Living Soil
A Grower’s Guide
Jean-Martin Fortier author Laurie Bennett translator Flore Avram illustrator Pierre Nessmann editor
Format:Paperback
Publisher:New Society Publishers
Published:30th Oct '25
Should be back in stock very soon
Healthy soil isn't an input—it's a living system you can learn to cultivate
Strong harvests begin below the surface. Living Soil: A Grower's Guide shows gardeners and small-scale farmers how to build fertile, resilient soil that supports productive crops year after year—without relying on high-input fixes or extractive practices.
Grounded in The Market Gardener Method, this highly illustrated guide translates soil science into clear, practical decisions you can apply immediately, whether you're improving a backyard garden or managing a diversified market farm. The focus is on understanding how soil functions—and how to work with biology rather than against it.
What this Book Offers
- A clear explanation of soil structure, organic matter, minerals, and microbial life
- Practical ways to assess soil health, from simple field observations to basic testing
- Proven low- and no-till techniques that protect soil structure and biology
- Strategies for composting, mulching, crop rotation, and green manures
- Long-term approaches to maintaining fertility while reducing labor and inputs
Rather than prescribing one-size-fits-all solutions, this guide helps you make informed choices based on your soil, crops, and climate—building systems that improve over time.
Who this Book is For
- Gardeners who want healthier plants and more consistent yields
- Market growers seeking durable, regenerative production systems
- Farmers reducing tillage and external inputs
- Readers of The Market Gardener looking to deepen their soil practice
- Anyone interested in working with living ecosystems, not against them
Jean-Martin Fortier is a farmer, educator, and internationally recognized leader in biointensive, human-scale agriculture. Through decades of hands-on growing and teaching, he has helped thousands of growers improve productivity while restoring soil health.
Living Soil is part of the Grower's Guides from the Market Gardener series—practical, visually rich manuals designed to help growers take meaningful steps toward more resilient food systems.
If you want soil that grows stronger—and more productive—every season, this guide shows you where to start.
Everything you need to know to grow amazing gardens.
-- David R. Montgomery, co-author, What Your Food Ate and The Hidden Half of NatureI was thrilled with this series. I love the illustrations and pored over them. The techniques and strategies are useful and appropriate. The information is well organized and the language is clear. It is such a useful addition to home gardeners and commercial growers.
-- Rowe Morrow, Blue Mountains Permaculture Institute, author, Earth Restorer’s Guide to PermacultureThe Grower’s Guides from The Market Gardener series has something for everyone, from seasoned gardeners and small farmers, to newbies. Read it. Enjoy it. Learn from it. The contents of these books belie their small size; they are packed with solid information, which, along with the layout and illustrations, make for an engaging and very pleasant read.
-- Lee Reich, PhD, scientist, farmdener (farmer/gardener hybrid), and author, Growing Figs in Cold ClimatesIt’s always fun and informative to read a seasoned grower’s tips and tricks for any crop. I know Jean-Martin has spent years refining his techniques, and it’s great to see his methods laid down in these little guide books.
-- Josh Volk, Slow Hand Farm, author, Compact Farms and Build Your Own Farm ToolsMarket gardening innovator Jean-Martin Fortier draws on his decades of experience in a difficult climate to share his strategies and techniques for producing high yields in healthy gardens.
-- Darrell E. Frey, author, Bioshelter Market Garden, and co-author, The Food Forest HandISBN: 9781774060186
Dimensions: 178mm x 133mm x 7mm
Weight: 122g
112 pages