Compact Farms: 15 Proven Plans for Market Farms on 5 Acres or Less; Includes Detailed Farm Layouts for Productivity and Efficiency
Josh Volk
(Author)
Michael Ableman
(Foreword by)
Description
Small is beautiful, and these 15 real farm plans show that small-scale farmers can have big-time success. Compact Farms is an illustrated 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. These real-life plans and down-and-dirty advice will equip you with everything you need to actually realize your farm dreams.
Product Details
Price
$19.95
$18.55
Publisher
Storey Publishing
Publish Date
February 07, 2017
Pages
240
Dimensions
8.0 X 9.9 X 0.6 inches | 1.65 pounds
Language
English
Type
Paperback
EAN/UPC
9781612125947
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About the Author
Josh Volk is the best-selling author of Compact Farms and the proprietor of Slow Hand Farm in Portland, Oregon. He has been working on and managing small farms around the country for the last 20 years, studying the systems that make them efficient. He travels in the United States and abroad, consulting with farmers and researchers, teaching farm apprentices and new farmers, presenting workshops at agricultural conferences, and writing articles for publications, including Growing for Market magazine.
Michael Ableman, the cofounder and director of Sole Food Street Farms, is one of the early visionaries of the urban agriculture movement. He has created high-profile urban farms in Watts, California; Goleta, California; and Vancouver, British Columbia. Ableman has also worked on and advised dozens of similar projects throughout North America and the Caribbean, and he is the founder of the nonprofit Center for Urban Agriculture. He is the subject of the award-winning PBS film Beyond Organic narrated by Meryl Streep. His previous books include From the Good Earth, On Good Land, and Fields of Plenty. Ableman lives and farms at the 120-acre Foxglove Farm on Salt Spring Island in British Columbia.
Reviews
"Volk pushes back against the "get big or get out" narrative, making a strong case for how smaller farms can, and do, contribute to our nation and planet's health and livelihood." -- The Huffington Post
"A very nuts-and-bolts look at successful small farms, which every farmer regardless of skill level and experience will enjoy." -- Hobby Farms
"With both the business analysis and schematics of these small agricultural operations, this book is truly "human-scaled." Josh Volk reveals that there is an alternative to the hype of get big or get out. This is a must read for anyone serious about making it work on a small plot of land." -- Richard McCarthy, Slow Food USA executive director
"Here is a clear path for getting started in the most noble of all careers: growing food for your community. This is essential inspiration for anyone thinking of getting into farming or wanting to scale back a larger farm. Small really is beautiful!" -- Lynn Byczynski, publisher, Growing for Market
"A trove of inspiration and practical advice for the next wave of young farmers. Even experienced farmers will glean new wisdom from the thoughtful tools and careful techniques in this book." -- Lindsey Lusher Shute, National Young Farmers Coalition executive director and co-founder
"A huge proponent of small-scale agriculture, Oregon farmer Josh Volk outlines 15 case studies -- real-life operations on five acres or less -- that prove it's possible to make a living off very little land." -- Modern Farmer
"If you're an aspiring small farmer -- or you just want to feel optimistic about the future of farming -- Compact Farms is one of those things to celebrate." -- SlowFoodUSA.org
"A very nuts-and-bolts look at successful small farms, which every farmer regardless of skill level and experience will enjoy." -- Hobby Farms
"With both the business analysis and schematics of these small agricultural operations, this book is truly "human-scaled." Josh Volk reveals that there is an alternative to the hype of get big or get out. This is a must read for anyone serious about making it work on a small plot of land." -- Richard McCarthy, Slow Food USA executive director
"Here is a clear path for getting started in the most noble of all careers: growing food for your community. This is essential inspiration for anyone thinking of getting into farming or wanting to scale back a larger farm. Small really is beautiful!" -- Lynn Byczynski, publisher, Growing for Market
"A trove of inspiration and practical advice for the next wave of young farmers. Even experienced farmers will glean new wisdom from the thoughtful tools and careful techniques in this book." -- Lindsey Lusher Shute, National Young Farmers Coalition executive director and co-founder
"A huge proponent of small-scale agriculture, Oregon farmer Josh Volk outlines 15 case studies -- real-life operations on five acres or less -- that prove it's possible to make a living off very little land." -- Modern Farmer
"If you're an aspiring small farmer -- or you just want to feel optimistic about the future of farming -- Compact Farms is one of those things to celebrate." -- SlowFoodUSA.org
