Gardening for the Future of the Earth

Editor Shapiro, director of the organic seed company Seeds of Change, and writer Harrisson combine the techniques and philosophies of great pioneers of organic and sustainable gardening. Gardeners who have learned to work with rather than against nature include Bill Mollison, an Australian devotee of permaculture, and John Jeavons, who discusses how to create good soil, the most important element of gardening. Wes Jackson advocates perennial polyculture to increase produce yield without using toxic chemical fertilizers that upset nature's balance, while Carol Deppe explains how to save seeds for breeding to create disease-resistant plants. The authors stress the critical need for restoring earth that has been badly damaged by current agricultural practices. Despite a tenfold increase in insecticide use in the U.S. since 1945, the editors note, crop loss due to insects has doubled. If the depletion of the earth isn't halted, they argue, it may be a mere 15 to 25 years before modern commercial agriculture crashes. Hope balances the doom, however, as each author carefully and enthusiastically explains how ordinary gardeners and homeowners can tip the balance toward a healthier earth and food supply. (Jan.)