Eco-bookstore

Ginseng, elderberry, hemlock, wintergreen, wild garlic, bee balm, poplar, milkweed, sumac… In the untouched forest stands and marshes of the province abounds an unknown therapeutic panacea: the native wild plant world.

Rich, practical, and insightful, this full-color book is illustrated with concrete diagrams. It will be useful to traditional gardeners looking for new solutions, as well as committed permaculture practitioners and landscape designers.

Observing nature, the areas around the house, design, the importance of biodiversity and the forest. This is a lovely book to introduce children and adults to the fundamentals of permaculture.

The organization of cities has emerged as a key to addressing the major economic, social, and environmental challenges of our time.

In recent years, urban planning has emerged as a key to addressing the major economic, social, and environmental challenges of our time. Cities are now seen as the places where all solutions are being invented.

• new economic models (circular, collaborative, resilient, etc.);
• emerging energy systems (solar, methanization, geothermal, etc.);
• innovative modes of mobility (cable transport, electric cars, bicycles, etc.);
• new cultural forms (urban art, festivals, events, etc.);
• renewed democratic practices (citizen participation, wiki city, etc.).

Eco-urbanism is this cross-cutting approach that aims to give all these spontaneous initiatives a new sense of coherence. The authors present concrete examples of cities around the world that foreshadow the eco-cities of tomorrow.

The stakes are high: according to the two authors, the organization of cities could become, in the 21st century, a "resource" as important as oil in the 20th century and agricultural land in pre-industrial societies.

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Authors: Jean Haëntjens and Stéphanie Lemoine
Publisher: Écosociété/Practical Guides Collection
Publication date: 2015
Pages: 120
ISBN 978-2-89719-213-6
Language: French

The true nature of weeds presents and reveals 15 wild plants unfairly labeled as weeds!

The True Nature of Weeds aims to shed light on often-maligned plants. It explores the relationships First Nations peoples had with certain plants and is enhanced with numerous photographs and illustrations. The book invites reflection on what leads us to classify plants, and even humans, as good or bad.

The Discovery Guide provides information on;

• their life cycle and their anatomy
• their survival strategies
• their history and geographical origin
• Their uses: edibility and medicinal aspects
• beliefs and anecdotes about them

Author: Roger Larivière
Publisher: Naturat (Rouyn-Noranda, Quebec, Canada)
Publication date: May 2019
Pages:
90 color pages for the Discovery Guide,
110 black and white pages for the Botanical Notebook.

This is the first book to provide a comprehensive overview of crop protection against diseases, weeds, and insects in conventional agriculture. Based on current knowledge of the harmful effects of synthetic pesticides on the environment and health, the authors have compiled essential theoretical and practical information on all the preventive and corrective measures available to the agricultural sector, in order to equip and encourage the reduction of impacts on human and environmental health without compromising yield optimization.

This is the first book to provide a comprehensive overview of crop protection against diseases, weeds, and insects in conventional agriculture. Based on current knowledge of the harmful effects of synthetic pesticides on the environment and health, the authors have compiled essential theoretical and practical information on all the preventive and corrective measures available to the agricultural sector. Their aim is to equip and encourage the reduction of impacts on human and environmental health without compromising yield optimization. They propose integrating crop protection into production, from planning to harvest storage, and prioritizing the lowest-risk interventions all the way to the consumer's plate. In this way, the agricultural sector will develop the habit of embracing all possibilities, making the safest choices for the environment and human and animal health among physical, biological, chemical, and biotechnological methods, and finally, documenting and evaluating its practices with a view to continuous improvement toward increasingly sustainable agriculture.

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Authors: Roger Doucet and Josée Fortin
Publisher: Berger - Canadian book
Category: Humanities and Social Sciences
Publication date: 2023-09-12
Size: 20.5 cm x 23.0 cm
Pages: 504
Binding: Softcover
ISBN: 9782921416825
Language: French

Site selection, development plan, choice of plant species, budget, work organization and citizen participation: this book provides the tools to develop collective food forests in our communities.

How can we easily and abundantly grow healthy fruits and vegetables for a local community? And how can we do so in an environmentally friendly and resilient way, while also strengthening cultural ties, promoting education in sustainable agriculture, and maintaining biodiversity? The answer lies in multi-layered agroforestry systems, better known in Quebec as "food forests." Self-regulating like a natural forest and requiring minimal maintenance, these systems are valuable allies in the ongoing agroecological revolution.

In this guide, Caroline Dufour-L'Arrivée leverages her expertise to equip and support communities wishing to establish food forests in their environment, whether urban, rural, municipal, school, or institutional. In addition to offering numerous tips on plant selection and agricultural techniques, this guide:

• explains the concept of "food forest" and its importance;
• shares the experience gained by thirteen model and pioneering initiatives in Quebec in the form of detailed and illustrated portraits;
• shows how this type of development allows communities to rebuild links and develop their resilience;
• identifies the fundamental elements that must be taken into account to successfully carry out a collective food forest project;
• offers a step-by-step working method to help structure the implementation processes of this type of project and monitor their progress.

Citizens are increasingly expressing their desire to develop a new, healthy, and sustainable agriculture that is less labor-intensive and creates multifunctional green spaces. This guide will certainly meet their need for support in their collective project.

Illustrated by Mélika Bazin

Author: Caroline Dufour – The Arrival
Publication date: November 4, 2024
Publisher: ECOSOCIETE
Pages: 300
ISBN: 9782898570339
Format: printed paperback book
Illustrations: 178 color photographs, 71 illustrations
Dimensions: 21.6 cm x 21.6 cm

Living with the Land is a three-volume gardener's handbook in a beautiful slipcase, comprising 1,048 pages, 2,000 illustrations, and 100 chapters. This exceptional manual is for anyone, amateur or professional, who wants to create a natural and productive farm or garden.

Climate change is accelerating, biodiversity is collapsing, our model of civilization is faltering… Isn’t it time to invent together a new way of inhabiting the Earth, letting ourselves be inspired by nature?

At the Bec Hellouin Organic Farm, Perrine and Charles Hervé-Gruyer and their team strive to meet human needs while caring for all forms of life. They practice ecoculture, a new form of agriculture that mimics natural ecosystems. Scientific research has validated the results of this approach, which, thanks to simple and effective hand tools, allows them to produce vegetables and fruits of excellent taste and nutritional quality, with yields that can be ten times greater, per unit area, than those of mechanized organic farming. This abundant production is accompanied by a rapid increase in soil fertility. A micro-farm designed according to the Bec Hellouin approach constitutes a carbon sink and an oasis of biodiversity.

More than any other book to date, this practical manual covers a wide range of topics: growing vegetables and fruits, forest gardens, small-scale livestock farming, cereal crops, tools, and the design of a micro-farm in all its aspects. It is intended for anyone, amateur or professional, who wants to create a natural and productive farm or garden. It will guide beginners through their first steps and support experienced professionals for years to come.

This exceptional book proposes a way of life in harmony with the earth. It allows everyone to take concrete action for the world of tomorrow.

The organic farm of Bec Hellouin , in Normandy, has become an international reference in permaculture and ecoculture!

You can read an excerpt by clicking here: Excerpt from Living with the Earth.

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Authors: Charles and Perrine Hervé-Gruyer
Publisher: Actes Sud
Dimensions: 24 x 32 cm (9.5 x 13 in)
Page: 1048
Publication date: May 2019
ISBN: 9782330119478

Healthy soil teems with life – not just worms and insects, but a staggering amount of bacteria, fungi, and other microorganisms.

Good gardeners know that soil is anything but an inert substance.

Healthy soil teems with life—not just worms and insects, but a staggering number of bacteria, fungi, and other microorganisms. When we use chemical fertilizers, we damage the microbial life that normally sustains plants. At the same time, we become increasingly dependent on a whole arsenal of artificial substances, many of which are toxic to humans and other life forms. But there is an alternative: gardening to strengthen the soil and its food web, this fragile and complex network of living organisms whose interactions create a favorable environment for plants.

In this clear and concise book, which avoids jargon and overly technical terms, you will become acquainted with the various organisms that make up the soil food web. You will learn how to maintain and regenerate it to optimize soil quality through the use of compost, compost tea, and mulch, and which solutions to favor depending on the composition of your garden (lawn, vegetable garden, trees and shrubs, perennials and annuals, etc.).

In short, if you want to grow vigorous and healthy plants while cultivating your garden without using chemicals, this book is for you.

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Authors: Jeff Lowenfels and Wayne Lewis
Publisher: Rouergue
Publication date: 2016
Pages: 208
ISBN: 978-2-8126-1036-3
Language: French

Fascinated by your vegetable garden and edible plants, discover their history!

This unusual foray into the past of edible plants gives full meaning to the ever-growing interest in heritage varieties.

Did you know that tomatoes were tropical vines whose fruits were not always red?
Did cabbages grow in bushes?
That beans were once poisonous?

Exploring the history of the plants we eat reveals their astonishing evolutions. Since their original environment is largely located in tropical latitudes, it's understandable that our vegetables and herbs have traveled extensively in the baggage of explorers and horticulturists.

This exhibition offers a fresh perspective on the history of over fifty plant species, including tomatoes, potatoes, corn, arugula, and basil. This unusual exploration of the past of edible plants fully justifies the ever-growing interest in heritage varieties.

We must also acknowledge the work of the gardeners of yesteryear, to whom we owe the remarkable diversity of herbs and vegetables found on our plates today.

Author: Bertrand Dumont
Publisher: MULTIMONDES EDITIONS
Publication date: May 27, 2020
Pages: 300
ISBN: 978-2-8977-320-42
Language: French
Cover: Soft
Size: 13.97 x 21.59 cm (5.5 x 8.5 in)

This collection of five books addresses current environmental issues. Its educational tone raises awareness among young readers about the role they can play in protecting the environment. After reading, children can explore the topics further if they wish. This collection is sure to appeal to young scientific minds!

Ecosystems are amazing places, but their balance is fragile. A simple change in the ecosystem can disrupt the lives of everyone who lives there. Jade and her older sister travel along waterways, through forests, and across mountains to admire the beauty of the ecosystems around them. Follow them on their discoveries!

Green Turn Collection

This collection of five books addresses current environmental issues. Its educational tone raises awareness among young readers about the role they can play in protecting the environment. After reading, children can explore the topics further if they wish. This collection is sure to appeal to young scientific minds!

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Author: Collective
Publisher: L'Envolée
Collection: Green Turn
Publication date: 2020-01-14
Size: 25.0 cm x 27.5 cm
Pages: 16
Binding: Softcover
ISBN: 9782894886632
Language: French

With the globalization of the agri-food industry, we are witnessing a globalization of the invasion of non-native plants, limited only by climate and the type of activities. This book introduces us to a world where harmfulness is a function of activities (crops, pastures, livestock) and exists at varying degrees along a harm-to-benefit continuum.

Nothing is more complex than living things. Nothing is more relative than the harmfulness of a plant. And, in some plants, nothing is more variable than the characteristics of the species. Add to this picture climate change, global trade, and the introduction of new species, and you'll understand why this book is more of a short treatise on weed science than an identification guide. To help the reader learn to see and speak the language of weeds, the author guides them through the evolution and emergence of the major botanical classes and their roots in terminology, draws illuminating comparisons between species, directs attention to critical details—in short, aims to develop good instincts and reflexes for identification. Anyone seeking basic knowledge, whether in their agricultural training or gardening activities, will be delighted by this beautifully illustrated presentation of the plants that live alongside us and sometimes make our lives difficult simply by behaving as they were born to behave...

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Author: Roger Doucet
Publisher: Berger - Canadian book
Collection: Agricultural Science
Category: Technology and Engineering
Publication date: 2013-08-27
Size: 20.5 cm x 23.0 cm
Pages: 367
Binding: Softcover
ISBN: 9782921416733
Language: French

Transforming your backyard or garden into a productive and nourishing ecosystem is the goal of this essential guide!

Is your lawn looking a little too uniform for your liking? Do you dream of transforming your backyard into a little green paradise? Are you eager to get your hands dirty to contribute to the ecological effort against the climate crisis and increase biodiversity on your property? Whether you live in an urban area, the suburbs, or the countryside, this new guide will walk you through the process of creating ecological and edible green spaces in your outdoor area.

Transforming your backyard or garden into a productive and nourishing ecosystem is the goal of this essential guide!

Is your lawn looking a little too uniform for your liking? Do you dream of transforming your backyard into a verdant paradise? Are you eager to get your hands dirty and contribute to the ecological effort against the climate crisis, while also increasing biodiversity on your property? Whether you live in an urban area, the suburbs, or the countryside, this new guide will walk you through the process of creating ecological and edible green spaces in your outdoor area. From planting trees and fruit bushes to selecting plant varieties, equipment and raw materials, designing a layout, and the necessary work, to installing an irrigation system and maintaining your garden, you'll see that after a few years, your efforts will be richly rewarded!

AUTHOR(S)
Holding dual French and Canadian citizenship, Christelle Guibert is an engineer by training and a passionate gardener. She currently works as an environmental manager in the Outaouais region. *From Yard to Garden* is her first book.

Author: Christelle Guibert
Publication date: March 4, 2024
Publisher: Écosociété
Pages: 152 pages
Format: Paperback
Language: French
Subject: Architecture / Urban Planning, Lifestyle - Miscellaneous, Horticulture / Gardening, Nature / Botany
ISBN: 9782897199609

Edible gardening for all spaces.

You dream of growing your own fruits, vegetables, and herbs. But without a large plot of land, how can you do it? The new vegetable garden answers this question.

Contrary to popular belief, most vegetable plants thrive when grown in pots, containers, and other growing mediums. Even better: with the guidance of a master gardener, they flourish!

In this unique book, Albert Mondor offers ingenious solutions for growing a variety of edible plants on balconies, terraces, rooftops, or even walls. The numerous DIY projects, illustrated step by step, will allow novice and experienced gardeners alike to have a highly productive vegetable garden, regardless of the constraints of their space.

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Author: Albert Mondor
Publisher: Les Éditions du Journal
Page: 240
Publication date: April 2018
ISBN: 9782897610517

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Follow Buzz the honeybee on an unforgettable journey, discovering all the secrets of this animated and buzzing world…

Buzz! Did you know that bees love to dance? Or that they have an incredible sense of smell? Discover stories of bees from all over the world, learn how they are born, how they build their nests, and why they are so important to us all.

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Author: Butterfield, Moira
Preface by: Benoît Thévard
Edition: Broquet - Canadian book
Non-fiction children's book
Publication date: April 12, 2022 (Canada)
Hardcover
Language: French
Pages: 48
ISBN: 9782896547043

Unique, eco-friendly, and economical tips

In a world as evolved as ours, can we understand and solve once and for all the problem of weeding, which deprives many people of the pleasure of surrounding themselves with biodiverse gardens?

Ask yourself the real questions now: why are weeds growing on your lawn, in your garden, among your flowers? Since you've been fighting to control the weeds, are there fewer of them? Despite your constant efforts, the weeds keep coming back, again and again, and you need to stay vigilant.

Now imagine freeing yourself from all the tasks and expenses associated with weed control. This is the key contained in this book, in which expert Serge Fortier reveals the fundamental laws governing weed growth. Finally, concrete and lasting solutions!

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Author: Serge Fortier
Publisher: Éditions DE MORTAGNE
Dimensions: 15.5 x 23cm (6 x 9 in)
Page: 158, color
Publication date: 2009
ISBN: 9782890747982

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From spring to winter, picking wild plants means learning about them, getting closer to nature and enriching your daily life with healthy, local and tasty products.

Often considered "weeds," they are actually precious, interesting… and useful! One by one, Isabelle tells us about them, presenting the characteristics that allow us to identify them, their history, and their benefits. She explains how to harvest them respectfully and gives, for each one, different suggestions for use, with one or more recipes.

From spring to winter, picking wild plants means learning about them, getting closer to nature and enriching your daily life with healthy, local and tasty products.

Originally from the Lower St. Lawrence region, Isabelle Simard inherited ancestral traditions and developed a passion for the plants around her from a young age. Discovering that not everyone was as fortunate as she was, she shares her knowledge and expertise with disarming simplicity. This book, inspired by her outings throughout the seasons, brings together some sixty plants that grow wild across Quebec.

Often considered "weeds," they are actually precious, interesting… and useful! One by one, Isabelle tells us about them, presenting the characteristics that allow us to identify them, their history, and their benefits. She explains how to harvest them respectfully and gives, for each one, different suggestions for use, with one or more recipes.

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Author: Isabelle Simard
Publisher: Flammarion Québec
Publication date: 2023-09-07
Size: 16.5 cm x 21.0 cm
Pages: 256
Binding: Softcover
ISBN: 9782898111198
Language: French

How to attract beneficial insects and keep pests away?

Insects, defending our vegetable gardens!

Insects are the perfect ecological way to promote biodiversity in our gardens and vegetable patches. While some species can wreak havoc on flowerbeds, others are essential for their health. How can we tell the difference?

Albert Mondor & Daniel Gingras

Albert Mondor, horticulturist and biologist, and Daniel Gingras, entomologist, introduce novice and experienced gardeners to the fascinating world and unsuspected resources of butterflies, bees, and other pollinators. This guide contains, among other things:

• Several flower bed design plans that will attract beneficial insects
• Effective and eco-friendly tips for repelling pest insects
• Simple methods to distinguish beneficial insects from unwanted ones
• A directory of plants preferred by pollinating insects
• All the important elements to consider for insect farming, especially beekeeping

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Authors: Albert Mondor, Daniel Gingras
Publisher: Les Éditions du Journal
Pages: 240
Publication date: March 2021
ISBN: 9782897611040

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Here is a manual of high-level applied permaculture agricultural techniques and design to create and cultivate a human-scale farm that is profitable but above all resilient (robust, adaptive, autonomous) and productive.

** New book with slight wear due to shipping.

Being able to be self-reliant in the face of life's challenges is a constant concern for Ben Falk, and it's one of the reasons for his current renown. Another reason stems from his methods and results in regenerating the previously damaged soils of his farm.

Directly applicable to the colder temperate regions of the globe, such as France or Canada, Ben Falk's farm has already garnered attention across the United States. Located in Vermont, it serves as a productive and functional model, proving that it is possible to live a modern, resilient, and regenerative rural life on just 4 hectares. Situated on a terraced slope that conventional farmers in the area consider worthless, Ben Falk's farm is teeming with life, including fruit trees, vegetables, mushrooms, ducks, sheep, hedgerows for firewood, eco-friendly buildings, ponds, and productive rice paddies. And yes, rice is possible thanks to Ben Falk's innovations!

This book will provide you with the many strategies tested by Ben Falk and his team at the Whole Systems Research Farm, as well as experiences from sites designed and developed by Ben Falk's design office. Illustrated with numerous color photographs and detailed design diagrams, this book will shed light on:

• site selection and the design process
• adapting to changes
• gravity-fed water management systems
• the use of compost made from urine, “human manure” and biochar
• the production and storage of firewood
• human health and strategies for producing nutrient-rich foods
• the integration of perennial crops and herbivorous animals

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Author: Ben Falk
Edition: Imagine a Hummingbird
Size: 21 cm x 29.7 cm
Pages: 290 color pages
Publication date: 03/2017
ISBN: 979-10-95250-02-9

Aimed at both novice and experienced foragers, this book has all the qualities of the perfect guide: easy to consult, it offers an overview of each edible plant through detailed descriptions and color photographs.

Furthermore, the author suggests ideas for cooking the collected specimens and identifies poisonous plants to avoid. This is an essential tool to keep in your backpack!

Laurence Burton

Laurence Burton is passionate about edible wild plants. Trained in foraging at several renowned schools in Quebec, the United States, and France, this professional forager founded and now runs the company Un goût de forêt (A Taste of the Forest) , whose mission is to introduce people to the edible, medicinal, and survival-related wild plants of Quebec. Here, she presents a comprehensive field guide on the identification, ethical harvesting, and conservation of 70 of these plants found in our forests and along our coastlines.

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Author: Laurence Burton
Publisher: Les Éditions de l'Homme
Dimensions: 16.5 x 20.5 cm (6.5 x 8 in)
Page: 304, color
Publication date: April 27, 2022
ISBN: 9782761957854

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