Perrine Herve-Gruyer – författare

Perrine and Charles Herve-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.

Farmers like Charles and Perrine Hervé-Gruyer are among the beacons of light. Their work allows the rest of the world to see that there is another life, there is another way. From the foreword by Eliot Coleman, author of The New Organic GrowerThis book, more about philosophy than a how-to, describes how two inexperienced beginners succeeded in creating a gorgeous, productive, self-sustaining farm Marion Nestle, author of Food PoliticsWhat began as a simple dream in an historic Normandy village has turned into one of the world’s most radical, innovative experiments in small-scale farming.When Charles and Perrine Hervé-Gruyer set out to create their farm in a historic Normandy village, they had no idea just how much their lives would change. Neither one had ever farmed before. Charles had been traveling the globe teaching students about ecology and indigenous cultures. Perrine had been an international lawyer in Japan. Their farm Bec Hellouin has since become an internationally celebrated model of innovation in ecological agriculture. Miraculous Abundance is the eloquent tale of the couple’s quest to build an agricultural model that can carry us into a post-carbon future.The authors dive deeper into the various farming methods across the globe that contributed towards the creation of the Bec Hellouin model, including:Permaculture and soil health principlesKorean natural farming methodsManaging a four-season farmCreating a productive agroecosystem that is resilient and durableUsing no-dig methods for soil fertilityModelling an agrarian system that supports its community in totality; from craft, restaurants and shared work spaces to jobs, agritourism, energy and ecological biodiversity Perfect for aspiring and experienced farmers, gardeners and smallholders, Miraculous Abundance is a love letter to a future where ecological farming is at the centre of every community.

"Farmers like Charles and Perrine Hervé-Gruyer [are] beacons of light. Their work allows the rest of the world to see that there is another life, there is another way."—Eliot Coleman

What began as a simple dream has turned into one of the world’s most radical, innovative experiments in small-scale farming—using the Bec Hellouin model for growing food, sequestering carbon, creating jobs, and increasing biodiversity without using fossil fuels

When Charles and Perrine Hervé-Gruyer set out to create their farm in a historic Normandy village, they had no idea just how much their lives would change. Neither one had ever farmed before. Charles had been traveling the globe teaching students about ecology and indigenous cultures. Perrine had been an international lawyer in Japan. Their farm Bec Hellouin has since become an internationally celebrated model of innovation in ecological agriculture. Miraculous Abundance is the eloquent tale of the couple’s quest to build an agricultural model that can carry us into a post-carbon future.

The authors dive deeper into the various farming methods across the globe that contributed towards the creation of the Bec Hellouin model, including:

Permaculture and soil health principlesKorean natural farming methodsManaging a four-season farmCreating a productive agroecosystem that is resilient and durableUsing no-dig methods for soil fertilityModelling an agrarian system that supports its community in totality; from craft, restaurants and shared work spaces to jobs, agritourism, energy and ecological biodiversity 

Perfect for aspiring and experienced farmers, gardeners, and homesteaders, Miraculous Abundance is a love letter to a future where ecological farming is at the centre of every community. 

"This book, more about philosophy than a how-to, describes how two inexperienced beginners succeeded in creating a gorgeous, productive, self-sustaining farm."—Marion Nestle

Living With The Earth is a three volume series bringing together years of hands-on organic growing experience and research from the world-renowned Bec Hellouin Farm in France. In 2006, Perrine and Charles Herve-Gruyer set out on a mission to discover a new form of agriculture that provides organic crops, creates healthy soil and brings meaningful employment to the local community. A combination of biointensive methods and permaculture design, which they have named 'ecoculture', and backed by scientific research, has resulted in a highly abundant market garden that sequesters carbon and frees up land for Nature.This beautifully illustrated, comprehensive first volume shows you how natural systems work, and explains how a wide range of simple and effective techniques can create ecologically diverse gardens or highly productive farms. The in-depth chapters on weather patterns, soil types and ecosystem services, give the reader a sound understanding of the environment they are growing in.The book covers everything you need to design a farm and implement a high-yielding food system from scratch, from understanding permaculture and its tools to the full design process, using the successful systems at Bec Hellouin as examples. Chapters on composting, mulching, fertilisers, green manures and working with beneficial microorganisms offer the reader a selection of tools for creating healthy soil within the farm ecosystem.This is a unique, groundbreaking book for gardeners, homesteaders, farmers, agronomists and permaculture designers.

Als Perrine und Charles Hervé-Gruyer vor knapp 15 Jahren ihre Ferme du Bec Hellouin aufbauten, ahnten sie noch nicht, was dies in ihrem Leben und dem Leben so vieler anderer bewirken würde. Heute kennt ihren Namen jede*r, der*die sich mit der Permakultur beschäftigt. Weil sie auf ihrem Gemüsehof innerhalb kürzester Zeit ein Vorzeigemodell für die Landwirtschaft der Zukunft geschaffen haben. In ihrem Buch erzählen die beiden Autor*innen genau davon: von der Permakultur – und ihrem Werdegang. Sie berichten, wie sie auf die Prinzipien der Permakultur gestoßen sind, wofür die Permakultur steht und welches enorme Potential in ihr steckt.Wie sich mit Permakultur Ernährungssouveränität schaffen lässtDenn: Schnell stellte sich heraus, dass die beiden Autor*innen mit ihrem Vorhaben, einen Hof zu bewirtschaften und sich mit Obst und Gemüse selbst versorgen zu können, weit über das eigentliche Ziel hinaus ernten konnten. Ihre permakulturellen Anbaumethoden lieferten ihnen auf kleinster Fläche eine derart üppige Ernte, dass sie drei Familien damit versorgen konnten. Heute ist die Ferme Vorbild von 80 % aller neugegründeter Gemüsebauernhöfe in Frankreich und lockt Besucher*innen und Forscher*innen aus aller Welt an. Nicht zuletzt, weil es sich bei ihrer Mikrofarm um ein landwirtschaftliches Modell der Zukunft handelt, das aufzeigt, wie durch regenerative Bewirtschaftungsmethoden Ernährungskrisen abgewendet, Arbeitsplätze geschaffen und die Biodiversität geboostet werden können – und das Ganze ohne Einsatz fossiler Energien.Sonne auf der Haut, den Kopf voller Visionen: Inspiration purNeben all diesem Know-how rund um die Permakultur, Gestaltungsvarianten und Umsetzhilfen geben Perrine und Charles auch tiefe Einblicke in ihr Leben und lassen dich teilhaben an ihrer Reise bis hin zur Farm in der Normandie. Sie erzählen von ihren Visionen und zeigen, wie sinnstiftend sich ihr Leben auf der Ferme anfühlt. Darüber hinaus liefern sie jede Menge Inspiration dafür, selbst anzupacken und aktiv zu werden, gleich wie den Mut, den eigenen Weg zu finden – mit Permakultur.•Der Permakultur-Klassiker, endlich auf Deutsch: Perrine und Charles Hervé-Gruyer sind internationale Vorbilder und Pionier*innen auf dem Gebiet der Permakultur. Mit diesem Buch liefern sie Inspiration für alle, die die Nase von konventioneller Landwirtschaft und Ausbeutung voll haben und in eine Zukunft voller Gemüse- und Artenvielfalt starten wollen.•Ein Modell für die Landwirtschaft der Zukunft: Auf ihrer Mikrofarm in der Normandie zeigen die Autor*innen, wie zukunftsfähige Landwirtschaft aussieht und gelebt wird. Wie auf kleinster Fläche Riesenerträge möglich sind. Und wie die Menschheit durch regenerative Bewirtschaftungsmethoden komplett ernährt werden könnte. •Informativ, gefühlvoll, stark: Du willst alles über Permakultur erfahren? Perfekt! Außerdem erzählen die beiden von ihrem Leben und ihren (postfossilen) Visionen für die Zukunft: voller Ernährungssouveränität, kleinstrukturierter Landwirtschaft und Vernetzung auf allen Ebenen.