"Bromfield was firm in his beliefs in what makes agriculture good and right. He remained solidly rooted and his compass pointed true until his death." —David Kline

" 'Out of the Earth' will be a controversial book. But, inevitably, because it is explicit and concerns a vital aspect of life, it will be an important book. Those who teach science should read it and ask themselves whether, with all of their technical discipline, they have been imparting as broad a view of the interelations of nature as this gutsy layman, Louis Bromfield." —Herald Tribune

"The practical summary of a decade of experience, I think that 'Out of the Earth' will prove well up among the most useful books on agriculture ever published." —The New York Times

"My. Bromfield shows all the fervor of the old-time fire-and-brimstone preacher, and for much the same reason. He is utterly convinced that he has a message and that it is of utmost importance. This urgency makes it remarkably readable." —San Francisco Chronicle

No book yet published has attempted to bring together the basic tenets of soils and agronomy with the essential elements of Godly love. Yet, the functions of the natural world as God intended them operate perfectly well upon the mutualistic, loving interrelationships of all creatures on earth…human, animal, plant, and microbe.

It turns out that “doing to others as you would have others do unto you” is as imperative to the operation of soils and crops as it is amongst people. Meshing scientific research with Biblical understandings, the author carries the reader through a scintillating exploration of what soils are and how they function together with the roots of plants. The critical mutualism amongst fascinating myriads of soil microbes, soil minerals, and roots underpins the core of comprehending soil fertility…how plants gain their nutrition which they form into food, fiber, and shelter to provide for us all. Students, instructors, researchers, farmers, gardeners, and anyone interested in a deeper and spiritual understanding of soils and crops will find this book indispensable.

Tree lovers and forest folk will especially enjoy his research into the ‘wood wide web’ – the mutually beneficial system that helps trees communicate and heal each other below their understorey via mycorrhizal fungi. Macfarlane cleverly enthuses that the idea is “so powerful in its implications that it unsettles the ground you walk on.” In typical style he deals with the complex subject by walking and talking with a new expert friend, in this case, Merlin Sheldrake, a young mycologist. Throughout his writings Macfarlane has developed a knack of finding and describing vivid characters that add verve and passion to his explanations. True to form ‘Underland’ comes with its own dramatic cast of colourful personalities . Merlin Sheldrake doesn’t disappoint with his tales of ash forests communicating via ‘tree snogging”, 8,000 year old honey fungus extending four-square miles under Oregon soil and melanized dark fungus thriving on the extreme levels of radiation after the disaster at Chernobyl.

The world-leading scientist of plant communication and intelligence reveals how she discovered the secrets of the forest

Raised in the hardy forest communities of British Columbia, scientist Suzanne Simard overturned conventional beliefs in proving that trees and plants are connected underground by an immense web of fungal mycelia, at the centre of which lie the Mother Trees: the mysterious, powerful entities that sustain the forest.

Finding the Mother Tree is the story of a lifetime spent uncovering startling truths about trees: their perceptions, behaviours, healing capacities, language, memory and wisdom. Simard's landmark work has been immensely influential, revealing the complex cycle of forest life - on which we rely for our existence - and offering profound lessons about resilience and kinship.

A translated edition revealing the core principles behind cultivating thriving, productive land. Discover the hidden strategies and time-tested techniques to unlock the full potential of your soil and achieve bountiful harvests. This book distills the wisdom for nurturing fertile soils, offering practical guidance for gardeners, farmers, and anyone seeking a deeper understanding of the earth beneath our feet.

When we think of fungi, we probably think of mushrooms. But mushrooms are only fruiting bodies, analogous to apples on a tree. Most fungi live out of sight, yet make up a massively diverse kingdom of organisms that support and sustain nearly all living systems. The more we learn about fungi, the less makes sense without them.

Sheldrake’s mind-bending journey into this hidden world ranges from yeast to psychedelics, to the fungi that sprawl for miles underground and are the largest organisms on the planet, to those that make all plant life possible, to those that infiltrate and manipulate insect bodies with devastating precision.

Fungi throw our concepts of individuality and even intelligence into question. They can change our minds, heal our bodies, and even help us remediate environmental disaster. By examining fungi on their own terms, Sheldrake reveals how these extraordinary organisms – and our relationships with them – are changing our understanding of how life works.

Regenerate: Farming, Food, and the Future of Our Planet

Call of the Reed Warbler will change the way we farm, eat and think about food. In this groundbreaking book Charles Massy explores regenerative agriculture and the vital connection between our soil and our health.

Using his personal farming experience as a touchstone, he tells the real story behind industrial agriculture and the global profit-obsessed corporations driving it. He shows how innovative farmers are finding a new way, regenerating their land and witnessing astounding transformations. Evocatively, he captures what it truly means to live in connection with the land.

For farmer, backyard gardener, food buyer, health worker, policy maker and public leader alike, Call of the Reed Warbler offers a clear vision of a sustainable future for our food supply, our landscape, our health and our Earth. It offers hope and a powerful affirmation of our potential for change. Now is the time for a grassroots revolution.

Guided by director and wrangler of scientists Peter Byck, Roots So Deep (you can see the devil down there) is a four-part documentary series that explores the world of adaptive cattle farmers and their conventional farming neighbours.

Alongside this journey, a team of pioneering scientists conduct groundbreaking research, investigating the costs and benefits of grazing practices in harmony with nature versus those in conflict with it.

What we do to the soil, we do to ourselves.

Soil is a joyful, magical book by farmer, cook and environmental warrior Matthew Evans. It tells the unlikely story of our most maligned resource as swashbuckling hero.

Evans writes a passionate plea for us to consider the very earth we stand on.

This engaging and intelligent book encompasses the science and history behind the current health of the planet, and investigates the future of our food. It’s a story of how dirt makes us and can break us, and how we are all responsible for our share in protecting this precious resource.

Soil is a life-changing read - part warning, part lament and part manual full of hope and optimism. It provides a global perspective on the earth’s life-giving thin veneer - from the Arctic to New Zealand - explaining how we’ve stripped 92 percent of the nutrient that enables ecosystems to function naturally.

New Zealand features, sadly, in Chapter 3: ‘The Earth’s Kidneys: when good soil turns bad’. Like all countries around the world, New Zealand has poisoned its soil. In our case it’s with cadmium in phosphate fertilisers on dairy farms. Now two thirds of all our rivers are un-swimmable and three quarters of native fresh water fish species are under threat of extinction due to the run-off from dairy farms.

Highly recommended for gardener, farmer, conservationist, grocery shopper and food enthusiast, it is an essential addition to your bookshelf, school, local library and university. This book has been compared to the best works of Simon Winchester for its diverting side tangents that can bring the reader up short in amazement. It’s teeming with revelations and facts you’ll want to share, such as ‘there are more living things in a teaspoon of healthy soil than there are humans on Earth’.

A thoroughly enjoyable, informative and thought-provoking read.

‘A love letter to Mother Earth and entertaining must-read that goes to the heart of our survival’ – Charles Massy, author of Call of the Reed Warbler.

Farming and ranching success comes from the freedom to fail because there is no silver bullet. ‘Curiosity - Farmers Discovering What Works’ tells journeys farmers make to find solutions that are kinder to the environment, easier on the pocket and bring purpose, pride and confidence to those in the most complex profession there is. Each story has nuggets of inspiration and insight to stimulate observation and logic in farming matters.

Learn how to connect with your land, your resources and your community with a subscription to On the Land – Aotearoa’s only magazine dedicated to covering permaculture, homesteading, community-sufficiency and off-grid living.

The Force of Nature Podcast is where regenerative thinking meets high-performance farming. Hosted by farm consultant Conan Moynihan, this show dives deep into the future of food, farming, and human health. Tune in for real-world conversations with farmers, thinkers, and disruptors who are transforming agriculture from the soil up; building profitable, resilient, and life-giving systems. If you’re ready to farm with purpose and live with intention, this podcast is for you.

Learn a roadmap to healthy soil and revitalized food systems to powerfully address these times of challenge. This book equips producers with knowledge, skills, and insights to regenerate ecosystem health and grow farm/ranch profits.

This guidebook aims to make it easier for NZ farmers to use green crops more confidently and effectively. Doing so will improve nutrient creation and retention, soil and water quality as well as profitability.

Different types of green crops can be specifically chosen to add nitrogen (N) into the soil (legumes); add carbon (C) in to the soil (cereals/grains & grasses); and smother weeds, reduce diseases and provide habitat for beneficial insects to protect your main crop from pests.

In this guidebook we use “green crops” as one simple name for cover crops, green manure crops, catch crops and flowering green crops.

The Quorum Sense Podcast is a series of conversations with farmers and those working in the rural sector. We’re exploring the variety of experiences, perspectives and ideas coming from the creation of resilient, regenerative and enjoyable farming systems in New Zealand.

"Dirt to Soil" by Gabe Brown details his family's journey into regenerative agriculture, transforming a degraded farm into a thriving ecosystem. The book emphasizes the importance of soil health, biodiversity, and integrating livestock and diverse crops to create a sustainable, profitable, and nutrient-rich food system.