Living with The Earth, Volume 3

Creating a Microfarm

Living with The Earth, Volume 3
Pages:288 pages
Size: 8 x 12 inch
Publisher:Permanent Publications
Pub. Date: September 2, 2025
ISBN: 9781856232821

Living with The Earth, Volume 3

Creating a Microfarm

Availability: Available on backorder

Paperback

$47.95



Volume 3 of the authoritative Living With The Earth series explains the multiple elements that make up a productive, profitable and nature-friendly market garden or small farm. Written by two legends, these ground-breaking volumes are of particular interest to small to medium scale farmers, horticulturists, forest gardeners, agronomists and market gardeners.

A gorgeously illustrated and highly comprehensive guide to creating a profitable and productive market garden or small farm.

Perrine and Charles Hervé-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.

 

Reviews & Praise

"Perrine and Charles Hervé-Gruyer continue to deliver their powerful blend of deeply considered philosophy and practical guidance. If you are new to this world, you could not wish for a better lodestar. Even for those who think they know this subject well I guarantee this book will bring a new perspective to your thinking. From the intricacies of seed saving to horse powered cultivation, through to business and market planning, if only I had had this beautifully illustrated book as I was starting out 30 years ago."—Ben Raskin, Agroforester, author of The Woodchip Handbook and Silvohorticulture, Soil Association Head of Agroforestry

"Tapping into the wisdom of nature is one of the best ways to maximize farm profits and efficiency. In Creating a Microfarm: Volume Three, Charles and Perrine Hervé-Gruyer show pathways to making use of ecological principles for practical farm management in a digestible way for growers everywhere."—Zach Loeks, edible eco-system designer and author of The Permaculture Market Garden

"In Creating a Microfarm, Perrine and Charles Hervé Gruyer deliver a beautifully presented guide that is the third volume in their inspiring series. This book masterfully combines practical and theoretical knowledge rooted in the cherished traditions of family farming on a micro scale."—Rachel Phillips, director of Apricot Centre CIC
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About Perrine Hervé-Gruyer

Perrine Hervé-Gruyer has worked as an international lawyer and head of the legal department of a major company in Asia, and has volunteered with the High Commissioner for Refugees. When she turned thirty, Perrine radically changed lanes, and began taking courses in psychotherapy, specifically in relaxation therapy, publishing a book titled La Relaxation en Famille. With her husband, Charles, she created Le Ferme du Bec Hellouin. Perrine also serves as a Green Party representative with the Regional Parliament of Haute-Normandie, where she oversees a committee focusing on agriculture.

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About Charles Hervé-Gruyer

Charles Hervé-Gruyer has been passionate about the relationship between humans and nature since childhood. He circumnavigated the globe for 22 years while operating a floating school focusing on ecology and indigenous cultures, the subject of many of his books and documentaries. Charles then directed his research to exploring our inner world, studying psychology, relaxation therapy, massage, and yoga instruction. Anxious to explore the most environmentally friendly farming practices, Charles created Le Ferme du Bec Hellouin with his wife, Perrine, in 2003. The couple then began an experiment merging various small-scale, intensive, organic, and natural agricultural techniques that would pique the interest of European agencies planning food-security strategy and raise awareness about permaculture in France. The farm also operates a permaculture school.

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