Water And Soil References: Books, Research Links, And Sources

This page brings together key references that shaped the WaterRight and soil regeneration thinking, plus a large set of web links collected over time. The books focus on water systems, river decline, Australian water policy, and land repair. The links cover soil regeneration, mycorrhizal fungi, carbon, climate change, farming practice, and wicking bed examples. Some links were time-sensitive even when first collected, so expect that a portion may no longer work.

Book References

The following books were used as background reading and reference material. They range from broad environmental science through to Australian water management and practical land repair.

Gabriel Walker — An Ocean of Air — Harcourt — ISBN 978-0-15-101124-7
Fred Pearce — When the Rivers Run Dry — Beacon Press — ISBN-13: 978-0-8070-8573-8
Peter Andrews — Back from the Brink — ABC Books — ISBN-13: 978 0 7333 1962 4
Karen Hussey and Stephen Dovers — Managing Water for Australia — CSIRO — ISBN 9780643093928
Robert Kandel — Water from Heaven — Columbia University Press — ISBN 0 231 12244 6
John Pigram — Australian Water Resources — CSIRO — ISBN 978 0 6430393 379

Notes On Web Links

Many of the links below were valid at the time of compilation, but some news sites, email tracking links, and older pages are temporary.
In other cases, the content may have moved behind paywalls, changed domain, or been removed.

Even when a specific link no longer works, the topic label next to it can still be useful. It can help you search for an updated version of the same idea, article, or study.

Web Links: Water, Climate, Soil Biology, And Regeneration

This section is a direct list of web sources collected for topics such as water scarcity narratives, irrigation reform, soil carbon, climate impacts, mycorrhizal fungi, and practical regenerative methods.

Climate Spectator (water markets): http://www.climatespectator.com.au/news/investors-thirsty-new-markets-looking-water-2?utm_source=Climate%2BSpectator%2Bdaily&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Climate%2BSpectator%2Bdaily&utm_source=Climate+Spectator&utm_campaign=90c67185e0-CSPEC_DAILY&utm_medium=email
IRIN News report: http://www.irinnews.org/report.aspx?reportid=94203
Forbes (climate treaty / business): http://www.forbes.com/sites/ericagies/2011/11/28/climate-treaty-would-actually-be-good-for-business/
CO2 Science (edit page): http://www.co2science.org/articles/V14/N46/EDIT.php
VOA Africa (food security / climate): http://www.voanews.com/english/news/africa/decapua-food-security-climate-16nov11-133965613.html
EcoNews (CSIRO food challenge): http://econews.com.au/news-to-sustain-our-world/csiro-to-help-fight-global-food-challenge/
EcoNews (brown to green economy): http://econews.com.au/news-to-sustain-our-world/unep-move-from-brown-to-green-economy-happening/
GWPF (IPCC definition): http://www.thegwpf.org/science-news/4374-ipcc-introduces-new-climate-change-definition.html
Climate Spectator (extreme weather / IPCC): http://www.climatespectator.com.au/news/extreme-weather-worsen-climate-change-ipcc-1?utm_source=Climate%20Spectator&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=bc6ef3ee53-CSPEC_DAILY
The Conversation (extreme weather academic views): http://theconversation.edu.au/extreme-weather-climate-change-and-people-academic-views-4361?utm_source=The+Conversation+Daily+updates&utm_campaign=5ad365d2d3-DailyNewsletter&utm_medium=email
The Conversation (email link, repeated): http://theconversation.cmail1.com/t/r/l/iykykut/qklydjjku/ji/
PolicyMic (rural China climate impacts): http://www.policymic.com/articles/2485/climate-change-threatens-to-destroy-china-s-rural-communities&referral=category_list
Independent.ie (soil biology): http://www.independent.ie/farming/crops/tillage-harness-the-invisible-power-of-soils-biology-2941076.html
CBS News (skeptics): http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-205_162-57329755/why-climate-change-skeptics-remain-skeptical/
Forbes (IPCC and business impacts): http://www.forbes.com/sites/mindylubber/2011/11/23/ipcc-report-confirms-what-businesses-already-know-extreme-weather-climate-change-has-economic-impacts/
The Land (success keys): http://theland.farmonline.com.au/news/state/agribusiness-and-general/general/nutting-out-keys-to-success/2368380.aspx?storypage=1
ABC News (greenhouse gases): http://www.abc.net.au/news/2011-11-22/greenhouse-gases-rise-to-record-high-in-2010-un/3685334
The Conversation (weather patterns): http://theconversation.edu.au/new-study-analyses-daily-weather-patterns-4410
ABC News (water project flaws): http://www.abc.net.au/news/2011-11-24/ombudsman-highlights-flaws-in-water-project/3691384?section=vic
IRIN News report: http://www.irinnews.org/report.aspx?reportid=94301
ABC Science: http://www.abc.net.au/science/articles/2011/11/29/3378297.htm
Climate Spectator (global warming timeline): http://www.climatespectator.com.au/commentary/how-world-discovered-global-warming-timeline?utm_source=Climate%20Spectator&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=bc4f9afa2e-CSPEC_DAILY
VOA (IFPRI / climate): http://www.voanews.com/english/news/africa/decapua_climate-ifpri-2dec11-134895903.html
NYTimes (climate talks): http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/08/science/earth/at-climate-talks-a-familiar-standoff-emerges-between-the-united-states-and-china.html?_r=1
Huffington Post (beyond denial): http://www.huffingtonpost.com/peter-b-demenocal/beyond-denial-the-next-fr_b_1135050.html
Climate Spectator (Durban): http://www.climatespectator.com.au/commentary/durban-crossroads?utm_source=Climate%2BSpectator%2Bdaily&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Climate%2BSpectator%2Bdaily&utm_source=Climate+Spectator&utm_campaign=7be20e60b2-CSPEC_DAILY&utm_medium=email
Soil carbon (US parks): http://www.lcsun-news.com/las_cruces-news/ci_19527184
EcoNews (algae experiment): http://econews.com.au/news-to-sustain-our-world/qld-algae-experiment-may-lower-carbon-emissions/
The Conversation (Green Climate Fund): http://theconversation.edu.au/planning-the-green-climate-fund-so-it-works-for-african-farmers-4731?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Latest+from+The+Conversation+for+December+15+2011&utm_content=Latest+from+The+Conversation+for+December+15+2011+CID_ce05e599c625b42f55263199a6b26fb2&utm_source=campaign_monitor&utm_term=Planning+the+Green+Climate+Fund+so+it+works+for+African+farmers
The Conversation (Australian agriculture): http://theconversation.edu.au/is-australian-agriculture-up-against-it-3794?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Latest+from+The+Conversation+for+December+21+2011&utm_content=Latest+from+The+Conversation+for+December+21+2011+CID_df12160c627237eff92b31a0e432b8cd&utm_source=campaign_monitor&utm_term=Is+Australian+agriculture+up+against+it
EurekAlert: http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2011-12/uoc–ioc121911.php
Edward Elgar (agriculture and climate): http://www.e-elgar.co.uk/bookentry_main.lasso?id=13942
Bits of Science (ecosystem shifts): http://www.bitsofscience.org/climate-change-ecosystem-shifts-biomes-biodiversity-4451/
Mycorrhizae (how it works): http://www.mycorrhizae.com/how-mycorrhizae-work
Swiss Re (China transitional changes): http://cgd.swissre.com/global_dialogue/topics/emerging_markets/China_Transitional_changes_under_the_Twelfth_Fiveyear_Plan.html
DataDryad handle: http://datadryad.org/handle/10255/dryad.37871
PhysOrg (fungi and crops): http://www.physorg.com/news/2012-02-knowledge-fungi-genetically-crops.html
MarketWatch (sustainable agriculture): http://www.marketwatch.com/story/global-leader-in-sustainable-agriculture-brings-green-tech-crop-innovation-to-california-2012-02-14
Grasscity forum (mycorrhizal myths): http://forum.grasscity.com/organic-growing/976433-mycorrhizal-fungi%3B-myths-truths.html
Permaculture UK (plants and fungi): http://www.permaculture.co.uk/articles/plants-and-fungi-using-beneficial-mycorrhizal-fungi-boost-plant-growth
Vermicomposters network: http://vermicomposters.ning.com/
Capital Institute (grasslands): http://capitalinstitute.org/capital-lab/field-guide-investing-resilient-economy/grasslands
WVU Today (fungus collection): http://wvutoday.wvu.edu/n/2012/03/06/world-turns-to-wvu-s-unique-fungus-collection-for-answers
Native plant wildlife garden (mycorrhizae): http://nativeplantwildlifegarden.com/mycorrhizae-and-the-web-of-life/
UN News (water and sanitation): http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=41513&Cr=Water&Cr1=Sanitation
State of the climate 2012 (Conversation): http://theconversation.edu.au/state-of-the-climate-2012-5831?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Latest+from+The+Conversation+for+March+14+2012&utm_content=Latest+from+The+Conversation+for+March+14+2012+CID_49ccd82c110b36f13a091f488bf9afb5&utm_source=campaign_monitor&utm_term=State+of+the+Climate+2012
AllAfrica: http://allafrica.com/stories/201203150655.html
IBBR PDF: http://www.ibbr.umd.edu/sites/default/files/event/Yi%20Zhang%2003-16-12.pdf
Mycorrhiza UTK (site): http://mycorrhiza.ag.utk.edu/
Richsoil (hugelkultur): http://www.richsoil.com/hugelkultur/
Blog (mycorrhizal inoculants): http://wildsuburbia.blogspot.com.au/2012/05/mycorrhizal-inoculants-panacea-or-snake.html
NCBI PubMed: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22584877
Fungi shifted plant balance: http://www.chem.info/News/2012/05/Fungi-shifted-plant-balance-of-power/
Fixing saline and sodic soils (PDF): http://treesthatplease.us/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/Fixing-Saline-and-Sodic-Soil.pdf

Web Links: Wicking Beds And Practical Examples

The following links relate more directly to wicking bed builds, community discussion, and practical garden examples.
Some are older blog posts and forums that may have moved.

Wicking beds (overview): http://www.maireid.com/wickingbeds.html
Aussies Living Simply forum thread: http://aussieslivingsimply.com.au/forum/viewthread.php?forum_id=54&thread_id=11506
Green Change (wicking beds): http://green-change.com/2009/05/01/wicking-beds-water-efficient-gardening/
Scarecrow’s Garden (wickered dreams): http://scarecrowsgarden.blogspot.com/2007/09/wickered-dreams.html
Aussies Living Simply forum (another thread): http://www.aussieslivingsimply.com.au/forum/viewthread.php?forum_id=4&thread_id=11414
GardenGuides photo page: http://my.gardenguides.com/members/Basia/photos/1006/1
Cosmic Connection forum: http://cosmicconnection.forumc.biz/general-gardening-stuff-f4/wicking-beds-t217.htm
Hills and Plains Seed Savers: http://hillsandplainsseedsavers.blogspot.com/2008/01/wicking-beds.html
Scarecrow’s Garden (wicking box gardens): http://scarecrowsgarden.blogspot.com/2008/02/wicking-box-gardens.html
Foodnstuff (wicking beds): http://foodnstuff.wordpress.com/2008/04/01/water-wicking-beds-boxes/
NowPublic (build a wicking bed): http://www.nowpublic.com/environment/how-build-wicking-bed-your-veggies
Outback Harvest (wicking-worm beds): http://outbackharvest.blogspot.com/2008/09/wicking-worm-beds.html
Little Farm in the City (about): http://littlefarminthecity.wordpress.com/about/wicking-beds-how-we-built-them/
Timeless Oasis Garden: http://timelessoasisgarden.blogspot.com/2008/09/wicking-boxes.html
Foodnstuff category: http://foodnstuff.wordpress.com/category/wicking-beds/
Moo I Made It: http://mooimadeit.com/2008/11/20/wickerwomanpart1/
Inside Urban Green (raised bed rooftop): http://www.insideurbangreen.org/2009/02/raised-bed-rooftop-garden-with-rainwater-harvesting-.html
SGA forum topic: http://www.sgaonline.org.au/phpbb/viewtopic.php?f=19&t=671