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The heart of a sustainable food system

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments
Introduction

Chapter 1: Toward a Permanent Culture
Prologue
Book Outline
Five Acres and Interdependence
The Value of the Small-Scale Farm
Creation of Sustainable Local Food Systems
Integrated Systems: Permaculture Design
Sustainability
Concepts of Ecology
Permaculture and Agriculture
Farm Ecology
Three Sisters Farm
Resource Survey
Season Extension
Outreach
Back to the Earth

Chapter 2: Sustainable Food Systems :
Safe, Healthful and SecureSustainability for Food Systems
Food Safety and Public Awareness
Food Security

Chapter 3: Direct Marketing for a Small Farm
Preparation
Business Management
Marketing Farm Products
Outreach and Education Programs

Chapter 4: The Permaculture Farm: Design
Farm Design and Planning
Site Analysis: The Land, the Community and the Environment Planning
Season Extension
Case Study: Design of Three Sisters Farm
Sector Analysis
Overlaying the Farm into the Landscape
Bioshelter
Wildlife at Three Sisters Farm: Many Neighbors
Applied Observation

Chapter 5: Energy Systems on the Farm
Conservation
Biothermal Resource Recovery
Solar
Photovoltaic Applications

Chapter 6: Beyond Integrated Pest Control :
Insects, Disease, Weeds and Other Pests Organic Methods
Whole-systems Planning
Ecological Pest Control
Insects on the Farm
Spiders on the Farm
Design for Ecological Control
Insects in the Bioshelter (and Other Creatures)
Pests and Permaculture

Chapter 7: The Market Garden Farm: Management
The Spiral Garden
The South Garden
The East Garden
The Southeast Garden
The Pond Garden
The West Garden
Smaller Gardens
Crops and Products
Perennials
The Farm Woodlot
Managing Plant Interactions

Chapter 8: Seasons of the Garden
Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall
Bioshelter Maintenance
Managing the Permaculture Landscape
Planting
Linda's Crop Profiles
The Edible Flower
Fungi

Chapter 9: Bioshelter Defined and Designed
The Bioshelter Defined
Why Build A Bioshelter?
Bioshelter Daydreams
Bioshelter Design
A Bioshelter for Three Sisters Farm
Farm Design

Chapter 10: Bioshelter Management
Managing the Indoor Ecosystem — An Overview
Gardener as Ecosystem Manager
Bioshelter Management through the Seasons
Other Aspects of Bioshelter Management
From a Tiny Seed: Starting Seedlings
Countless Bioshelter Possibilities

Chapter 11: Compost and Biothermal Resources
Harvesting Compost's Multiple Yields
Traditional Uses of Biothermal Energy
Compost and the NOP
Biothermal Resources
Composting Practices at Three Sisters Farm

Chapter 12: Chickens in the Greenhouse
Food Security
Finding the Right Bird

Chapter 13: Permaculture for Wetlands
Lost Wetlands
Care of the Earth
Classes of Wetlands
Basic Design Procedures
Design for Wetlands
Ponds
The Pond at Three Sisters Farm and Nursery

Chapter 14: Education on the Farm
Benefits and Costs
Three Sisters Farm Programs

Chapter 15: Home Sweet Home
Taking the Lessons Learned Back Home
Epilogue: The Farm Ecosystem Evolves
Feeling Part of the Cycle
Biodiversity: Farm Community
A Hopeful Enterprise

Appendix A (to chapter 11): Applicable Regulations for
Agricultural Composting n PennsylvaniavRelevant Pennsylvania DEP rules excerpted from "Agricultural Composting of Manures: Supplement to ManurevManagement for Environmental Protection,"

Appendix B (to chapter 11): Compost Calculations
Compost
Heat Gain and Loss

Appendix C: Greenhouse Heat Dynamics: Figuring Solar Gain, Solar Storage, and Heat Loss
Temperate Zone Wetland Plants

Index
About the Author

About the Author

Darrell Frey is the owner and manager of Three Sisters Farm, a 5 acre permaculture farm, solar greenhouse and market garden located in Western Pennsylvania. Darrell writes extensively on permaculture design and ecological land use planning and has been a sustainable community development consultant and permaculture teacher for 25 years.