Maximizing Your Mini Farm: Self-Sufficiency on 1/4 Acre

by Brett L. Markham

Overview

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. Now expanding exponentially on his bestselling Mini Farming: Self-Sufficiency on ¼ Acre, Brett Markham gives you tips, tricks, and planning advice on how to make the most of your mini farm. New topics include: 

-Soil and Fertility yy Tools and Techniques

-Planting Guides and Seeders

-Easy Trellising 

-Weed Control Techniques

-Greater Food Self-Sufficiency

-Making Your Own Country Wines

-Making Your Own Vinegars 

-Making Cheese at Home

-Cooking for Self-Sufficiency 

Keep your costs down and production high with this complete guide to maximizing your mini farm—whether it’s a rooftop urban garden, a suburban backyard, or a more substantial plot of land. Materials, tools, and techniques are detailed with tables, diagrams, and 200 color illustrations and author photographs.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781620872970
Publisher:	Skyhorse Publishing
Publication date:	03/21/2012
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	272
Sales rank:	410,519
File size:	7 MB

About the Author

Brett L. Markham is an engineer, third-generation farmer, and polymath. Using the methods explained in his book, he runs a profitable, Certified Naturally Grown mini farm on less than half an acre. Brett works full time as an engineer for a broadband ISP and farms in his spare time. He lives in New Ipswich, New Hampshire.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments and Dedication v

Foreword ix

Part I Getting the Most out of Your Vegetables 1

Chapter 1 Soil and Fertility 3

Chapter 2 Asparagus 13

Chapter 3 Beans 21

Chapter 4 Beets and Chard 27

Chapter 5 Cabbage, Broccoli and Cauliflower 33

Chapter 6 Carrots and Parsnips 41

Chapter 7 Corn 49

Chapter 8 Cucumbers 59

Chapter 9 Greens 67

Chapter 10 Herbs 75

Chapter 11 Melons 85

Chapter 12 Onions 93

Chapter 13 Peas 103

Chapter 14 Peppers 111

Chapter 15 Potatoes 119

Chapter 16 Squash 131

Chapter 17 Tomatoes 141

Chapter 18 Turnips, Rutabagas and Radishes 151

Part II Tools and Techniques 157

Chapter 19 Planting Guides and Seeders 159

Chapter 20 Heated Water Platform 167

Chapter 21 Easy Trellising 171

Chapter 22 Weed Control Techniques 175

Part III Greater Food Self-Sufficiency 179

Chapter 23 Making Your Own Country Wines 181

Chapter 24 Making Your Own Vinegar 209

Chapter 25 Making Cheese at Home 219

Chapter 26 Ten Further Secrets of Food Self-Sufficiency 237

Index of Recipes 245

Alphabetical Index 246

Editorial Reviews

According to Brett L. Markham, the author of this book, you can produce 85% of an average family's food on just a quarter acre—even as you are earning $10,000 a year while spending less than half the time of an ordinary job. Does that sound impossible? His Maximizing Your Mini Farm walks you through the essentials of making you a prosperous farmer. From soil fertility, farm tools, and weed control techniques to making your own wines, vinegars, and cheese, the paperback covers it all. A giant step toward self-sufficiency in book form.

— Michelle Marozik