Organic Agriculture

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.

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 soil is more than just a substrate that anchors crops in place. An ecologically balanced soil system is essential for maintaining healthy crops. This is a comprehensive manual on soil management. The "whats and whys" of micronutrients, earthworms, soil drainage, tilth, soil structure and organic matter are explained in detail. Kinsey shows how working with the soil produces healthier crops with a higher yield drawing on his wide range of experience as a master consultant. Learn how to balance soil nutrients for maximum yield. Discover why simple N-P-K fertilization isn't enough. ...

Organic No-Till Farming offers a map to an organic farming system that limits tillage, reduces labor, and improves soil structure. Based on the latest research by pioneering agriculturists, this book offers new technologies and tools based on sound biological principles, making it possible to reduce and even eliminate tillage. Field-tested over many seasons, these methods make cover crops into a source of fertility as well as a tool for weed management. As traditional tillage turns into rotational tillage, natural soil biology is maximized and synthetic inputs are minimized. For organic ...

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.

Discover the revolutionary world of sustainable farming with the ultimate guide you've been waiting for. "Sustainable Farming Practices" is your gateway to understanding and implementing cover cropping, a transformative agricultural technique that brings ecological and economic prosperity to your farm. Start with an essential primer in Chapter 1, where you'll explore the significance of cover cropping, the variety of crops available, and the dual benefits these practices bring to our environment and your bottom line. Delve into Chapter 2 to master the art of selecting the perfect cover crop...

Title: " 150+ Amazing Uses Of Baking Soda You Never Knew. You Never Knew.: Unlock the Power of this Versatile Wonder!" Are you ready to discover the extraordinary potential of a humble kitchen ingredient? Look no further than "150+ Amazing Uses Of Baking Soda You Never Knew. " an eye-opening guide that reveals the boundless applications of this versatile wonder. From baking and cooking to cleaning and personal care, this book will revolutionize the way you see and use baking soda in your everyday life. Inside these pages, you'll embark on a captivating journey of exploration as you uncover ...

This 25th anniversary edition, updated by the author, reveals the miraculous communication systems present in nature. Learn how plants and insects communicate through emissions in the infrared frequency range and why poisonous pesticides do not solve the real problems facing agriculture. In this breakthrough book Phil Callahan uncovers why certain insects are attracted only to certain plants, the role of pheromones' work in nature, and how plants under stress literally signal insects to come devour them. Long out of print . . . classic Callahan!

An indispensable guide to food, our most powerful tool to reverse the global epidemic of chronic disease, heal the environment, reform politics, and revive economies, from #1 New York Times bestselling author Mark Hyman, MD—"Read this book if you're ready to change the world" (Tim Ryan, US...

A permaculture expert and popular YouTube Homesteader shares the skills and the delights of becoming a part of your own food story in this inspiring, accessible, and beautiful invitation to a more abundant, healthy, and connected life. Have you ever wanted to experiment with growing your own...

In this breakthrough work — now available in English for the first time — the independent German-Norwegian explorer of soil life, graduate permaculture designer and graduate engineer Herwig Pommeresche shares his lifetime of research into humus. His entire career has focused on the theory and practice of humus management in gardening and farming. Digging deep into a myriad of little-known research papers, he compares their findings with the usual conventional methods. He found we have an inadequate understanding of the mechanisms by which plants absorb and process their nutrients. Our ...

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.

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.

Ask the Plant, based on the agronomy of K. Chandler, offers farmers and growers a better way to grow plants that involves reading the unique language of plants, utilizing leaf and petiole testing, and in turn knowing how to produce a better crop using only the fertilizers and soil-building ingredients that are truly needed, when they are most needed. Instead of following the decades-old conventional model where plants are given copious amounts of soluble nitrogen fertilizers aimed to force-feed the landscape green, Ask the Plant addresses how to build a healthy soil without excessive inputs...

A hands-on barn and field guide designed for quick and easy use, presenting a thorough examination of animals in the barn and then listing symptoms with many pictures of what the farmer is seeing, possible conclusions, and then giving a concise set of treatments. The treatments are ones that Dr. Karreman has found to work consistently well during 15 years in the trenches working with organic cows. Basic backgrounding in the fundamentals for organic and holistic thinking about livestock is included in the introduction. The companion guide to Treating Dairy Cows Naturally, this book includes ...

Embark on an inspiring journey through the rich history of regenerative agriculture, from the time-tested practices of our ancestors to its powerful resurgence as a critical solution for our planet's health. This book unveils how farming methods that work in harmony with nature, rather than against it, have shaped civilizations and can now guide us toward a sustainable future. Discover the philosophical roots, groundbreaking innovations, and the profound socio-economic impacts of regenerative techniques that are healing degraded

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 ...

Dive into the fascinating world of fungi with "Mushroom Mastery in Maryland," your comprehensive guide to the ins and outs of mushroom farming in the enchanting state of Maryland. Whether you're a seasoned mycologist, aspiring cultivator, or simply drawn to the ecological wonders of mushrooms, this expertly crafted eBook is the ultimate ally on your quest to dominate the local mushroom scene. Embark on an educational journey through Maryland's diverse microclimates, as Chapter 1 lays the groundwork for understanding the unique environmental factors that make the state a treasure trove for ...

Sustainability of the environment contains both wishful thinking and ignorance – ignorance of the reality that natural systems are complex and unfathomable by scientists, and that repetition of their outputs depend on repetition of initial and all subsequent conditions. Scientific insights provide knowledge, but it is partial in most cases, and when applied is often subject to conflicting objectives, which in turn produce conditions that affect outcomes ‑ thus our best efforts to predict natural outcomes are usually flawed. We further display our ignorance in seeking social ...

There is a major disconnect between what we wear and our knowledge of its impact on land, air, water, labor, and human health. Even those who value access to safe, local, nutritious food have largely overlooked the production of fiber, dyes, and the chemistry that forms the backbone of modern textile production. While humans are 100 percent reliant on their second skin, it’s common to think little about the biological and human cultural context from which our clothing derives.