I just finished listening an audiobook entitled "Restoration Agriculture: Real-World Permaculture for Farmers" by Mark Shepard and narrated by Jonathan Todd Ross. This book has changed my mindset and paradigm about how to make a sustainable food system and production for all mankind and the mother earth. We have a wrong paradigm about annual monoculture production that is unsustainable and destroying the ecosystem. We should change it by creating an integrated perennial polyculture production system based on the local biome of the region.
I want to make a headline about one of Shepard's views about the
"myth of profitable agriculture," and noting that most farmers rely on
off-farm income. He argues that the economic system is rigged against
producers, and farmers should not beat themselves up for not being rich. The
key to viability is lowering the cost of production. Restoration
agriculture achieves this by eliminating inputs (fertilizers, sprays)
and planting perennials only once. Once established, the input costs
approach zero.
The most central principle of Restoration Agriculture is the practice of biomimicry: designing agricultural systems that imitate the structure and function of the region's native perennial ecosystem (such as the oak savanna) using domesticated productive equivalents. Rather than fighting nature with annual monocultures that degrade the land, Shepard advocates for "three-dimensional" farming—stacking trees, shrubs, vines, and livestock in a layered polyculture—to maximize solar capture, build deep topsoil, and sequester carbon. This approach relies on key strategies like Keyline design to optimize water retention, integrated pest management through natural predator cycles, and mass selection breeding (STUN method) to develop resilient crops that thrive without chemical inputs. Ultimately, the goal is to create a self-sustaining food system where ecological restoration and economic viability are achieved simultaneously by working with, rather than against, natural succession.
Then, I want to share to you about the insights and key takeaways from the audiobook. Happy learning, and enjoy!
Foreword: Hope for a Hot Planet
The foreword, written by Anna Lappé, sets the stage by highlighting the urgent context of extreme weather and climate reality. She recounts a visit to Mark Shepard’s New Forest Farm in western Wisconsin during a summer of severe rainstorms that devastated neighboring farms. While conventional neighbors faced flooded fields and erosion, Shepard’s farm remained relatively undamaged, with crops that had "never been better," demonstrating the resilience of his methods.
Lappé introduces the core concept of Restoration Agriculture as a system that "taps into the inherent abundance in nature" rather than fighting against it. She explains Shepard's view of farming as a "solar energy collection" business, noting that a monoculture of annuals captures the least possible sunlight. In contrast, Restoration Agriculture maximizes solar capture by stacking crops in three-dimensional space, much like folding a flat sheet of paper into multiple peaks and valleys to increase its surface area on the same footprint.
The foreword also emphasizes the shift in relationship between the farmer and pests. Instead of eradicating insects with billions of pounds of pesticides, Shepard views them as essential members of a flourishing farm. By allowing pest populations to run naturally, predator populations arrive to eat them, eventually establishing a stability where the farmer acts as a "population ecologist" rather than a bug killer.
Lappé notes that the book draws inspiration from a lineage of ecological farmers, including J. Russell Smith, Masanobu Fukuoka, and Bill Mollison. She frames Shepard's work not just as a theoretical model but as a tested vision that has produced incredible results on his own fields. The foreword positions the book as a necessary tool for rethinking farming in a "resource-compromised future".
Finally, the foreword concludes with a stark reminder of the "remade planet" we inhabit, marked by broken temperature records and melting ice. Lappé asserts that the question of how we will feed ourselves in this new reality should be on everyone's mind. She endorses Shepard's answers as vital for navigating the challenges of a hot planet.
Introduction: Food, Annual Crops & the Fate of Civilization
Shepard begins by observing that while eating is a given for human existence, we are often blind to the processes behind our food. He points out that the majority of human calories—carbohydrates, proteins, and oils—come from "annual" plants that grow for one season and then die. This reliance on annuals is a relatively new phenomenon, existing for only about 10,000 years, a period commonly referred to as the dawn of civilization.
The author identifies a critical weakness in annual agriculture: it requires exposed soil to grow. In nature, annuals are "opportunists" that colonize soil after disturbances like floods or fires. To maintain a diet of annuals, humans must systematically eradicate perennial ecosystems to create the bare soil these plants need, leading to a "perpetual treadmill of endless toil" and the destruction of the land.
Shepard argues that every civilization that has relied on annual crops as its staple food has eventually collapsed. By clearing perennial forests and prairies to plow the earth, societies expose the soil to wind and rain, causing the oxidation of organic matter and the loss of fertility. He cites historical examples like Mesopotamia, Greece, and Rome, noting that their ruins lie in "collapsed civilizations" that destroyed their ecosystems to grow a "handful of hard, dry seeds".
The text draws a parallel between these ancient failures and modern industrial agriculture, which destroys ecosystems faster than ever due to fossil fuels and chemicals. Shepard notes that the North American continent has been transformed from a wilderness of abundance to a "near ecological corpse" in less than 400 years. This destruction alters hydrological cycles and releases carbon dioxide, contributing directly to climate change and weather extremes.
The Introduction concludes by presenting the book as a solution based on "real-world practice" rather than just theory. Shepard asserts that it is possible to produce staple foods using perennial agricultural ecosystems that actually improve the environment. These systems can remove carbon from the atmosphere, purify water, and build topsoil while providing food, fuel, and shelter for humanity.
Chapter 1: The Perennial Agriculture Vision
Shepard opens with a vivid description of standing on a ridge in Wisconsin, looking out over a "moonscape" of barren corn stubble and dust. He contrasts this lifeless, parched environment with the memories of the region's past abundance, where springs gushed and wildlife teemed. The scene represents the culmination of "agricultural progress," which has left the land eroded and communities depopulated.
The author challenges the modern definition of progress, questioning whether bigger TVs and ubiquitous soft drinks constitute success when the population is plagued by heart disease and diabetes. He links these health crises directly to the food system, stating that "what you eat creates the market forces" that drive farmers to degrade the planet. The agricultural crisis is framed fundamentally as an environmental and health crisis rooted in our reliance on annual crops.
Shepard reflects on the economic devastation of rural America, noting that the "get big or get out" policy led to the cannibalism of family farms. He details the cycle of debt forced upon farmers who were encouraged to expand and buy expensive machinery, only to be left vulnerable when markets collapsed. This economic pressure forced a demographic shift, turning vibrant rural towns into "unincorporated" remnants.
Contrasting the degraded landscape, Shepard describes walking back into New Forest Farm, which he transformed from a row-crop grain farm. Here, he finds a "working, food-producing farm" alive with frogs, birds, and insects, where hazelnuts, chestnuts, apples, and livestock thrive together. This demonstrates that land can be actively healed and restored to greater productivity while still functioning as a farm.
The chapter concludes by distinguishing Restoration Agriculture from backyard gardening. Shepard emphasizes the need to produce "staple food crops"—the bulk calories, proteins, and oils that sustain humanity—on a farm scale. The vision is to feed the population living in cities using sustainable, perennial systems that build soil rather than destroying it.
Chapter 2: Our Present Reality
Shepard recounts his personal awakening during the 1973 oil embargo, pushing a car in a gas line as a ten-year-old. This experience highlighted the fragility of a culture dependent on fossil fuels for everything, from transportation to food production. He realized that to escape this dependency, humanity would have to use fossil fuels to transition to systems that no longer require them.
He describes the dissonance between the hard labor of maintaining an annual garden and the effortless abundance of the woods. While the garden required tilling, weeding, and watering, the woods provided nuts, berries, and grapes with "no work involved" other than harvest. This observation planted the seed for a transition from labor-intensive annuals to perennial ecosystems.
The chapter critiques the "Green Revolution" and the escalating war against nature using chemicals. Shepard explains how the widespread use of pesticides and herbicides like Roundup has led to genetic resistance in weeds and insects, creating "superbugs" and "superweeds". He notes that over 90 percent of soybeans and 70 percent of corn in the U.S. are now genetically modified to resist herbicides.
Shepard shares a disturbing encounter with a researcher presenting a genetically engineered tomato resistant to tobacco mosaic virus. He challenged the researcher on the risk of creating new, potentially dangerous viruses through genetic manipulation. The researcher dismissed the concerns as "statistically insignificant," a response that highlighted the scientific irresponsibility of modern agriculture.
The chapter concludes by asserting that modern agriculture creates weaker plants and stronger pests, trapping farmers in a cycle of increasing work and decreasing returns. Shepard urges a shift away from this system, stating, "It is time to stop working in the garden and go for a walk in the woods".
Chapter 3: Standing on the Backs of Giants
Shepard acknowledges that most humans now live in cities and cannot simply "go to the woods" to live. He questions how to provide food for this urbanized population without destroying the planet's life-support systems. The solution, he suggests, lies in imitating nature to create perennial ecosystems that are rich and abundant.
The author cites Henry David Thoreau as an early inspiration for living deliberately but critiques Thoreau's reliance on annual agriculture. Shepard was "appalled" that even Thoreau had to destroy natural grasslands to grow beans, realizing that a truly natural life should not require the destruction of nature to eat. This led him to seek a better way.
Shepard credits J. Russell Smith’s "Tree Crops: A Permanent Agriculture" as a foundational influence. Smith contrasted the eroded gullies of corn-farming China with the intact, food-producing chestnut forests of Corsica. Smith’s vision of a "two-story agriculture" using trees for crops and livestock feed became a key piece of Shepard’s puzzle.
Masanobu Fukuoka’s "The One-Straw Revolution" provided another pillar, teaching the value of "do nothing" farming and letting nature take its course. Fukuoka’s method of growing vegetables and grains in a semi-wild orchard setting demonstrated that randomness and diversity could be productive. However, Shepard notes the labor intensity of Fukuoka's specific grain methods and seeks a more scalable approach.
Finally, Bill Mollison’s Permaculture provided the unifying framework. Permaculture combined the ethics of "earth care, people care, and equity" with the design principles of observing natural patterns. Standing on the backs of these giants, Shepard formulated a vision of "perennial agricultural ecosystems" that are ecologically sustainable and economically profitable.
Chapter 4: Challenges Facing Agriculture
This chapter outlines the major crises facing humanity, starting with Peak Oil. Shepard notes that crude oil is a finite resource and that our entire global economy runs on it. He argues that restoration agriculture systems must be designed to be energy independent and net energy exporters, reducing reliance on fossil fuels.
Global Climate Change is identified as another urgent challenge, with CO2 levels at record highs. Perennial woody crops can sequester carbon in long-lived tissues and roots, actively removing it from the atmosphere. Shepard explains that simply stopping tillage can eliminate a major source of carbon emissions, as tilling oxidizes soil organic matter.
The author discusses the increasing frequency of extreme weather events like floods and droughts. Annual cropping systems lack the resilience to withstand these assaults, whereas perennial ecosystems have evolved to survive them. He emphasizes the need for systems that can tolerate weather extremes and protect the soil.
Resource shortages, particularly of water and topsoil, are also highlighted. Shepard points to the depletion of the Ogallala Aquifer and the conflict over water in California’s Central Valley as evidence of "peak water". He argues that agriculture must be redesigned to thrive without supplemental irrigation from vulnerable public utilities.
Shepard calls for an end to the "blame game" regarding these crises. Instead, he urges individuals to admit their accountability and actively participate in transforming the agricultural system. The goal is to design resilient ecosystems that provide for human needs while healing the planet.
Chapter 5: Turning Things Around
Shepard challenges the scientific tendency to divide the world into separate categories, arguing that concepts like "gravity" or "epochs" are human constructs that don't always reflect continuous reality. He explains that the rich abundance of the early Holocene epoch was not a sudden shift but a result of ecological succession following the retreat of glaciers. This process created the mineral-rich substrate that supported a massive boom in mammal populations.
The chapter explains "ecological succession" as the orderly change of species in a place over time, starting from bare rock colonizers like lichens. These organisms create soil, paving the way for annual plants, then perennials, and eventually woody shrubs and trees. Shepard notes that the "successional brushland" or savanna is the evolutionary home of humankind and most domesticated livestock.
Shepard identifies the savanna as the most productive terrestrial biome for supporting animal life. He describes it as a "three-dimensional" landscape where plants at all levels—from tall trees to ground cover—capture sunlight. This structure allows for a greater total photosynthetic surface area compared to a flat field of annual crops.
Using the analogy of folded paper, Shepard demonstrates how a multi-layered ecosystem captures more solar energy. A flat acre of soybeans has one acre of solar collection surface, but a layered forest or savanna can have three to four times that surface area. This increased surface area also allows for greater interception of rainfall and atmospheric nutrients.
The chapter concludes by highlighting the interconnectedness of the savanna ecosystem. From megafauna to dung beetles, every organism played a role in cycling nutrients and building the deep, fertile soils of the North American breadbasket. Restoration agriculture aims to rebuild this complexity and diversity to create stable, productive systems.
Chapter 6: Farming in Nature's Image
Shepard contrasts the phenology of annual crops with perennial forests. While corn fields are still bare soil or tiny plants in late June (the time of maximum sunlight), the surrounding forests have been in full leaf for over a month. By using woody plants, farmers can capture solar energy for months longer than annuals, both in spring and autumn.
The structural advantage of woody plants is emphasized; they do not need to rebuild their entire body each year like corn. Trees grow larger every year, expanding their solar collection capacity. Shepard notes that perennial plants can live for centuries or millennia, citing a chestnut tree in Sicily that has produced food for 4,000 years.
Water management is a key benefit of the forest's architecture. While heavy rains pound bare cornfields into mud and seal the surface with a clay crust, the forest canopy intercepts rainfall, allowing it to drip gently to the ground. This prevents erosion and allows water to soak into the porous, organic-rich soil below.
Shepard details the six layers of a forest garden: emergent, canopy, understory, shrub, forest floor, and vine layers. By utilizing all these layers, a restoration agriculture system can grow up to twelve different crops (sun and shade sides) in the same space. This stacking of enterprises increases total biomass and economic yield per acre.
The chapter points out that natural forests require no plowing, fertilizing, or spraying, yet they produce massive amounts of biomass. Restoration agriculture seeks to mimic this zero-input abundance. By designing systems where the harvest of one crop (like grazing animals) maintains another (weed control for trees), farmers can drastically reduce costs and labor.
Chapter 7: The Steps Toward Restoration Agriculture
The first step in restoration agriculture is to "Identify Your Biome". Shepard advises farmers to observe the native plant and animal communities, rainfall patterns, and soil types of their region to understand what naturally thrives there. Success comes from mimicking the local biome's structure and species composition rather than forcing alien systems onto the land.
Shepard explains that while we mimic the structure of the native ecosystem (e.g., oak savanna), we substitute "domesticated equivalents" for the wild species. Instead of wild, bitter crabapples, we plant improved apple varieties; instead of wild acorns, we might use grafted oaks or chestnuts. This allows the system to function ecologically like a wild savanna while producing commercially viable food crops.
The chapter emphasizes that agriculture needs consistent, heavy yields, unlike the "masting" cycles of wild trees. Restoration agriculture uses breeding and selection to find plants that produce annually and abundantly. The goal is to create a system that is "ecologically functional" but populated with high-yielding cultivars.
Shepard warns against the "input" mentality of controlling pests and diseases. He argues that fighting nature with chemicals is a losing battle, as pests eventually develop resistance. Instead, he advocates for mass selection to find plants that thrive without inputs, even if it means losing some individuals in the process.
The chapter also touches on the role of fungi in the system. Waste wood from the system can be used to grow culinary and medicinal mushrooms like shiitake and maitake, turning "waste" into a high-protein crop. This completes the cycle of nutrient recycling and adds another revenue stream.
Chapter 8: Other Biomes
Shepard clarifies that while his examples often focus on the oak savanna of the Midwest, the principles of restoration agriculture apply to all biomes. Whether in the tropics, arid lands, or boreal forests, the key is to identify the perennial plant communities that naturally exist there.
He highlights the immense genetic diversity available in the tropics and subtropics, noting that plants like bananas and figs can grow in surprisingly cold climates. He encourages "mass selection" breeding to push the range of these crops, imagining a future where coffee might be grown in Vermont.
The chapter suggests that farmers in other biomes look for "analog" species—plants that occupy the same niche as the desired crop but are adapted to the local environment. For example, a farmer in a dry region might substitute mesquite for the canopy trees found in a wetter savanna.
Shepard reiterates that the goal is not to copy New Forest Farm exactly, but to copy the *process* of observing nature. Farmers must find the "keystone" species of their own biome and build their agricultural systems around them.
The chapter concludes with an empowering message: nature provides the template for every region. By working with the specific constraints and opportunities of their local biome, farmers anywhere can create sustainable, perennial food systems.
Chapter 9: Livestock & Restoration Agriculture
Shepard argues that animals are an integral part of any ecosystem and therefore must be part of restoration agriculture. He notes that animals move to where resources are best, and a designed system should provide niches for them in both space and time. Domesticated animals are useful tools for weed control, pest control, and fertilization.
The chapter invokes the image of the African savanna with its massive, multi-species herds. Shepard suggests mimicking this by using cattle, pigs, and turkeys to represent the grazers, foragers, and birds of the wild. He describes a leader-follower grazing system where cattle graze first, followed by pigs, and then poultry.
Turkeys are highlighted as excellent scavengers that clean up weed seeds and insects left behind by larger stock. They also help spread mineral amendments; farmers can feed minerals to the birds, who then distribute them across the pasture in their manure. This mimics the nutrient cycling of wild flocks like the extinct passenger pigeon.
Shepard addresses the "vegetarian/vegan" question, stating that one can practice restoration agriculture without eating animals, but one cannot farm without *using* them. Animals are essential for the health of the soil and the ecosystem, even if they are not harvested for meat.
The chapter details the "mob stocking" or rotational grazing method, which prevents overgrazing and mimics the predator-driven movements of wild herds. By keeping animals moving, pastures are allowed to recover, building soil health and breaking parasite cycles.
Chapter 10: Including Bees
Bees are presented as a critical component of the farm ecosystem, essential for pollination. Shepard advocates for a natural approach to beekeeping that avoids chemical treatments for mites and diseases. He argues that treating hives prevents the development of natural resistance.
The author describes his method of "dividing" hives annually to mimic natural swarming. This allows for natural sexual reproduction and the selection of the most fit queens who survive local conditions and pests. It is a process of "mass selection" applied to apiaries.
Shepard accepts that some hives will die, viewing it as a necessary part of the selection process. The hives that survive are the ones best adapted to the farm's specific environment and pest load.
The chapter discourages the use of artificial insemination and plastic queen cups, preferring to breed bees in the context of the "real world". This ensures that the genetics are tested against actual environmental pressures.
Ultimately, keeping bees is about more than just honey; it is about ensuring the pollination of the perennial crops and fostering a resilient, locally adapted insect population.
Chapter 11: About Nutrition
Shepard critiques the nutritional value of the modern industrial diet, largely based on corn and soy. He performs a caloric analysis of corn production, arguing that much of the "yield" is lost to processing, fuel production (ethanol), and animal feed inefficiency. Only a tiny fraction of corn calories actually reach humans as food.
He counters the argument that ethanol production doesn't compete with food, noting that while distillers grains are fed to livestock, the energy loss is massive. The calculation shows that a remarkably small number of calories per acre of corn actually nourish people.
The chapter posits that restoration agriculture systems can produce far more nutrition per acre than industrial monocultures. By stacking crops (nuts, fruits, animals), the total food yield is higher and more diverse.
Shepard compares the nutrient density of perennial crops like hazelnuts and chestnuts to annual grains. Perennial crops often have higher protein and oil contents and a better profile of vitamins and minerals.
The discussion shifts the question from "Can we feed the world?" to "Can we *nourish* the world?". Shepard argues that a system producing obesity and diabetes is not successfully feeding anyone, whereas perennial systems produce food that promotes health.
Chapter 12: Nutrition & Perennial Agriculture
This chapter delves deeper into the specific nutritional profiles of restoration agriculture crops. Shepard lists the potential yields from a stacked polyculture: chestnuts, hazelnuts, apples, grapes, raspberries, currants, and beef. The combined caloric and nutritional yield far exceeds that of a cornfield.
He emphasizes that food from these systems is "clean," produced without pesticides, herbicides, or fungicides. This absence of toxins is a major nutritional benefit in itself.
Shepard discusses the role of fats and oils, noting that hazelnuts and other nuts provide healthy fats essential for human diets. This contrasts with the often rancid or highly processed oils derived from annual crops like corn and soy.
The integration of livestock raised on pasture and tree crops (mast) produces meat with a healthier fatty acid profile (more Omega-3s) compared to grain-fed feedlot meat.
The chapter concludes that restoration agriculture produces a "complete human ration" including carbohydrates (chestnuts), proteins (hazelnuts/meat), oils (hazelnuts), and vitamins (fruits/berries).
Chapter 13: Getting Started
Shepard states that water is the number one plant nutrient, so water management is the first step in establishing a farm. He introduces "Keyline design" as a method to optimize the land's relationship with water.
The goal of Keyline design is to capture rainfall on the land and distribute it from wet valleys to drier ridges. This is achieved through the use of swales, berms, and subsoiling plows that follow the contour of the land.
Shepard explains that by keeping water on the farm, one can drought-proof the land and increase production. He describes his own success with Keyline subsoiling, which transformed his soil from hard clay to rich, dark loam over 15 years.
The chapter advises farmers to start right where they are, acknowledging the specific history and degradation of their land. There is no "undoing" the past, only moving forward with restorative practices.
Shepard recommends P.A. Yeomans’ book "Water for Every Farm" as the definitive guide for understanding these techniques. He emphasizes that managing water effectively is the foundation upon which the rest of the restoration system is built.
Chapter 14: The Transitional Strategy
Transitioning from annuals to perennials is a process, not an overnight switch. Shepard introduces "Agroforestry" as a bridge, where trees are integrated with annual crops. This allows farmers to continue generating income from annuals while their trees mature.
"Alley cropping" is a specific strategy where rows of trees are planted with wide alleys in between for growing grain, hay, or vegetables. As the trees grow, the alleys narrow, and the system eventually shifts to a more closed canopy or shade-tolerant understory crops.
"Silvopasture" combines trees with livestock grazing. Shepard describes this as an intensively managed system where trees, forage, and animals are managed for overall health. The goal is a savanna-like landscape with dappled shade and lush pasture.
The chapter offers practical advice on fencing and protecting trees from livestock. Electric fencing can allow animals to graze close to tree rows without damaging them, turning the animals into weed-control agents.
Shepard emphasizes that the transition strategy reduces risk. By diversifying crops, farmers hedge their bets against weather failure for any single crop.
Chapter 15: Managing a Healthy Farm Ecosystem
Management in restoration agriculture relies on "biological activity" rather than chemical inputs. Shepard discusses the importance of the soil food web—fungi, bacteria, nematodes, and worms—in cycling nutrients.
He notes that the shift from annual to perennial agriculture involves a shift from bacteria-dominated soil to fungi-dominated soil. This change happens naturally over time as the system matures and woody biomass increases.
Pest control is achieved through creating habitat for predators. A diverse system supports birds, bats, and predatory insects that keep pest populations in check. Livestock, like hogs cleaning up dropped fruit, also play a crucial role in breaking pest cycles.
Shepard advises "steering" the system rather than controlling it. This involves observing the natural succession and intervening only when necessary to guide it toward the desired productive state.
The chapter reiterates that doing *nothing* is often the best management technique. Allowing the system to self-organize reduces labor and builds resilience.
Chapter 16: Plant & Animal Breeding
Shepard challenges the elite concept of "plant breeders" and advocates for "mass selection" breeding by farmers. He cites Luther Burbank and Native American tribes as examples of successful breeders who didn't need PhDs.
The method is simple: plant a massive number of seeds (STUN - Sheer Total Utter Neglect) and see what survives. Plants that thrive without inputs, resist pests, and produce good food are kept; the rest are culled.
Shepard recounts a tour where he showed visitors pear trees grafted with multiple varieties. He pointed out that the best variety was the one with clean, abundant fruit, regardless of its name. "Who cares what variety it is?" he asks; performance is what matters.
This approach breeds plants that are adapted to the *actual* conditions of the farm, rather than the artificial conditions of a lab or greenhouse. It ensures that the crops are resilient to the local pest and disease pressures.
Shepard calls this "Burbanking," encouraging farmers to be new pioneers in discovering the crop varieties of the future.
Chapter 17: Making a Profit
Shepard confronts the "myth of profitable agriculture," noting that most farmers rely on off-farm income. He argues that the economic system is rigged against producers, and farmers should not beat themselves up for not being rich.
The key to viability is lowering the cost of production. Restoration agriculture achieves this by eliminating inputs (fertilizers, sprays) and planting perennials only once. Once established, the input costs approach zero.
Shepard discusses the value of direct marketing and value-added products. Turning nuts into oil, flour, or finished goods retains more value on the farm. He envisions a network of farmer-owned processing centers.
He also calculates the "shadow value" of the food the farm produces for the family. By eating their own high-quality meat, produce, and nuts, a family saves thousands of dollars annually, which is effectively tax-free income.
The chapter concludes that restoration agriculture restores the "economic resource base". By building soil and ecosystem health, farmers are creating real wealth for the future rather than extracting it.
Chapter 18: Creating Permanent Agriculture: A Call for New Pioneers
The final chapter is a call to action. Shepard states that we are at a crossroads and must take responsibility for the health of the planet. He rejects the idea of waiting for governments or universities to solve the problems.
He urges everyone to start planting, whether on a 1000-acre farm or a city lot. "The urgency of our times calls us to be doers," he writes.
Shepard envisions a continent crisscrossed with millions of miles of perennial crop rows, restoring clean water and wildlife habitat. He argues that this is the only ethical decision: to take responsibility for our existence and that of our children.
He encourages consumers to support this transition with their food dollars, buying perennial crops like nuts and grass-fed meats. This market demand will drive the agricultural shift.
The book ends with the affirmation that we can create a "permanent agriculture" that supports humanity and the earth indefinitely. It is a hopeful vision of a green, abundant future that we can build one tree at a time.
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