Miraculous Abundance: One Quarter Acre, Two French Farmers, and Enough Food to Feed the World

This is a long chatty book about how the couple has succeeded in business, a few comic stories about their start, and how they began to recognize and focus on their customers. It includes some name-dropping of the permaculture world. I was very frustrated at the lack of gardening specifics. I didn't expect a how-to book, but I did expect the author to be interested in putting as much detail into the actual growing process as he did in describing his store, baskets, his children's pets, and above all, themselves. I forced myself to read the whole thing and still don't understand what they are doing in their food forest or their circle beds. Given the daily details about other things that are in the book, I almost wonder if the author actually does any of the farming himself. It's a pleasant book if you want to hear all about how successful the Herve-Gruyers have been, and how famous they are now, and how much of their success comes from tourism. It wasn't what I thought it would be, and I wish I'd read a review like this before I spent money on it.

This book is a memoir in the French tradition of brief ruminations. It promises in its footnotes that a method is available on their website. If you search the website, the method is apparently forthcoming in some future book. So allow me to spare you. The method is to begin with a giant pile of capital buy a small farm and scribble charming nonsense that induces people to pay to come for a visit to a farm that...FFS look at the cover. Does that look like a quarter acre to you? I would call it a complete waste except that I intend to tear out the pages for a sheet mulching.

I enjoyed this book very much. It was interesting to see how they worked through their ups and downs in this business venture. There is not a lot written about Permaculture and a working farm so this was a nice change. Some readers must not have read the book thoroughly or they would know that the test on 1000 meters (1/4 acre) was conducted and show to be a viable way to make a reasonable living. The title is misleading in the fact that some people will think that you can feed the world on this 1/4 acre space. Yes, they have way more than 1/4 acre, they merely took a 1/4 acre spot and did the experiment. You can tell who really reads a book and who skims through just by their feedback.

Dreamers and Doers. Perrine and Charles are both. I bought the book to learn more and better ways to use my land for growing food. They have some excellent suggestions and ideas. I was more interested in the "hows" of what they are doing than the "whys". At first I was frustrated by the parts of the book which express their vision of the world using these techniques. But I became intrigued by the strong science and data behind their vision. Previously I had felt mostly hopeless about our ability to change the world in any significant way before we destroy our ability to live here. But I became much more hopeful as Perrine and Charles explained the science-based ways significant change can be achieved right now by everyday people. The solution is already available, not in some laboratory, but in the land and people we have. And everyone, consumer or producer, can easily be part of it. I still want even more specifics about day to day, in the ground operations of their farm, but I am glad to have a much better view of where we can go and how we can get there....and that I can actually be part of that change.

This is an excellent work which first and foremost describes Perrine and Charles' experiences in their transition to becoming farmers. It includes many thoughtful comments on work and life in western society, with perpetual reminders about our ability to impact what happens to our modernity as it continues to unfold. Readers looking for a reflective, personal account will be happy with what is offered. As someone considering the transition to farming, I found this work particularly useful through its discussion of preferred approaches, and pitfalls (if looking for the same, see Ch. 21 particularly, though there are comments spread throughout the book). I was especially happy with the pictures which are provided, as they are both beautiful and instructive.Those who are looking for more technically-oriented advice on how to approach modifying their own lands may, as other reviewers have pointed out, be somewhat disappointed; I must admit, this was also my initial reaction. However, as I thought about the narrative it seemed to me that they did detail what steps they took, what trials they faced, and gave a sense for what will be facing those who move from their current occupation to that of micro-farmer. In the meantime, they provide their website, where videos and papers are available now (fermedubec.com). I found there are more resources in French than English available presently, as their English site appears to be under construction. But what I was looking for after finishing the book I did find there.The narrative does include information about their many parcels, not just their 1,000 square meter experiment on which the title is based. I saw this as a way for readers to trace the evolution of their thinking on permaculture and integrated landscapes and enjoyed having these small gems of agricultural advice spread out like so many Easter eggs along the way.It is the intention of the authors to publish a second work which includes their technical guidance, based on the work which is still being conducted on the experimental plot. Within Miraculous Abundance and its afterword are details about the scheme's productivity which serve as a nice way to whet the appetite for their future book.

The Farm at Bec Hellouin is just the kind d of farming we need more of-- ecologically friendly, intensive methods. This book does not go very far in describing the methods, however. We must await the next book for that.

These guys are great! Amazing how organized and thorough and hard-working they are. Wave of the future for the Ubermensch class, inspiring for the rest of us. If this can be translated for Everyman quickly enough, our great grandchildren may actually inherit a Livable Planet!

This book needs to be thought about carefully before you buy it. Its review suggests that it will inspire and guide anyone setting up a micro farm, but it contains very little guidance. On the other hand, it does have plenty of inspiration within its covers. It is mainly given to expounding an attractive vision of the future in which most people work on the land producing our necessities which are, in the main, consumed locally. In many ways this book is an ecologically based update of More's Utopia for the twenty first century. It is a fascinating read, in part reassuring and in part disturbing, and certainly motivating, but of very little interest to the practical gardener or smallholder.

An enjoyable read about one farm and the challenges and joys of sustainable operation, but it didn't have that much information I could take and apply elsewhere: more memoir than how-to. Much fuss was made of the use of perennial plants and various techniques to improve soil, but they also imported large amounts of horse manure to start with -- which does tend to jump start things!

Read this book! It is very inspiring. Don't expect a 'how to' manual although there is a lot of sound advice peppered throughout the book. This is the story of one familys journey into permaculture and setting up a successful and self-sustaining farm. It is very honest and provides insights into both the potential pitfalls and the many advantages of choosing this lifestyle.

The Title is misleading as this book is a thoroughly good read with a lot of detailed research and references.It highlights the new methods of growing including Agroforestry and Permaculture.

Really enjoy this book. It has a lot of information about sustainable farming/gardening but with a good dose of fascinating personal experiences of the authors. It is entertaining, thought provoking and informative. 5 stars :)