Hi there! I am fresh to the site and when I began to discover what your project and goals were, I got excited because I have had this idea in my head for quite some time. I have acquired 10 acres of raw land (west-central Alberta), and have a five-year plan to transform it into a microfarming paradise, as well as my family's new residence. I find your experiences in your blog posts, as well as an easy to navigate website, very useful, but I wonder if you would share your resources that you have studied in order to get where you are today. I know I have a notebook full of scribbles from various books and a large list of books that have been useful to me so far. I wish to pick your brain for ways to create a lucrative business that provides a great deal of enjoyment and satisfaction. Topics that concern cool climate farming are of a great deal of interest to me ( I live in zone 2b...brrr). I just thought this would be an interesting topic for people to share resources.
Thanks and keep up the good work.
Tiny Farm Forum » Research
Learning Resources
(9 posts)-
Posted 2 years ago #
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Hi... 2b, huh, that sounds...extreme (even from where I am in 5b)! :) I wouldn't call the little operation here lucrative just yet, but it's definitely holding its own, and the gains every year are pretty good. I'm happy to share what resources (and opinions!) I have. There are at least a few others who've been reading TFB who have experience they'll hopefully share!
If all goes well over the winter, I'm planning to add links to useful sites, lists of books, equipment, etc, as blog pages on TFB. If you have particular questions, I'll do my best to answer them here!!
BTW, what's on your book list so far? I'm always looking for new things to read.
Later on...
Posted 2 years ago # -
Okay, I can't resist posting to this because I'm a book addict. A few books I have found helpful to my fledgling farming adventures are:
- "The New Organic Grower" by Eliot Coleman
- "Backyard Market Gardening" by Andrew W. Lee
- "Micro Eco-Farming" by Barbara Berst Adams
- "Making Your Small Farm Profitable" by Ron Macher
- "How to Grow Vegetables & Fruits by the Organic Method" by Rodale
- "Country Wisdom & Know-How" by StoreyAnd I'd love to hear more recommendations to add to my library! And Mike, I'm eagerly anticipating your resource lists!
Posted 2 years ago # -
Amanda, I was hoping you'd post stuff here. You've got tons of great lists and primers on your blog, I've been recommending various ones to different people. Cool!
The New Organic Grower was the first book I heard about when I started out, so I got it. In a field (no pun :) with not that much reference literature, it's more or less the must-have. It was instantly helpful in a practical, hands-on way, AND it also gives you food for thought about larger issues, like marketing, longer range plans and so forth. Some of his comments and advice make increasing sense as you gain more experience, so it's one for the longer haul, not just "introductory".
Posted 2 years ago # -
Yep, New Organic Grower is certainly one of my favorites. I've read it once straight through, and I'm doing a re-read this winter as part of self-study excersize. A tiny farming curriculum, if you will. :-)
Posted 2 years ago # -
One really amazing, jam-packed web site that has practical articles on just about everything small farm-related is ATTRA - National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service. I've read tons of good stuff on there. If you haven't checked it out, or have only found an article or two, take some time to really click through all of the offerings, it'll be worth it!!
Posted 2 years ago # -
Beginning Farmers Resource Center looks like a GREAT resource - I'm just starting to watch and read through. It's from Cornell U. Has first-hand videos, lesson units.
Posted 7 months ago # -
Hi Everyone !
I'm a reader from PA, and I must say you have a top notch website, and a beautiful farm. I have a blog as well, geared more towards the learning aspect of gardening, from an IT guys perspective. I learned computers when I was young, and now I have the time to learn gardening. Plants are much more rewarding then computers !
My blog is at itfarmer.wordpress.com
Thanks;
Jon MacphersonPosted 2 months ago # -
I have found the soil and health library has a huge number of really interesting books. And its free!
They have most of the "classics". I recommend "The Living Soil" by Lady Eve Balfour and "The Farming Ladder" by George Henderson (is more about livestock, but still very inspiring)
Posted 1 month ago #
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