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Book Reviews [Videos in brown font.]

Changing planet, changing health' by Paul R. Epstein and Dan Ferber, University of California Press, April 2011
A global perspective on the impact of climate change on human health. Diseases covered include asthma, cholera, lyme disease. The wider context of climate change is also covered and solutions offered.
[Noted, SR, May 2011]

'Forest Gardening with Robert Hart', also featuring Ken Fern of Plants for a Future';
produced by Malcolm Baldwin, 1995, Iota Pictures.
48 minutes, VHS
A trio of gardens:
(1) The food-producing forest, an ecologically sound system which involves maximum output with minimum labour, as created by Robert Hart in Shropshire.
(2) Ken fern's garden in Cornwall where over 1,500 useful perennial plants are grown.
(3) Mike & Julia Guerra's small garden using permaculture design, forest gardening and organic growing.
An excellent introduction and practical guide to sustainable food production for small or large gardens.
[Reviewer: SR, August 2010]

'The Constant Economy: How to build a stable society' by Zac Goldsmith, Atlantic Books.
This book is spot on. He takes a holistic view of the issues facing us including, but not exclusively Climate Change. His analysis covers the loss of biodiversity, widespread pollution of the earth and seas, the depletion of all natural resources and the destruction of habitats. The final chapters look at solutions, which have already been tried and are working elsewhere. How come the rest of Europe is so far ahead of us in all this? The philosophy behind his approach is summed up in the heading to his last chapter, a Jewish prayer: And God saw everything that He had made, and found it good. And He said, “This is a beautiful world that I have given you. Take good care of it; do not ruin it.”
[Reviewer: TH, February 2010]
Goldsmith highlights ways to restore the balance between humans and our world. There could be more coverage of economic developments such as steady state economics but it is a book well worth reading. [Reviewer: SR, February 2010]

'The A – Z of Climate Change' by Jon Cooke.
Stretton Climate Care’s chairman, Jon Cooke has just published a must have book for all those concerned about Climate Change. Unlike the plethora of books appearing on the subject “The A – Z of Climate Change” has avoided the more usual facts and figures and has tried to provide answers to the many questions people ask about climate change and what they can do to make a difference. Climate change is going to affect us all and in Jon’s book can be found information about the carbon emissions impact our every-day lives are having and it offers much common sense advice as to ways we can all play our part to reduce our carbon footprint. “Much of what we need to do is not about high tech science solutions or requiring large capital outlay, “ says Jon – “it is just as much about being aware of the consequences of our actions and making small adjustments to our life styles!” Easy to use, the book sets out in alphabetical order information about the carbon consequences of things we all do or purchase and sometimes makes uncomfortable reading, for we are all partly responsible for climate change. It’s one of those books to keep dipping into, an A – Z guide to action before it’s too late.
Price Ł6.99 + Ł1.00 for P & P, (cheques payable to J.R. Cooke) it is available initially by post from Stretton Climate Care, c/o Penwardine, Shrewsbury Road, All Stretton, Church Stretton Shropshire. SY6 6HE. Enquiries to info@strettonclimatecare.org.uk
[Review supplied by The Low Carbon Network]

'Carbon Fields: How our countryside can save Britain.' by Graham Harvey, 2008 (the agricultural consultant for The Archers!)
I found this book really encouraging and hopeful, that is if we follow up his approach to food production. The basic thesis is that grassland locks up much more carbon than even woodlands do, so a return to traditional mixed farming methods using grazing would help stabilize the climate. Keeping animals indoors contributes to high levels of methane production and methane is an even worse greenhouse gas than carbon dioxide. Confining animals in large numbers indoors increases the likelihood of disease and increases the use of antibiotics leading to a cycle of poor animal and human health. The only question left in my mind about this well-written book was 'Where is the science behind this?' so I was delighted when the latest Soil Association journal said that they had just completed the research to validate his claims.
[Reviewer:TH, December 2009]
‘How to make a forest garden.’ by Patrick Whitefield, Permanent Publications, 2002.
This is not a book about creating an arboreteum or a small forest of ash, oak and lime. Forest (or woodland) gardening attempts to work with nature in the production of food. The natural (climax) vegetation of a large part of the UK is woodland and Whitefield shows how this can (a) produce significant quantities of food, (b) involve low input of effort and resources and (c) be beneficial to the natural envirnment. The first forest garden in the UK was established by Robert Hart at Wenlock Edge in Shropshire. Principles, design and components of the forest garden system are covered including the selection of suitable trees, shrubs and vegetables. A comprehensive and practical book on the forest garden - highly recommended.
[Reviewer: SR, September 2009]

‘Stuffed and starved: Markets, power and the hidden battle for the world food system.’ by Raj Patel, Portobello Books, 2008.
Patel has worked for the World Bank and WTO so has some valuable inside information. How is the soaring suicide rate amongst India's farmers, the growing movement of landless peasants in the developing world linked to the sophisticated manipulation of western consumers eating habits? How is overconsumption of processed food in the northern hemisphere leading to increasing food shortages in the southern parts of the world? To find the answers to these questions and to see how the whole food chain works read this book.
[Reviewer:TH, July 2009]
'Sustainable energy without the hot air.' by David J.C. MacKay, UIT Cambridge Ltd, 2009
The author has put together the costs of activities (driving, flying, the home, food production etc., etc.) in terme of kwhours per day per person, and set those against different forms of generation of clean energy - wind, solar, nuclear etc.. This is a 'must have' if you want the facts and figures to check some of the assertions that are sometimes made about climate change that do not necessarily have much basis in fact. He ends with 5 different energy plans, with and without nuclear.
This is available as a free computer download. Go to - http://www.withouthotair.com/ - so you dont have to buy it although you can if you want to.
[Reviewer: MA, June 2009]

'Permaculture: principles and pathways beyond sustainability.' by David Holmgren, Holmgren Design Services, 2002
Highly regarded standard text. Permaculture is often seen as a form of organic gardening but it is more than that. Two questions are asked:

Are there ways to live within nature's limits while providing a secure future for our children and justice for everyone?

Do mainstream concepts of sustainability dodge the critical issue of global energy peak?

'The transition handbook: from oil dependency to local resilience.' by Rob Hopkins, Green Books, 2008
Rob Hopkins is the founder of the Transition Movement and a teacher of permaculture and the use of natural building methods for many years. There are three main themes:

Why peak oil and climate change mean that small is inevitable.

Why having a positive vision is crucial.

Exploring the transition model for inspiring local resilience-building.

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	Changing planet, changing health' by Paul R. Epstein and Dan Ferber, University of California Press, April 2011 A global perspective on the impact of climate change on human health. Diseases covered include asthma, cholera, lyme disease. The wider context of climate change is also covered and solutions offered. [Noted, SR, May 2011]
	**'Forest Gardening with Robert Hart', also featuring Ken Fern of Plants for a Future';** produced by Malcolm Baldwin, 1995, Iota Pictures. 48 minutes, VHS A trio of gardens: (1) The food-producing forest, an ecologically sound system which involves maximum output with minimum labour, as created by Robert Hart in Shropshire. (2) Ken fern's garden in Cornwall where over 1,500 useful perennial plants are grown. (3) Mike & Julia Guerra's small garden using permaculture design, forest gardening and organic growing. An excellent introduction and practical guide to sustainable food production for small or large gardens. [Reviewer: SR, August 2010]
	*'The Constant Economy: How to build a stable society'* by Zac Goldsmith, Atlantic Books. This book is spot on. He takes a holistic view of the issues facing us including, but not exclusively Climate Change. His analysis covers the loss of biodiversity, widespread pollution of the earth and seas, the depletion of all natural resources and the destruction of habitats. The final chapters look at solutions, which have already been tried and are working elsewhere. How come the rest of Europe is so far ahead of us in all this? The philosophy behind his approach is summed up in the heading to his last chapter, a Jewish prayer: And God saw everything that He had made, and found it good. And He said, “This is a beautiful world that I have given you. Take good care of it; do not ruin it.” [Reviewer: TH, February 2010] Goldsmith highlights ways to restore the balance between humans and our world. There could be more coverage of economic developments such as steady state economics but it is a book well worth reading. [Reviewer: SR, February 2010]
	*'The A – Z of Climate Change'* by Jon Cooke. Stretton Climate Care’s chairman, Jon Cooke has just published a must have book for all those concerned about Climate Change. Unlike the plethora of books appearing on the subject “The A – Z of Climate Change” has avoided the more usual facts and figures and has tried to provide answers to the many questions people ask about climate change and what they can do to make a difference. Climate change is going to affect us all and in Jon’s book can be found information about the carbon emissions impact our every-day lives are having and it offers much common sense advice as to ways we can all play our part to reduce our carbon footprint. “Much of what we need to do is not about high tech science solutions or requiring large capital outlay, “ says Jon – “it is just as much about being aware of the consequences of our actions and making small adjustments to our life styles!” Easy to use, the book sets out in alphabetical order information about the carbon consequences of things we all do or purchase and sometimes makes uncomfortable reading, for we are all partly responsible for climate change. It’s one of those books to keep dipping into, an A – Z guide to action before it’s too late. Price Ł6.99 + Ł1.00 for P & P, (cheques payable to J.R. Cooke) it is available initially by post from Stretton Climate Care, c/o Penwardine, Shrewsbury Road, All Stretton, Church Stretton Shropshire. SY6 6HE. Enquiries to info@strettonclimatecare.org.uk [Review supplied by The Low Carbon Network]
	*'Carbon Fields: How our countryside can save Britain.'* by Graham Harvey, 2008 (the agricultural consultant for The Archers!) I found this book really encouraging and hopeful, that is if we follow up his approach to food production. The basic thesis is that grassland locks up much more carbon than even woodlands do, so a return to traditional mixed farming methods using grazing would help stabilize the climate. Keeping animals indoors contributes to high levels of methane production and methane is an even worse greenhouse gas than carbon dioxide. Confining animals in large numbers indoors increases the likelihood of disease and increases the use of antibiotics leading to a cycle of poor animal and human health. The only question left in my mind about this well-written book was 'Where is the science behind this?' so I was delighted when the latest Soil Association journal said that they had just completed the research to validate his claims. [Reviewer:TH, December 2009]
	*‘How to make a forest garden.’* by Patrick Whitefield, Permanent Publications, 2002. This is not a book about creating an arboreteum or a small forest of ash, oak and lime. Forest (or woodland) gardening attempts to work with nature in the production of food. The natural (climax) vegetation of a large part of the UK is woodland and Whitefield shows how this can (a) produce significant quantities of food, (b) involve low input of effort and resources and (c) be beneficial to the natural envirnment. The first forest garden in the UK was established by Robert Hart at Wenlock Edge in Shropshire. Principles, design and components of the forest garden system are covered including the selection of suitable trees, shrubs and vegetables. A comprehensive and practical book on the forest garden - highly recommended. [Reviewer: SR, September 2009]
	*‘Stuffed and starved: Markets, power and the hidden battle for the world food system.’* by Raj Patel, Portobello Books, 2008. Patel has worked for the World Bank and WTO so has some valuable inside information. How is the soaring suicide rate amongst India's farmers, the growing movement of landless peasants in the developing world linked to the sophisticated manipulation of western consumers eating habits? How is overconsumption of processed food in the northern hemisphere leading to increasing food shortages in the southern parts of the world? To find the answers to these questions and to see how the whole food chain works read this book. [Reviewer:TH, July 2009]
	*'Sustainable energy without the hot air.'* by David J.C. MacKay, UIT Cambridge Ltd, 2009 The author has put together the costs of activities (driving, flying, the home, food production etc., etc.) in terme of kwhours per day per person, and set those against different forms of generation of clean energy - wind, solar, nuclear etc.. This is a 'must have' if you want the facts and figures to check some of the assertions that are sometimes made about climate change that do not necessarily have much basis in fact. He ends with 5 different energy plans, with and without nuclear. This is available as a free computer download. Go to - http://www.withouthotair.com/ - so you dont have to buy it although you can if you want to. [Reviewer: MA, June 2009]
	*'Permaculture: principles and pathways beyond sustainability.'* by David Holmgren, Holmgren Design Services, 2002 Highly regarded standard text. Permaculture is often seen as a form of organic gardening but it is more than that. Two questions are asked: Are there ways to live within nature's limits while providing a secure future for our children and justice for everyone? Do mainstream concepts of sustainability dodge the critical issue of global energy peak?
	*'The transition handbook: from oil dependency to local resilience.'* by Rob Hopkins, Green Books, 2008 Rob Hopkins is the founder of the Transition Movement and a teacher of permaculture and the use of natural building methods for many years. There are three main themes: Why peak oil and climate change mean that small is inevitable. Why having a positive vision is crucial. Exploring the transition model for inspiring local resilience-building.