The Edible Ecosystem Solution - (Mother Earth News Wiser Living) by Zach Loeks (Paperback)

About the Book

The Edible Ecosystem Solution explores how humans benefit from edible ecosystem abundance, the immense opportunities in society for landscape change, and how anyone can build their own 25-square-foot edible ecosystem as a launch pad for community land transition and cultural transformation.

Book Synopsis

Start a peaceful revolution by planting an edible ecosystem and sharing the experience with your neighbors

Humans have always thrived in rich, diverse, edible ecosystems. Yet most cities and suburbs are blanketed by lawns, ornamentals, and a lack of biodiversity, let alone anything edible. It is within these sterile landscapes that seeds of an edible ecosystem lie.

The Edible Ecosystem Solution is a comprehensive, practical guidebook that looks at underutilized spaces to reveal the many opportunities for landscape transformation that are both far-reaching and immediately beneficial and enjoyable. Contents include:

• Hundreds of full-color infographics, illustrations, and photographs that clearly outline the principles and concepts of edible landscape design and benefits
• How to get started with as little as 25 square feet of land
• How to transition a garden plot into a place of edible abundance and an edible biodiversity hot spot, living laboratory, and a source point for transitioning and transforming community and culture
• Choosing appropriate plants for insects, wildlife, and food production
• Scaling up and networking backyard edible ecosystems at the neighborhood level and beyond to build community food security and resilience.

The Edible Ecosystem Solution is for everyone with access to a bit of yard, a desire for food security, biodiversity, and a beautiful and resilient community, and for anyone who wants to reclaim humanity's place in a rich, abundant, edible ecosystem.

From the Back Cover

Plant an edible ecosystem and ignite a peaceful landscape revolution

This richly illustrated book brings the permaculture vision of a recreated Garden of Eden to new audiences ready to dive into their own edible ecosystems.
-- DAVID HOLMGREN, co-originator of permaculture

In taking an ecological approach to growing our own plants for consumption, Zach Loeks provides an approach that will be vital in a warming world.
-- DAVID SUZUKI, award-winning geneticist, author, and broadcaster

HUMANS HAVE ALWAYS thrived in rich, diverse, edible ecosystems. The Edible Ecosystem Solution is a practical guide to transforming sterile landscapes of lawns and ornamentals into abundant edible ecosystems with profound benefits to biodiversity, community, and culture. Coverage includes:

• Hundreds of full-color infographics, illustrations, and photographs that outline the principles and concepts of edible landscape design
• Getting started with as little as 25 square feet of land
• Transitioning a garden plot into a biodiversity hotspot, place of edible abundance, and living laboratory
• Choosing appropriate plants for insects, wildlife, and food production
• Scaling up and networking backyard edible ecosystems at the neighborhood level and beyond to build community, food security, and resilience.

The Edible Ecosystem Solution is for everyone with access to a bit of yard and a desire to reclaim humanity's place in both a rich, abundant, edible ecosystem and a beautiful, resilient community.

Create a complete edible garden ecosystem by turning a small part of your yard into a veritable hotspot of biological diversity, regeneration, and culinary joy.
-- JEFF LOWENFELS, Lord of the Roots, author, the Teaming Trilogy and DIY Autoflowering Cannabis

Where most people see lots, grass, or property lines, Zach Loeks sees the potential for dynamic edible ecosystems that can transform our cities and neighborhoods.
-- FLORENCE WILLIAMS, author, The Nature Fix

Makes a compelling case for edible ecosystems and shows the ways in which our colleges and universities can play a central role. I can strongly recommend this book.
-- ALAN NASH, Professor, Department of Geography, Planning and Environment, Concordia University

ZACH LOEKS is an award-winning educator, designer, author, consultant, and grower who specializes in edible ecosystem design around the world. He is the director of the Ecosystem Solution Institute and author of The Permaculture Market Garden. He lives in Cobden, Ontario.

About the Author

Zach Loeks is an educator, designer, and grower who specializes in Edible Ecosystem Design through landscaping and education. He is director of the Ecosystem Solution Institute, which is dedicated to the education, propagation, and inspiration of ecosystem solutions for land use transition. He consults widely with homes, farms, colleges, schools, and municipalities across Canada and United States, and through many biomes from Guatemala and South Africa to the Yukon and Mongolia. Zach manages an award-winning farm with diversified food forest products, and his innovations have won three provincial awards and are featured in his first book The Permaculture Market Garden. He lives in Cobden, Ontario.