Agroecology texts

To: 'sanet-mg' <sanet-mg@amani.ces.ncsu.edu>
Subject: Agroecology texts
From: "Gruver, Joel" <gruverj@css.orst.edu>
Date: Thu, 19 Oct 95 11:00:00 PDT

Hello,

This is a response to the request for agroecology text info :
Already mentioned by A. Clarke, I have found "Crop Ecology" by Loomis and 
Connor to be an excellent reference text. This book does not promote 
low-input
agriculture... it does however contain the best sysnthesis of crop 
physiology, soil science, water relations, energy analysis, systems analysis 
that I have seen in any one book.

The institution where I was employed last year, Hampshire College, Amherst, 
MA, teaches several undergraduate agroecology classes. My recollection is 
that these classes use several texts as well as many handouts.

Miguel Alteri is the author of a text used at Hampshire that I believe is 
titled "Agroecology" which covers low-inout indigenous agriculture.

Farmer/author Jim Bender has written a book that I believe is titled Future 
Harvest which is the best presentation of an alternative midwest agriculture 
system that I have seen. This book is very applied. It details step by step 
Benders farming practices and how they integrate into a system. He also 
explains very rationally why he has chosen the practices that he uses over 
more conventional methods.

The new Planting the Future ? book comparing north west agricultural systems 
(Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana, Dakotas...) from a sustainability 
perspective is also good...

The Agroecology class at Hampshire that I was most closely connected with 
had an IPM emphasis because the prof was an entomologist. The class included 
tours of several local farms including the Hampshire farm. All students had 
to complete and present group projects.

I loaned an excellent book on low input sustainable tropical ag to a student 
in this class and never saw it again. I purchased this book from agAcess and 
it was published in  the Netherlands about 2-3 years ago.  Any ideas what 
the name of this book might have been  ?

Personally I feel the integration of animals and crops should be emphasized 
in any agroecology class.  I gave a lecture to the above mentioned class on 
this subject.
I think the ecology of sustainable animal ag. is perhaps the most 
misunderstood topic among today's "environmentally conscious" . I can share 
a paper I wrote on this subject with anyone interested as well as a list of 
good resources on sustainable animal agriculture. If you want this info send 
me a personal request at
gruverj@css.orst.edu.

Joel Gruver
Oregon State University