Mini Farming: Self-Sufficiency on 1/4 Acre [Paperback]

Brett L. Markham (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Review

A concept destined to appeal to that intrepid individual whose independent nature finds the idea of abandoning the grocery store alluring. (Carol Haggas - Booklist )

A helpful addition, alongside Bartholomew and Jeavons, for the serious DIY gardener. (Margaret Heller - Library Journal )

Product Description

Start a mini farm on a quarter acre or less and provide 85 percent of the food for a family of four—and earn an income. 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. Even if you have never been a farmer or a gardener, this book covers everything you need to know to get started: buying and saving seeds, starting seedlings, establishing raised beds, soil fertility practices, composting, dealing with pest and disease problems, crop rotation, farm planning, and much more. Because self-sufficiency is the objective, subjects such as raising backyard chickens and home canning are also covered along with numerous methods for keeping costs down and production high. Materials, tools, and techniques are detailed with photographs, tables, diagrams, and illustrations. 100 color illustrations and photographs

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Product Details

• Paperback: 240 pages
• Publisher: Skyhorse Publishing (April 1, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1602399840
• ISBN-13: 978-1602399846
• Product Dimensions: 10.9 x 8.5 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.7 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Bestsellers Rank: #7,289 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

  #27 in

  Books > Home & Garden > Gardening & Horticulture

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Coffee Table Book, August 14, 2010

By	Burgundy Damsel (Albany, New York) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Mini Farming: Self-Sufficiency on 1/4 Acre (Paperback)

I felt like this book was more of a coffee table picture book than a helpful guide to getting started on self sufficiency. There is plenty of information in the pages, but it's all in block paragraphs that run together. I'd have to go through with highlighter and sticky notes to mark it if I wanted to find anything again.

I much preferred The Backyard Homestead. It had much more easily referenced information and more user-friendly instructions, both written and illustrated. Definitely check Mini Farming out of your library to make sure its the choice for you before you invest in it.

10 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This Book Has Changed My Life, July 12, 2010

By	Jason - See all my reviews

This review is from: Mini Farming: Self-Sufficiency on 1/4 Acre (Paperback)

I'm a novice farmer, and have found this book EXTREMELY informative and helpful.

While I worked on a farm as a kid and had a tiny bit of knowledge, this book has opened my eyes to the wonders of mini-farming and worded in an easy-to-understand way.

I told my Uncle who lives in Northern California and has a "Mini-Farm" in his backyard about this book, and a week after buying it he was raving about all the changes that he had made and that this book was taking his garden to heights he didn't think we possible!

For me personally, the information on which seeds to use and how to pick them, along with improving your soil was the biggest help to me, and I'm sure that this book will take me from a novice to a professional in no time.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Informative, Clear, Life-Changing Read!, July 7, 2010

By	Senstius - See all my reviews

This review is from: Mini Farming: Self-Sufficiency on 1/4 Acre (Paperback)

'Mini Farming: Self-Sufficiency on 1/4 Acre' marks a return to a life of great-tasting, healthy food. Markham opens the book with a description of the agricultural industry today, showing the reader that what we buy in supermarkets is neither optimally healthy nor good-tasting. How does he plan to solve this problem? By putting together a step-by step guide to creating a home garden, of course!

'Mini Farming' is a beautiful book, full of photographs that show the reader exactly how to create and sustain their own garden. After convincing the reader of the merit of having one of these farms, he goes through the process step-by-step. Markham is very careful to start at the beginning, which I really appreciate. He explains the difference between types of seeds, letting the reader choose before going into the general rules and more specific guidelines. I was able to follow Markham's instructions very easily.

All in all, 'Mini Farming' is a great read that will save money and allow you to eat the best-tasting, healthiest products possible!