Books on Caribbean Permaculture, Agriculture, Flora & Fauna can be hard to find, so we have compiled a list of our favorites.
Nothing on a computer will ever replace the feeling that looking through a book gives us. As an added bonus, they can be shared, bookmarked, and enjoyed off the grid, especially when GEBE or bad weather have us looking for quality entertainment.
Permaculture:
Gaia’s Garden (Amazon)
A Guide to Home-Scale Permaculture, 2nd Edition
Features: Small scale permaculture designs and projects suited for those interested in applying permaculture concepts to their gardens.
Gardening with Less Water (Amazon)
Low-Tech, Low-Cost Techniques; Use up to 90% Less Water in Your Garden
Features: Concise information on invaluable techniques on how to conserve water. Can be applied to most regions and growing conditions.
The Hempcrete Book (Amazon)
The Hempcrete Book: Designing and Building with Hemp-Lime (Sustainable Building)
Features: Case studies, resources, and clear instructions.
The New Create an Oasis with Greywater 6th Ed (Amazon)
Integrated Design for Water Conservation, Reuse, Rainwater Harvesting, and Sustainable Landscaping
Features: Grey water irrigation, information, safety, and case studies.
The Tropical Permaculture Guidebook: International Edition
https://permacultureguidebook.org/
Features: The definitive guide to tropical permaculture. This donation-based guidebook applies well to the Caribbean Region.
Caribbean Flora & Fauna, Agriculture, and Medicinal Herbs:
Edible and Poisonous Plants of the Caribbean Region (Amazon)
Biodiversity Library (digital)
Features: Handbook illustrations and descriptions of many poisonous and/or edible plants. It includes common fruits, as well as uncommon uses for other parts of their plants. Valuable information on habitats and flowering/fruiting times to help ID species.
Edible Leaves of the Tropics, Third Edition (Amazon)
ECHO Community (Download)
Features: Edible leaves found in most of the Caribbean and other tropical areas, including Malanga, Tania, Dasheen.
Healing Herbs of Jamaica (Amazon)
Features: Anecdotes and herbal remedies from a 7th generation Maroon Herbalist. Good quality photographs, but needs more identification information.
The Incomplete Guide to the Wildlife of Saint Martin, Second Edition (Amazon)
http://www.lesfruitsdemer.com/resources/books/
Features: Excellent information on SXM habitats, flora & fauna. Fantastic photographs. Association Les Fruits de Mer also has ebooks on St Martin’s birds, bugs, wetlands, endemics, and heritage plants. There are also publications on the effects of hurricanes and drought, as well as frequent blog posts touching on these and many more topics.
Seashore Plants of South Florida and the Caribbean (Amazon)
A Guide to Knowing and Growing Drought- And Salt-Tolerant Plants
Features: Excellent information on plants which thrive in our climate, as well as their uses. Includes toxic, medicinal, and edible plants.
Tropical Trees of Florida and the Virgin Islands (Amazon)
A Guide to Identification, Characteristics and Uses
Features: Good pictures and thorough information on uses of many common trees, including fruit trees and other edible trees.
Vegetable Gardening in the Caribbean Area
USDA PDF 1967
Features: Elevation information for many common Caribbean and European crops. Climate information for many Caribbean Regions. Being from the 60’s it recommends outdated and banned pesticides!
Organic Gardening:
Grow Great Grub (Amazon)
Blog: http://yougrowgirl.com/
Grow Great Grub: Organic Food from Small Spaces by Gayla Trail
Features: Container gardening in Canada with a few Bajan influences.
review…
One Magic Square (Amazon)
One Magic Square Vegetable Gardening: The Easy, Organic Way to Grow Your Own Food on a 3-Foot Square by Lolo Houbein
Features: Raised beds and companion planting.
review…
Other:
Biological Inventory of St Maarten 1997 (PDF)
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