Page 70 - Summer2018

All Thumbs Book Reviews

ing patterns? These chapters show how to begin applying silvopasture for our farms by increasing their resilience and
principles. Gabriel points out that many properties have low-risk and reducing our reliance on outside inputs.
low-cost areas (hedgerows and other brush and scrub lands) suited to “A society becomes great when people
initial experiments—because they need remediation anyway. Converting plant trees under whose shade they will never
these to silvopasture also can provide shelter and sustenance for animals, sit.” This slightly modified quote encapsulates
making this sometimes difficult and time-consuming task far more one of the greatest challenges of silvopasture:
enjoyable and economical. Chapter Five, an excellent guide on “how to the need for patience. Such systems take years
tree,” covers almost every issue, including planting, weeds, water and to establish and may take a decade or more to
unwanted animal pressure. become fully functioning and fruitful, finan-
Throughout the book, Gabriel emphasizes the importance of good cially and otherwise. Although there are many
planning before planting, pruning or plowing. Chapter Six delves into short-term benefits, these systems’ real value
planning in greater depth for those ready to take the jump into converting won’t be fully enjoyed by those who start them.
some land to silvopasture. To increase the odds of success, he offers a This does not mean that we shouldn’t pursue
comprehensive outline and tools to use or adapt before starting to apply sil- silvopasture, however, but those of us who do
vopasture techniques, including some helpful financial forecasting tools. need to understand that we are investing in a
Why should traditional food people care about silvopasture? First, gift to those who will come after us.
silvopasture moves us back toward what traditional systems looked like, in Hopefully, Silvopasture will encourage
terms of how animals were raised and what ecosystems produced to feed, many farmers who may not see the full benefits
heal, clothe, shelter and heat us. Second, it increases the nutrient density in their lifetime to plant a tree (or two thousand),
of our foods. I have written a lot about this problem, and silvopasture reclaim thousands of acres of hedgerows and
is one way to remedy it over time. Third, for many species of animals, turn scrub land into pasture forests, so that
silvopasture is a way to reduce reliance on bagged and bought modern, future farmers may enjoy more fruitful and
industrial feeds—helping farmers get further away from the corn, soy and financially viable farms, and future eaters may
other annuals that do so much damage to our soils and ecosystems. Tree have access to more nutrient-dense, traditional
fodder is an excellent, historical and too long overlooked way to provide foods. Two trees (or more) up!
food to our animals. Pasture alone isn’t sufficient for most animals, and Review by John Moody
even if a farm has excellent pastures, the benefits of turning them into
silvopasture are numerous. Silvopasture can make an immense difference

BOOK REVIEWS IN Wise Traditions
The Weston A. Price Foundation receives two or three books per week, all of course seeking a Thumbs Up review. What are
the criteria we use for choosing a book to review, and for giving a Thumbs Up?
• First and foremost, we are looking for books that add to the WAPF message. Dietary advice should incorporate the WAPF
guidelines while adding new insights, new discoveries and/or new therapies.
• We are especially interested in books on the fat-soluble vitamins, traditional food preparation methods and healing protocols
based on the WAPF dietary principles.
• We look for consistency. If you talk about toxins in vaccines in one part of your book, but say you are not against vaccines in
another part of your book, or praise fat in your text but include recipes featuring lean meat, we are unlikely to review it.
• We do not like to give Thumbs Down reviews. If we do not agree with the major tenets expounded in a book sent to us, we
will just not review it. However, we feel that we have an obligation to point out the problems in influential or bestselling books
that peddle misinformation, and for these we will give a negative review. We also will give a negative review to any book that
misrepresents the findings of Weston A. Price.
• If you want us to review your book, please do not send it as an email attachment. Have the courtesy to send us a hard copy
book or a printout of your ebook or manuscript in a coil binding.

68 Wise Traditions SUMMER 2018