February 2024 MBR The Agriculture Shelf

The Agriculture Shelf

The Resilient Farm and Homestead: Revised & Expanded
Ben Falk
Chelsea Green Publishing Company
www.chelseagreen.com
9781645021100, $44.95, PB, 352pp

https://www.amazon.com/Resilient-Farm-Homestead-Revised-Expanded/dp/1645021=
106

Synopsis: In this newly revised and expanded edition of "The Resilient Farm=
 and Homestead: 20 Years of Permaculture and Whole Systems Design" permacul=
ture and gardening expert Ben Falk describes how he has transformed a degra=
ded hillside in the frigid Vermont climate into a thriving, biodiverse Eden=
 that now provides year-round abundance for his family and community.

Originally published in 2013, this newly updated edition of "The Resilient =
Farm and Homestead" well serves as a comprehensive DIY how-to guide for bui=
lding durable and productive land-based systems through the reciprocal inte=
rplay of humans and the natural world. In the ten years since he first publ=
ished this seminal work, Falk has deepened his wisdom in harnessing nature-=
based solutions for increasingly challenging times, including addressing se=
vere climate disruptions like drought and flood conditions.

This new and updated edition of "The Resilient Farm and Homestead" covers e=
very strategy Falk and his team have tested on the Whole Systems Research F=
arms over the past two decades and includes detailed information on earthwo=
rks, gravity-fed water systems, soil fertility management, growing nutrient=
-dense food and medicine, fuelwood production, agroforestry, managed grazin=
g, and so much more.

Complete with full-color photography and detailed design drawings, The Resi=
lient Farm and Homestead, Revised and Expanded Edition includes new informa=
tion on: Designing greenhouses and microclimates; Reinvigorating human heal=
th and embodying a vigorous lifestyle; Raising children on a homestead; Cre=
ating failure-proof and resilient energy systems; Focusing on permaculture =
beekeeping; Cultivating proven cold climate plants; Overcoming analysis par=
alysis and mastering the art of knowing where to start and when to take str=
ategic risks -- and much, much more!

In an age that feels defined by disconnection, disease, and decline, "The R=
esilient Farm and Homestead, Revised and Expanded Edition" offers a compreh=
ensive roadmap to conquering uncertainty, maximizing efficiency, and creati=
ng a bountiful, manageable landscape that will endure.

Critique: This large format (8 x 1 x 10 inches, 1.25 pounds) paperback edit=
ion of "The Resilient Farm and Homestead, 20 Years of Permaculture and Whol=
e Systems Design" will prove to be of immense value for DIY readers with an=
 interest in sustainable agriculture and organic gardening. While unreserve=
dly recommended as an essential and core addition to personal, professional=
, community, and college/university library Agriculture/Horticulture/Garden=
ing collections and supplemental curriculum studies lists, it should be not=
ed that "The Resilient Farm and Homestead: Revised & Expanded Edition) is a=
lso available in a digital book format (Kindle, $38.99).

Editorial Note: Ben Falk (www.wildabundance.net/bios/ben-falk) developed Wh=
ole Systems Design, LLC, as a land-based response to biological and cultura=
l extinction and the increasing separation between people and elemental thi=
ngs. Life as a designer, builder, ecologist, tree-tender, and backcountry t=
raveler continually informs Ben's integrative approach to developing landsc=
apes and buildings. His home landscape and the WSD studio site in Vermont's=
 Mad River Valley serve as a proving ground for the innovative land develop=
ments featured in the projects of Whole Systems Design. Ben has studied arc=
hitecture and landscape architecture at the graduate level and holds master=
 of arts in landscape design degree. He has taught design courses at the Un=
iversity of Vermont and Harvard's Arnold Arboretum as well as on permacultu=
re design, microclimate design, and design for climate change. He recently =
served on the board of directors at the Yestermorrow Design-Build School, w=
here he also teaches from time to time. He is also the author of The Resili=
ent Homestead: Innovative Permaculture Systems for the Home and Farm.

Flower Farming for Profit
Lennie Larkin
Chelsea Green Publishing Company
www.chelseagreen.com
9781645021766, $45.00, PB, 288pp

https://www.amazon.com/Flower-Farming-Profit-Complete-Successful/dp/1645021=
769

Synopsis: When Lennie Larkin set out to become a flower farmer, she found a=
ll sorts of resources about growing flowers but a scarcity of reliable info=
rmation on how to build a profitable cut flower business. How do you create=
 efficient systems and adequately value your own time and effort through yo=
ur pricing? When and how should you consider scaling up your farm? How can =
you make doing what you love support you financially?

With the publication of "Flower Farming for Profit: The Complete Guide to G=
rowing a Successful Cut Flower Business", Larkin answers these questions an=
d a great many more. With instructive lessons and savvy business tips from =
her own and other successful farms around the world, she explores: The dive=
rse challenges of both wholesale and retail sales channels, from florists a=
nd farm stands to farmers markets; Streamlining weddings for the farmer-flo=
rist, from communications to floral design; Efficient recordkeeping and boo=
kkeeping; Steps for conducting your own cost-of-production analysis; Market=
ing and growth strategies; Business planning, goal setting, and making fina=
ncial projections; Crop planning based on local climatic conditions, market=
 demand, and sales projections.

The cut flower industry continues to experience reliable and continuing gro=
wth. To successfully do what they love while expanding the market for susta=
inably produced flowers, new and experienced farmers alike must deliberatel=
y step back from the field and into the office. "Flower Farming for Profit"=
 is a unique guide to creating the type of numbers-driven business that wil=
l allow individual farms to prosper and local flower economies to thrive.

Critique: Simply stated, "Flower Farming for Profit: The Complete Guide to =
Growing a Successful Cut Flower Business" is the Bible for creating and ope=
rating a profitable cut flower business, whether it be on a local, regional=
, national, or even international basis. Nicely illustrated throughout with=
 full color photography, "Flower Farming for Profit" is as comprehensive as=
 it is 'user friendly' in organization and presentation. Also available in =
a digital book format (Kindle, $33.99), "Flower Planning for Profit" is a n=
ecessary and core addition to personal, professional, corporate, and colleg=
e/university library Agriculture/Horticultural Industry collections.

Editorial Note: Lennie Larkin (www.flowerfarmingforprofit.com) started B-Si=
de Farm in Sonoma County, California, in 2014, and has since moved the farm=
 and settled on two beautiful acres outside of Portland, Oregon. B-Side has=
 grown flowers for all kinds of retail and wholesale customers over the yea=
rs and designed for hundreds of weddings. Lennie's true passion lies not on=
ly in tending to her own farm but in helping other farmers thrive in their =
businesses. She has been an associate faculty member at Santa Rosa Junior C=
ollege and served multiple terms on the board of the Association of Special=
ty Cut Flower Growers. She teaches a business curriculum that she developed=
 specifically for flower farmers, provides coaching and business advising, =
and conducts grant-funded research on cut flower cost of production and eff=
iciency.

EDITOR'S NOTE:

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James A. Cox, Editor-in-Chief
Midwest Book Review
278 Orchard Drive
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Midwest Book Review