The Edible Ecosystem Solution

Humans have always thrived in rich, diverse, edible ecosystems. Yet most cities and suburbs are blanketed by lawns, ornamentals, and a lack of biodiversity, let alone anything edible. It is within these sterile landscapes that seeds of an edible ecosystem lie.

The Edible Ecosystem Solution is a comprehensive, practical guidebook that looks at underutilized spaces to reveal the many opportunities for landscape transformation that are both far-reaching and immediately beneficial and enjoyable. Contents include:

• Hundreds of full-color infographics, illustrations, and photographs that clearly outline the principles and concepts of edible landscape design and benefits
• How to get started with as little as 25 square feet of land
• How to transition a garden plot into a place of edible abundance and an edible biodiversity hot spot, living laboratory, and a source point for transitioning and transforming community and culture
• Choosing appropriate plants for insects, wildlife, and food production
• Scaling up and networking backyard edible ecosystems at the neighborhood level and beyond to build community food security and resilience.

The Edible Ecosystem Solution is for everyone with access to a bit of yard, a desire for food security, biodiversity, and a beautiful and resilient community, and for anyone who wants to reclaim humanity's place in a rich, abundant, edible ecosystem.

Copyright 2021, softcover, 275 pages. 

About the Author:

Zach Loeks is an award-winning educator, designer, author, consultant, and grower who specializes in Edible Ecosystem Design around the world. He is the director of the Ecosystem Solution Institute and author of The Permaculture Market Garden. He lives in Cobden, Ontario.

Praise for The Edible Ecosystem Solution:

"Zach Loeks uses a rich palette of strategies and species that make sense in his region, to inspire people everywhere to create an edible ecosystem in theirs, and so become more connected to and nourished by nature. This richly illustrated book brings the permaculture vision of a recreated Garden of Eden to new audiences ready to dive into their own edible ecosystems." -David Holmgren, co-originator of permaculture

"A beautifully-illustrated and approachable formula for creating abundance." -Michelle Avis, Verge Permaculture, co-author, Essential Rainwater Harvesting

"For most of human existence we learned to live by hunting and gathering from nature's abundance and generosity. Agriculture marked a fundamental shift in how we lived. Now, COVID-19 confronts us with how destructive and frail our globalized industrial food system has become. Resilience in an increasingly uncertain future demands that most of our food must be grown locally. In taking an ecological approach to growing our own plants for consumption, Zach Loeks provides an approach that will be vital in a warming world." -David Suzuki, award-winning geneticist, author, and broadcaster

"Zach Loeks makes a compelling case for edible ecosystems and shows the ways in which our schools, colleges and universities can play a central role in this change. I can strongly recommend this book." -Alan Nash, Professor, Department of Geography, Planning and Environment, Concordia University