The Two Bibles

• Dr. Arden Andersen, Science in Agriculture: Advanced Methods for Sustainable Farming (Acres U.S.A., October 2000)
• Gary Zimmer, The Biological Farmer: A Complete Guide to the Sustainable & Profitable Biological System of Farming (Acres U.S.A., January 2000)

Two very comprehensive texts outlining the entire process principles and products behind a coherent soil building system. Zimmer's presentation is simpler and perhaps more readable; Andersen integrates sophisticated understandings in presenting a complete picture. Together these two books clarify everything involved in the process of building soil from the biological perspective.

The Next Three

• Charles Walters, Eco-Farm, An Acres U.S.A. Primer: The definitive guide to managing farm and ranch soil fertility, crops, fertilizers, weeds and insects while avoiding dangerous chemicals (Acres U.S.A., 3rd Revised edition, June 2003)
• Dr. Dan Skow, Mainline Farming for Century 21 (Acres U.S.A., April 1995)
• Philip A. Wheeler and Ronald B. Ward, The Non-Toxic Farming Handbook (Acres U.S.A., October 1998)

After reading all five of the above books the student will have a very coherent understanding of the principles in play behind biological soil management and maximizing the potential of our crops.

A Coherent Picture Through A Set of Stand Alone Chapters

• Graeme Sait, Nutrition Rules! Guidelines from the Master Consultants: 22 Inspiring Interviews
  An extremely valuable text that is a compilation of interviews from specialists in the field of biological soil management. Full of insights. Numerous 'ah-ha' moments in each interview.
  Digital version is available through Graeme Sait's website: http://www.nutri-tech.com.au/newsletter.html
  Or, you can download the book here:
  • Nutrition Rules!  Guidelines from the Master Consultants: 22 Inspiring Interviews
  Individual chapters can also be downloaded:
  • Soil Health - Mineral Management
    Interviews with: Charles Walters, Neal Kinsey, and Klaas & Mary-Howell Martens
  • Soil Health - Microbe Management
    Interviews with: Prof Elaine Ingham, Malcolm Beck, Bob Shaffer, and Steve Diver
  • Plant Health - Energy Management
    Interviews with: Bruce Tainio, Hugh Lovel, Dr Dan Skow, Prof Phil Callahan, Dr Phil Wheeler, and Dr Arden Andersen
  • Animal and Soil Health
    Interviews with: Gary Zimmer, Jerry Brunetti, and Joel Salatin
  • Human Health
    Interviews with: Dr Patrick Flanagan, Jerry Brunetti, Dr Arden Andersen, Kenny Ausubel, Phyllis Balch, and Dr Joel Wallach
• Peter Tompkins and Christopher Bird, Secrets of the Soil: New Solutions for Restoring Our Planet (Earthpulse Press, October 1998)
• Peter Tompkins and Christopher Bird, Secret Life of Plants (Harper Paperbacks, March 1989)
  Peter Tompkins and Christopher Bird's two classics above follow a line of experiences with striking individuals and their stories to paint a coherent picture far outside of the norm. Each chapter holds a unique insight that greatly enhances ones perspective on life and agriculture.

Weeds

• Jay L. McCaman, Weeds and Why They Grow (Acres U.S.A.)
  A comprehensive documentation of specific soil mineral levels and their correlations with weed presence. Ever wonder why specific weeds grow in specific spots and not in others? A very convincing answer why.

The "Far Out"

• Philip Callahan Ph.D., Paramagnetism: Rediscovering Nature's Secret Force of Growth (Acres U.S.A., 1998 edition & June 1995)
  The seminal text - not as detailed as it should be because all of his formal research is classified military secrets, but still very illuminating.
• Professor C. Louis Kervran, Biological Transmutations (Happiness Press, January 1989)
  The seminal text by a member of the French Academy of Science very rigorously documenting shifts in mineral levels not conventionally explainable. Very convincing.

Sophisticated Science

• Horst Marschner, The Mineral Nutrition of Higher Plants, Second Edition (Special Publications of the Society for General Microbiology) (Academic Press, May 1995)
  A sophisticated handbook for understanding micronutrient needs and uses in plants.
• Thomas E. Bearben, Energy from the Vacuum: Concepts & Principles (Cheniere Press, 2004)
  Not really an agriculture book unless you want to answer some pesky questions about energy and elements and how exactly it is that plants grow. A very sophisticated analysis of energy, how it works, and where it comes from. At the root of what is going on in the soil, and in plants.
• Fritz-Albert Popp, ed., & L.V. Beloussov, ed., Integrative Biophysics: Biophotonics (Springer February 2003)
  Again, at the essence of the barrier between matter and energy, form and light. The more essential our understanding of what is going on in life, i.e. our plants and soil life, the better job we can do in understanding how to feed our soil and plants. Not a critical read for sure, but extremely intriguing.