The Holistic book recommendation thread

[holwellcourtfarm]

Just what is says: Recommended reading about Holistic Agriculture and related themes (and why).

For starters:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Dirt-Erosi...-1&keywords=dirt+the+erosion+of+civilizations

A very informative book by a leading proponent of regenerative agriculture that made me think differently. It is well referenced allowing the reader to go deeper into the subject if so desired.

 

[hendrebc]

I've just finished Gabe browns book dirt to soul. It's excellent everyone interested in any kind of conservation agriculture. Very easy to read too which is a big plus from me
Have read fertity farming by Newman Turner that's very good but the second half is somewhat irrelevant unless you are a 1950s dairy farmer. It's worth a read through.

 

[Macsky]

The Art and Science of Grazing by Sarah Flack. A book that draws from a lot of in depth study and experience on growing and grazing grasses, and presents it in an easy to read and very understandable fashion.

An American book, but still very applicable here.

 

[ShooTa]

Fertility farming - turner... 1950's era
free - in link below.....
http://www.journeytoforever.org/farm_library/turner/turnerToC.html#contents

 

[holwellcourtfarm]

The Art and Science of Grazing by Sarah Flack. A book that draws from a lot of in depth study and experience on growing and grazing grasses, and presents it in an easy to read and very understandable fashion.

An American book, but still very applicable here.

That one is in my reading queue

Call of the Reed Warbler by Charles Massy is highly recommended if quite a slow read. It is written from a dry land perspective (Australia) but it's packed with information that is relevant to other climates. It had a huge references and further reading section. It's expensive in hardback but I bought the softback from here very reasonably:

https://wordery.com/call-of-the-ree...xOjVjM2UzMGYyZjE4YmMzLjUwNDUzMTM3OmQwYzFmYjAz

 

[hendrebc]

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=10155776528126816&id=262750061815
The grassfed exchange reading list for 2019

 

[hendrebc]

A thread about books in one of the regenerative groups on FB
https://m.facebook.com/groups/710132982450673?view=permalink&id=1487363228060974

 

[Poorbuthappy]

Nearly finished Dirt to Soil and very much taken with it.
Have just bought this too...

First impressions are that it's going to be an excellent read for anyone who comes at the holistic approach with a Christian faith influence.
I stated my interest in holistic farming sits well with my faith when I joined the planned grazing thread and whilst I respect the fact many, or most, are not interested in that angle, I find it very interesting that 3 of the most quoted proponents of holistic management - Gabe Brown, Ray Archuleta and Joel Salatin all come at it very much from a faith perspective.
Joel says this book is particularly aimed at the faith community, but his many friends in the "environmental community" are invited to listen in on the conversation.

 

[Macsky]

Nearly finished Dirt to Soil and very much taken with it.
Have just bought this too...

First impressions are that it's going to be an excellent read for anyone who comes at the holistic approach with a Christian faith influence.
I stated my interest in holistic farming sits well with my faith when I joined the planned grazing thread and whilst I respect the fact many, or most, are not interested in that angle, I find it very interesting that 3 of the most quoted proponents of holistic management - Gabe Brown, Ray Archuleta and Joel Salatin all come at it very much from a faith perspective.
Joel says this book is particularly aimed at the faith community, but his many friends in the "environmental community" are invited to listen in on the conversation.

I’m in the same, sits very well with Christian principles. You can add Frank Newman Turner to that list as well.

 

[Hawkes]

After reading this thread I had a look through father's old farming books collection and found "Fertility Farming." What an interesting read it is too and seems increasingly relevant today after the last 40 years or so of arable cropping methods. I wish he was still about to ask him what he thought of it when he bought it !

 

[Macsky]

That one is in my reading queue

Call of the Reed Warbler by Charles Massy is highly recommended if quite a slow read. It is written from a dry land perspective (Australia) but it's packed with information that is relevant to other climates. It had a huge references and further reading section. It's expensive in hardback but I bought the softback from here very reasonably:

https://wordery.com/call-of-the-ree...xOjVjM2UzMGYyZjE4YmMzLjUwNDUzMTM3OmQwYzFmYjAz

The last two sentences there jump right out.

 

[Jungle Bill]

Almost finished The Ecology of Care by Didi Pershouse which covers the bigger ‘whole’ of health and food from the perspective of an acupuncturist who came to understand the role of healthy soil in the health of her patients. An extremely well thought through book which has reinforced my belief in the benefits of a Holistic mindset because it takes in a bigger whole than the one I am used to. Didi’s explanation of the health and agrochemical industries have explained so clearly many things which have bugged me for a while.

 

[Kiwi Pete]

@waterbuffalofarmer

 

[Karliboy]

Is there any free short books or videos around for downloading to iPad going away on Thursday till Sunday so got a little bit of time to kill.
Cheers karl

 

[marco]

Is there any free short books or videos around for downloading to iPad going away on Thursday till Sunday so got a little bit of time to kill.
Cheers karl

The working cows podcast might be of some interest to you.

 

[Macsky]

I’m still chewing through Call of the Reed Warbler, about 2/3 of the way through, anyone else find it drawn out and downright boring in large parts?

 

[SilliamWhale]

I’m still chewing through Call of the Reed Warbler, about 2/3 of the way through, anyone else find it drawn out and downright boring in large parts?

Its too wordy. First chapter is interesting but too high falutin to start with. Next 4-5 are decent. Not read the rest yet - there are some good insights

 

[Suffolk Serf]

Its too wordy. First chapter is interesting but too high falutin to start with. Next 4-5 are decent. Not read the rest yet - there are some good insights

I’m glad that some others that are cleverer than what I am find that.
I read through to the bitter end to find out what he’d done on his own place. I must have missed that bit somewhere.
Other books are more inspiring (eg Gabe Brown’s Dirt to Soil).

 

[Macsky]

Glad to hear that. Aye I couldn’t put Gabe’s book down, found it fascinating.

 

[bitwrx]

I’m still chewing through Call of the Reed Warbler, about 2/3 of the way through, anyone else find it drawn out and downright boring in large parts?

Yup.

ETA:
To elaborate, he needed a better editor. Far too many long words all strung together in unbearably long sentences. So much tautology I nearly ate my own face at some points. Good book, but only for the content, not the prose.