Maybe you’ve heard about Permaculture, but you’re not really sure what it is. Or perhaps the words Edible Landscaping make you drool, but you don’t know how to start creating one. The book Edible Landscaping with a Permaculture Twist by Michael Judd is a user-friendly, project packed introduction to these topics that will leave you inspired to create your own edible backyard!
Chapters focus on subjects including:
- Herb Spiral, The Ultimate Raised Bed
- Fungi!! Growing Specialty Mushrooms
- Hugelkultur, Mounds of Fertility
- Earthen Ovens
My own family has been creating Permaculture systems here on our homestead. For instance, we’ve begun to experiment with building swales and mounds to retain and utilize water, and have planted the beginnings of a food forest. In fact, before we even had a house to live in, we had already planted over 20 fruit tree cultivars and 100 native edible trees and shrubs.
However, I still feel like we’re years away from the type of lush, dense edible landscape that I envision. Partly, this is a practical matter – trees take a long time to produce fruit! But partly it’s because creating a food forest can feel overwhelming.
That’s why I really appreciated the chapter Food Forest. Judd walks the reader through the process of starting a food forest from scratch, step by step. I appreciated how he uses many visuals that illustrate his techniques – both graphics and photos. He even walks us through the technique of creating “guilds,” or companion plantings for fruit trees, including a number of suggestions of which plants to select as companions. This spring, I plan to start as many insectary and pollinator plants as possible from seed, and secure some comfrey roots from my neighbors!
I also loved Judd’s passion for Uncommon Fruits. I am also a huge fan of many of the same fruits he describes – Persimmons, Mulberries, Hardy Kiwi. We have planted dozens of mulberries, native plums, persimmons, and paw paws on our land, and hope that years from now they will be giving us delicious fruit. Each uncommon fruit is described, and basic growing techniques covered. I guarantee that this chapter will make you want to order some fruit trees!
If you’re interested in learning more about Edible Landscaping or Permaculture, this book is a great introduction.
And I’m happy to share that I have TWO signed copies to giveaway on my blog! Simply enter with the Rafflecopter widget below.
The fine print: the giveaway will begin on November 2 at 12am Central, and will end on November 4 at 12 am Central. Because I’m paying shipping, I’d appreciate US entries only. The winner will be notified by email and will have 24 hours to respond before I select a new winner. Thank you!
Congratulations to our winners: Janette N. and Kim S. Please check your email!
This sounds like a great book. I just found your blog today and find it to be very inspiring.
Thank you Brittany, and welcome!
I would love to read this book as well! My little family has been trying to get a permaculure garden going, with a tiny food forest and a blueberry hugelmound. I would love to learn from this book and expand my garden in a purposeful, sustainable, and practical way!
There is so much I don’t know about sustainable living and I see a really exciting trend by homesteaders in North America that inspires me. So, I would really like to win the book so that I too can be part of this important movement. Thanks for the chance!
From what I’ve heard about this book, it’s written so that permaculture can be easily understood. So excited to have a chance at actually winning a copy! Thanks Teri!
I’ve been hearing a lot about permaculture, and haven’t read a book on it yet. If I don’t win the contest, I will definitely put this on my wish list at amazon!
Serendipity…I had just picked this one up from the library on Friday. I am enjoying it. Michael explains ideas easily/simply and yes,great illustrations and pictures to back up his explanations.
Thanks,Teri,for the review.
I continue to enjoy your blog/facebook entries.
Kate
from Canada…where there’s snow on the ground now
I’m trying to replace the tropical plants in my yard with natives that are edible or medicinal. I’d love to read this book for advice on how to make the best use of my half-acre backyard.
I love reading your blog and have been looking to learn more about edible landscaping! What perfect timing!
I need to learn more about Permaculture, and this book looks like it’s very accessible for the beginner! Thanks for hosting the giveaway.
I dream in permaculture! I am setting myself up for a life using permaculture as a primary source of food for my family. This is an excellent resource book!
Definitely sounds like a great book. I’ll have to see if my library has it!
This book sounds like exactly what I’ve been looking for. If I don’t win it I’ll have to put it on my long list of things I’d love to be able to afford someday.
Why do I want to read this book? Because I want to be like you when I grow up! 😉 Seriously though, I admire all that you are doing, and if you recommend the book, that’s good enough for me.
I grow a lot of tropical fruits and have a veggie garden, I would love to maximize my space with all eatable fruit and veggies.
We are currently in the process of this adventure…it takes a lot of time, but it is already giving back to us!!
We are always looking for information, books,web, to help us with this process. We do not have a extremely large amount of room, but very well understand that some much can be produced in a small amount of area. This book would be a great asset!!
Thank you for this opportunity!!
Just found your blog through pinterest and excited looking through it! We have started creating our homestead backyard but need some help (we have planted both paw paws and hardy kiwi but I know there is much more we can do!) Tried hardy kiwi this year for the first time yum!!! Can’t wait until ours are producing fruit!
I absolutely love the idea of creating both a beautiful and practical back yard. It’s definitely part of my plans for when I finally get my own home! Having this book would definitely help.
I commented on this but it seems to have disappeared…? Anyway, I am super interested in the chance to win a copy of this book. 🙂 I was also wondering if you could tell me what it is that is being used on the persimmons in the picture? I have been looking for something different and haven’t seen that before. As always, thank you for such an inspiring blog.
I love this idea!! We just started (3 years) our little farm and I would love how to incorporate this method of growing
I think I’ll have to order this one from Amazon if I don’t win the raffle! Sounds great! Thanks for letting us know about such an interesting book.
This book looks right up my alley. I’m in a limbo now where I’m obsessed with permaculture, but can’t get started because we’re moving to a place with more land in the Spring. So I’m stuck reading and reading, but unable to take any action! I just hope we are moved by early Spring so I don’t lose another good growing season.
Something I’m very interested in!
I am very interested in this subject. A friend of ours just introduced us to paw paws.
Prepping for someday soon. Thanks!
I am really grateful for the inspiring stuff you are always sharing with us and would love a chance to win a copy of this to help us in our similar pursuits toward self-sufficiency. Also, I was wondering, what is it that your girls are using on the persimmons in the picture in this post? We have been trying to find something different to use and I don’t think I’ve come across this before. Thanks again for such an inspiring blog! 🙂
Thanks! It’s a stainless steel food mill. You can use it to strain the peels or seeds out of foods you want to puree. We use it all the time to make applesauce and tomato sauce.