. So far I am looking at Echinacea and Malabar Spinach. It would be great if someone who already has these or others, would let me steal and root a bunch of shoots. That would definitely be affordable and much faster than me buying a couple plants and propagating them over a couple of seasons.
Erica, maybe you could have an exchange bazaar section on your site ;o)
Oh, and I did like the Edible Landscape page.
I love my Chinese Mountain Yam vine for beauty and production. It has gorgeous heart shaped leaves and the aerial and in ground tubers are tasty – like crunchy water chestnuts. Check out oikostreecrops.com for tubers and a lot of other awesome plants.
Somehow I said echinacea when I meant goji berry. Does that tell you that I need help?
My husband and I belong to the “that looks OK (note: not GOOD, just OK) there” school of landscape design. This looks like something we could really USE. Oh, and I did “like” it on Facebook.
And I’ve been forwarding your emails to everyone and anyone interested in gardening, cooking, kids, husbands (whether they homebrew or not), and just reading a fun blog. Thanks! I look forward to reading what you write!
Liked the book on FB.
Permaculture is daunting to beginners and this book is a great way to get started.
I don’t do Facebook – but I LIKE you and would LOVE to have this book. I have dabbled in Permaculture, guild like things, Huglekultur and a simple book would be wonderful.
Wow! I’ve been in the process of trying to edible permaculture to my yard since before I knew what it was. Other books I’ve tried reading on it felt way over my head. I’m so glad this book is out there, and would have “liked” it even without the contest.
Like the page and do looking foward go reading the book. Finally, a source that won’t be overwhelming – about time!
I really am intrigued by the Insect Hotels. I followed the link to the Inspiration Green website and gosh – the photos are really, well, inspiring! I have brush piles up on the hill behind us, but these are so much more classy to look at. I “liked” the site, but got off Facebook after reading more about how they use people’s information. Hope I win – I want to learn more!
Would love this book! As i look out on my snow-laden garden beds here in Penna., this book gives me hope for Spring!
I’m interested in learning more about edible landscapes at schools. I liked tha Facebook page and am looking forward to future posts.
This book looks fabulous! I am so ready for spring, and planting, and all things green… Just got more snow here a few days ago. I do not do Facebook or any social media, so I couldn’t like his page, but I am sure I would love the book.
I have an in home childcare and am trying to teach the kiddies about where the food comes from we are trying to start an orchard. this book would really help
Awesome book!!! Love permaculture and judds work!! Thanks for getting my butt over to check out his new page. I am not a facebook liker so only went to browse (thats all they allow us nonusers to do). permaculture has been a part of my life for a while now, love it all!! Thanks for bringing all this info out to people Erica, much appreciated!!!
I would LOVE a beginner permaculture lesson! And the full color pics are a huge bonus, (ahhh garden porn as my husband calls it heehee) im also happy to have found another great Facebook page to follow!
Permaculture on our almost-an-acre would be a dream come true, and to garden in a way that’s pleasing to the eye would be an added bonus. Looks like author Michael Judd has quite a few tricks up his sleeves (in his thumbs!), so I know we could benefit from his experience. Liked & Followed on Facebook. Thanks for sharing!
I looked at the Facebook Page however I am not on Facebook so I couldnt like it. I Love Permaculture and have been reading books about it for about a year. I would like to read this book as the easier the better. It does become overwhelming to start something. I have a small yard and have watched numerous videos but feel overwhelmed about what to plant. Even if I dont win I will seek out this book to read. I believe I may have seen a video he did and he makes it look easy!
Great post. Even if I don’t win the book, I know the FB page will be a welcome addition to my daily newsfeed. I’ve been gardening organically since I was a ten year old. That’s 55 years and counting with my hands in the soil. I’m eternally grateful to my mother and her sheroes, Rachel Carson and Ruth Stout, who inspired me and taught me most of what I know.
I had no idea there was a word for this…guess I’ve been under a rock.
Just bought 20 acres of old Christmas tree farm land, cannot hardly wait to get started on our gardens to make our self-sufficient lifestyle a reality. Admittedly I’m feeling a little over-whelmed on where to start first…this book sounds wonderful!
Keep up the good work Erica! Love ya!
This book sounds amazing and exactly what I need to get me motivated. I would LOVE to win it!
Also, I have Facebook but thanks for giving me the option to enter without.
I mean I hate Facebook. . . . Auto correct is killing me.
There is a picture of a paw paw on face book (liked the page). Happy to add the page to my list and refer it to my gardening friends. Would love to have a copy of the book.
I liked the page on FB! I am super interested in learning more about utilizing swales, we are in a pretty dry area so anything we could do to keep more water in our garden would be mega helpful. Thanks for the awesome giveaway!
I liked the page on Facebook and can’t wait to start converting my completely barren yard into a permaculture heaven 🙂
Just did the Facebook thing (I use it infrequently but recognize it as a necessary evil of doing business in 2014) and this book sounds like exactly what I’m looking for. We have 5 acres in central Florida, mostly wooded, and I’m trying to find creative ways to manage the landscape and have vegetables and herbs without a lot of extra irrigation or tree removal. I have one permaculture book that is on my nightstand gathering dust – one of those books I should read, want to read, but fall asleep or become overwhelmed when I do. Love your blog, Erica – great recipes, how-to advice (this spring is the first time I’ve started my own seeds and I owe it all to you!) and I love the way you put your words together.
Hi – I object to FB….. but this book sounds FAB!
As do you- thanks for sharing this!
Thanks for the big tip, Erica! I friended their Facebook page, looks very interesting. Thank you for the opportunity to be in the drawing for the book. Sounds just up my alley!
I am really interested in tree guilds and earthen ovens (and permaculture in general), so this book sounds fantastic. I am a conscientious FB-objector, so I appreciate that option 🙂
After reading this article and visiting the FB page for the Edible Landscaping w/Permaculture Twist, I had to tear myself away from all the posts to come back here to leave a comment. ALL the info regarding permaculture, using our land and resources efficiently and consuming things we grow naturally are of interest to me. I loved the rain garden ideas, herb spirals, making bricks and ovens to cook bricks and food, compatible planting mushroom growing and more really get me excited for spring to come. There’s still time to read one more book before the snow melts to help me plan this years plantings. Hmmmm what book should I read?…
I’m very interested in this topic and the book! I don’t even know what a guild is in this context, but it sounds like I need to! I live on a large 1/4 acre town lot and am slowly, slowly transitioning to an edible wildlife friendly home. Hope I win! JAJ
Sounds like the book for me! With a new yard in need of landscaping, hoping to make the jump to permaculture this spring. Now that I know what that is, it is what I was wanting to do all along! Especially loved the spiral herb garden idea. I ‘liked’ the author’s page on facebook and love entering this drawing. Thanks Erica for the review!
I’ve been thinking about incorporating some permaculture things into the new garden beds I’m planning (I’m mostly thinking of doing semi-hugelkultur beds, since I’ve got more random logs and semi-finished compost than anyone ever wants). I’d love to see more- especially that herb spiral! It looks gorgeous and fairly simple.
I’m not on FB so, I hope this comment suffices for a contest entry.
What I know of the permaculture philosophy, I really like. But like you, it has remained somewhat mystical to me. I would like to learn some basics, some things that I can start with, and build on.
Love the information you provide. I am most interested in vertical gardening to get the most produce from limited space. Also, your Facebook page is most informative and interesting. Thank you for all you do.
Liked the FB page. We’re moving to NC from upstate NY and I’m leaving behind my hugelkultur and traditional raised beds. I’m trying not to mourn them too deeply, but it’s hard. Our new house is going to be a bit more challenging and we’re not planning on being there for more than 5-7 years; still, my goal is to incorporate some edible landscaping as well as more hugelkultures. Can’t get enough of those!
Joie,
If, by any chance, you’re moving somewhere near High Point, NC, I would love to let you play on my property and teach me what you know. I am just in the very beginnings of backyard gardening and I sure could use a little help in doing it right. That might help you too with your mourning process. That invitation (AKA cries for help) off course goes to anyone near by willing to teach me and help me to turn my one acre of lawn and woods in something useful.
What a great resource. Liked the page and I’m looking forward to reading more and actually making an herb spiral and putting in an espalier fence at the front of my yard. I have a spot I’m trying to transform from a laurel hedge to a hugelkulture bed in preparation for a berry patch, maybe this is just the inspiration I need.
I am planning to put in a bunch of fruit trees and enlarge my vegetable garden and am somewhat lacking in ideas and ways to go about doing this sort of thing – especially with the fruit trees. I have been a subscriber to NW Edible newsletter for over a year and have found the information very helpful! Thanks!!!
Liked on FB. Would love to learn more about combining permaculture with growing food with landscaping so that it all looks beautiful.
Sometimes I get too bogged down in setting things up right to the point of inaction. I’m ready get moving—and who doesn’t like another food-growing book!
(I like you on Facebook, but I’m on a Facebook fast right now, so I’m not checking out the author’s page).
I have liked the page. I would LOVE to learn more about the overall idea of permaculture but I have been overwhelmed with the large idea. A book that would break it down into baby steps would be terrific! I am dying to build an earthen oven too. I have been bugging my husband to get on board with that one for a while now!
Liked it on FB! This book looks very interesting and perfect for me! Other permaculture books I’ve read just seem too technical.
I would most like to learn which plants contribute to a healthy, pollinator-friendly, pesticide-free orchard that presently includes apple trees, red currants, raspberries and a variety of wildflowers, some of which have gotten out of control (like yarrow). Anything that would help repel the codling moth and its progeny would be a big plus. Love the concept of permaculture; now an easy way to apply it!
I’m definitely a permaculture beginner. We are about to pull up the cement walkway around our small shady urban backyard to give the space more texture and organic shape and use the space more effectively. I feel like I just need some simple straightforward concrete steps to take to move forward. This book looks like it would be perfect. Liked it on FB. thanks!
I have liked the page on FB. I hope to expand my garden with a few more perennial edibles. Currently I have three blueberry bushes and and peach tree, but would love to incorporate more as I plan my garden.
I liked it on facebook. I wonder how these concepts transfer to other climates (i.e., Dustbowl Kansas) and what permanent organic gardens do about Bermuda Grass (dun dun duuuuun)
I love in Oklahoma and in my opinion this IS the system that will prevent another dust bowl !
If you have a chance, look up “Examples of Grassland Restoration – Excerpt from Talk by Allan Savory at Tufts University” on YouTube. It will change the way you look at working the land,
I did three mini in ground hugelculture beds last year. They grew the most prolific Red Root I had on the property :/ I put them in ground instead of above ground to hopefully catch and keep more water to overcome the current drought.
I’ll look for your example. Thanks.
Any hints on controlling Bermuda Grass?
I have been permaccurious for years! It seems like our gardens are always crazily haphazard, and id like a garden that is productive and beautiful. Every other permaaculture book makes me feel like I’d have to get a degree in landscape architecture. This looks a lot less intimidating. I liked it on FB. Thanks!
I’m a recovering Facebooker, so I don’t use those kinds of sites anymore, but this book is right up my alley! I live on 5 acres at 7000 feet and have become desperate to tie several permaculture ideas together, how can they co-exist and feed each other in a way that is sustainable. I would love to learn so many of the techniques he writes about. Thank you!