Living with the Earth, Volume 3: Creating a Microfarm

Volume 3 of the authoritative Living With The Earth series explains the multiple elements that make up a productive, profitable and nature-friendly market garden or small farm. Written by two legends, these ground-breaking volumes are of particular interest to small to medium scale farmers, horticulturists, forest gardeners, agronomists and market gardeners.

A gorgeously illustrated and highly comprehensive guide to creating a profitable and productive market garden or small farm.

Perrine and Charles Hervé-Gruyer have designed a microfarm in Normandy that provides a living for five people whilst cultivating just a small percentage of the land, and rewilding the rest. In Volume 1 of Living with the Earth, they describe the overarching principles and influences of ecology and permaculture, and share how they work with Nature to create highly effective systems. In Volume 2 they deep dive into the details, sharing how to grow nutritious herbs, flowers, fruit and vegetables, while creating healthy soil and diverse ecosystems.

Volume 3 of this authoritative series explains the multiple elements that make up a productive, profitable and nature-friendly market garden or small farm, including:

• plant propagation and seed saving
• increasing biodiversity for garden health
• incorporating animals
• small-scale hay and grain production
• an extensive list of invaluable tools and how to care for them
• design steps and examples for creating profitable rural and urban microfarms
• investing in people, a vital part of farm enterprise

These volumes are ground-breaking, with principles and practices that can be used on any scale. They are, however, of particular interest to small to medium scale farmers, horticulturists, forest gardeners, agronomists and market gardeners.

Perrine and Charles Hervé-Gruyer, the legends behind the Bec Hellouin Farm in Normandy, France, have revolutionized agriculture. On just 2 hectares of land, they employ five people and grow an abundance of fruit and veg. They have skillfully experimented and blended various techniques with permaculture design. This series is the distillation of their research and expertise.

Perrine pursued a career as a lawyer in Asia before devoting herself to psychotherapy. She is now a farmer.

An educator by training, Charles Hervé-Gruyer travelled the globe aboard the training sailboat ’Fleur de Lampaul’ for 22 years. He is the author of several books.