Healthy soil and sustainable growing

["Tradingpost" <tradingpost@lobo.net>]

I'm sending for this book, found by accident. I have a couple minor 
disagreements (when don't I) but it looks worth it. Anyone have it and want 
to tell me?

paul tradingpost@lobo.net
------------------------------------------

Previews of most chapters are online at 
http://books.google.com/books?id=eandfdOl_HwC&pg=PA81&lpg=PA81&dq=open+pollinated+definition&source=web&ots=JpQUhh683w&sig=IFWhNzVBLgz3bRGgCfMcfFoDZq0&hl=en#PPA3,M1

It's available for purchase at
http://www.bookfinder.com/search/?ac=sl&st=sl&qi=nwu85xAQn3EKze4rdR8ewjEu840_9859805547_1:170:810&bq=author%3Dbrett%2520markham%26title%3Dmini%2520farming%2520for%2520self%2520sufficiency

Mini Farming for Self Sufficiency
by Brett Markham (December 31, 2006)
Edition: Paperback
Price: $22.95
Availability: In Stock
28 used & new from $22.07


Book Description
This book describes the philosophy and methods of a holistic approach to 
limited space gardening that produces so much food that, within three years, 
you will be able to produce 85% of the food needs for a family of four on 
less than a quarter-acre, plus earn over $10,000 in cash annually - and you 
will be able to do this in less time than an equivalent job would require, 
netting the equivalent of $50/hour for your labor. Even if you have never 
been a farmer or a gardener, this book covers everything you need to know to 
get started: buying seeds, saving seeds, starting seedlings, establishing 
raised beds, soil fertility practices, composting, dealing with pest and 
disease problems, farm planning and much more. Since 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.


11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars The Edible is Political, March 3, 2007
By Robert Freeman "The biological is political." (Plainfield, CT United 
States)

If you are new to mini-farming, this is the book to get. Markham grows a 
tremendous amount of food in a postage stamp piece of land, and he tells how 
to do it in this book. From planting the seeds to processing the harvest to a 
lesson on soil chemistry in between, this book covers it all in a folksy, 
easy to read style.

It is a very practical book, for people who need to grow gardens to save 
money and to provide their children with better diets. America is dividing 
along class lines, and one of the major class differences is food. The poor 
eat junk food and suffer obesity, diabetes, arteriosclerosis and heart 
disease; while the wealthier class eats real food -- that stuff that EVERYONE 
ate back in the old days.

The fact that junk food exists at all is a great injustice; junk food is 
"feed" for us "human cattle," if only it were as nutritious as what we give 
livestock! The fact is, you'd be better off eating alfalfa pellets and 
cracked corn with a bowl of water, than Doritos and Pepsi. That's right -- 
livestock feed has more nutritional value than so-called "fun foods," which 
are becoming more and more a staple of the American diet.

How many square feet of cropland is necessary to feed one person? John 
Jeavons put the number at 1250 square feet. Brett Markham puts the number at 
700 square feet, based on his experience. If Markham is right, that means the 
average suburbanite can supply most of the food for their family. I think 
it's worth getting this book and giving it a try. I got the book, and I'm 
going to try it this year.

And if you have children, for heaven's sake, feed them right! I work in a 
health care related field, and I can tell you that we are seeing an American 
pandemic of diet-related diseases, all because we gave up our gardens and 
turned out food supply over to ConAgra and Archer Daniels Midland. Most of 
our food is basically the corn surplus in fancy packages. Partially 
hydrogenated corn syrup will KILL YOU! The next time you go shopping, read 
the labels of all packaged foods, and think twice!