Paleo Diet and Paleolithic Diet Questions & Answers

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Unfortunately, recently my family realized that our land is really too damaged to support our herd of cattle for the moment and we've had issues with our farm manager, so we've decided to sell off the cattle and I'd like to initiate a forestry project. I have one year of college forestry, but most of it was calculating timber yields and other non-applicable stuff. I'd like to re-forest most of the property, but shape it in a way that it provides us food (berries, nuts, mushrooms, fruits etc.) with agroforestry and permaculture methods. My goal would be a kind of "paleoforest" which would not be too dense, but provide some openness for activities like hunting and grazing when the land is rebuilt.

I'd like to start researching and reading some books, so what books would you recommend?

flag	asked Feb 23 2012 at 23:34 Bread-Eating Beelzebub 55.7k●9●64●237

	There were some recommendations made here paleohacks.com/questions/81063/… that might be applicable. – JayJay Feb 23 2012 at 23:59
	What do you mean the land is too damaged? If the land lacks minerals, you can put those minerals back in the land by testing the soil and then putting a soil amendment (eg limestone ) on the land. The farmer I get most of my grass fed beef from uses Kinsey (kinsey.com) for his soil testing. I've noticed a big difference in meat quality between those farmers who do soil amendment for minerals and those that don't. – JRM Feb 24 2012 at 5:58

Kimble · Answer 1 · 2012-02-24 01:15:49Z UTC

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For permaculture reference its hard to go past Mollison's "Permaculture: A designer's manual"

answered Feb 24 2012 at 1:15

Kimble
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Dragonfly · Answer 2 · 2012-02-24 00:08:33Z UTC

My fave is Gaia's Garden, but I don't know if it is on the scale you need.

I also know several permaculture consultants in the Pac NW & Scotland/UK, but if you are in the midwest now, you might be better off googling for consultants who are based there.

Mazer · Answer 3 · 2012-02-24 03:27:33Z UTC

A great book for insight into aboriginal methods of sustainable land management is Changes in the Land, by William Cronon. Cronon compares the land management practices of the Native Americans along the eastern seaboard with those of the newly-arriving European colonists, and delves into the effects of this clash of cultures and practices on the environment. It's not exactly permaculture, but it's a very interesting book on its own, and maybe it will give you a few ideas.

Karen · Answer 4 · 2012-05-30 00:14:28Z UTC

Edible Forest Gardens (2 volume set) Volume I: Ecological Vision and Theory for Temperate Climate Permaculture, Volume II Ecological Design and Practice for Temperate Climate Permaculture by Dave Jacke, Eric Toensmeier

Kind of expensive ($90 US) but a fantastic resource.

Bryan B · Answer 5 · 2012-05-29 23:08:17Z UTC

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Google "Sepp Holzer" He is the man! His book got translated not too long ago. Have you seen what Allan Savory is doing to rehab land? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZOmlw2eiW1I

answered May 29 2012 at 23:08

Bryan B
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NMG · Answer 6 · 2012-06-10 09:34:15Z UTC

Hi, I'd be interested to hear how this is going? I've just ordered http://www.amazon.co.uk/Creating-Forest-Garden-Working-nature/dp/1900322625/ref=pd_ecc_rvi_cart_3 and http://www.amazon.co.uk/How-Grow-Perennial-Vegetables-Low-maintenance/dp/1900322846/ref=pd_sim_b_1

They are UK-based, which orks for me!

The website http://www.agroforestry.co.uk/ also has plant lists.

In terms of soils, have you heard about biochar and/or mycelia? http://www.ted.com/talks/paul_stamets_on_6_ways_mushrooms_can_save_the_world.html

Best books for paleo-izing land with permaculture or agroforestry?

6 Answers