Resources
This page lists resources that we have found helpful/interesting on our journey to sustainable agroforestry, non-violent communication, and fruitarianism. Note that we try to learn what we can from whatever source we can. In no way are we suggesting that ALL of the ideas or behaviours of any person or group are worth adopting. Any inaccuracies or recommendations that lead to net-suffering are those of their respective authors.
Recommended Viewing for New Applicants to Cocolandia
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Information on packing and transporting plants, cuttings, and seeds:
Transporting Plant Material Internationally video
packing seeds (text)
How to Preserve Perishable Tropical Fruit Seeds for 60+ days for Shipping or Storing video -
Tim Hartnett’s video on the Consensus Decision Making process:
Consensus 101: Basic Training in Consensus -
The Starfish and the Spider by Ori Brafman and Rod Beckstrom – about the success and structure of decentralised organisations
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The Marshall Rosenberg seminar on non-violent communication:
https://yewtu.be/watch?v=UEqmZ2E1o64
(It is 3 hours long, so we recommend watching an hour a day to space it out and better learn the material.)
and/or the corresponding PDF -
An introduction to principles of sustainable agriculture:
Permaculture Principles PDF graphic
Permaculture Beginner’s Guide PDF
Sustainability According to Permaculture video -
Examples of functioning food forest systems:
Life in Syntropy video
2000-Year-Old Food Forest in Morocco video -
Introduction to botanical taxonomy and nomenclature:
Taxonomy Primer
Binomial Nomenclature
What’s in a (Plant) Name? -
Soil:
Let’s Talk About Soil video
Soil Texture graphic
How to Fix Sandy Soil Using Weeds video -
Water Erosion in Arid Climates:
Desert Rain Flash Flood video
Rain season in Oman Wadi video -
How to plant a tree:
https://yewtu.be/watch?v=-wKP7wimscQ -
Chop and Drop:
https://yewtu.be/watch?v=_V3tUaeBhNk
https://yewtu.be/watch?v=3L3gcvS0oZQ
https://yewtu.be/watch?v=kQvXxZRYGtI -
The intentional community book Creating A Life Together by Diana Leafe – You can skip the couple chapters about financing land purchases, but reading the rest of it is important to understand the struggles and processes involved in forming and maintaining intentional communities.
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The intentional community book Walden Two by behavioural psychologist B.F. Skinner – This is a fictional example of a "successful" intentional community. Note its various issues.
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Animal Farm by George Orwell provides a concise illustration of the problems that arise when a community takes on an identity of its own. Do not let this happen to your fruit forest project!
Additional Resources (Learn at Your Leisure)
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Sway: The Irresistible Pull of Irrational Behavior by Ori and Rom Brafman
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The Humanure Handbook by Joseph Jenkins
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Factors of Soil Formation by Hans Jenny
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Teaming with Microbes by Jeff Lowenfels and Wayne Lewis
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The Vegan Book of Permaculture by Graham Burnett
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The Benefits of Vegan Permaculture and Food Forests article – a brief overview with links to more resources
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Return to the Brain of Eden by Tony Wright, PhD and Graham Gynn, MD
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Destination Eden – Fruitarianism Explained by Mango Wodzak – interesting perspective on fruitarianism
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Natural Hygiene: Man’s Pristine Way of Life by Herbert Shelton – You cannot heal the body; the body must heal itself.
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Orthotrophy by Herbert Shelton – For all of the advancements in nutrition science since this book’s publication, these basic principles stand virtually unchanged.
Additional Resources Regarding What NOT To Do
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Anthem by Ayn Rand – Collectivism is dangerous, mmkay?
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The True Believer by Eric Hoffer – See above, mmkay?
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Global Farm Animal Production and Global Warming: Impacting and Mitigating Climate Change – In the rainforest or in the steppes, animal husbandry is a lose-lose situation.
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Animal Agriculture is the Leading Cause of Climate Change: A Climate Healers Position Paper – a more comprehensive look at global greenhouse gas emissions