Farming Agriculture

Step back in time to the tiny farm community of Osage Bend, Missouri, circa 1930-1945… Part memoir, part how-to manual, The Bumpy Road paints a vivid picture of life on the farm during the Great Depression. The author, recounting stories from his boyhood, brings to life the everyday trials and tribulations of his family and neighbors as they struggle to survive under daunting economic conditions. The hard work they put in was a given (to them), and their solutions to everyday problems were ingenious by necessity. And yet, they still found time to socialize and make the church the center ...

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 ...

Human population in a hike, thus deforestation and establishment of new agricultural lands are unavoidable, at the same time environmental hazards such as global warming, climate change, desertification of land and various types of pollution are threatening the human society today. In 1960 the scientists first began to understand that agroforestry systems could provide a sustainable land use and to solve most of the environmental issues by its environmental services such as sequester greenhouse gases, improve soil fertility and conservation of the soil, conservation of biodiversity, provide...

Bennett, a hardworking farmer, has spent his life cultivating the land that his family depends on. But when a ruthless businessman, Daniel, begins to threaten his livelihood with underhanded tactics, everything Bennett holds dear is at risk. As Daniel’s corrupt practices escalate, Bennett's wife, Annabelle, finds herself torn between loyalty to her husband and her growing belief that what he’s doing is wrong. Faced with the possibility of losing everything, Annabelle makes a daring decision—she will take a stand against Daniel, even if it means betraying her own husband. In a battle ...

We can create more nourishment in a littler space with less assets, handling area and water asset shortage, environmental change and contamination. One source reports that yields could be multiple times higher than that developed ashore utilizing one tenth of the water. It could likewise empower nations with practically no arable land to develop crops. In short vertical or indoor homesteads can enable us to: • Grow nourishment throughout the day, consistently • Protect crops from capricious and unsafe climate occasions • Re-use water gathered from the indoor condition • Eliminate ...

It’s all but certain that the next 50 years will bring enormous, not to say cataclysmic, disruptions to our present way of life. World oil reserves will be exhausted within that time frame, as will the lithium that powers today’s most sophisticated batteries, suggesting that transportation is equally imperiled. Farming for the Long Haul is about building a viable small-farm economy that can withstand the economic, political, and climatic shock waves that the 21st century portends.

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.

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.

Grow resilient, locally adapted food—no chemicals, no coddling, no stress. Tired of babying plants that refuse to thrive? In Landrace Gardening: Food Security Through Biodiversity and Promiscuous Pollination, author and adaptation gardener Joseph Lofthouse reveals a revolutionary approach to growing food that thrives under real-world conditions—without expensive inputs or rigid control. Joseph’s methods empower you to grow crops that adapt themselves to your unique garden, saving you time, money, and frustration—while increasing abundance and food security.In this book, you’ll ...

The story of the "Lentil Underground" begins on a 280-acre homestead rooted in America's Great Plains: the Oien family farm. Forty years ago, corporate agribusiness told small farmers like the Oiens to "get big or get out." But 27-year-old David Oien decided to take a stand, becoming the first in his conservative Montana county to plant a radically different crop: organic lentils. Unlike the chemically dependent grains American farmers had been told to grow, lentils make their own fertilizer and tolerate variable climates, so their farmers aren't beholden to industrial methods.

In Healing Grounds, Liz Carlisle tells the stories of Indigenous, Black, Latinx, and Asian American farmers who are reviving their ancestors' methods of growing food—techniques long suppressed by the industrial food system. These farmers are restoring native prairies, nurturing beneficial fungi, and enriching soil health. While feeding their communities and revitalizing cultural ties to land, they are steadily stitching ecosystems back together and repairing the natural carbon cycle.

Boom times for gourmet mushroom growers. In recent years, demand for gourmet mushrooms has skyrocketed, creating opportunity for new growers. The most profitable culinary mushrooms are shiitake and oyster mushrooms. Both oyster and shiitake are easy to grow and can be produced on “waste” products like sawdust or straw. They are quick to grow to maturity - about 6-8 weeks from start to harvest. Best of all, you can grow a lot of both varieties in a small area. Using the “grow bag” method, experienced growers can grow 12,000 pounds of gourmet mushrooms in a 500 square foot space every...

Homesteading has been on the rise lately as more and more people are deciding to become self-sufficient. But where do you even begin? "The Self Sufficient Life" is here to help you navigate the exciting and rewarding journey of homesteading! In this comprehensive eBook, you will explore the benefits of self-sufficiency and discover how to find and assess the perfect land to start your homestead. You'll dive into essential skills such as composting, basic carpentry, and seed saving, and learn how to raise livestock, grow your own crops, and preserve your food. "The Ultimate Homesteading ...

Acclaimed health journalist and National Geographic contributor Maryn McKenna documents how antibiotics transformed chicken from local delicacy to industrial commodity. Consumed more than any other meat in the United States, chicken is emblematic of today's mass food-processing practices and their profound influence on our lives and health. Tracing its meteoric rise from scarce treat to ubiquitous global commodity, McKenna reveals the astounding role of antibiotics in industrial farming, documenting how and why "wonder drugs" revolutionized the way the world eats.

Meet Conner, a twelve-year-old boy growing up on a farm in western Iowa back in the days when the farm was the center of family life in the Midwestern United States. The boy Connor works hard, grows strong, and learns many lessons about life while living on the farm. He has eleven other siblings in his family, all fourteen family members living at one point in time in a two-bedroom farmhouse with no appliances and running water. He does not complain, he knows nothing different, and he takes the reader through numerous activities that a young boy could devise to keep occupied and have fun on...

This is the quintessential leadership resource for small farms, market gardeners, and homesteaders. Farm business literature is full of antiquated management techniques, operations, and “look at me tell-alls.” This book is different. It is about developing personal leadership, which is why it is recognized as the first authentic leadership book written specifically for small farmers, urban gardens, and homesteaders. Farms are the pursuit of a noble ideal based on purpose, passion, and pride. These three Ps are something all visionary, authentic, and inspirational leaders have in common....

More than a decade after Michael Pollan's game-changing The Omnivore's Dilemma transformed the conversation about what we eat, a combination of global diet trends and corporate interests have put American agriculture into a state of 'quiet emergency', from dangerous drought in California - which grows more than 50 percent of the fruits and vegetables we eat - to catastrophic topsoil loss in the 'breadbasket' heartland of the United States.

Emma Gray was just 23 when she moved to an isolated farm in Northumberland, becoming Britain's youngest solo shepherdess. In the seasons that followed, Emma fell in love with its rolling fields, sycamore trees and sturdy farmhouse, where she tended her sheep and trained her dogs - and even found romance along the way. But when Emma finds herself suddenly alone again, heartbroken, mourning the loss of loved ones and recovering from a serious accident, she can't help but wonder if her isolated existence is still such a sensible idea.

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 ...

Unlock the secrets of sustainable farming with "Agroecology Unveiled," your essential guide to understanding and implementing the transformative practices of agroecology. This comprehensive eBook takes you on a journey through the multifaceted world of ecological agriculture, offering insights and practical solutions to enhance both productivity and biodiversity on your farm. Start with a solid foundation in Chapter 1, where you'll explore the core principles and historical evolution of agroecology. Understand why balancing crop production with biodiversity is critical for a resilient ...