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★★★★★
Essential reading for organic growers
This amounts to the 'bible' of organic growing. It is informative and inspirational in equal measure. While the approach Coleman takes is particularly suited to market gardening, it is also eminently suitable for smaller-scale gardeners who simply wish to feed their family.
Coleman writes, 'The premise of this book is that you can make a good living on 5 acres or less of intensive vegetable production. Thus it is those acres that concern us most.' (p16)
In a nutshell, Coleman's approach is to:
- plan and market effectively
- develop the healthiest soil
- grow the most valuable crops
- extend the growing season to the maximum
He show just how to do this in 334 pages with 28 chapters and four appendices. There isn't space here to offer a contents list, but here are some highlights:
Chapters addressing the question 'why do it?' - Agricultural craftsmanship', 'a final question'
Chapters on 'season extension', mobile greenhouses and 'the winter garden'.
'Plant-positive' solutions to pests.
Chapters on marketing strategy and marketing.
However, 'The New Organic Grower' covers far more than this - in fact everything you could need to start successful organic vegetable production! Readers living in cool/temperate climates may also want to check out Coleman's other popular book, 'Four Season Harvest'.
December 2000 · Books