Farming Agriculture

According to the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), each year, an estimated 24 billion tons of fertile soil are lost due to erosion. That’s a whopping 3.4 tons lost every year for each person on the planet.

More than a practical guide, Start Your Farm is a hopeful call to action for anyone who aspires to grow wholesome, environmentally sustainable food for a living. Take it from Forrest Pritchard and Ellen Polishuk: Making this dream a reality is not for the faint of heart, but it's well within reach - and there's no greater satisfaction under the sun.

When Rudolf Steiner gave these lectures 80 years ago, industrial farming was on the rise and organic methods were being replaced in the name of science, efficiency, and technology. With the widespread alarm over the quality of food in recent years, and the growth of the organic movement and its mainstream acceptance, perceptions are changing. The qualitative aspect of food is once again on the agenda, and in this context Rudolf Steiner's only course of lectures on agriculture is critical to the current debate.

The problem of agriculture is as old as civilization. Throughout history, great societies that abused their land withered into poverty or disappeared entirely. Now we risk repeating this ancient story on a global scale due to ongoing soil degradation, a changing climate, and a rising population. But there is reason for hope. David R. Montgomery introduces us to farmers around the world at the heart of a brewing soil health revolution that could bring humanity's ailing soil back to life remarkably fast.

Call it "Zen and the Art of Farming" or a "Little Green Book", Masanobu Fukuoka's manifesto about farming, eating, and the limits of human knowledge presents a radical challenge to the global systems we rely on for our food. At the same time, it is a spiritual memoir of a man whose innovative system of cultivating the earth reflects a deep faith in the wholeness and balance of the natural world. As Wendell Berry writes in his preface, the book "is valuable to us because it is at once practical and philosophical."

Compact Farms is a guide for anyone dreaming of starting, expanding, or perfecting a profitable farming enterprise on five acres or less. The farm plans explain how to harness an area's water supply, orientation, and geography in order to maximize efficiency and productivity while minimizing effort. Profiles of well-known farmers such as Eliot Coleman and Jean-Martin Fortier show that farming on a small scale in any region, in both urban and rural settings, can provide enough income to turn the endeavor from hobby to career.

Mini Farming describes a holistic approach to small-area farming that will show you how to produce 85 percent of an average family's food on just a quarter acre - and earn $10,000 in cash annually while spending less than half the time that an ordinary job would require.

Raised as a fourth-generation farmer, when Will Harris inherited White Oak Pastures he was a full-time commodity cowboy who played hard and fast with every tool the system offered–chemicals, antibiotics, steroids, and more. His ancestors had built a highly profitable, conventionally run machine, but over time he found himself disgusted with the excess, cruelty, and smalltown devastation this system entailed. So he bet the farm on forging a different way of doing things. One that works with nature not against it, and bridges the quickly widening delta between consumers and their food.

As seen on the BBC’s This Farming Life. The inspirational story of Lynbreck Croft - a regenerative Scottish farm rooted in local food, community, and the dreams of two women. Lynn and Sandra left their friends, family, and jobs in England to travel north to Scotland to find a bit of land that they could call their own. They had in mind keeping a few chickens, a kitchen garden, and renting out some camping space; instead, they fell in love with Lynbreck Croft - 150 acres of opportunity and beauty, shrouded by the Cairngorms and deep in the Highlands of Scotland.

Are you struggling to keep up with the ever-evolving field of agriculture? Do you wonder how you can increase your yields while reducing costs and protecting the environment? Look no further than Precision Farming Unleashed. This comprehensive eBook takes you on a journey through the history, principles, and latest technologies of precision farming. From soil sampling and analysis to smart irrigation and water management, the book covers all aspects of precision farming to ensure your success in this revolutionary field. Precision Farming Unleashed gives an in-depth analysis of the ...

A first-hand account of farm life in the 1930s As a teenager during the Great Depression, Bud faces many hardships and family tragedies. With only an 8th grade education, he works hard to help his family put food on the table and stay together. When farmers are earning only 8 cents for a bushel of wheat, the family does whatever it takes to survive. Supporting each other through tough times, Bud and his family demonstrate a can-do attitude and pride in what they can accomplish. The only way to get by is through their strong work ethic and frugal ways. Even after losing their home, they ...

Growing on just one and a half acres, owners Jean-Martin and Maude-Helène feed more than 200 families through their thriving CSA and seasonal market stands and supply their signature mesclun salad mix to dozens of local establishments. The secret of their success is the low-tech, high-yield production methods they've developed by focusing on growing better rather than growing bigger, making their operation more lucrative and viable in the process.

Introducing "Vertical Farming," the ultimate guide to revolutionizing the way we cultivate crops and feed our rapidly growing population. Are you intrigued by the concept of vertical greenhouses and their potential for a more sustainable future? Look no further – this eBook covers everything you need to know about this game-changing approach to agriculture! As urban areas continue to expand and the planet's resources become more scarce, sustainable agriculture has never been more crucial. With 25 comprehensive chapters, this book will not only teach you how vertical greenhouses can be the...

Join longtime ecological farming author/researcher Harold Willis as he explains the foundation concepts of natural farming and issues the call for cleaner forms of food and fiber production. In this single volume, the author details the interconnections between soil chemistry, microbial life, plants and livestock. He discusses the current problems in agriculture and suggests how lessons from nature provide the roadmap to efficiency, effectiveness and profitability. This book does not stop at providing recipes of what farmers need to do to farm better, but also passes along an understanding ...

Discover the joy and fulfillment of growing your own lush, edible oasis in the heart of the concrete jungle with "Urban Eden," your ultimate guide to balcony micro-farming. This transformative eBook offers a step-by-step blueprint for city dwellers who dream of cultivating fresh produce right outside their door. Whether you're a seasoned green thumb or a budding gardener, this comprehensive guide will unlock the secrets of urban agriculture, one balcony at a time. Imagine stepping onto your balcony and being greeted by rows of vibrant vegetables, fragrant herbs, and sweet fruits that you've...

Unlock the future of farming with Precision Agriculture, a groundbreaking eBook that explores the cutting-edge technologies and data-driven strategies revolutionizing the agricultural landscape. Whether you’re a seasoned farmer, an agribusiness professional, or a tech enthusiast, this comprehensive guide provides the knowledge and tools necessary to maximize productivity, enhance sustainability, and increase profitability in modern farming. Dive into the transformative history of farming practices and understand the core concepts and principles driving precision agriculture today. ...

Unlock the future of farming with Climate-Smart Agriculture. This essential guide takes you through a comprehensive journey of sustainable agricultural practices designed to combat climate change and ensure food security for generations to come. Dive into the fundamental concepts with an introduction to the importance of climate-smart farming and a detailed understanding of climate change. Assess how regional climate variability impacts crop yields and explore strategic soil management techniques that enhance soil health and productivity. Discover the benefits of organic amendments and ...

The energies in fertilizers and in the cosmos do not often move needles, but they preside over crop production. As this books shows the reader, through learning to tap and use "life-force energy" it is possible to develop farming practices that are both high-quality and nondestructive to the environment. Since high sugar and mineral levels confer immunity against bacterial, insect and fungal crop destroyers, a complete BRIX chart on crops is included. Andersen's chapters outline in detail the difference between deadly slow-kill agribusiness farming and farming as it should be.

Enjoy charming tales of yesteryear… Take a look at life in the early 20th century through the eyes of a young boy. A natural storyteller, Bud shares tales of his childhood days in rural Missouri. The close-knit farming community where Bud lived with his parents and seven siblings stuck together and helped each other in order to survive. Born in 1917, Bud grew up on a farm in the middle of America. He describes the old-fashioned ways of those days, including sewing clothing from flour sacks, making baseballs from balls of string, and riding horses to school. Taught the importance of hard ...

Can urban farms reduce neighborhood crime? These may not sound like typical questions for a family physician to consider, but in Farmacology, Daphne Miller, MD, ventures out of her medical office and travels to seven innovative family farms around the country on a quest to discover the hidden connections between how we care for our bodies and how we grow our food. Miller also seeks out the perspectives of noted biomedical scientists and artfully weaves in their research, along with stories from her own practice. Farmacology offers a profound new approach to healing.