How good are these? You probably don’t know, so I’ll tell you – they’re great! Oh and though this looks like a shameless plug saying, basically, *buy stuff*, I’m afraid I have to mention it because they really are splendid. And really, how many other 2009 diaries will you find that contain the gruff but pertinent quote:

“there are two sorts of people in this world – those who poo in drinking water, and those who don’t…”

Ok, a little background… the 2009 Permaculture Diary + Calendar have been put together by Michele Margolis + David Arnold over the last 6 months or so. During this time, they invited contributions from people + groups all over to contribute projects and images for the two publications.  I recently bought one of each to see how they turned out, and they are really, really good.

The Calendar has come out as your standard glossy calendar with lovely pictures of people and projects, with all the usual calendar stuff in it. Everything a wall calendar should be. The Diary is a tour-de-force of people, projects, community initiatives and images of permaculture projects, community gardens and all things sustainable. It really is a good read in itself, and then ontop of that it’s, like, a diary… the diary also has squeezed in helpful stuff like sowing guides for vegies, a planner section, tips, quotes and all the usuals like phases of the moon, school holidays, and of course the week-to-an-opening actual diary bit.

So yes. That is my rave. Both publications have been independently and ethically produced, reasonably priced, you can do wholesale deals if you want to sell them as fundraisers for your school or community organization, and they both constitute worthy educational tools and a heartwarming read, all at once. Oh and they’d make good gifts for the upcoming season of gifting that will soon be apon us. So if you must buy stuff, subject your relatives and workmates to receiving something actually useful (that is not a hanky or socks). Who knows – they might just bring you in some of their first crop of tomatoes this time next year as a result…

Here’s where you get ’em: PermaculturePrinciples.com are selling both the Diary and the Calendar online with free shipping… hooray for people making their own earth!