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

I recently bought this book even tho I have more space for a garden than the name implies. What this book includes.A section on each plant. That section includes general info on the plant, variety selection, how to plant, talks about weeds, pests and diseases, harvesting and seed saving which is brief but should help get the job done. Each plant has its own chapter.This book also has a section on tools and techniques. It includes things such as planting guides, trellising, and weed control.It also has a section on self-sufficiency. That includes making country wines, vinegar, cheese and other ideas that can make life easier.I plan to get the rest of this series of books. This book is written in a way that I want to get more. I would recommend an additional book for diseases. While this book discusses what pests and diseases affect the plant, it doesn't have a lot of pictures so that you can identify the pest or disease.I would also like to add this for the people who may find some books hard to read because of eye sight. This book uses a very easy to read font. I'm not saying it is large print but it is easy for even me to read. Newspaper print is hard for me to read. Some books that use a font that has thin lines are also hard for me to read without a magnifying glass. I can read this book without that and no sore eyes.

Markham is a remarkable man. A computer engineer by profession, it seems his passion is what he aptly terms "Minifarming".I have an extensive library of gardening and "minifarming" books, and of the entire collection, Markham is my most respected author. His knowledge of Personal Farming (my term) is encyclopedic and his writing style (as befits an engineer) is clear, well organized and and to the point.Keep in mind that his venue is not big agriculture, but rather, personal "backyard" gardening. Although much of his writing is certainly applicable to growing ornamentals, his main thrust is in growing of edibles, and especially achieving astonishing yields from very modest parcels of "farmland" which are not denominated in acres, but rather, in square feet. His intensive methods also tend naturally to be suitable for very limited amounts of labor and time. For example, very closely planted vegetables tend to crowd out weeds and thus reduce the amount of labor required. Of course, there is a downside: the "farmer" must be alert to maintaining the fertility of his soil. Markham devotes an appropriate amount of text to this matter, also.I could go on, but the above should give you the essentials: Markham writes clearly, makes excellent recommendations for "mini farming" and has a very easy and pleasant writing style. If I had to limit myself to just one author for my home vegetable garden needs, it would be Markham.

I am just starting to consider this type of gardening/farming. There are many practical ideas that I plan to implement thanks to this book.The book was easy to read and understand. Anyone who wants to start a small farm or homestead will benefit from this book. This will also work great for anyone living in the suburbs with a decent size back yard and/or front yard.

Unlike most "gardening" books I have read, this book does not teach you a single gardening method as if it is all you need to know. Instead, it integrates several different methods, points out the strengths and weaknesses of going with any particular method, and gets you going. Even better, the author has a reality based "let's grow food" perspective - what things can you grow that will best feed you? Simple, yes, but not something you see often enough - hint, growing your own wheat is probably not a smart move.The most important thing is that the author gives you pretty much everything you need to know in order to actually win with your garden. I'm biased toward greenhouses, and mine is modeled around his suggestions. My sister thinks greenhouses make no sense for her situation, and her more traditional garden is also modeled around his suggestions. They both work. That's the glory of his approach.He just published a new book. Don't get it (Maximizing Your Mini Farm: Self-Sufficiency on 1/4 Acre) instead - get both. They are definitely companion pieces - you'll be glad you did.Also, consider getting (Aquaponic Gardening: A Step-By-Step Guide to Raising Vegetables and Fish Together) as well. Aquaponics is another way to raise a significant amount of (organic) food easily in a small space. This author takes a similar approach to teaching you what you need to know in order to make informed choices, and the flexibility is something you'll appreciate.

Great book and great next step in self-sufficiency. I am glad that I purchased Mini Farming and Maximizing your Mini Farm at the same time. these books fir well together. Maximizing Your Mini Farm is the next phase of your self-sufficiency and adds alot more information to what the first book has to say about starting your own vegetable garden and adding fruits and nuts and poultry and eggs. Brett L. Markham has some good advice about the amount of space it takes to grow some foods that you might be better off buying; such as wheat- requires quite a bit of space to grow and lots of time and equipment to harvest and process. He gives you some dollar and time comparisons and lets you decide if this is something you want to do or not. Making your own wine or cheese?There are many suggestions on foods to grow - how to grow, harvest, and preserve; with time and dollar comparisons. I found this to be a big help! Sometimes you have more time than money and somethings are easier to just buy. Consider the health benefits of raising your own food and a lot of the time factors are minimized.

The mini farm seems to be flourishing, so its gotta be good.

Even if you've never gardened before, this book will give you the inspiration and the practical tools to grow your own with confidence and ease.

I know, I know...you can get all the info that is in this book from the internet for free, but there is something special about good old fashioned, tangible books. This is well make, good info, good photos and also looks good on my shelf.

What a perfect book for someone who is trying to figure out what to do with their small acreage in order to be a little more self-sufficient! This book is a gift, but it will surely be one that will go on giving and giving...

not a fan of these cheap ebooks, books slapped together to make a quick buck