Book excerpt: How does nature work? When one looks closely at the enormously complex web of life, it is impossible not to be caught by the wonder of how all living things – including rocks and crystals – are interconnected. Just as there is thought behind action, so there is energy behind matter. The Fertile Earth, the third volume of the Eco-Technology series which presents the original, passionate and convincing research of Viktor Schauberger in translation for the first time, contains his groundbreaking writings on trees, biodynamic agriculture and subtle energies in Nature. It provides answers to pressing questions, like why so many plant and animal species are disappearing. Schauberger was a pioneering genius who combined keen observation of Nature with intuitive brilliance and a sharp engineer's brain. One of the first genuine environmentalists, he was predicting ecological catastrophe when no-one else could see it coming. In the era of global warming, deforestation and desertification, Schauberger's predictions are now being proven right. His work is enjoying a worldwide revival because he was able to convey how an understanding of Nature's subtle energies is essential to our survival. The Eco-Technology series makes available for the first time Viktor Schauberger's original writings and passionate debates. Callum Coats has painstakingly collected, translated and edited the material for what promises to be the most definitive study yet of this extraordinary man's life and work. The Fertile Earth: Table of Contents Introduction by Callum Coats - A Different View of Natural Phenomena - The Influence of Temperature and Water Movement - Forestry — Agriculture — The Energy Industry - The Dying Forest - Timber and Water in the Building Industry - Agriculture — Soil Fertilisation — Increased ProductivityAppendix: Austrian Patent Office — Description of Patent No. 166644