mike dunn

I'd give this 8 of 10 acorns.

Although their large use of annuals and no animals doesn't fit will with most current thinking on permaculture this book is a great story of homesteading and self reliance.

9 out of 10 acorns.

I read this book once through a year ago and now I'm reading through it again. I agree with the other viewer. This book is packed with information, it is organized very well, it uses good illustrations and it is a bargain for the price. I haven't found another book on the subject that comes close.

Justin,

I have a question that I've been wondering about with DE for quite some time. In gardening one permaculture idea is to foster good microbes and insects which will keep bad microbes and insects in check. In our bodies according to recent accounts, there is more bacterial cell than human cells with many of the bacterial cultures providing vital symbiotic function. I've looked into DE but I've wondered about how it effects the good microbes and critters.

I've been thinking it is analogous to "organic pesticides", some use them and they are definitely better than than other pesticides, but others would say that it still decimates amphibian populations and hurts the good microbes and insects allowing the bad guys to rebound. Can you speak to this analogy of DE to "organic pesticides" and whether it is correct or incorrect? Please educate me; since I'm more bacterial than human I want to look out for my boys. Thank you,

Mike

Thank you for the reply and the information. (you must be well organized to reply to a random e-mail prior to a PDC)

I was thinking a Shepard type system would work well in the Palouse but I'm pretty low on the learning curve so between not being able to find someone who was already doing it and the current agricultural practices leaving less evidence of Savanna I was uncertain. I hope to take a PDC in the near future. Your hypothesis on how to start working with the shrub-steppe makes sense to me, hopefully some more experienced folks will chime in.

Best Wishes,

Mike

Deb,

I know this is an old topic. I'm just wondering if you ever got a reply on this or have explored this question further.

On a related note, I'm interested in learning if others have explored a Mark Shepard style system but in the Palouse or the Palouse transition region (e.g. around Troy or Deary). I've been learning some on my own with my primary references being Dave Jacke's two books, Restoration agriculture, and information from the Pitkin Forest Nursery. Thank you,

Mike