Farming in a Small Land

mini farming

Mini Farming: Self-Sufficiency in 1/4 Acre. Home food production is an important proficiency that contributes positively to the physical and financial health of the family. Along with this, it provides an important psychological and
spiritual boost by reaffirming our connection with nature and nature’s laws, reconnecting us with our ancestral roots, and providing the feeling of competence that comes from ensuring the supply of a basic necessity—food.

Just as important, the quality of food produced at home is superior to that available in the supermarket for a number of reasons. The demands of business drive many factors that decrease the nutritional value of commercial foods. Because very little food is produced near its point of use, fruit and vegetable varieties are selected on the basis of suitability for machine picking, long-distance shipping, and cold storage so that they still look good when they reach the supermarket. This results in homogeneous and visually appealing products that look better than they taste and have considerably less nutritional value than homegrown equivalents.

The approaches adopted in this book are a combination of traditional, Biodynamic, Grow Biointensive, French Intensive, Square Foot, and other approaches that use raised beds and that I call “intensive agriculture.” It stands on the shoulders of many great and dedicated gardeners, thinkers, philosophers, and farmers, so I claim no unique credit for it, but the synthesis has been made based on my own experience and will hopefully save the reader a lot of trial and error.

The content of this book can be used at various levels. It can be used to allow efficient hobby gardening for improved nutrition and enjoyment, a more substantial commitment to gardening, and fullfledged mini-farming. My aim, then, is to help the reader get started on a path to growing more economical, nutritious, and safe food with minimal effort while simultaneously helping the reader reconnect with the cycles of nature and heritage in a way that will enhance the spirit.