What books would you suggest for a start up?

19 years ago

Hello, my husband and I own a 132 acre farm that we currently rent out to a cow/calf operation. This year I have started a vegetable garden for the first time with the thought that I would eventually like to have a market garden operation. I have never grown any veggies before this year- just ornamental plants for my own enjoyment. We have 9 raised beds that are 4' x 16' each and are growing about 40 different varieties of produce. We are growing too much for just ourselves and our 2 young children to eat so I have started selling items to people at my husbands work. So far, so good, I am learning a lot about growing and different problems that one faces when growing vegetables.

Now for my questions.... I have a bunch of books (I am an addict, I think) but I would like some opinions on what other books would help me. So far I have "You can farm" by Joel Salatin, "Sell what you sow" by Eric Gibson, "The vegetable gardeners bible", "The encyclopedia of organic gardening" and some other books that focus more on livestock than on produce. I am looking for some books that focus on GROWING produce for market. We live in an area that has many marketing opportunities (and I have a husband who is a great marketer and is president of a small business) so I don't neccesarily need books about selling the product. I figure I should put the cart AFTER the horse and learn as much as I can about growing before worrying about how to get rid of it ;oD

I know that the best way to learn is by doing but I have a 3 year old and a 9 month old so, right now at least, I can find more time for reading than I can for getting my hands in the dirt.....

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tbolt76

19 years ago

imtoobusy,
I also agree, The New Organic Grower will be something you can use indefinitely. Also, EC's book "Four Season Harvest" is great b/c it has some newer, refined ideas that Coleman makes accessible to gardeners and truck farmers. You can never start out to small, only to big. If you'd like some advice, start a garden that's 50'x50' and follow coleman's teachings from 4 Season Harvest. You will be successful and enjoy what you are doing as well. When I tried to get too big, too fast before, I was only met with frustration and disappointment. Good luck.
Tom

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Comments (10)

randy41_1
19 years ago
the new organic grower by eliot coleman.
Jeanne_in_Idaho
19 years ago
What Randy said. It's one of my Bibles even though I only grow flowers. Much of it pertains to growing in general, especially organically/sustainably.

Jeanne
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I am so sorry to hear of your loss. You will be in my thoughts. This just takes my breath away. Two years ago I outfitted the galley of a very small sailboat. After two years at sea the report was that I did a pretty good job of it. I'll try to recall what I purchased or sent from my own kitchen. I made an effort to supply things that had more than one use and/or could nest for storage or were small. Everything had to be nonferrous, nonelectric for the most part, and unbreakable as well. Pressure cooker Stock pot and lid Collapsable silicon steamer/colander that fit neatly inside the stock pot for steaming 2 quart thick bottom stainless pot with lid Enameled fry pan, could also go into the oven and the stock pot lid fit it Nonstick fry pan Large good quality chef's knife and steel Small utility knife Vegetable peeler Flexible cutting boards, set Small teflon cutting board Assorted baking pans, loaf, round, square, 9x13 Broiling pan Mallet meat tenderizer Coffee grinder French press Small mortar and pestle Pepper mill Ladles Silicon spatulas Regular egg-flipper type spatula Bamboo spoons Medium sized whisk Batter/mixing bowl with handle - it also was melamine and had a nonskid bottom Set of measuring cups Set of measuring spoons Wine opener/church key Strainer with handle Several microplane graters Assorted herbs and spices Kitchen timer Oven gauge Meat thermometer Can opener Bread knife Kitchen shears Tongs Camping toaster Potato masher Slotted spoon Small blender Electric water kettle, there were times when they could be docked and plugged in Additional things I would suggest for a regular kitchen: Food processor Cast iron skillet Griddle pan, nonstick Grill pan, cast iron Ceramic pie dish Covered casserole dishes, oval, square, round, whatever pleases Bundt pan, nonstick Large covered saute pan Dutch oven Muffin tin Mixer, hand or stand Toaster Cooling racks for baked goods Pizza stone Springform pan Waffle iron Additional mixing bowls Outdoor grill (the boat had a small grill) Crock pot Odd things I love having: Ice cream maker Fish poacher Popcorn popper Canning equipment Crepe pan Pasta machine, mine is manual I'm sure I forgot a few things that went into the boat galley but that's most of it. I also sent plastic dishes, glasses, and stainless tableware.
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robin_maine
19 years ago
I agree with Randy and Jeanne. It's an excellent book. Coleman's website is a great place to get a feel for what he has to say. Link below.

Here is a link that might be useful: The New Organic Grower
Bob_Piper
19 years ago
You will find the monthly newsletter GROWING FOR MARKET to be extremely helpful. I have gotten a lot of great ideas from it's articles that made money for me.
See www.growingformarket.com for info.

Bob
imtoobusy
Original Author
19 years ago
Thanks for all of your responses! I have looked it up on Amazon and will probablly get both books so I can get free shipping (here is a great marketing lesson- offer someone something for free and they will almost always spend more to get it --LOL). Thanks also for the newsletter recommendation, I am going to be looking up the link right now!
kevinw1
19 years ago
More books:

Sustainable Vegetable Growing from Startup to Market, by Vernon Grubinger et al.

The Small Commercial Garden by Dan Haakenson

Both have lots of nitty gritty specifics and are really useful. Better than the "earn $10,000 from your backyard" type of book, although those are good inspiration to start out with :-)

Kevin
(in my first year growing for market, and learning lots)
ohiorganic
19 years ago
I second (3rd? 4th?) the Eliot Coleman suggestions-tyhe new organicf Grower literally spells out how to do a really workable garden layout and the tools you will need to do the job of market gardening as well as great tips on effenciancy.

Growing for market has been indispensable for our farm the 8 years we have subscribed. Every issue is full of great advice/tips/ideas/news

Find out when there will be small farming/organic/sustainable conferences in your area. This is a cheap way to learn a lot quickly and also to meet other growers in your state/area. A good conference will save you at least a years worth of mistakes.

email listserv:
Market-farming mailing list
Market-farming@lists.ibiblio.org
http://lists.ibiblio.org/mailman/listinfo/market-farming
Get the list FAQ at: http://www.marketfarming.net/mflistfaq.htm

There are many very experienced growers on this list and it is active year 'round (many email groups get quiet during the growing/market season)

Oh and get a good book on disease ID. The best i have found "Identifying Diseases of Vegetables" AA Mcnabb, Penn state; AF Sherf, Cornell U: JK Springer Rutgers U; Published by the Penn State college of ag sciences. this book has lots of good photos of diseased plants with descripotions of various diseases. they do not give suggestions for remedying diseases.

A good insect book. The Peterson series or Audubon books are both excellent

A couple of books on disease and insect control. Rodale Press has some really good titles on this subject. The "Problem Solver" series is good and the "Organic Gardener's Handbook of Natural Insect and Disease Control" by Barbara Ellis and Fern Marshall Bradley is the best I have come across.

you should also have books on soil building or at least a good understanding of the life in soil and how it works with your plants.

oh yeah, Acres USA is a good periodical for the eco farmer, they cover it all from livestock operations to big grain farms to small market gardens.

Lucy
Miss EFF
19 years ago
Oh --I love Acres USA! Great for soil prep advice.

Cathy
skagit_goat_man_
19 years ago
I'll second two of the above: Growing for Market, a monthly, keeps you current with trends, techniques, and some regulations.
The other is The Small Commercial Garden by Haakenson. It puts all the other "grow it" books to shame because it recognizes the first purpose of market these two publications. Tom

What books would you suggest for a start up?

tbolt76

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randy41_1

Jeanne_in_Idaho

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What books would you suggest for a start up?

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