The Regenerative Landscaper

Erik Ohlsen is a master of regenerative design, an internationally recognized Permaculture teacher, a landscape contractor, author, farmer, herbalist, storyteller, and practitioner of Nordic folk traditions.  Since 1999 Erik has founded numerous organizations that regenerate ecosystems including his award winning design and build firm Permaculture Artisans and The Permaculture Skills Center where thousands of students around the world learn ecological landscaping and regenerative agriculture. Working as an internationally renowned regenerative designer, he has committed decades to repairing ecosystems and connecting people with the land throughout the globe. He has designed and implemented hundreds of regenerated landscapes ranging from small urban lots to large tracts of land.  His many years of experience observing and listening to landscape patterns while managing installation crews have led to an extensive knowledge of ecological land development and planning. He is a specialist in water harvesting systems, food forest design, community organizing, facilitation, vocational education and much more. In all of his work there is a presence of social equity, climate justice, and ecosystem restoration and his stories and achievements continue to empower people worldwide. Penny Livingston-Stark is internationally recognized as a prominent permaculture teacher, designer, and speaker. She holds a MS in Eco-Social Regeneration and 3 Diplomas in Permaculture Design. Penny has been studying the Hermetic Tradition of alchemy and herbal medicine making in Europe, Indonesia and the United States. She has taught hundreds of Permaculture Design Certification courses worldwide in addition to advanced courses. A passionate artist from an early age, Adam Wolpert explored the media of performance, ceramics, sculpture, and collage before turning seriously to painting while earning his BFA from the University of California, Santa Barbara. After a rigorous two-year training in classical realism at Studio Cecil-Graves in Florence, Italy, where he immersed himself in the work of the great European masters, Wolpert completed an MFA at the University of California, San Diego. In 1994 Wolpert moved to Sonoma County and co-founded the Occidental Arts and Ecology Center (OAEC) where he still lives and paints. He has had major gallery representation since 1988, and is now represented by Erickson Fine Art Gallery in Healdsburg, California.

Foreword by Penny Livingston

How to Use This Book

Introduction


Part I: The Wisdom of the Earth

Chapter 1: Earth’s Design Intelligence

The Intelligence of Earth

The Hydrologic Cycle: The Blue Planet

Natural Water Storage

Vegetative/Animal Storage

Rivers and Lakes

The Carbon Cycle: Life’s Origin

Photosynthesis: The Miracle of Life

Keystone Species

Rivers of Salmon

The Power of Bees

Red Mangrove Coastlines

Bioregional Keystone Species

Regenerative Disturbances


Chapter 2: The Regenerative Mindset

Embrace Earth Wisdom

Landscapes Are Ecosystems

Regenerative Landscaping Principles

Chapter 3: Land-Use Directive

A Toxic Legacy

Regenerate the Degraded 

Case Study: The Permaculture Neighborhood Center


Part II: Compose with the Land

Chapter 4: Contextual Design

When Is the Land?

The Story of Place

Chapter 5: Awareness Practices

Walk the Land in Silence

Chapter 6: Reading the Land

Water Patterns

Look for Water in the Driest Time of Year

Vegetation 

Animal Indicators 

On-site Resources

In Field Soil Tests 

Observing the Soil Profile 

Chapter 7: Create a Base Map

Satellite Image

Surveyed Map

Satellite/Topo Overlay

Key Elements to Include in the Base Map

Triangulation Mapping Simplified


Chapter 8: Social Context

Social History

Know Your Neighbors

Project Stakeholders


Chapter 9: Develop Your Vision

Core Values Development 

Articulating Goals


Part III: Conceptual Landscape Design 

Chapter 10: Conceptual Design Process

Real Regeneration Versus Greenwashing 

Long-Term Design 

Lawn Transformation Step by Step


Chapter 11: Permaculture Design Wisdom 

Permaculture Principles

Stacking Functions 

Design for Catastrophe

Use On-site/Biological Resources 

Catch and Store Energy 

Permaculture Zoning Strategy

Permaculture as a Way of Life


Chapter 12: Drafting Design Plans

Drafting the Plan

Professional Design Tips with Emily Mallard


Chapter 13: Design Plan Sets 

Conceptual Master Plan

Planting Plan

Irrigation Plan

Hardscape Plan


Chapter 14: Phased Project Plan

Creating a Project Schedule

Using a Gantt Chart


Chapter 15: Professional Design Relationships

Developing a Design Budget and Identifying Deliverables


Part IV: The World of Soil

Chapter 16: Living Soil: The Foundation of Regenerative Landscapes

Five Principles of Soil Health

Create Living Soil

Develop a Soil Regeneration Plan 


Chapter 17: No-Till Landscaping


Chapter 18: Vermiculture

Worm Bin Design

Caring for Worms

Harvesting Castings 


Chapter 19: Composting

Compost Foundations


Chapter 20:  Compost Tea and Plant Ferments

Aerated Compost Tea 


Chapter 21: Cover Cropping

Timing

Disturbances

Specific Seed for Specific Yields


Chapter 22: Hügelkultur

The Benefits of Hügelkultur

Build in Layers

Plant the Berm

The Benefits of Hügelkultur


Chapter 23: The Fungal Landscape

Edible Mushrooms

Medicinal Fungi

Toxic Remediation with Fungi


Part V: Water in the Landscape

Chapter 24: Design Water Resilience

Water Conservation

Regenerative Versus Degenerative Water Management

Water Harvesting

Droughts and Floods

Chapter 25: Identifying Water Sources

Responsible Water Management


Chapter 26: Managing and Harvesting Surface Water

Topography

Landscape Grading 

Contour

Earthworks

Water Infiltration Systems 

Rain Gardens

Building a Contour Water-Harvesting Swale


Chapter 27: Landscape Drainage Systems

Grading

Water Diversion Channels

French Drains

Drainage, Erosion, and Pollution


Chapter 28: Water Distribution

Gravity

Pumping Water

Veins of the Land


Chapter 29: Roof Water Harvesting

Calculating Roof Water Catchment

Capture and Distribution

Tank Storage 

Using Rainwater


Chapter 30: Landscape Ponds 

Design Functions

Engineering and Permits

Excavation and Shaping

Earthen Ponds

Locating a Pond

Impoundment Ponds

Aquatic Plants for Pond Systems


Chapter 31: Irrigation Systems

Designing an Irrigation System

Water Demand 

Flood Irrigation

Overhead Sprinklers

Drip Irrigation


Chapter 32: Erosion Control

Elements of Erosion

Roads: Problem and Solution

Biological Erosion Control

Non-Biological Erosion Control 



Part VI: The Built Environment

Chapter 33: The Built Environment

Living in the Landscape

Hardscape Versus Softscape

Natural Building 

Use of Concrete

Materials Sourcing


Chapter 34: Architectural Elements 

Decks

Benches

Shou Sugi Ban

Trellises/Arbors 

Raised Beds 


Chapter 35: Landscape Patios

Sizing

Surface Materials 

Patio Foundations

Flagstone Patio

Pavers/Brick

Decomposed Granite


Chapter 36: Landscape Pathways

Water Runoff/Drainage

Shape and Flow 

Gravel 

Flagstone 

Stepping Stones

Water-Harvesting Pathway 

Landscape Steps

Building a Cob Oven by Sasha Rabin

Cooking in Your Cob Oven

Materials and Tools for a Cob Oven (26-inch diameter cooking surface)

How to Mix Cob 

Ratios for Cob Mixes 

Thermal Mass Versus Insulation


Chapter 37: Terrace and Rock Wall Systems

Walls or No Walls

To Consider When Excavating Terraces

Staging Terrace Projects

Combining Terraces, Swales, and Rain Gardens 

Rock Walls and Alternatives

Benefits of Rock Walls

Disadvantages of Rock Walls


Part VII: Planting Earth

Chapter 38: Revegetate the Planet

Repairing the World with Plants 

Plant Hardiness Zones


Chapter 39: Landscape Planting Plans

Mapping Your Planting Plan

The Right Plants for the Space

Extending Flowering Times

Permaculture Zoning in Planting Plans

Plan for Maturity 

Choosing Plant Sizes


Chapter 40: Plant Communities

Structural Plant Combinations

Structural Growth Patterns of Trees and Plants 

Zone by Zone

Plants by Function 

Soil-Building Plants

Native Gardens 

Drought-Tolerant Gardens

Cut Flowers

Medicinal and Culinary Herbs

Grains

Plant Fibers

Crafting Wood

Wetlands 

Native Plants Versus Exotic Plants


Chapter 41: Regenerative Agroforestry

Food Forest Agroforestry

Planting Trees

Planting Trees by Seed

Seeds into the Ground

Seeding into Pots

Stratification

Planting a Bare Root Tree

Choosing Fruit/Nut Cultivars

Storing Varieties 

Cultivars for Fermentation

Tips for Growing Regenerative Hedgerows


Chapter 42: Managing Trees Systems with Pruning

Dead

Diseased

Pruning for Size

Pruning Times of the Year

Pruning Fruit Wood

Three Ways to Train Scaffold Branches

The Power of Your Cuts

Thinning Fruit 



Chapter 43: Growing Vegetables

Nutrient Density 

Saving Money

Food Sovereignty

Four Seasons of Harvest

Growing in the Right Season

Protection

Choosing Vegetable Varieties

Notable Perennial Vegetables

Harvesting 



Chapter 44: Plant Propagation

Propagate by Seed

Sowing Seeds 

Depth of Seed Planted

Covering Seeds

Seeding in Ground Versus Pots

Grow Your Own Plants

Cuttings 

Dig and Divide Roots

Grafting 


Chapter 45: Landscape Maintenance

Changing Cultural Aesthetics

Vegetation Management 

Mowing 

Nontoxic Herbicides

Occultation 

The Art of Weeding


Chapter 46: Saving Seed

Pollination

When to Harvest Seed

Seed Processing

Seed Storage


Part VIII: Creatures of the Landscape

Chapter 47: Of Wing, Hoof, Claw, and Scale

Predator–Prey Relationships

Nature Awareness

Observing Animal Habitat

Animal Behaviors 

Leave Landscape Habitat Intact

Insectary Superstars 

Integrated Pest Management (An Ecological Approach)


Chapter 48: Integrated Pest Management

Seasonality

Stressed Plants

Beneficial Predatory Insects 

Mammals

Attracting Birds to the Landscape

Mason Bee Habitat

Insectary Plants

Avoid Insecticides (Conventional and Organic)

Habitat Ponds


Chapter 49: Fencing 

Fencing Varieties


Chapter 50: Choosing the Right Animals 

Beneficial Relationships

Keeping Bees

Sheep

Goats

Cows 

Safety Considerations for Domesticated Animals


Chapter 51: Chicken Systems

Varieties

Integrating Chickens into the Regenerative Landscape

Determine If Chickens Are Appropriate for Your Project

Coops

Permanent Runs

Movable Systems

Chicken Tractors


Part IX: Restore the Wild

Chapter 52: Stewards of the Earth

Biodiversity

Invasive Grasses

Perennial Grasses and Herbs 

Mycoremediation with Dr. Mia Maltz

Seed Drilling 

Build Relationships with Wild Plants


Chapter 53: Lands of Fire

Catastrophic (High Intensity) Versus Good Fire Fireproofing the Landscape


Chapter 54: Regenerative Forest Management

Ecological Forest Management

Biochar

Follow Indigenous Wisdom


Acknowledgments

Plant Species Charts

References

Index

About the Author