Fire the Landscaper by Phil Williams

Source: Food Production 101.com

Publisher: Phil Williams

Summary

"Fire the Landscaper is a biting critique of current landscape design and maintenance practices. The book explores the health risks, cultural biases, origins, and the insults to Mother Nature caused by our culturally backed, legally enforced obsession with artificial monoculture representations of nature.

The author, Phil Williams, is the former owner of a successful lawn and landscape company. He exposes the waste, fraud, and downright ridiculousness of an industry focused solely on aesthetics. Through his subsequent training as a permaculture designer, he offers many practical solutions aligned with nature to increase the health and productivity of landscapes, and the world by extension, while simultaneously reducing the workload of upkeep. "

Where to get it?

Amazon.com
Amazon.ca
Amazon.co.uk

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Phil William's Website: FoodProduction101.com
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I just wanted to mention that the E-book is on sale for .99 cents until Thursday afternoon. I hope everyone will give it a try. The regular price is $3.25.

Thanks
Phil

Reading through the city code today... the prohibitions are sad. Lawn, lawn & more lawn.
Can I...?
-No
How about...?
-No
What if I did...?
-No

Jeff Reiland wrote:Reading through the city code today... the prohibitions are sad. Lawn, lawn & more lawn.
Can I...?
-No
How about...?
-No
What if I did...?
-No

I agree. It is sad. The research I did for the chapters on HOAs and local governments was scary. For most homeowners permaculture is essentially illegal. Yes, most places you can have a permaculture zone 1 garden, but if you were to design your entire property taking full advantage of the 5 zones, you would be breaking the law.

They don't ever take any laws away, they simply make more of them. I have a copy of the code book in my township, and it has the dates that each code was enacted, and prior to 1984, we could do whatever we wanted, and now with each passing year we can do less. Further the codes are vague and often contradictory. It would be easy to argue that someone is breaking the law or following the law. It is my opinion that this is done on purpose so the police can enforce whomever and however they see fit.

Phil

you hit the nail on the head with the last post Phil. I have friends who work for the town I live in, and as town employees they routinely break the towns own code when it comes to town landscaping and "lawn care" It's a selective system solely there so people in power can exercise the power that they gave to themselves.

when I first read the book title, I thought it was Fire.....the landscaper. As in using fire as a landscaping tool the way some native cultures did for many years. Have you ever used fire as a permaculture tool in your designs?

Rob,

I'm sorry to hear that your town is much the same. It reminds me of one of my favorite quotes.

"The only power any government has is the power to crack down on criminals. Well, when there aren't enough criminals, one makes them. One declares so many things to be a crime that it becomes impossible for men to live without breaking laws." - Ayn Rand

The use of fire in permaculture is an interesting topic, but one that I am unfamiliar with.

Phil

Update on the Township Hearing

I received correspondence from my attorney last night. The township wanted to dismiss the appeal because we had not paid the $500 that they are charging us for the appeal. My attorney had no intention of paying the fee, because he could not find any ordinance that requires the fee. And when he questioned the township about the fee he received what amounted to a "blank stare." He paid the fee, which means I will pay the fee, so the hearing is still on. The township solicitor urged my attorney to drop the appeal, because nobody has had tried to appeal in five years. That does not make me feel confident about tonight. I'll let you guys know what happens.

Phil

Rob Nowland wrote:
when I first read the book title, I thought it was Fire.....the landscaper. As in using fire as a landscaping tool the way some native cultures did for many years.

I thought the same when I read it. Here in Australia, fire is a destructive landscaper indeed.