Practical No-Till Farming

Do less, produce more, and grow the soil life that feeds crops using chemical-free, organic no-till methods A no-nonsense breakdown of no-till market gardening that gets straight to the point and stays there. Practical No-Till Farming is arguably the most devourable technical manual I‘ve come across. A great read and an even greater asset to organic flower and vegetable growers everywhere. ¿ JESSE FROST , author, The Living Soil Handbook This is a book I wish I had when I was starting out. Helps clarify what the big deal is about no-till, how it‘s being defined, and how folks are actually making it work. ¿ JOSH VOLK , author, Build Your Own Farm Tools and Compact Farms NO-TILL FARMING methods are taking small-scale farming by storm, promising less work, higher productivity, improved soil health, carbon sequestration, and weed control for organic growers. There are many ways to approach no-till, including mulching with compost, cardboard, straw, silage tarps, and more¿and there is no shortage of conflicting advice on how to get started. Practical No-Till Farming is here to help, sorting the wheat from the chaff and the horse manure from the plastic mulch. Coverage includes: How to assess your farm for no-till options considering climate, soil, and crop selection Detailed descriptions of common no-till methods, including pros and cons, materials, and relative costs Choosing the most appropriate methods for your context How-to for each no-till method, including what to do and when Dealing with bindweed, symphylans, and other difficult weeds and pests Maximizing productivity of no-till beds Special coverage of both organic vegetable and flower no-till market farming. Ideal for small-scale growers everywhere, this one-of-a-kind manual is the ultimate guide to getting started with no-till farming. If you‘re looking for a practical, down-to-earth book that explains both the whys and hows of no-till market gardening, this definitely is the book for you. ¿ JOHN IKERD , Professor Emeritus of Agricultural Economics, University of Missouri-Columbia ANDREW MEFFERD is the editor of Growing for Market magazine and author of The Organic No-Till Farming Revolution and The Greenhouse and Hoophouse Grower‘s Handbook. He lives and farms in Cornville, Maine.