Such an important book to read. I'm learning so much and find myself talking about what I learn often.

This timely and revolutionary book quietly slipped into shelves in 2017. But it is not a quiet book.

Massy takes true aim at our agriculture and food production and calls for a revolution. The old paradigm of exploitation must be overthrown, and replaced by a more holistic and intelligent approach to the land. We have been caught up in a mechanistic mindset that has taken us to a dead end, and our ravaged land requires urgent action if it is to sustain us.

But Massy is no anarchic theorist. He is a Monaro sheep farmer who admits to having poisoned his own land though blind obedience to tradition. His journey to a new regenerative agriculture has cost him a great deal, but he has gained much and is passionately committed to sharing. For him there is no alternative to change.

This intense book is remarkable, and easily my favourite non-fiction of 2017. It is poetic, wise and persuasive. I found it reminiscent of Eric Roll's "A Million Wild Acres", but perhaps mixed with the science of Tim Flannery and the polemic of Vandana Shiva. Massy's profound take on our land cannot easily be shaken off, and will long colour your views of agribusiness and food, plants and waterways. He is not kind to farmers of the old way, but he tells stories to change the mind, so it is more tempered than a mere manifesto. It may carry a weighty judgement and an occasional academic tone, but this book is a vital call for us all. As consumers of produce we are complicit in food production, and if we wish to hear the reed warbler return and sing, we must protect the earth.
I thoroughly recommend this remarkable book to all that value our land, and I have no doubt it will be a classic to future generations.

With the recent rapid increases of affluent city populations in many parts of the world, the impacts of Homo sapiens on the ecosystems of planet Earth are becoming more obvious, more complex, more severe, and more dangerous. As sentient major predators with large brains we are obliged to accept and embrace a duty of care to all life for both selfish and altruistic reasons. Many of the problems are undeniably global and we are all involved. What can we do? For starters, read this book – NOW!

It is a long book (569 pages) about Regenerative Agriculture rather than birds. It has an impressive bibliography and many appropriate notes and references, yet it can be dipped into at random for information, encouragement and enjoyment. It will be a valued resource for discussions and studies about many emergent ideas and practices.

The Foreword by Valerie Brown whets the appetite and the Introduction is not to be skipped before the 3 main courses.
Part 1 Anthropocene epoch.
Part 2 The stories of innovative farmers in many parts of Australia.
Part 3 A wake up call - as beautiful and persistent as the call of the Reed-Warbler.

Charles Massy tells the stories of farmers who have moved away from conventional farming practices after experiencing ongoing and catastrophic land degradations.
He visits the properties to interact face-to-face with the landowners on their farms.
Their collective awareness and curiosity stimulate the creation of new management systems as they discuss the key interacting elements of all landscapes – sun, water, minerals, microbes, plants, and animals. Their holistic perspectives uncover the enormous diversity and the creativity of interdependent dynamic resilient ecosystems within and above the soil.

The author has solid credentials – farmer, academic, writer, historian, and thinker. The beautifully evocative writing conveys his love of life, and of the land. He pays homage to the achievements of indigenous Australians, who have farmed this unique ‘Continent Estate’ for over 40,000 years.

Reading this book will change your perspectives and preserve your sanity - an ideal present for those with feet on the ground and heads in the clouds.

Peter Thomson - Citizen/ Observer/Passenger.