Books for a Future

Books for a Future is a list of essential reads, initially compiled to inspire and support sustainable, regenerative practices. Permaculture Network members can add their own recommendations or recommend books that resonate deeply with our shared vision for a resilient future. Explore this evolving resource for insights on permaculture, environmental activism, ecology, and beyond.

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Books for a future - a Permaculture Network initiative

Title	Author	Description	Signed copy
Around the World in 80 Plants: An Edible Perennial Vegetable Adventure for Temperate Climates	by Stephen Barstow	An adventure into edible perennials from around the world, suited for temperate climates.	Link
Basics of Permaculture Design	by Ross Mars	An introduction to permaculture design principles for beginners and enthusiasts.
Better Work Together: How the Power of Community Can Transform Your Business	by Anthony Cabraal, by Susan Basterfield
Biomimicry: Innovation Inspired by Nature	by Janine M. Benys	A guide to innovation inspired by nature’s principles, focusing on sustainable design.
Braiding Sweetgrass	by Robin Wall Kimmerer	In Braiding Sweetgrass, Robin Wall Kimmerer explores the concept of the gift economy, which is central to many Indigenous philosophies and contrasts with capitalist economic models based on commodity exchange. The gift economy is rooted in principles of reciprocity, gratitude, and abundance.
Brotbacköfen selber bauen	by Bernhard Gruber	Immer mehr Menschen legen Wert auf eine bewusste und nachhaltige Ernährung und besinnen sich auf alte und bewährte Traditionen. Früher war es zum Beispiel selbstverständlich, das eigene Brot selbst zu backen. Die Vorteile: das Brot schmeckt besser, hält länger frisch und wir können uns sicher sein, dass nur beste Zutaten verwendet wurden! Besonders gut gelingt selbst ge backenes Brot in einem richtigen Brotbackofen.	Link
Change Here Now: Permaculture Solutions for Personal and Community Transformation	by Adam Brock
Cold-Hardy Fruits and Nuts	by Scott Serrano, by Allyson Levy	Focuses on growing fruits and nuts that thrive in colder climates, expanding food production options.
Collective Power: Patterns for a Self-Organized Future	by Ted J. Rau	Explores patterns and practices for collective empowerment and self-organization.
Coming Back to Life: The Updated Guide to the Work That Reconnects	by Joanna Macy, by Molly Young Brown	An essential resource for reconnecting with the work of ecological and personal healing.
Coppice Agroforestry :Tending Trees for Product, Profit, and Woodland Ecology	by Mark Krawczyk
Creating a Forest Garden	by Martin Crawford	A comprehensive guide to creating forest gardens in temperate climates.
Cultural Emergence: A Toolkit for Transforming Ourselves & the World	by Looby Macnamara	Explores how to create positive cultural change using permaculture principles to develop resilient communities.	Link
Designing Ecological Habitats: Creating a Sense of Place (4 Keys to Sustainable Communities)	by E. Christopher Mare, by Max O. Lindegger	A practical manual on designing habitats with ecological and community-oriented focus.
Die kleine Permakultur-Fibel	by Bernhard Gruber	Permakultur – von dauerhafter Bodenkultur abgeleitet – beruht auf einem Denken in ökologischen Zusammenhängen und Wechselwirkungen, mit dem Ziel, dauerhafte, sich selbst erhaltende Systeme aus Pflanzen, Tieren und Menschen zu entwickeln. Mit diesem Buch möchte Bernhard Gruber einen einfachen Einstieg ins Thema Permakultur bieten. Es soll keine wissenschaftliche Abhandlung sein, es soll vielmehr animieren, sich in Folge mit einzelnen Themen näher auseinander zu setzen.	Link
Digital Permaculture - design for personal digital sustainability	by Dominik Jais	Discover how permaculture ethics and principles can transcend garden gates and be applied to the digital world. "Digital Permaculture" explores the innovative fusion of ecological design with digital technologies, guiding you through a complete permaculture design process adapted for the digital age.	Link
Earth Path: Grounding Your Spirit in the Rhythms of Nature	by Starhawk	A spiritual and practical guide to aligning with nature’s rhythms and pathways.
Earth User's Guide to Permaculture	by Rosemary Morrow	Practical manual for applying permaculture principles in various environments, suitable for both beginners and experienced practitioners.
Edible Forest Gardens: Book 1 & 2	by Dave Jacke, by Eric Toensmeier	An extensive two-volume guide on creating edible forest gardens.
Entangled Life: How Fungi Make Our Worlds, Change Our Minds & Shape Our Futures	by Merlin Sheldrake	An exploration into the hidden world of fungi and their impact on ecosystems and human life.
essbarer Waldgarten und weitere zukunftsfähige Agroforstsysteme	by Bernhard Gruber	Essbare Waldgärten sind die Lösung für den Hunger der Menschen, können aber auch Sinnfindung unserer übersättigten Industriegesellschaft sein. Durch aktiven Humusaufbau und eine Dauerkultur mit Bäumen, Sträuchern und Stauden in Etagenwirtschaft sind essbare Waldgärten unsere Klima-Chance Nr. 1!	Link
Farming the Woods	by Steve Gabriel, by Ken Mudge	Explores the integration of forestry and farming, offering methods for growing food in wooded areas.
Farming the Woods: An Integrated Permaculture Approach to Growing Food and Medicinal Forests	by Ken Mudge, by Steve Gabriel	A permaculture approach to growing food and medicinal plants in forested environments.
Find Your Forest Garden	by Caroline Aitken, by Martin Crawford	A guide to exploring and discovering your own forest garden ecosystem.
Food Not Lawns: How to Turn Your Yard into a Garden and Your Neighborhood into a Community	by Heather Flores	How to transform lawns into productive gardens and communities through sustainable practices.
Forest Gardening in Practice: An Illustrated Practical Guide for Homes, Communities & Smallholdings	by Tomas Remiarz	Illustrated guidance for establishing forest gardens at various scales.
From What Is to What If	by Rob Hopkins	A visionary look at how imagination and creativity can inspire community resilience and environmental action.
Gaia's Garden: A Guide to Home-Scale Permaculture	by Toby Hemenway	Practical guidance on applying permaculture principles to home gardens, emphasizing sustainable and productive landscapes.
Holistic Management: A New Framework for Decision Making	by Allan Savory, by Jody Butterfield	A decision-making framework based on holistic management for sustainable practices.
Horse-Powered Farming for the 21st Century: A Complete Guide to Equipment, Methods, and Management for Organic Growers	by Stephen Leslie	A comprehensive guide to using horses in organic farming, including equipment, methods, and management.
How to Grow Perennial Vegetables: Low-Maintenance, Low-Impact Vegetable Gardening	by Martin Crawford	A guide to growing perennial vegetables that are low-maintenance and environmentally friendly.
How to Grow Your Own Nuts: Choosing, Cultivating, and Harvesting Nuts in Your Garden	by Martin Crawford	A practical manual on selecting, growing, and harvesting a variety of nut trees and shrubs.
How to Make a Forest Garden	by Patrick Whitefield	Learn how to create a sustainable and productive forest garden for food and habitat.