Download or read book The Worm Farmer s Handbook written by Rhonda Sherman and published by Chelsea Green Publishing. This book was released on 2018-11-08 with total page 256 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Choice Reviews, Outstanding Academic Title Techniques and systems for processing food scraps, manure, yard debris, paper, and more Turning waste into wealth sounds too good to be true, but many worm farmers are finding that vermicomposting is a reliable way to do just that. Vermicast—a biologically active, nutrient-rich mix of earthworm castings and decomposed organic matter—sells for $400 or more per cubic yard. Compare that to regular compost, sold at about $30 a cubic yard, and you’ll see why vermicomposting has taken root in most countries and on every continent but Antarctica. Vermicomposting is also one of the best sustainable solutions for organic waste management. Vermicomposting manure and crop wastes on farms improves crop yields while reducing demand for off-farm inputs. Vermicast has higher nutrient levels and lower soluble salt content than regular compost, and it improves soil aeration, porosity, and water retention. Plus, vermicast suppresses plant diseases and insect attacks. Municipalities, businesses, community gardens, schools, and universities can set up vermicomposting operations to process food residuals and other waste materials. The Worm Farmer’s Handbook details the ins and outs of vermicomposting for mid- to large-scale operations, including how to recycle organic materials ranging from food wastes and yard trimmings to manure and shredded office paper. Vermicomposting expert Rhonda Sherman shares what she has learned over twenty-five years working with commercial worm growers and researchers around the world. Her profiles of successful worm growers across the United States and from New Zealand to the Middle East and Europe describe their proven methods and systems. This book digs into all the details, including: Choosing the right production system Regulatory issues and developing a business and marketing plan Finding and managing feedstocks Pre-composting: why and how to do it Monitoring an active worm bed Harvesting, screening, testing, packaging, and storing vermicast Markets for earthworms and vermicast Food security: how vermicast benefits soils and plants Keys to success: avoiding common pitfalls From livestock farms and restaurants to colleges, military bases, and prisons, Sherman details why and how commercial-scale vermicomposting is a fast-growing, sustainable solution for organic waste management. The Worm Farmer’s Handbook is the first and only authoritative how-to guide that goes beyond small-scale operations and demystifies the science and logistics of the fascinating process that is vermicomposting.
Download or read book The Worm Farmer s Handbook written by Rhonda Sherman and published by Chelsea Green Publishing. This book was released on 2018 with total page 258 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "Techniques and systems for processing food scraps, manure, yard debris, paper, and more"--Cover.
Download or read book The Organic Farmer s Business Handbook written by Richard Wiswall and published by Chelsea Green Publishing. This book was released on 2009 with total page 201 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Contrary to popular belief, a good living can be made on an organic farm. What's required is farming smarter, not harder. Wiswall shares advice on how to make vegetable production more efficient, better manage employees and finances, and turn a profit.
Download or read book The Living Soil Handbook written by Jesse Frost and published by Chelsea Green Publishing. This book was released on 2021-07-20 with total page 305 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Principles and farm-tested practices for no-till market gardening--for healthier, more productive soil! From the host of the popular The No-Till Market Garden Podcast—heard around the world with nearly one million downloads! Discovering how to meet the soil’s needs is the key task for every market gardener. In this comprehensive guide, Farmer Jesse Frost shares all he has learned through experience and experimentation with no-till practices on his home farm in Kentucky and from interviews and visits with highly successful market gardeners in his role as host of The No-Till Market Garden Podcast. The Living Soil Handbook is centered around the three basic principles of no-till market gardening: Disturb the soil as little as possible Keep it covered as much as possible Keep it planted as much as possible. Farmer Jesse then guides readers in applying those principles to their own garden environment, with their own materials, to meet their own goals. Beginning with an exploration of the importance of photosynthesis to living soil, Jesse provides in-depth information on: Turning over beds Using compost and mulch Path management Incorporating biology, maintaining fertility Cover cropping Diversifying plantings through intercropping Production methods for seven major crops Throughout, the book emphasizes practical information on all the best tools and practices for growers who want to build their livelihood around maximizing the health of their soil. Farmer Jesse reminds growers that “as possible” is the mantra for protecting the living soil: disturb the soil as little as you possibly can in your context. He does not believe that growers should anguish over what does and does not qualify as “no-till.” If you are using a tool to promote soil life and biology, that’s the goal. Jesse’s goal with The Living Soil Handbook is to provide a comprehensive set of options, materials, and field-tested practices to inspire growers to design a soil-nurturing no-till system in their unique garden or farm ecosystem. "[A] practical, informative debut. . . .Gardeners interested in sustainable agriculture will find this a great place to start."—Publishers Weekly "Frost offers a comprehensive, science-based, sympathetic, wholly practical guide to soil building, that most critical factor in vegetable gardening for market growers and home gardeners alike. A gift to any vegetable plot that will keep on giving."—Booklist (starred review)
Download or read book The Farming Handbook written by Barry Smith and published by University of Kwazulu Natal Press. This book was released on 2006 with total page 480 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Barry Smith's the farming handbook is a unique and comprehensive guide to a wide range of agricultural subjects and enterprises in one easy-to-use volume. Although the focus is mainly on conditions in Southern Africa, the principles and practices can be applied easily on the continent.
Download or read book Business Advice for Organic Farmers Bundle written by Richard Wiswall and published by . This book was released on 2012-06 with total page 224 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Provides step-by-step instructions on how to make crop production more efficient and offers advice on farm operations, managing employees, and office procedures, along with a DVD featuring a workshop and an interview with the author.
Download or read book On farm Composting Handbook written by Robert Rynk and published by . This book was released on 1992 with total page 186 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Benefits and drawbacks; The composing process; Raw materials; Composting methods; Composting operations; Management; Site and environmental considerations; Using compost; Marketing agricultural compost; Farm composting economics: focus on production costs; Other options for waste management and composting; Characteristics of raw materials; Equipment tables; Troubleshooting and management guide; Work sheets and forms; Environmental agencies; Metric conversions.
Download or read book Farming While Black written by Leah Penniman and published by Chelsea Green Publishing. This book was released on 2018 with total page 369 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "Farming While Black is the first comprehensive "how to" guide for aspiring African-heritage growers to reclaim their dignity as agriculturists and for all farmers to understand the distinct, technical contributions of African-heritage people to sustainable agriculture. At Soul Fire Farm, author Leah Penniman co-created the Black and Latino Farmers Immersion (BLFI) program as a container for new farmers to share growing skills in a culturally relevant and supportive environment led by people of color. Farming While Black organizes and expands upon the curriculum of the BLFI to provide readers with a concise guide to all aspects of small-scale farming, from business planning to preserving the harvest. Throughout the chapters Penniman uplifts the wisdom of the African diasporic farmers and activists whose work informs the techniques described--from whole farm planning, soil fertility, seed selection, and agroecology, to using whole foods in culturally appropriate recipes, sharing stories of ancestors, and tools for healing from the trauma associated with slavery and economic exploitation on the land. Woven throughout the book is the story of Soul Fire Farm, a national leader in the food justice movement." --
Download or read book The Forest Farmer s Handbook written by Orville Camp and published by . This book was released on 1984 with total page 84 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Download or read book The Old Farmer s Almanac Vegetable Gardener s Handbook written by Old Farmer's Almanac and published by Old Farmer's Almanac. This book was released on 2019-11-12 with total page 209 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Grow the best vegetable garden ever with timeless, tried-and-true methods and advice from The Old Farmer's Almanac! Created for new gardeners, green thumbs, and old hands alike, The Old Farmer's Almanac Vegetable Gardener's Handbook is loaded with advice and inspiration to help plants--and growers--thrive. -Step-by-step advice for success with more than 30 vegetables -Space for recording your observations and experiences -Delicious recipes -Ways to preserve your harvest -And much more!
Download or read book The Urban Farm Handbook written by Annette Cottrell and published by Skipstone Press. This book was released on 2011 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: CLICK HEREto download the chapter on "Growing Strategies to Maximize Garden Space" fromThe Urban Farm Handbook * More than 150 sustainable resources for the Pacific Northwest * More than 90 basic home-production recipes * 75 black-and-white and 35 full color photographs * Up-to-date information on Seattle-area urban farming permits and policy Is that . . . a goat in your garage?! It might be if you've been readingThe Urban Farm Handbook: City-Slicker Resources for Growing, Raising, Sourcing, Trading, and Preparing What You Eat. In this comprehensive guide for city-dwellers on how to wean themselves from commercial supermarkets, the authors map a plan for how to manage a busy, urban family life with home-grown foods, shared community efforts, and easy yet healthful practices. More than just a few ideas about gardening and raising chickens,The Urban Farm Handbook uses stories, charts, grocery lists, recipes, and calendars to inform and instruct. As busy urbanites who have learned how to do everything from making cheese and curing meat to collaborating with neighbors on a food bartering system, the authors share their own food journeys along with those of local producers and consumers who are changing the food systems in the Pacific Northwest. Organized seasonally, this handbook instructs on: > How to maximize space for planting a variety of fruits and vegetables > Small-animal husbandry and beekeeping > Canning, drying, freezing, fermenting, and pickling techniques > Grinding grains for flour and other uses > Tips for creating a farmer-to-consumer connection > How to form a "buying club" with neighbors > "Opportunities for Change" steps to follow And so much more!
Download or read book The Old Farmer s Almanac Flower Gardener s Handbook written by Old Farmer's Old Farmer's Almanac and published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. This book was released on 2022-03 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "Grow the most beautiful and colorful flowers! You can develop and nurture a flower garden that is delightful to behold and easy to maintain and makes you smile through the seasons with tried-and-true wisdom from The Old Farmer's Almanac. Whether you don't know dead heading from dormancy or bonemeal from a bleeding heart or you have a flower-cutting bed that is the envy of local florists, you'll quickly benefit from the time-saving tips, inspiring ideas, and proven techniques that pack this easy-to-use guide. Created for novices, aspiring growers, green thumbs, and old hands, The Old Farmer's Almanac Flower Gardener's Handbook (companion to the Vegetable Gardener's Handbook) is loaded with advice and inspiration to guarantee success for every flower garden--and any gardener!" --
Download or read book The Urban Farmer written by Curtis Allen Stone and published by New Society Publishers. This book was released on 2015-12-14 with total page 306 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: There are twenty million acres of lawns in North America. In their current form, these unproductive expanses of grass represent a significant financial and environmental cost. However, viewed through a different lens, they can also be seen as a tremendous source of opportunity. Access to land is a major barrier for many people who want to enter the agricultural sector, and urban and suburban yards have huge potential for would-be farmers wanting to become part of this growing movement. The Urban Farmer is a comprehensive, hands-on, practical manual to help you learn the techniques and business strategies you need to make a good living growing high-yield, high-value crops right in your own backyard (or someone else's). Major benefits include: Low capital investment and overhead costs Reduced need for expensive infrastructure Easy access to markets Growing food in the city means that fresh crops may travel only a few blocks from field to table, making this innovative approach the next logical step in the local food movement. Based on a scalable, easily reproduced business model, The Urban Farmer is your complete guide to minimizing risk and maximizing profit by using intensive production in small leased or borrowed spaces. Curtis Stone is the owner/operator of Green City Acres, a commercial urban farm growing vegetables for farmers markets, restaurants, and retail outlets. During his slower months, Curtis works as a public speaker, teacher, and consultant, sharing his story to inspire a new generation of farmers.
Download or read book The Organic Medicinal Herb Farmer written by Jeff Carpenter and published by Chelsea Green Publishing. This book was released on 2015-05-06 with total page 418 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A new approach to growing local medicine, including information on geo-authenticity, wildcrafting, and developing a good business plan "[A] beautiful and informative book . . . A dirt-smudged copy should be within easy reach of every home gardener or farmer who grows—or wants to grow—medicinal plants."—Michael McGuffin, President, American Herbal Products Association Both a business guide and a farming manual, The Organic Medicinal Herb Farmer will teach readers how to successfully grow and market organic medicinal Western herbs. Whether you’re trying to farm medicinal plants, culinary herbs, or at-risk native herbs exclusively or simply add herbal crops to what you’re already growing, successful small-scale herb farmers Jeff and Melanie Carpenter will guide you through the entire process―from cultivation to creating value-added products. Using their Zack Woods Herb Farm in Vermont as a backdrop, the Carpenters cover all the basic practical information farmers need to know to get an organic herb farm up and running, including: Size and scale considerations Layout and design of the farm and facilities Growing and cultivation information, including types of tools Field and bed prep Plant propagation Weed control, and pests and diseases Harvesting, as well as wild harvesting and the concept of geo-authentic botanicals Post-harvest processing Value-added products and marketing The authors also provide fifty detailed plant profiles, going deeper into the herbs every farmer should consider growing, including: Arnica Calendula Echinacea Ginko Ginseng Peppermint Saint John’s Wort Valerian In an easy-to-understand, practical, and comprehensive manner, readers will learn how to focus on quality over quantity, and keep costs down by innovating with existing equipment, rather than expensive technology. Market farmers who have never before considered growing medicinal herbs will learn why it’s more important to produce these herbs domestically. The Organic Medicinal Herb Farmer makes a convincing case that producing organic medicinal herbs can be a viable, profitable, farming enterprise. The Carpenters also make the case for incorporating medicinal herbs into existing operations, as it can help increase revenue in the form of value-added products, not to mention improve the ecological health of farmland by encouraging biodiversity as a path toward greater soil health.
Download or read book The Non toxic Farming Handbook written by Philip A. Wheeler and published by . This book was released on 1998 with total page 260 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Teaches farmers, growers and serious gardeners how to farm without dangerous chemicals.
Download or read book Handbook of Agriculture written by and published by . This book was released on 2009 with total page 1617 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Contributed articles; with reference to India.
Download or read book Booker T Whatley s Handbook on how to Make 100 000 Farming 25 Acres written by Booker T. Whatley and published by Rodale Books. This book was released on 1987 with total page 196 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
