Earth Repair: A Grassroots Guide to Healing Toxic and Damaged Landscapes

by Leila Darwish

A practical guide to natural techniques that are proven to heal land damaged by pollution. In the United States and Canada alone, millions of acres have been contaminated by pesticides, chemicals, dirty energy projects, toxic waste, and other pollutants. Conventional clean-up techniques are expensive and resource-intensive and can cause further damage. Communities find themselves increasingly unable to rely on the same companies and governments that created the problems to step in and provide solutions. Packed with valuable information from visionaries in the field of bioremediation, Earth Repair empowers individuals to heal contaminated and damaged land. It encompasses everything from remediating and regenerating abandoned city lots for urban farmers and gardeners, to recovering from environmental disasters and industrial catastrophes such as oil spills and nuclear fallout. This fertile toolbox covers various remediation methods

Genres: Environment, Nonfiction, Gardening, Ecology

336 pages, Paperback

First published June 11, 2013

Reviews

[Katie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found this book a little frustrating. I love the concept and it does has so much good information. The book focuses primarily on moderate- to high-toxicity sites. They aren't just cleaning up a trashy backyard garden that hasn't been used in 10 years. There is also an entire section of the book dedicated to cleaning up oil spills. That is definitely not what I was expecting!

The biggest problem is that the book has just enough information for me to know that something is possible but not quite enough for me to feel that I could confidently carry most of it out. I think I'd have to do a lot more research before actually putting any of this into practice. There is a lot of background knowledge that doesn't seem to be included in this book that I would need to go find. Also, most the stuff they suggest requires a large amount of money. There are also a lot of vague comments such as "make sure you get your plants/soil tested for ____" but they don't actually tell you how or where to do that. Most of the chemicals and metals they discuss can't be tested with a standard State Extension test. Even the section on mycoremediation has more detail, but is still rather vague when it comes to actual species of fungi to use.

I'm glad I read it, but I did not get as much practical knowledge out of it as I had hoped.

[Tyler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely read if you are studying sustainability, permaculture or the like. Even if you're just an interested Gardener!! This book has so much information packed inside its pages!

Despite the gripping reality of toxic waste poisoning our environment - this book is about hope.

[Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

I haven't found another book as practical and helpful for fostering local remedial action in a culturally specific way.

[Maya · Rating 4 out of 5]

A strong, interesting, and important book, which I was predisposed to like having learned with Leila Darwish in the past. Learn more and follow her work on her website: https://earthrepair.ca.

Companion Read: "Fibershed: Growing A Movement of Farmers, Fashion Activists, and Makers for a New Textile Economy" by Rebecca Burgess.