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Beyond the Brink: Peter Andrews' Radical Vision for a Sustainable Australian Landscape
Ever controversial, Peter Andrews, described as a prophet in his own land, once again challenges farmers, governments (federal and state), environmentalists and scientists to face the consequences of their actions. Unless attitudes change now, our lands, forests and rivers, flora and fauna, that we have wilfully mistreated for far too many years, will be degraded beyond repair.
256 pages, Paperback
First published October 1, 2014
4 people are currently reading
87 people want to read
About the author
Peter Andrews
58 books9 followersPeter Andrews is an Australian race horse breeder and grazier from Bylong in the Upper Hunter Valley of New South Wales.
He is the inventor of the Natural Sequence Farming method. He is acknowledged as having converted his degraded high-salinity land at Tarwyn Park into a fertile, drought-resistant estate. His techniques run counter to prevailing accepted practices. Peter Andrews is also the author of a best selling book on his methods, entitled Back from the Brink: How Australia's Landscape can be Saved.He also has written a book called "Beyond the Brink" that further explains his theories about water movement in the Australian landscape with the additional subjects of global warming and GMO usage and how this effects soil and the environment.
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_An...
He is the inventor of the Natural Sequence Farming method. He is acknowledged as having converted his degraded high-salinity land at Tarwyn Park into a fertile, drought-resistant estate. His techniques run counter to prevailing accepted practices. Peter Andrews is also the author of a best selling book on his methods, entitled Back from the Brink: How Australia's Landscape can be Saved.He also has written a book called "Beyond the Brink" that further explains his theories about water movement in the Australian landscape with the additional subjects of global warming and GMO usage and how this effects soil and the environment.
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_An...
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
March 11, 2016
There are some books that everyone should read, this is one of them. Peter Andrews is a national living treasure and should be made a chief advisor to the Department of Agriculture. A text book should be made of Natural Sequence Farming (NSF) to replace the useless European practices that is continually damaging Australia's environment.
It just works. There won't ever be so called silly 'rigorous scientific studies' done on NSF, there isn't really a need to, it's just a return to the pre-Green 'Revolution' of post-WWII chemical warfare by profiteering German, British and American companies. It's farming suited to Australia.
It just makes sense. If you want to reverse "global warming" then apply NSF. Just like anything good the big businesses won't like it, in this case the BigAg companies that profit from the stupidity of poisoning our land and waters with patented chemicals. Just such a waste.
No need for fertilisers and sprays when you understand hydrology, green coverage, mulch farming and allellopathy.
It just works. There won't ever be so called silly 'rigorous scientific studies' done on NSF, there isn't really a need to, it's just a return to the pre-Green 'Revolution' of post-WWII chemical warfare by profiteering German, British and American companies. It's farming suited to Australia.
It just makes sense. If you want to reverse "global warming" then apply NSF. Just like anything good the big businesses won't like it, in this case the BigAg companies that profit from the stupidity of poisoning our land and waters with patented chemicals. Just such a waste.
No need for fertilisers and sprays when you understand hydrology, green coverage, mulch farming and allellopathy.
May 17, 2017
This is Peter Andrews' "radical vision for a sustainable Australian landscape." In his previous book, Back from the Brink, Andrews makes a solid case for the downhill slide of Australian agriculture.
Andrews is not an "expert." He is someone who has taken a fresh look at a dire situation. Australia isn't the only country with severe problems of drought, but it is very dependent on its ability to farm. Some of what Andrews observes is pretty basic, but that doesn't mean it should be ignored: "The fact that all the major problems of our landscape have a common cause, a lack of vegetation, means that they also have a common solution. That solution, simply, is, one, to grow more plants---trees, weeds, scrub grass, the lot---and, two, to stop killing plants that are already growing."
He goes into some detail and gives direct steps that can and should be taken for land that can both serve livestock and crops. It all depends on whether "farmers" and others are willing to let go of their "commonsense" practices" and: "stop killing weeds, and stop clearing forests, especially forests on the high parts of a landscape."
More important, in this book, he pushes his ideas forward and tests them in the real world. In this world where changes in climate and weather are stressing the land and the people that depend on its bounty, I find his "vision" very compelling.
Andrews is not an "expert." He is someone who has taken a fresh look at a dire situation. Australia isn't the only country with severe problems of drought, but it is very dependent on its ability to farm. Some of what Andrews observes is pretty basic, but that doesn't mean it should be ignored: "The fact that all the major problems of our landscape have a common cause, a lack of vegetation, means that they also have a common solution. That solution, simply, is, one, to grow more plants---trees, weeds, scrub grass, the lot---and, two, to stop killing plants that are already growing."
He goes into some detail and gives direct steps that can and should be taken for land that can both serve livestock and crops. It all depends on whether "farmers" and others are willing to let go of their "commonsense" practices" and: "stop killing weeds, and stop clearing forests, especially forests on the high parts of a landscape."
More important, in this book, he pushes his ideas forward and tests them in the real world. In this world where changes in climate and weather are stressing the land and the people that depend on its bounty, I find his "vision" very compelling.
November 17, 2010
I've scored it five for the message. This is the sort of book you wish more people would read.
September 15, 2022
Peter Andrews was man before his time
At time when the intellectuals of the world are focused on climate change before this became fashionable Peter Andrews was struggling to alert the world on the results of outdated farming practices. This thought provoking book is a must read for that highlights what is a hidden catastrophic series of events for Australia that seems lost in the cacophony of noise about climate change.With or with out climate change the effects of salinity on our farmlands will be devastating , Peter may not have all the answers but he certainly gives a great insite into what's coming and how we can pull back from the brink of destruction of our food chains
At time when the intellectuals of the world are focused on climate change before this became fashionable Peter Andrews was struggling to alert the world on the results of outdated farming practices. This thought provoking book is a must read for that highlights what is a hidden catastrophic series of events for Australia that seems lost in the cacophony of noise about climate change.With or with out climate change the effects of salinity on our farmlands will be devastating , Peter may not have all the answers but he certainly gives a great insite into what's coming and how we can pull back from the brink of destruction of our food chains
November 25, 2017
For a scientist who has worked in ecology for decades, this is a provocative book. There are aspects that I fully agree with, like maximizing diversity and the impact of aboriginal burning (not good in the long run), but there are other bits I struggle to believe, like salt doesn't rise or weeds are required for recovery. The latter thesis is likely the most provocative one to landowners, scientists, and land managers. I would really like to see some long-term experiments in a range of landscapes to test the ideas, but funding for such long term (10-30 years) is almost impossible. Would weeds simply spread to homogenise the biodiversity or would they indeed die out among their mulch?
September 2, 2020
Read Back from the Brink first!
Generally Peter Andrews covers a lot of the topics from the last book or goes in to more detail. He also introduces new topics and answers a lot of questions people had about the last book also.
Full of information based on his Natural Sequence Farming experience and is still definitely worth a read. You’ll enjoy learning from this book if you’ve read his first book already, although it’s not detrimental.
Generally Peter Andrews covers a lot of the topics from the last book or goes in to more detail. He also introduces new topics and answers a lot of questions people had about the last book also.
Full of information based on his Natural Sequence Farming experience and is still definitely worth a read. You’ll enjoy learning from this book if you’ve read his first book already, although it’s not detrimental.
January 20, 2018
Very interesting, exciting possibilities.
November 23, 2011
A fantastic follow up to Peter's Back From the Brink. Peter shares his knowledge, his experiences and his thoughts on so many important issues, vital to our survival. He offers hope, answers and warnings.
January 17, 2013
Excellent follow up to Peter's first book, Back From the Brink. If you have read the first this one is a must read. I have kept both of them as reference books and continue to re read them as time goes on.
September 17, 2012
The second book in the series by Peter Andrews. Weeds and willows are our friends. Don't believe me? Read both books and also watch Peter Andrews series onYouTube.
March 25, 2015
Like the first book this has some good original ideas, but lacks scientific rigour.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews