Permaculture & Design Basics
Introduction to Permaculture - Bill Mollison
Written by on of the founders of permaculture this text is a great introduction to design science as if humans and nature mattered. A great place to start for any aspiring permaculturist.
The Permaculture Designer's Manual - Bill Mollison
An exhaustive text oriented to specific design techniques, landscape profiles, management systems, and philosophies of regenerative design.
Permaculture: Principles and Pathways Beyond Sustainability - David Holmgren
David Holmgren is the co-founder of permaculture, in this work he re-defines and expands on permaculture prinicples and prognosticates about the end of the oil age and the applicability of permaculture in an energy descent culture. Examples of permaculture sites and design tend to focus on Australia.
Gaia's Garden - Toby Hemenway
Focus mainly on smaller home-scale permaculture techniques, especially applicable in the pacific northwest. Features an excellent chapter on soils and their webs of life. A good resource for the suburban gardener.
The Earth Care Manual - Patrick Whitefield
A well research cool climate permaculture manual. More speficially for use in USDA zone 5 and warmer.
Ecological Design - Sim Van Der Ryn and Stuart Cowen
This work is a great treatise on ecological design and whole systems, many good examples of real world situations.
Edible Forest Gardens Volume 1 - David Jacke and Eric Toensmeyer
Edible Forest Gardens Volume 2 - David Jacke and Eric Toensmeyer
This two volume set of forest garden design is applicable for temperate climates to USDA zone 5. These volumes are extensivley researched and well written; they include impressive plant lists and good design specifications.
Regenerative Design for Sustainable Communities - John Tillman Lyle
Influential work that demonstrates real world examples of working with nature. Highlights the work of Tillman and his colleagues and offers helpful design prinicples that complement permaculture deseign principles. An excellent read, highly recommended.
Design with Nature - Ian McHarg
Excellent treatise on conservation design, mapping and overlay techniques. This large work format is a true classic.
Nature of Design David Orr
Treatise concerning the building of Oberlin’s green environmental studies building, the Adam Lewis Center. This work is a discussion of the power of the “word,” and contains many other thoughtful essays on design, politics, and education.
Farmers of Forty Centuries FH King
Early 20th century ethnography of sustainable farming and appropriate technology practices in China.
Bioshelters, Ocean Arks, City Farming: Ecology as the Basis of Design - Nancy Jack and John Todd
Some of the earliest inspiring New Alchemy Work. Recommended.
Book of the New Alchemists edited by Nancy Jack Todd
Dream with visionary designers.
Biomimicry - Janine Benyrus
This work is very akin to what is done with Permaculture. Chemistry in water (truly organic), modeling process and form of nature, the that patterns abound and the potential outlined is awe inspiring. Great case studies and very readable for the layperson.
Written by on of the founders of permaculture this text is a great introduction to design science as if humans and nature mattered. A great place to start for any aspiring permaculturist.
The Permaculture Designer's Manual - Bill Mollison
An exhaustive text oriented to specific design techniques, landscape profiles, management systems, and philosophies of regenerative design.
Permaculture: Principles and Pathways Beyond Sustainability - David Holmgren
David Holmgren is the co-founder of permaculture, in this work he re-defines and expands on permaculture prinicples and prognosticates about the end of the oil age and the applicability of permaculture in an energy descent culture. Examples of permaculture sites and design tend to focus on Australia.
Gaia's Garden - Toby Hemenway
Focus mainly on smaller home-scale permaculture techniques, especially applicable in the pacific northwest. Features an excellent chapter on soils and their webs of life. A good resource for the suburban gardener.
The Earth Care Manual - Patrick Whitefield
A well research cool climate permaculture manual. More speficially for use in USDA zone 5 and warmer.
Ecological Design - Sim Van Der Ryn and Stuart Cowen
This work is a great treatise on ecological design and whole systems, many good examples of real world situations.
Edible Forest Gardens Volume 1 - David Jacke and Eric Toensmeyer
Edible Forest Gardens Volume 2 - David Jacke and Eric Toensmeyer
This two volume set of forest garden design is applicable for temperate climates to USDA zone 5. These volumes are extensivley researched and well written; they include impressive plant lists and good design specifications.
Regenerative Design for Sustainable Communities - John Tillman Lyle
Influential work that demonstrates real world examples of working with nature. Highlights the work of Tillman and his colleagues and offers helpful design prinicples that complement permaculture deseign principles. An excellent read, highly recommended.
Design with Nature - Ian McHarg
Excellent treatise on conservation design, mapping and overlay techniques. This large work format is a true classic.
Nature of Design David Orr
Treatise concerning the building of Oberlin’s green environmental studies building, the Adam Lewis Center. This work is a discussion of the power of the “word,” and contains many other thoughtful essays on design, politics, and education.
Farmers of Forty Centuries FH King
Early 20th century ethnography of sustainable farming and appropriate technology practices in China.
Bioshelters, Ocean Arks, City Farming: Ecology as the Basis of Design - Nancy Jack and John Todd
Some of the earliest inspiring New Alchemy Work. Recommended.
Book of the New Alchemists edited by Nancy Jack Todd
Dream with visionary designers.
Biomimicry - Janine Benyrus
This work is very akin to what is done with Permaculture. Chemistry in water (truly organic), modeling process and form of nature, the that patterns abound and the potential outlined is awe inspiring. Great case studies and very readable for the layperson.
