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The Organic Farming Manual: A Comprehensive Guide to Starting and Running a Certified Organic Farm
Providing expert tips on tending the land, caring for animals, and necessary equipment, Ann Larkin Hansen also covers the intricate process of acquiring organic certification and other business considerations important to a profitable operation. Discover the rewarding satisfaction of running a successful and sustainable organic farm.
437 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2010
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
April 1, 2016
As a farmer-to-be, this was the first book I read on farming, and it was the perfect intro for me. It's a great "shallow and wide" overview of the practicalities of organic farming. I would recommend it as a first book for anyone getting into farming that's new to the topic. It's a little dry and practical though, so I'd pair it with something more focused on heart, values, and culture.
Hansen gives a good summary of the history of organic farming, how to find land, how to care for and think about soil, plants, tools and infrastructure, types of farms (veggie, orchards, dairies, meat, grains, etc), marketing and selling, etc.
Since it's an overview, I will never re-read it and will probably reference it again rarely if ever. Every topic this book covers is better handled by more in-depth books. But, being the first book I read, it gave me a good sense of what's out there, what to think about and consider, and how to move forward!
Hansen gives a good summary of the history of organic farming, how to find land, how to care for and think about soil, plants, tools and infrastructure, types of farms (veggie, orchards, dairies, meat, grains, etc), marketing and selling, etc.
Since it's an overview, I will never re-read it and will probably reference it again rarely if ever. Every topic this book covers is better handled by more in-depth books. But, being the first book I read, it gave me a good sense of what's out there, what to think about and consider, and how to move forward!
July 20, 2015
An Organic Farming for Dummies!
By organic farming it means small-scale, in tune with nature, pastural, local farming - not the commercial scale organic - despite being based and focused on the USDA certification rules. Just goes to show how rules are always open to interpretation.
This book gives a great overview of everything to think of when setting up and running a small-scale organic farm - from choosing land to soil health to going to market. I found the soil section quite helpful, probably because I don’t know a lot about that, but some sections/chapters were just a top level view, such as the planting/crop sections. But it does provide a lot of resources to find more detail and information too, so a great 101 book.
By organic farming it means small-scale, in tune with nature, pastural, local farming - not the commercial scale organic - despite being based and focused on the USDA certification rules. Just goes to show how rules are always open to interpretation.
This book gives a great overview of everything to think of when setting up and running a small-scale organic farm - from choosing land to soil health to going to market. I found the soil section quite helpful, probably because I don’t know a lot about that, but some sections/chapters were just a top level view, such as the planting/crop sections. But it does provide a lot of resources to find more detail and information too, so a great 101 book.
December 23, 2014
What the hellllllllllllllllllllll????????????????????????? I cannot read it!!!!!!!!!!!!! The tabs are useless. They dont open. This site made fake promises just to lure into getting an account created. Date i finished a 400pg book was minutes after i made my account.
April 6, 2010
Great information on how to start a larger scale organic farming operation as well as insightful interviews with commercial organic farmers.
March 29, 2014
Comprehensive coverage. Not completely relevant to sub continental conditions.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews