Book Excerpt

Reducing Your Electricity Generation and Heating

We have relatively little control over how our electricity is generated, except to lobby governments and power companies. But some of us have the option of taking things into our own hands by generating our own electricity. The conditions for that have never been better, and they will continue to improve.

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Strawberries, blueberries and raspberries in a squared bowl.

Can I Add Berries to My Garden or Farm?

Blueberries, raspberries, strawberries, blackberries…All these small fruits pack a big flavor punch, and are one of the most delicious signs of summer.

In The Berry Grower, author Blake Cothron demonstrates that berries can be an amazingly productive, profitable part of your market or home garden, for a surprisingly low financial or land investment.

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View of Earth from the moon

Is Another Future Possible?

Is another future possible? A more sustainable and just one? Peter A. Victor believes it is, and in Escape From Overshoot, he weaves together threads from a variety of disciplines to both paint a clear picture of where we are now, and lay out clear, proven ways we can work together to create a more attractive future than if current trends continue.

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A young man stands among a selection of two-wheel tractors.

11 Benefits of Two-wheel Tractors

With The Two-wheel Tractor Handbook, author Zack Loeks offers a strong case for these multi-use, efficient tools. To get you started, here are 11 benefits to incorporating a two-wheel tractor into your small farm, market garden, or home garden.

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A close-up of a variety of lettuces growing in a garden.

Permaculture for Beginners: Take it Slow!

Using permaculture design techniques in your home garden can seem overwhelming – especially if you’re a new gardener, with a small space. With Permaculture for the Rest of Us, author Jenni Blackmore breaks these methods down into small steps anyone can take, and enjoy an abundant garden the first year!

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Aerial photo of various crops in a file.

No-till Methods for Sustainable Organic Market Farming – and Gardening Too!

In Practical No-till Farming, author Andrew Mefferd provides a quick-and-dirty guide to transitioning your farm or market garden to no-till methods, including a comprehensive look at the many benefits to doing so. No-till is a great option for sustainable organic vegetable and flower farming, saving time, improving soil health, and much more.

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Buckets of blueberries, raspberries, blackberries and more

Growing Berries for Food and Profit

In The Berry Grower, author Blake Cothron discusses why and how to maximize your berry and small fruit harvest – whether in your backyard, small farm, or as a relatively easy value-added product for your existing organic farm. In this excerpt, he makes a convincing case for adding small fruits and berries, whether you’re an experienced grower or a beginner.

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A large blue can lying on the beach reads "Toxic."

Climate Grief

As author Andrew Boyd demonstrates, we must go through a grieving process in order to move forward on climate issues. But how do we do that? And are we even sure what, exactly, we’re grieving? In this excerpt from I Want a Better Catastrophe, Boyd begins to unpack this tangled-up topic.

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The Benefits of Composting

In Compost Science for Gardeners, author Robert Pavlis guides the reader through a comparison of all the common composting methods from a how-to perspective. Readers will come away from this book with a clear understanding of the benefits of composting – both for soil and climate health.

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Garden Dreams in Winter

For most gardeners – and aspiring gardeners – winter is the perfect time to start planning and dreaming about next year’s garden. Whether it’s a few pots on a balcony, or a tiny backyard bed, a community garden plot, or even a small market garden, it’s exciting to think about spring and new plants, and delicious homegrown food.

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Blueberry muffins on a cooling rack.

Starting a Home-based Food Business

Homemade for Sale, Second Edition is the authoritative guide to launching a successful food enterprise from your kitchen. Available soon for purchase, It covers everything you need to get cooking for your customers, providing a clear road map to go from ideas and recipes to owning a food business.

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Juice pitcher, a bowl of spices and sugar in a jar.

Tumeric Cardamom Fizz Recipe

Cheers to our Holiday Sale! What pairs best with 50% off all titles?* Glad you asked, we recommend the Tumeric Cardamom Fizz from DIY Kombucha. Today we are sharing the recipe so you can make one and cheers to your dream projects becoming a reality with our great sale.

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A grouping of pots and plants in a room

Understanding Roots

Plant Science for Gardeners by Robert Pavlis is an entertaining and accessible guide that empowers growers to analyze common problems, find solutions, and make better decisions in the garden for optimal plant health and productivity. Today, we wanted to share an excerpt from the book that explains more about roots and their basic structure.

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Trees and mountain landscape

What is Coppice?

In his book Coppice Agroforestry, Mark Krawczyk looks at the ancient practice of coppicing, blending it with modern science, systems thinking, and tools to ground it firmly in the 21st Century. Today, we share an excerpt from the book that explains what coppice is.

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Blue and white bird sitting on brush

Bird Mnemonics

Filled with fun activities for using all of your senses to engage with nature in a deep and nourishing way, The Book of Nature Connection is the perfect book for all those that are looking to reconnect and become a nature sommelier! Today, we wanted to share an excerpt with you from the book that talks about listening to the birds and bird mnemonics.

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overhead view of a meeting

How to make introductions more inclusive

Have you ever considered that trying to be more inclusive can cause harm? Today, we share an excerpt from The Token: Common Sense Ideas for Increasing Diversity in Your Organization where Crystal Byrd Farmer explains how adding seemingly harmless practices to actions like introductions may cause problems within your organization.

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Whole and cut fresh figs

Why You Can Grow Figs In Cold Climates

For some, the taste of a fresh, juicy fig brings memories of travel to warm, faraway places. However, if you live in a colder region – it’s possible to enjoy figs grown on your own property. In Growing Figs in Cold Climates: A Complete Guide, Lee Reich provides methods for cultivating figs in cold regions. Today, Lee explains why it’s entirely possible to grow figs in cold climates in an excerpt shared from his book.

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A person is holding a sign with the message "Eco not Ego" accompanied by a hand-drawn globe design. They sit on the floor, encircled by additional protest signs including one that declares "There is no Planet B," stressing the critical nature of Climate Change. Beside them lies a jean jacket. This scene seems to reflect sentiments similar to those discussed in the Social_Excerpt_What-does-climate-hypocrite-mean post.

What Does ‘Climate Hypocrite’ Even Mean?

Often we hear that personal responsibility is central to tackling the climate emergency, but what happens when the choices we make are so often governed by the systems in which we live? Self-confessed eco-hypocrite Sami Grover says we should do what we can in our own lives, but then we need to target those actions to create systemic change. Today, we share an excerpt from We’re All Climate Hypocrites Now: How Embracing Our Limitations Can Unlock the Power of a Movement on what he means when he uses the term hypocrite.

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A person stands with arms outstretched under a night sky illuminated by the Northern Lights, featuring shades of green and blue against a backdrop of stars and clouds. The individual appears to be wearing a dark coat and is facing the sky, evoking a sense of awe and wonder suitable for the scene described in Social_Excerpt_Introduction-to-Power.

Introduction to Power by Richard Heinberg

Richard Heinberg’s latest title, Power is an exploration of humanity’s power over nature and the power of some people over others. Power traces how four key elements developed to give humans extraordinary power: tool making ability, language, social complexity, and the ability to harness energy sources — most significantly, fossil fuels. Today, we take an excerpt from Power that explains how Richard started on the journey of writing this book.

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A modern living room with large floor-to-ceiling windows showcasing a wooded outdoor view features a gray sectional sofa adorned with yellow-patterned throw pillows. The room is complemented by a coffee table displaying decorative items and a sleek metal wood-burning stove positioned beside an area stacked with firewood, all of which emphasize the concept highlighted in the Social_Excerpt_building-with-materials-found-onsite.

Earth Rammed Construction: Building With Materials Found On Site

Using rammed earth for construction appeals to people for a variety of different reasons. It could be a desire to be sustainable, the appeal of having the natural beauty inside one’s home, or simply wanting to have something different. Today, we take an excerpt from Essential Rammed Earth Construction: The Complete Step-by-Step Guide by Tim Krahn to discover more about one of the oldest construction methods on the planet.

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