Readings

---

There are many wonderful resources available on plants that thrive in USDA Cold Hardiness Zone 7b/8a (updated to 8a effective Nov 2023) as well as on permaculture and food forests. In addition to becoming a Master Gardener and/or visiting the NC Botanical Garden and JC Raulston Arboretum to build science-based horticultural knowledge, Loovis recommends the following: 

• Putnam, J. (n.d.). HortTube with Jim Putnam. [Videos]. YouTube.  https://www.youtube.com/@JimPutnam 
• Putnam, J. (n.d.). Garden Plants with Jim Putnam. [Videos]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/@gardenplantswithjimputnam8653 
• Rushing, F. (2003). Tough plants for southern gardens: Low care, no care, tried and true winners. Cool Spring Press.
• Bost, T. and Wilson, J. (2004). The carolinas: Gardener’s guide. Cool Springs Press. 

•  Falk, B. (2013, Oct 11). Ben Falk TEDx Talk: Homestead Resiliency, Food Systems Regeneration. [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CKND0131d3g 
• Dana & Sarah Films (2016, Dec 2). Back To Eden Gardening Documentary Film - How to Grow a Regenerative Organic Garden. [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6rPPUmStKQ4 
• Piner, A. (2022, Feb 1). Appendix G. Permaculture Design. In Moore, K. (Ed.) North Carolina Extension Gardener Handbook. https://content.ces.ncsu.edu/extension-gardener-handbook/appendix-g-permaculture-design (access the entire NC Extension Gardeners Handbook)
• Falk, B. (2013). The resilient farm and homestead: An innovative permaculture and whole systems design approach. Chelsea Green Publishing. 
• Holzer, S. (2004). Sepp Holzer’s permaculture: A practical guide to small-scale, integrative farming and gardening. Chelsea Green Publishing. 

Note: A food forest, also known as an edible forest or forest garden, is a permaculture strategy for growing food that works with nature rather than against it. Left alone, this southeast region of the United States would be a temperate deciduous forest. Actively cultivating edible perennials throughout the many layers of the forest is an alternative to conventional garden/orchard agriculture and results in a well-balanced, edible ecosystem with lasting, low-maintenance harvests. 

• National Geographic. (2019, Feb 18). A Forest Garden With 500 Edible Plants Could Lead to a Sustainable Future | Short Film Showcase. [Video]. YouTube. https://youtu.be/Q_m_0UPOzuI
• Forested. (2022, Jan 12). EDIBLE FOREST GARDEN · Grow Food & Heal the Earth · Lessons Learned. [Video] YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z_C_R1Z9ixE
• Toensmeier, E. (n.d.). Perennial Solutions. [Videos]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/@perennialsolutions 
• Smith, L. (n.d.). Forest Garden Design Guide, 3rd Edition. [PDF]. Forested. Bowie, MD. https://www.forested.us/forest-garden-newsletter 
• Toensmeier, E. (2007). Perennial vegetables: From artichoke to zuiki taro, a gardener's guide to over 100 delicious, easy-to-grow edibles. Chelsea Green Publishing. White River Junction, VT. 
• Smith, L. (n.d.) Permaculture Design Course. [Workshop] Forested. Bowie, MD. https://www.forested.us/permaculture-design-course 
• Falk, B. (n.d.). Permaculture Design Course. [Workshop] Whole Systems Design. Mad River Valley, VT. https://www.wholesystemsdesign.com/permaculture-design-course