Silvohorticulture

‘Dibben and Raskin offer an insightful, inspiring but also exceptionally practical guide to integrating trees into annual cropping systems. They demonstrate how stacking a farm upwards has benefits beyond just multiple levels of harvest. From soil moisture management to shade, windbreaks and more, this book will inspire gardeners at all scales to consider what adding trees to the operation could do for them. More importantly, Dibben and Raskin will teach you exactly how to do it. It is always incredible to me how much food can be grown on a small plot of land, and in this book we see how the phrase “the sky’s the limit” has never been more applicable.’

Jesse Frost, author of The Living Soil Handbook

‘Every now and then a book comes along that adds a whole new dimension to a subject that you thought you understood. This book shows us the need for farming and growing in three dimensions; it tells us not only the myriad benefits of interplanting with trees and shrubs but also how to set about doing so in clear and extremely helpful detail.’

John Cherry, cofounder of the Groundswell Regenerative Agriculture Festival

‘Here are all the reasons why integrating trees with vegetables is a complete no-brainer. The only downside to reading Silvohorticulture is that you’ll wish you’d started sooner. You knew it was a good idea all along. Here’s the proof. Start today.’

John Pawsey, writer and organic farmer, Shimpling Park Farms

‘Silvohorticulture will be part of a resilient farming future in these unpredictable times of climate change. Dibben and Raskin give us detailed explanations about how to integrate trees into our vegetable and fruit farms to add more diversity, ecological function and spatial dimension. With its many practical examples, tables and a great tree directory, this book makes it easy to take the next step into more ecological farming methods.’

Helen Atthowe, author of The Ecological Farm

‘In this immensely practical guide, the authors provide the technical details towards integrating trees with vegetables and other crops, all while dispelling any preconceived notions that this idea reduces productivity or function. In fact, these systems might prove essential for farm resilience in a changing climate.’

Steve Gabriel, author of Silvopasture

‘An essential read for anyone serious about establishing a truly food-secure, resilient and abundant farming system for the future. Using their combined decades of experience, Andy and Ben demonstrate in detail how trees can and must become a foundational and integral part of our farmscape. The need to plan, and to plant, has never been more urgent.’

Lynn Cassells, coauthor of Our Wild Farming Life