Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #7568 in Books
• Published on: 2006-10-01
• Format: Illustrated
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 102 pages

Review
This deceptively compact little volume is chock full of practical activities aimed at increasing self-reliance and reducing our ecological footprints. Clearly explained and illustrated DIY projects range from recycling every day waste such as tyres, plastic bottles and newspaper into ponds, retaining walls, mini-greenhouses and bio-degradable plant pots, through to creating sheet mulched mandala gardens, home made landscape surveying equipment, plant propagation techniques and even how-to guides for producing your own paper and household cleaning agents. Theoretical content is kept to a minimum, although sprinkled throughout are short sections that place activities into a wider permacultural context.. I like this approach as it encourages 'learning by doing', making this a potentially useful resource for schools or community gardening projects where early success is crucial in breeding confidence, empowerment and the development of new skills. Another winner from Permanent Publications' aptly titled 'Simple Living' series. --Graham Burnett

Customer Reviews

Excellent little book
Initially I was put off by the thought that this was going to be a little bitty book with only a few projects of any use to me in it.....not the case.

This is an excellent little book and having reviewed and tried some of the projects in it, I was only sorry that I had not bought it earlier.

It certainly is not the only Permaculture book that you are going to buy, but it is definately a must have reference for anyone vaguely interested in this facinating area. Perhaps this is where my only form of a criticism comes in. Some of the projects are introduced with just enough information to get you up and running, little more. That said however, if you are really keen on completing any of the project, you will now have the idea and will be able to research more on websites such as instructables.com et cetera.

To list some (not all) of the projects/areas covered (because I coldnt find them elsewhere before I bought the book);


Recycling tyres (herb mounts, tyre ponds)
Recycling plastic bottles (insect traps)
Organic pest control
Sheet Mulching
Making compost
Natural liquid fertilisers
Earthworm farm
Hothouses
Shadehouses
Animal tractors
Environmentally responsible living
Haybox cooker
Determining levels
Propagating plants
Bird attracting projects

All in all........a lot of information for only a little outlay.

Well recommended.

Lots of Ideas
I love this little book. It is jam packed full of ideas and things to try. It's also a handy little size (A5) which I found to be fab cos I could take it to work and dip into it at lunch time. Some of the ideas I had to read through twice before I actually got the drift but then it sunk in! I would definitely recommend this book - great value for money.