Sustainable Market Farming

Sustainable Market Farming

Author: Pam Dawling

Publisher: New Society Publishers

Published: 2013-02-01

Total Pages: 459

ISBN-13: 1550925121

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Growing for 100 - the complete year-round guide for the small-scale market grower. Across North America, an agricultural renaissance is unfolding. A growing number of market gardeners are emerging to feed our appetite for organic, regional produce. But most of the available resources on food production are aimed at the backyard or hobby gardener who wants to supplement their family's diet with a few homegrown fruits and vegetables. Targeted at serious growers in every climate zone, Sustainable Market Farming is a comprehensive manual for small-scale farmers raising organic crops sustainably on a few acres. Informed by the author's extensive experience growing a wide variety of fresh, organic vegetables and fruit to feed the approximately one hundred members of Twin Oaks Community in central Virginia, this practical guide provides: Detailed profiles of a full range of crops, addressing sowing, cultivation, rotation, succession, common pests and diseases, and harvest and storage Information about new, efficient techniques, season extension, and disease resistant varieties Farm-specific business skills to help ensure a successful, profitable enterprise Whether you are a beginning market grower or an established enterprise seeking to improve your skills, Sustainable Market Farming is an invaluable resource and a timely book for the maturing local agriculture movement.


No-Till Intensive Vegetable Culture

No-Till Intensive Vegetable Culture

Author: Bryan O'Hara

Publisher: Chelsea Green Publishing

Published: 2020-02-21

Total Pages: 273

ISBN-13: 1603588531

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"No-till farming is the new best practice for preventing soil erosion, building soil biology, and providing growing conditions for vibrant, healthy crops. But for organic vegetable farmers and gardeners-and any farmer who wants to avoid herbicide use-the seemingly insurmountable dilemma with no-till has been how to control weeds without cultivating. In this thorough, practical guide, expert organic farmer Bryan O'Hara provide the answers. O'Hara systemically describes the growing methods he developed and perfected during a multi-year transition of his Connecticut certified organic vegetable farm to a no-till system. O'Hara asserts that this flexible, nature-friendly agricultural methodology is critical to vegetable farming success both economically as well as to maintain the health of the soil and the farm ecosystem. His methodology has proven itself over years of cropping on his home farm, Tobacco Road Farm, as well as other farms in his region, often with stunning results in yields, quality, and profitability. In No-Till Intensive Vegetable Culture, O'Hara delves into the techniques he has experimented with and perfected in his 25 years of farming, including making and using compost, culturing and applying indigenous microorganisms to support soil biology, reduced tillage systems, no-till bed preparation techniques, seeding and transplanting methods, irrigation, use of fertilizers (including foliar feeds), pest and disease management, weed control, season extension, and harvest and storage techniques. O'Hara also explores the spiritual understanding of the nuances of the soil and a farm ecosystem and how that influences practical production decisions such as when to plant, water, and fertilize a crop. O'Hara goal is to pass on his knowledge to those who feel the impulse to make their livelihood in harmony with nature, requiring a relatively small land base of a few acres or less and little capital investment in mechanization. Home gardener and large-scale farmers will also find value in his methods. This manual will provides farmers with an advanced agricultural methodology not available in any other single book on organic vegetable production, a methodology that will allow farmers to continue to adapt to meet future challenges"--


Efficient Nutrient Management in California Vegetable Production

Efficient Nutrient Management in California Vegetable Production

Author: Timothy K. Hartz

Publisher: UCANR Publications

Published: 2020-07-14

Total Pages: 118

ISBN-13: 1627110704

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With growers now facing increasingly stringent regulations designed to minimize nutrient losses to the environment, this guide outlines a fresh take on fertilization best practices for the industry. Nutrient management is critical to successful vegetable production. Given the high value and exacting market standards for size, appearance, and postharvest quality for vegetable crops, fertilizer management practices have focused on optimizing production across a wide range of field conditions. While effective in producing good crops, these practices are not necessarily reflective of input costs or environmental protection. Drawing on 25 years of industry experience, the author outlines the principles of nutrient management that are broadly applicable across crops and production regions. Growers, PCAs, and fertilizer industry professionals will find a practical understanding of crop nutrient requirements, soil nutrient availability, the value and limitations of soil and plant nutrient monitoring, and environmental protection in these pages.


Biodiversity, Conservation and Sustainability in Asia

Biodiversity, Conservation and Sustainability in Asia

Author: Münir Öztürk

Publisher: Springer Nature

Published: 2021-04-24

Total Pages: 659

ISBN-13: 3030599280

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Of the world’s seven continents, Asia is the largest. Its physical landscapes, political units, and ethnic groups are both wide-ranging and many. Southwest, South and Middle Asia are highly populated regions which, as a whole, cover an extremely large area of varied geography. In total, this domain is unique in its plant diversity and large vegetation zones with different communities and biomes. It is rich in endemics, with specific and intraspecific diversity of fruit trees and medicinal plants, including a number of rare, high value, species. At the same time, much of the land in the region is too dry or too rugged, with many geographical extremes. Overgrazing, oil and mineral extraction, and poaching are the major threats in the area. This two-volume project focuses on the dynamic biodiversity of the region with in-depth analysis on phytosociology, plants, animals and agroecology. There are also chapters that explore new applications as well as approaches to overcome problems associated with climate change. Much of the research and analysis are presented here for the first time. We believe this work is a valuable resource for professionals and researchers working in the fields of plant diversity and vegetation, animal diversity and animal populations, and geo-diversity and sustainable land use, among others. The first volume guides our readers to West Asia and the Caucasus region, while volume two focuses on issues unique to South and Middle Asia.


Proceedings of the International Symposium Southeast Asia Vegetable 2021 (SEAVEG 2021)

Proceedings of the International Symposium Southeast Asia Vegetable 2021 (SEAVEG 2021)

Author: Irham Irham

Publisher: Springer Nature

Published: 2023-02-10

Total Pages: 628

ISBN-13: 9464630280

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This is an open access book. International Symposium – SEAVEG 2021 as a medium for educators, researchers, practitioners and students to convey the results of research, insights, knowledge, and innovations that have been carried out and compile them into a concrete, implementable formula. SEAVEG 2021 could be a discussion forum that encourages and accelerates agricultural development in Indonesia, especially horticultural commodities. The symposium welcomes papers that explore but not limited to the topic of Vegetables for Resilience and Healthy Diets. The range of the topics covered by SEAVEG 2021 includes: Hunger and MalnutritionStarvation occurs when a person does not get enough food, and in the long run, it can lead to malnutrition. Malnutrition can also occur when a person lacks essential nutrients as a result of not eating sufficiently.The horticultural sub-sector, especially vegetables, is a rich source of nutrients. As a food ingredient that contains many nutrients including vitamins and minerals, proper consumption of vegetables is important. It includes breeding, seed quality, production, and related aspects. Food and Nutrition Security Food as basic human need plays a significant role to create a good life. The availability of safe and nutritious food must be fulfilled. Food deficiency can create instability. >In order to achieve food stability, each country has different concepts and methods depending on their respective conditions, such as economic, geographic, technological, regional dan socio-cultural conditions. It includes breeding, seed quality, production, and related aspects. Food Supply Chain and Agribusiness In developing countries, the food supply chain has not been efficient because of the many actors involved. The supply chain describes the process of food, in this case from horticulture commodities, from production, processing, distribution, consumption, and disposal. Each step of the supply chain requires human resources that will reduce the farmer’s margin. The length of the supply chain also affects people’s purchasing power. Food Supply Chain is one of the many aspects from agribusiness system. To make an environmental that is leaning towards farmer’s prosperity, we need to make an agribusiness system that is efficient. Digital marketing system, such as marketplace, can shorten the supply chain and support better agribusiness system. Young Agripreneur in Horticulture Currently, young people around the world are not much interested in the agricultural sector. Agriculture, especially horticulture sub-sector, is very prospective to increase income and economic value. Farming vegetable commodity from upstream to downstream is very challenging for the millennial generation to develop. The demand in the horticultural sector, especially vegetable products, is increasing during the covid-19 pandemic. It is a business opportunity in itself, especially for young agricultural entrepreneurs. Millennial characteristics, adaptive to technology, full of innovation, make young agricultural entrepreneurs have the potential to increase the income and develop their business in horticultural commodities. Covid-19: Issues and Challenges in Vegetables for Resilience during PandemicThe Covid-19 pandemic is a momentum for the revival of the horticultural sub-sector. A balanced nutritional intake, especially vegetables, is highly recommended. People are increasingly aware that vegetables accompanied by a proper and healthy diet are beneficial for increasing body immunity. People are also encouraged to practice a healthier lifestyle to maintain endurance. Therefore, they will get infected by the disease. This change in mindset has influenced people’s interest in finding healthy food sources, such as vegetables that are good for health.


Farming Systems in the Tropics

Farming Systems in the Tropics

Author: Hans Ruthenberg

Publisher:

Published: 1976

Total Pages: 412

ISBN-13:

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Some general charscteristics of farming in a tropical environment; Shifting cultivation systems; Fallow systems; Ley systems; Systems with permanent upland cultivation; Systems with arable irrigation farming; Systems with perennial crops; Grazing systems; General tendences in the development of tropical farm systems.