Table of content
Introduction 11
Food production today 11
Today’s food supply 12
Towards a more natural society 12
How can you and I help? 12
Then the book begins 13
HOW NATURE WORKS WHEN LEFT ALONE 15
Photosynthesis – the key to life 17
A vital process 17
Yellowing of the leaves 17
Reverse photosynthesis 17
Coal and oil; a controversial topic 17
Freshwater is no longer a given thing 19
Growing water scarcity 19
How much water is out there? 19
The water’s pH 19
Artificial rain 20
Changing for the better 20
Without trees, we would have deserts 21
The water cycle of the tree 21
Trees affect the climate 22
Trees work together with the soil and mycorrhiza 22
Trees as air purifiers 22
The effect of wind on the trees 23
Using trees as climate protection 23
Versatile soil for a happy environment 25
How nutritious soil forms 25
Prerequisites for good soil 25
How plants get their nutrition 26
Mycorrhizal network 26
The soil’s essential nutrients 26
Essential substances for us people 27
The soil’s pH plays a major role 27
Location decides the climate 29
Our place on Earth 29
Orographic effects 30
PERMACULTURE EXPLAINED 33
How permaculture works 35
Permanent Agriculture 35
The ethical principles of permaculture 35
Is change hard? 35
The 12 design tools of permaculture 35
A contemporary “old-fashioned” village 45
A sustainable village 45
FROM PLAN TO PLANTS TO HARVEST: WHAT TO DO 47
Getting to know the place you live on 49
Climate change 49
Observing nature 49
To map and to plan 50
The best way to plan a landscape 55
Questions to start with 55
Ängsvägen – An example 55
Site structures 59
Ängsvägen’s structures 60
Sectors to consider 62
Gardening in different zones – practical tips 65
The zones of Ängsvägen 66
Practical know-how about elements, function, and contacts 72
Co-cultivating with trees for a sustainable garden 75
Functions of the tree 75
Buying and planting 76
Buying fruit trees 77
To save and conserve water 81
Control over the water 81
Saving water 81
Collecting rainwater 89
Collecting groundwater 91
Pumps 96
Ängsvägens water 97
To understand and grow the soil 99
Different soil types 99
The grain sizes of the different soils 99
Testing the soil to figure out the type 99
The art of watering 100
Mulching 101
Weeds are not the issue 102
A fertile soil 102
How climate affects the need for energy 105
The conditions of a place 105
Energy from water 105
The influence of the wind 105
The sun and our homes 105
Microclimates 107
Frost 108
Wind and windbreaks 110
Gardening for diversity and achieving an ideal harvest 121
The ideal place to grow your crops 121
Choosing plants 121
Create diversity 121
Improve the Earth 121
Grow vertically 121
Intercropping 121
Cluster gardening 125
Perennials for increased durability 127
Extend the season 127
Start harvesting early 127
Indigenous and local plants 127
Winter protection 127
Edges in practice 127
Cultivation Beds 130
Crop sequence 143
Succession 145
Propagating plants 145
With the forest as a role model 151
Intercropping with trees 151
Silvoarable 151
Silvopasture 151
Forest farming 151
Forest garden 152
Plants within a forest garden 152
Creating a forest garden 152
A U-shaped forest garden 152
Extending the growing season 155
Starting plants indoors 155
Cold frames and hotbeds 155
Greenhouses 157
Greenhouses combined with outbuildings 157
Greenhouses against a house wall 158
Greenhouse for hot water 158
Getting a greenhouse 159
Self-sustainability – How much you need 161
Household animals 163
Chickens 164
Geese 164
Ducks 165
Muscovy ducks 165
Rabbits 166
Bees 166
Goats 167
Sheep 167
Pigs 168
Cows 168
About the author 171
The farmer in Eva never gave up 171
Thanks from the author 171
Appendix 173
Parts of the appendix 173
Alphabetical list of contents 204
Ängsvägen – an exampel 208
Alphabetical list of illustrations 209
Ängsvägen – an exampel 210