Erik Ohlsen is a master of regenerative design, an internationally recognized Permaculture teacher, a landscape contractor, author, farmer, herbalist, storyteller, and practitioner of Nordic folk traditions. Since 1999 Erik has founded numerous organizations that regenerate ecosystems including his award winning design and build firm Permaculture Artisans and The Permaculture Skills Center where thousands of students around the world learn ecological landscaping and regenerative agriculture.Working as an internationally renowned regenerative designer, he has committed decades to repairing ecosystems and connecting people with the land throughout the globe. He has designed and implemented hundreds of regenerated landscapes ranging from small urban lots to large tracts of land. His many years of experience observing and listening to landscape patterns while managing installation crews have led to an extensive knowledge of ecological land development and planning. He is a specialist in water harvesting systems, food forest design, community organizing, facilitation, vocational education and much more. In all of his work there is a presence of social equity, climate justice, and ecosystem restoration and his stories and achievements continue to empower people worldwide.Penny Livingston-Stark is internationally recognized as a prominent permaculture teacher, designer, and speaker. She holds a MS in Eco-Social Regeneration and 3 Diplomas in Permaculture Design. Penny has been studying the Hermetic Tradition of alchemy and herbal medicine making in Europe, Indonesia and the United States. She has taught hundreds of Permaculture Design Certification courses worldwide in addition to advanced courses. A passionate artist from an early age, Adam Wolpert explored the media of performance, ceramics, sculpture, and collage before turning seriously to painting while earning his BFA from the University of California, Santa Barbara. After a rigorous two-year training in classical realism at Studio Cecil-Graves in Florence, Italy, where he immersed himself in the work of the great European masters, Wolpert completed an MFA at the University of California, San Diego. In 1994 Wolpert moved to Sonoma County and co-founded the Occidental Arts and Ecology Center (OAEC) where he still lives and paints. He has had major gallery representation since 1988, and is now represented by Erickson Fine Art Gallery in Healdsburg, California.

• Foreword by Penny LivingstonHow to Use This BookIntroductionPart I: The Wisdom of the EarthChapter 1: Earth’s Design IntelligenceThe Intelligence of EarthThe Hydrologic Cycle: The Blue PlanetNatural Water StorageVegetative/Animal StorageRivers and LakesThe Carbon Cycle: Life’s OriginPhotosynthesis: The Miracle of LifeKeystone SpeciesRivers of SalmonThe Power of BeesRed Mangrove CoastlinesBioregional Keystone SpeciesRegenerative DisturbancesChapter 2: The Regenerative MindsetEmbrace Earth WisdomLandscapes Are EcosystemsRegenerative Landscaping PrinciplesChapter 3: Land-Use DirectiveA Toxic LegacyRegenerate the Degraded Case Study: The Permaculture Neighborhood CenterPart II: Compose with the LandChapter 4: Contextual DesignWhen Is the Land?The Story of PlaceChapter 5: Awareness PracticesWalk the Land in SilenceChapter 6: Reading the LandWater PatternsLook for Water in the Driest Time of YearVegetation Animal Indicators On-site ResourcesIn Field Soil Tests Observing the Soil Profile Chapter 7: Create a Base MapSatellite ImageSurveyed MapSatellite/Topo OverlayKey Elements to Include in the Base MapTriangulation Mapping SimplifiedChapter 8: Social ContextSocial HistoryKnow Your NeighborsProject StakeholdersChapter 9: Develop Your VisionCore Values Development Articulating GoalsPart III: Conceptual Landscape Design Chapter 10: Conceptual Design ProcessReal Regeneration Versus Greenwashing Long-Term Design Lawn Transformation Step by StepChapter 11: Permaculture Design Wisdom Permaculture PrinciplesStacking Functions Design for CatastropheUse On-site/Biological Resources Catch and Store Energy Permaculture Zoning StrategyPermaculture as a Way of LifeChapter 12: Drafting Design PlansDrafting the PlanProfessional Design Tips with Emily MallardChapter 13: Design Plan Sets Conceptual Master PlanPlanting PlanIrrigation PlanHardscape PlanChapter 14: Phased Project PlanCreating a Project ScheduleUsing a Gantt ChartChapter 15: Professional Design RelationshipsDeveloping a Design Budget and Identifying DeliverablesPart IV: The World of SoilChapter 16: Living Soil: The Foundation of Regenerative LandscapesFive Principles of Soil HealthCreate Living Soil Develop a Soil Regeneration Plan Chapter 17: No-Till LandscapingChapter 18: VermicultureWorm Bin DesignCaring for WormsHarvesting Castings Chapter 19: CompostingCompost FoundationsChapter 20:  Compost Tea and Plant FermentsAerated Compost Tea Chapter 21: Cover CroppingTimingDisturbancesSpecific Seed for Specific YieldsChapter 22: HügelkulturThe Benefits of HügelkulturBuild in LayersPlant the BermThe Benefits of HügelkulturChapter 23: The Fungal LandscapeEdible MushroomsMedicinal FungiToxic Remediation with FungiPart V: Water in the LandscapeChapter 24: Design Water ResilienceWater ConservationRegenerative Versus Degenerative Water ManagementWater HarvestingDroughts and FloodsChapter 25: Identifying Water SourcesResponsible Water ManagementChapter 26: Managing and Harvesting Surface WaterTopographyLandscape Grading ContourEarthworksWater Infiltration Systems Rain GardensBuilding a Contour Water-Harvesting SwaleChapter 27: Landscape Drainage SystemsGradingWater Diversion ChannelsFrench DrainsDrainage, Erosion, and PollutionChapter 28: Water DistributionGravityPumping WaterVeins of the LandChapter 29: Roof Water HarvestingCalculating Roof Water CatchmentCapture and DistributionTank Storage Using RainwaterChapter 30: Landscape Ponds Design FunctionsEngineering and PermitsExcavation and ShapingEarthen PondsLocating a PondImpoundment PondsAquatic Plants for Pond SystemsChapter 31: Irrigation SystemsDesigning an Irrigation SystemWater Demand Flood IrrigationOverhead SprinklersDrip IrrigationChapter 32: Erosion ControlElements of ErosionRoads: Problem and SolutionBiological Erosion ControlNon-Biological Erosion Control Part VI: The Built EnvironmentChapter 33: The Built EnvironmentLiving in the LandscapeHardscape Versus SoftscapeNatural Building Use of ConcreteMaterials SourcingChapter 34: Architectural Elements DecksBenchesShou Sugi BanTrellises/Arbors Raised Beds Chapter 35: Landscape PatiosSizingSurface Materials Patio FoundationsFlagstone PatioPavers/BrickDecomposed GraniteChapter 36: Landscape PathwaysWater Runoff/DrainageShape and Flow Gravel Flagstone Stepping StonesWater-Harvesting Pathway Landscape StepsBuilding a Cob Oven by Sasha RabinCooking in Your Cob OvenMaterials and Tools for a Cob Oven (26-inch diameter cooking surface)How to Mix Cob Ratios for Cob Mixes Thermal Mass Versus InsulationChapter 37: Terrace and Rock Wall SystemsWalls or No WallsTo Consider When Excavating TerracesStaging Terrace ProjectsCombining Terraces, Swales, and Rain Gardens Rock Walls and AlternativesBenefits of Rock WallsDisadvantages of Rock WallsPart VII: Planting EarthChapter 38: Revegetate the PlanetRepairing the World with Plants Plant Hardiness ZonesChapter 39: Landscape Planting PlansMapping Your Planting PlanThe Right Plants for the SpaceExtending Flowering TimesPermaculture Zoning in Planting PlansPlan for Maturity Choosing Plant SizesChapter 40: Plant CommunitiesStructural Plant CombinationsStructural Growth Patterns of Trees and Plants Zone by ZonePlants by Function Soil-Building PlantsNative Gardens Drought-Tolerant GardensCut FlowersMedicinal and Culinary HerbsGrainsPlant FibersCrafting WoodWetlands Native Plants Versus Exotic PlantsChapter 41: Regenerative AgroforestryFood Forest AgroforestryPlanting TreesPlanting Trees by SeedSeeds into the GroundSeeding into PotsStratificationPlanting a Bare Root TreeChoosing Fruit/Nut CultivarsStoring Varieties Cultivars for FermentationTips for Growing Regenerative HedgerowsChapter 42: Managing Trees Systems with PruningDeadDiseasedPruning for SizePruning Times of the YearPruning Fruit WoodThree Ways to Train Scaffold BranchesThe Power of Your CutsThinning Fruit Chapter 43: Growing VegetablesNutrient Density Saving MoneyFood SovereigntyFour Seasons of HarvestGrowing in the Right SeasonProtectionChoosing Vegetable VarietiesNotable Perennial VegetablesHarvesting Chapter 44: Plant PropagationPropagate by SeedSowing Seeds Depth of Seed PlantedCovering SeedsSeeding in Ground Versus PotsGrow Your Own PlantsCuttings Dig and Divide RootsGrafting Chapter 45: Landscape MaintenanceChanging Cultural AestheticsVegetation Management Mowing Nontoxic HerbicidesOccultation The Art of WeedingChapter 46: Saving SeedPollinationWhen to Harvest SeedSeed ProcessingSeed StoragePart VIII: Creatures of the LandscapeChapter 47: Of Wing, Hoof, Claw, and ScalePredator–Prey RelationshipsNature AwarenessObserving Animal HabitatAnimal Behaviors Leave Landscape Habitat IntactInsectary Superstars Integrated Pest Management (An Ecological Approach)Chapter 48: Integrated Pest ManagementSeasonalityStressed PlantsBeneficial Predatory Insects MammalsAttracting Birds to the LandscapeMason Bee HabitatInsectary PlantsAvoid Insecticides (Conventional and Organic)Habitat PondsChapter 49: Fencing Fencing VarietiesChapter 50: Choosing the Right Animals Beneficial RelationshipsKeeping BeesSheepGoatsCows Safety Considerations for Domesticated AnimalsChapter 51: Chicken SystemsVarietiesIntegrating Chickens into the Regenerative LandscapeDetermine If Chickens Are Appropriate for Your ProjectCoopsPermanent RunsMovable SystemsChicken TractorsPart IX: Restore the WildChapter 52: Stewards of the EarthBiodiversityInvasive GrassesPerennial Grasses and Herbs Mycoremediation with Dr. Mia MaltzSeed Drilling Build Relationships with Wild PlantsChapter 53: Lands of FireCatastrophic (High Intensity) Versus Good Fire Fireproofing the LandscapeChapter 54: Regenerative Forest ManagementEcological Forest ManagementBiocharFollow Indigenous WisdomAcknowledgmentsPlant Species ChartsReferencesIndexAbout the Author