How do we feed humanity nutritious, wholesome food, restore our environment and mitigate climate change? Is it even possible? In 2006, Perrine and Charles Herve-Gruyer set out on a mission to discover a new form of agriculture that provides organic crops and creates meaningful employment in the local community. Using a combination of biointensive methods and permaculture design, which they have named 'ecoculture', and backed by scientific research, resulted in their farm producing abundantly, sequestering carbon and freeing up land for Nature. This beautifully illustrated, comprehensive volume will show you how natural systems work, and discover many simple and effective techniques that create an ecological diverse garden or a highly productive farm. The in-depth section on 'Nature's School' explains weather patterns, soil types, and ecosystem services to give the reader sound knowledge of the environment they are growing in. The section on 'Designing a Farm' provides everything needed to implement an abundant food system, from understanding permaculture and its design tools, the full design process and the designs used on Bec Hellouin as a successful example. Additional chapters on composting, mulching, fertilisers, green manures and working with beneficial microorganisms offers the reader a selection of tools for creating healthy soil in a closed loop system. Full of first-hand tried and tested experience from Bec Hellouin, there is also a synthesis of the authors' research and the scientific and technical monitoring carried out on the farm. This is a unique, groundbreaking book for the serious gardener, farmer, agronomist and permaculture designer.

Farmers like Charles and Perrine Herve-Gruyer are among the beacons of light. Their work allows the rest of the world to see that there is another life, there is another way. From the foreword by Eliot Coleman, author of The New Organic Grower This book, more about philosophy than a how-to, describes how two inexperienced beginners succeeded in creating a gorgeous, productive, self-sustaining farm Marion Nestle, author of Food Politics What began as a simple dream in an historic Normandy village has turned into one of the world's most radical, innovative experiments in small-scale farming. When Charles and Perrine Herve-Gruyer set out to create their farm in a historic Normandy village, they had no idea just how much their lives would change. Neither one had ever farmed before. Charles had been traveling the globe teaching students about ecology and indigenous cultures. Perrine had been an international lawyer in Japan. Their farm Bec Hellouin has since become an internationally celebrated model of innovation in ecological agriculture. Miraculous Abundance is the eloquent tale of the couple's quest to build an agricultural model that can carry us into a post-carbon future. The authors dive deeper into the various farming methods across the globe that contributed towards the creation of the Bec Hellouin model, including: Permaculture and soil health principles Korean natural farming methods Managing a four-season farm Creating a productive agroecosystem that is resilient and durable Using no-dig methods for soil fertility Modelling an agrarian system that supports its community in totality; from craft, restaurants and shared work spaces to jobs, agritourism, energy and ecological biodiversity Perfect for aspiring and experienced farmers, gardeners and smallholders, Miraculous Abundance is a love letter to a future where ecological farming is at the centre of every community.