THE RESILIENT FARM AND HOMESTEAD

The title really says it all. For those unfamiliar with the concept, permaculture, as defined in this work, is "applied disturbance ecology". The fundamental idea being that working with the land allows an optimized native ecosystem which is productive, supports life, and requires minimal maintenance. The term was first proposed by Bill Mollison and Dave Holmgren and first published in book form in Permaculture One: A Perennial Agricultural System for Human Settlements , and more extensively fleshed out in Permaculture: A Designers' Manual , but these are the kinds of works which beg for explanation. They are full of practical advice, plans and drawings for homestead design, water usage, and crop selection, but for all their visionary qualities, Mollison and Holmgren are not as organized or easy to follow as many would like. Additionally, the practical examples, with before and after pictures, and case studies demonstrating effectiveness are minimal in those works. This, I think, is the reason for the explosion of works like Shephard's Restoration Agriculture , and Hemenway's Gaia's Garden . This work is very much in the same tradition, but I liked it better than either of those. The first chapter is a "why permaculture?" discussion. It hits the high points of Mollison's idea, and though it doesn't say much you won't find elsewhere, it is clearly written and provides a solid foundation to the rest of the book. The second chapter discusses the design process, how to go about planning the transformation of a plot of land into a permacultured homestead. In this, it summarizes prior works, but does so every bit as extensively as the one dedicated work I've read on the subject: Permaculture Design: A Step-by-Step Guide . You do not need that book if you have this one. Chapter three is a summary of earth works and water planning, and while not as extensive as Yeoman's Water For Every Farm , it explains well enough that you could forgo that in the short term. It does not discuss contour plowing as extensively as Mark Shephard or Yeoman does. But it will give you the basic ideas behind the process. Chapter four discusses recycling of fertility, composting, and the how to use the cycle of decay and regeneration to benefit every living thing on your homestead. Chapter five discusses food crops, which centers around perennial crops and how to integrate grazing animals, poultry, and plant life to generate yields greater than the sum of the parts. Here again the discussion and the examples are better than in Restoration Agriculture , though some of the choices are tailored specifically to the northern temperate climate of Vermont. Enthusiasts in other climes will need to look elsewhere for specific choices. Intriguingly, the staple crop Mr. Falk grows is rice, and there is some good discussion of why this crop. Certainly unique in American agriculture, which has been solidly dominated by wheat and corn, but probably not as useful to permaculturists in more arid areas. Chapter six discusses fuel, and why wood burning, coupled with energy efficient housing design, is the most ecologically sound choice for a homestead. He also discusses building design, including how to plan for passive water conservation and use. Chapter seven is a "putting it all together" discussion. These chapters are followed with appendixes of tool lists, checklists, and design outlines. Overall, probably the best introduction to the topic, in a practical sense with examples, that I have read. While the details are specific to his location, it could not be otherwise, and for homesteaders in that climate, it will be even more useful. For those in the Midwest, the practical examples in Restoration Agriculture will be better, but that work is not as clear, nor as good on topics outside crop selection and planting as this one is. Additionally, while details of some aspects of sustainable living are glossed over here, it does not purport to be a self-contained manual to every aspect. For those interested in this topic for the first time, I would recommend this work, followed by Introduction to Permaculture as a starting point. You probably don't need much else if you have imagination, helpful neighbors, some understanding of local ecology, and a desire to experiment. For those already widely read on the subject, this is a solid addition to a permaculture library, demonstrating the feasibility and success of these principles in well photographed detail. Highly recommended.

I've been gardening, homesteading, medium scale farming/ranching in three states (MO, northern CA & NM) and five properties in the past nearly 50 years, have an extensive library, subscribe to several excellent relevant publications, am constantly learning and expanding my skills & horizons. This is, hands down, one of the best, most comprehensive and HELPFUL books of which I am aware. Yes, I have and love resources from John Seymour, Gene Logsdon, Sepp Holzer, Joel Salatin, a HUGE amount of permaculture texts, gardening, homesteading, grass farming, sustainability, etc., WHICH ARE IMMEASURABLY VALUABLE, but this is right up there with the best. I enthusiastically echo several other excellent reviews, but cannot understand the scathingly negative ones. For my purposes, Ben has written a wonderfully refreshing blend of PRACTICAL and possible permaculture homesteading book from his PERSONAL experience. I've plenty of books gathering dust telling me what to do and what should work...but not many willing to admit when it doesn't (particularly the permaculture books). It is concise despite covering an impressive array of material. Not everything that "experienced" old-timers do works equally well in all situations and I appreciate the author's honest reporting of what is or is not working historically and currently on his particular property at various stages of its development/reclamation. It often takes several years of working with a property to get a feel for what it wants and needs in terms of plants, animals, water, amendments...especially if one's experience is with vastly divergent enterprises and climatic challenges. Regardless of what we know (or think we know), one can always learn from others' successes, mistakes, ideas, experience. While most of the charts & graphs were not helpful for my personal learning styles, no doubt other folks loved them. He wisely presented the material in various formats to reach the widest audience. I appreciate Ben's willingess to share their project journey thus far and look forward to his subsequent reports...books.

This book is amazing. Ben Falk teaches you about whole systems, how systems interact and how to plan them (via general principles since the variety of landscapes etc are so vast). He explains in detail some of the processes he has developed and had success in as well as point you in the right direction to get information on other people's approaches that he uses while including his experience with them. There are a lot of different topics and a lot of other recommended sources (which is great!). My biggest complaint is that not all the books/authors mentioned in the text are included in his reading list at the back and that his next book isnt out yet 😭😭😭 the first two chapters about design were a little boring to read but the rest of the book slowly educates you on design through his narrative. Easy to read, lots of pictures and graphs and SO much information.

Overall some very good information, great information on micro-climes etc and compost water heating(totally new concept to me), I have to question a couple of things though. First off I'm totally fine with the complaints about how wastewater is handled in the "modern" world, however, when he rails on about how septic systems are part of a government plot to support infrastructure etc, I have to take issue. Sewage plants, yes, major infrastructure is supported by this lackluster process, but septic systems, not so much, also remember that throughout human history billions have died and continue to die from poor sewage handling. So think about that when you judge from your house on the hill, in addition to the land requirements etc, needed for everyone to have a composting toilet. Second, the discussion about biochar is pretty interesting, but I fail to see how pulling hot coals from your stove, peeing on them to re-mineralize them and to break up the crystalline structure before powdering them is much better than taking ash and putting it in the compost that you can pee in if you would like. Although I do now have a new green winter party game possibility. My biggest issue, although it was brief, he did mention the US military's use of fossil fuels etc. True, however, while you can live in your idyllic home on the hill having a great time saving your pee etc, which honestly sounds great, but again where this has failed throughout history is where the Huns, Russians, Boer, Hutu, Khmer, etc, etc then come running over the hill and take it all in previously unimaginable bloody fashion. Then your nirvana is done as well as the resiliency of your homestead, just some perspective kids. Overall very interesting, just judgy in spots for being so free spirited.

I was pretty shocked that this book didn't have a 4.5 or 5 star rating. It was really refreshing to read a book where the author has actual experience putting his money where his mouth is and applying the permaculture principles to one place for a long time. Most other permie books I read are heavy on theory and having drawings of how permaculture is supposed to work. This has actual photos because the author actually applied everything and shared his successes and failures. And guess what? Note all permaculture "commandments" ended up being true, at least not for him in his particular location. That's what happens when you move beyond theory and go an get your hands dirty. I suspect that the negative reviewers are mostly information junkies that have a bookshelf full of permaculture literature but have never planted a tree. I loved the author's focus on resiliency and simple solutions. Sure, a wind turbine would be great, a giant system of solar power lighting up the area sounds fun and green. But the author promotes low tech and traditional when possible, simply because it's the most practical approach. Turbines and solar panels break, and they require complex parts from far off lands. In the fragile system we live in, who knows if these things will be available in the future. I also liked his subtle references to SHTF scenarios and preparation for emergencies. TLDR; this book is not your standard regurgitation on permaculture principles and you will gain new insights from this.

This is one of those extraordinary books in which the parts are greater than its sum, and the sum is pretty amazing. You only have to read a few pages to know you are about the embark on a wonderful journey. And, there's more. The Resilient Farm and Homestead is a beautifully crafted book: great paper, illustrations, photographs, charts, maps, all wonderfully displayed. This book is truly an innovative approach to managing both natural and human-engineered ecological systems. There is so much information contained within its pages that a detailed review is not possible. Ben Falk crafts 72 resiliency and regeneration principles alone. Start there (pp. 31-45), then read the rest of the book. Finally, put on your resiliency-thinking cap, and prepare to renovate whatever homestead, city lot, or regional watershed you have been engaged in. The book is already a classic, and I can only hope that Chelsea Green publish the book in limited edition hardcover as well as other ebook editions. You don't want to travel to Mars without it.

What a gem. Brilliant. For the inspiration alone, this book is worth a read. It seems to also be an invaluable resource for helping us think our way through practical challenges too. This is not a book for those who want to be told what to do and hope it works. This is a thinking person's guide to how to use their own spiritual, psychological, intellectual, physical, environmental, financial, cultural resources to make living simply a long-term, doable, inter-generational reality. No B.S. This guide is the real deal. The author proposes a smarter-not-harder, zen-like, new-paradigm indigenous approach to a relationship with your land, home, farm, resources. In 2001 I witnessed Grandfather Wallace Black Elk, a Lakota Elder and Traditional Healer, describe himself to a room full of people: "I am way past being an Indian," he said, "I am an Earth Man." Had he known him, author Ben Falk would be both proud and humbled to sit among men like Grandfather Wallace Black Elk, and to be considered, like them, an Earth Man. This book is necessary. Thank you to the author.

I have been reading Ben's book now for about two weeks and I have say it is amazing. It is well written full of insight and new ideas but at the same time re-purposes ideas from permaculture bringing forth clarity that has been missing for years. I really resonate with Ben's Design process and his principled approach to design. The book has concrete examples of how to design and build ponds and dams which is missing from a lot of texts like this. Ben's portfolio makes this work real and tangible. Great work Ben, I can't wait to see what your produce next! As a permaculture teacher, designer and professional engineer I highly recommend this book from a readability and technically perspective. Rob Avis www.vergeperamculture.ca

great read. An all encompassing book about permculture. Definitely one of the best books to start. Well done Ben Falk!

Wow. Where do I start with this amazing book? First of all, I purchased my copy of 'The Resilient Farm & Homestead' 2 years ago this July. I definitely collect permaculture/homesteading/off grid/small scale farming/gardening/sustainability books. Currently I have an entire shelving unit dedicated to them, and yet this work stands out among them all as one of my favourites. Though not a thin volume, this book isn't as thick as some of my other works (think Vol. 1 & 2 of Edible Forest Gardens) and yet Ben Falk manages to completely pack relevant information on every page. This author is not just a designer, there are years of experience here. This book is about setting up and maintaining a farm and homestead in a world of uncertain world events, be they political, climatic, etc. The knowledge is practical and essential for the homesteader and anyone else interested in living a sustainable lifestyle. Falk covers homestead design (including permaculture elements), homestead setup, climate, animals, as well as crops that are not just for filling your stomach but contribute to your health as well. Basically, if you are on a homestead, this book is very helpful in gearing you towards self sufficiency as well as providing inspiration. If a homestead is still a dream in your future, this book lays out what you need to do and know, helping you plan it out. I found the info within this work to be extremely well organized and laid out, and I think this is one reason why this work stands out among the flood of books currently being published on this topic. I found the appendices in the back to be a goldmine- I refer to them constantly to keep my mind focused and keep everything straight (you self sufficiency buddies know what I'm talkin about!). In short, grab this book. It's worth every penny!

This is book is just fantastic, its so well written, so thoughtful, so clear. Full of knowledge and written from the heart its a true pleasure to have been able to read this and that someone so knowledgeable and passionate has chosen to share that with the world. I haven't learnt so much and been so enlightened by a book like this for a very long time. Definitely worth a read! Truly Fantastic.

This is fantastic! I found Ben Falk through Geoff Lawton's film series and did quite a bit of research before buying this book. I haven't had it long but I've had a good flick through and read the first couple of chapters. I'm already getting little unexpected shivers of pleasure from reading it and I'm tempted to copy out long chunks of it to post on my blog and encourage people to buy it! I loved the opening sentence: 'Regeneration involves seeing things as they could be, while resiliency requires dealing with things as they are.' This immediately spoke to me, and Ben goes on to explore this in a really practical way, teasing out these two inextricable but at the same time somewhat opposed ideals. I'm inspired by Ben's abundant physical and mental health, and his observation that this has improved greatly due to his active lifestyle on the land combined with the quality food he produces and eats from it. Nut trees are certainly going to figure more largely in my planting plans after reading what he has to say about them and the role they played in the guided development of the food forests of the NE of America before the European settlers came - and the return on investment they give for ours and future generations. I'm writing from the UK at the moment, but my land is in NE Poland and has a much longer and colder winter - like in Ben's part of Vermont - so I'm particularly happy to be reading lessons from someone with similar climate conditions. I do think a lot of what he has to say will be applicable to many in the UK and other places too. Not every word he has to say is as inspiring as the bits I've singled out, and some of his points are a bit laboured, but the book is certainly worthy of five stars so far. It's also worthy of note that this is a much more measured and less political account than some of the other books I've enjoyed by the likes of Masanobu Fukuoka, Joel Salatin and Sepp Holzer, but it is still pacey and engaging. A very good read, recommended.

I bought the Kindle edition and now I'm going to buy the hard copy.