Storey's Guide to Growing Organic Vegetables & Herbs for Market: Site & Crop Selection * Planting, Care & Harvesting * Business Basics
560
Storey's Guide to Growing Organic Vegetables & Herbs for Market: Site & Crop Selection * Planting, Care & Harvesting * Business Basics
560eBook
Available on Compatible NOOK devices, the free NOOK App and in My Digital Library.
Related collections and offers
Overview
Product Details
| ISBN-13: | 9781603429078 |
|---|---|
| Publisher: | Storey Publishing, LLC |
| Publication date: | 03/22/2013 |
| Sold by: | Hachette Digital, Inc. |
| Format: | eBook |
| Pages: | 560 |
| File size: | 23 MB |
| Note: | This product may take a few minutes to download. |
About the Author
Keith Stewart is a NOFA-NY certified organic vegetable grower in Westtown, New York, who has been selling to the NYC Union Square Greenmarket since it began. Keith’s garlic has been called “the most soulful garlic on earth” by Time Out New York. The New York Times said, “Keith’s farm grows garlic from another planet compared with the stuff in supermarkets.” He is the author of It’s a Long Road to a Tomato: Tales of an Organic Farmer Who Quit the Big City for the (Not So) Simple Life. His essays appear in The Valley Table, “the Hudson Valley’s only magazine devoted to regional farms, food, and cuisine.”
Read an Excerpt
CHAPTER 1
Thinking About Becoming a Farmer?
I made the switch from city living and the corporate world to becoming a farmer in my early forties. It was the best move I ever made. Not a day has passed since then on which I doubted the rightness of my choice. Though I had virtually no experience, the idea of farming had been brewing inside me for a few years. I was not happy going into the office every day and playing the part of a company man. I hankered for rolling fields, open space, and blue sky. I remembered my parents' vegetable garden in New Zealand and the fresh, wholesome food that came from it, and I remembered my Uncle Roger's sheep farm where I passed many a youthful summer's day. I wanted to hear the sound of birds and feel the pulse of nature. And I wanted to reclaim my body and follow my environmental inclinations. Thoughts of getting back in shape, doing good physical work, being my own boss, and growing healthy food kept rattling around inside my head.
It was the mid-1980s. Small farms were disappearing at an alarming rate, often being merged into larger ones. Industrial monoculture held full sway. "Get big or get out" was the motto — and don't spare the chemicals. In the age of Reagan, organic farming was a minor fringe movement viewed by most as a holdover from the radical and rebellious '60s and seldom accorded much respect. At the time, even to me, becoming a small farmer seemed like an impractical goal, if not a totally harebrained scheme. But I was drawn to it with an unusual energy and passion, the likes of which I had not known since my younger days. Quite simply, it was what I wanted to do, regardless of my chance of success. I have since learned that this kind of enthusiasm counts for a lot.
I read everything I could get my hands on by such authors as Wendell Berry and Gene Logsdon and several others less well known. I pored through numerous Rodale publications on sustainable farming and gardening. On weekends I visited friends in upstate New York and relished working on their land. In idle moments, I imagined a small, diversified farm with an abundance of life on it. I conjured up images of fruit trees, berry bushes, and rows of vegetables sparkling in the early sun.
As it turned out, many of my imaginings did become reality, though only after years of work. But from the beginning of my farming career, even in the face of my own inexperience and numerous setbacks, I truly enjoyed what I was doing, perhaps for the first time in my adult working life. Looking back, I can see it was a chancy undertaking, and had fortune not smiled on me in those early days, things might have turned out a little differently and not necessarily to my liking. Were I to go back as a younger man and start all over again, knowing what I know now, I would approach the agrarian life with a little more caution and advance preparation. But I'd go for it, nonetheless.
Twenty Points to Ponder
With the benefit of hindsight, I've assembled some points that I might have given more thought to 25 years ago. They are questions to turn over in your mind before you set out to become a farmer — to get a sense of how well suited you might be for the farming life.
The desire to escape from a lousy job or a domestic situation with which you're unhappy may be valid reasons to make changes in your life, but they are not a sufficient foundation upon which to build a farm. Neither is a love of nature or good food, though these are certainly not impediments. Every aspiring farmer should try to understand what he or she is getting into and avoid conjuring up an idealistic (and probably unrealistic) pastoral future. Farming is predominantly work — some of it hard work — day after day. For you to succeed, it has to be meaningful work, and you have to keep wanting to do it, year after year.
Many of these questions are somewhat loaded, and the preferred answers are rather obvious. But in case you're in doubt, each one is followed by expounding remarks that make my position clear. To make them a little more digestible, I've divided the points to ponder into three loose and somewhat overlapping categories:
* Deal Makers
* Deal Breakers
* Question Marks
If you come down on the right side of most of the Deal Makers, you're in good shape, but watch out for the Deal Breakers. The Question Marks will call for a bit more self-evaluation. Finally, by way of disclaimer, let me emphasize that in the world of farming, there are not many "right" answers. I've no doubt that other time-tested farmers might see things a little differently.
It's not likely that any one of us, including yours truly, will score high marks on all of these questions. I've not yet come upon a flawless farmer and am not sure I would want to. The idea is to get you thinking about what it takes to be a good farmer and how well suited you might be. If there are aspects of your nature that could be modified to better suit your agrarian goals, well, it's not too soon to start working on them.
Deal Makers
1. Do you like being your own boss and calling the shots, or are you stressed out when you have to make too many decisions?
Operating a small, diversified farm is tailor-made for anyone who likes to be his or her own boss and is comfortable calling most of the shots. If you have a hard time making decisions, it might be wiser to work on someone else's farm rather than try to run your own place.
2. Do you like watching things grow? Are you fascinated by nature's ways, the changing seasons, the ebb and flow of life?
A good farmer has an eye for the natural world. If growing plants doesn't turn you on and you're not especially fascinated by nonhuman living things and the roles they play on this planet, consider a different line of work.
3. Do you enjoy working with nature, or are you happier when the natural world is in an ordered state and under control?
Working cooperatively with nature is at the very heart of organic farming. If you prefer to control the natural world, you may be better suited to conventional farming with its arsenal of chemicals, though this is not a path I would recommend, nor is it one without its own considerable challenges.
4. Do you enjoy working outside? Can you tolerate different kinds of weather? Are you a big fan of air conditioning?
Farming, of course, is mostly conducted outdoors, so you must be okay with this. Sometimes it will be a little too hot for your comfort and sometimes too cold or too wet. Regardless of the weather, work needs to get done. If all-season field work is not your cup of tea, you might focus your energies on marketing farm products rather than growing them.
5. Are you in good shape? Do you enjoy physical work? Do you know how to pace yourself and use your body efficiently?
A farmer should be fit and physically capable and know how to use his or her body intelligently and efficiently. This type of knowledge can be learned on the job, but it would be helpful to have a modest supply of it before you start. Think of your body as a machine, like a tractor, that needs to be well maintained if it is to keep doing the work you will ask of it, year after year.
6. Can you balance a checkbook, keep accounts, and avoid spending more than you have?
Farming is a business, and every business needs to make a profit to keep going. Expenses must be offset by income. A farmer must keep a close watch on the bottom line and avoid slipping into debt. If you want a new tractor, it's probably best to wait until you can afford it.
7. If you're starting your own farm, do you have enough reserves of capital to weather a few lean years? Can you keep a part-time job that will bring in some income while you're learning the ropes?
Don't expect your farm to be profitable in its first year or two. It might happen, and of course, that is what you will hope for. But it would be safer to assume that it won't.
Deal Breakers
1. Are you reluctant to try something when you're not sure of the outcome? Do you feel crushed when a project you had high hopes for turns out badly?
Farming is not for the fainthearted or the risk averse. Uncertainty goes with the territory. Better to take your wins and losses in stride (you'll have plenty of both) and move on to the next challenge.
2. Do you hate getting dirt or grease on your hands and clothes? Do sweat, dust, oil, and — occasionally — a little blood make you uncomfortable?
All of this will happen. Just get yourself a bar of soap and some hardwearing work clothes.
3. Are you reluctant to admit that you've made a mistake? Will you stubbornly stay with a bad bet, or are you willing to cut your losses and move on?
This one's a bit like throwing good money after bad. To a large extent farming is about the allocation of scarce resources — namely your own capital and labor and the labor of your employees. When a crop or project is not generating the expected income or desired result, you should take a very hard look at it and be willing to bring down the ax.
4. Are you short on patience? (Many of us are, though we might like to think otherwise.) Do you like quick action and quick results? Or are you willing to plan ahead and take the long view?
Organic farming is seldom about instant gratification. Many of the challenges you will face do not lend themselves to quick solutions. Plants do not grow on command. They develop at their own pace and in response to variables that are beyond human control, like the sun, the wind, and the rain. The wise farmer understands this. He or she takes an even stride, allows events to unfold, and cultivates a philosophic turn of mind. Then again, there will be times when quick and radical action is called for, and you need to be ready.
5. Do you dread being bitten by a mosquito or stung by a bee? Are you afraid of snakes?
Snakes are beautiful and beneficial to farmers; mosquitoes are food for bats and barn swallows; bees will pollinate your plants. None of these creatures is the enemy. They are part of the wild dance of life on an organic farm.
Question Marks
1. Are you looking for a different life — or a different job?
Farming is a life, not a job. It will consume most of your energy and place numerous and diverse demands on you. Don't expect much in the way of leisure time or traditional vacations.
2. Are you a highly detail-oriented person? Do you always want to get things just right?
Being too meticulous and detail oriented can slow you down. A few small weeds around a head of lettuce are not necessarily a problem. Not every bunch of basil has to be exactly the same size. If you're ill at ease with all the variability in nature, you might better focus your energies on some aspect of farming that does not call for a lot of hands-on work with plants — like sales and promotion, or managing community-supported agriculture (CSA) accounts.
3. Are you a generalist or a specialist? Do you mind having lots of different things to do and often not quite enough time to get all of them done?
Running a small diversified farm requires that you wear many different hats and feel comfortable in most of them. If a very full plate makes you nervous, operating your own farm may not be the best choice. Working on someone else's place, where you have a defined area of responsibility, could make more sense.
4. Do you feel compelled to fix everything that malfunctions or breaks down? Do you think not doing so constitutes personal failure?
Mechanical and fix-it-up skills are great to have, but a farmer must be careful not to spend too much time solving mechanical or other specialized technical problems. There's all that farming to do. Sometimes it's wiser and more cost-effective to hire a professional who has the experience and the right tools to repair what is broken more quickly than you can. This way you get to spend your time planting what needs to be planted or harvesting what needs to be harvested — which is how you make your money. That said, however, many larger farms with plenty of tractors and equipment are very happy to have a full-time maintenance and repair person on board.
5. Are you an optimist or a realist? When you embark on a new undertaking, are you willing to entertain the worst-case scenario as well as the best?
Optimism and realism are not mutually exclusive. Most farmers hope for good growing conditions, bountiful crops, and a booming market, but we understand that these three will not unite in flying colors for us every season. Envisioning only the best outcome just sets you up for disappointment. Sometimes you're going to get clobbered. Better to know this in advance and be ready with a backup plan.
6. Are you willing to be an employer? Can you manage other people? Can you delegate responsibility?
Many farmers, being self-starters and independent-minded individuals, may not excel in this department. Managing other people is a tricky business and can take some time to master. Most employees will not want to work as hard as you do, and almost all of them will want some time off — even if you don't take any for yourself.
A good approach is to try wearing your employees' shoes every now and then — metaphorically speaking. Balance your needs against theirs. Try to imagine how they feel about what you are asking them to do. Be organized, be fair, be firm, and never go back on your word. Admit error when the error is yours.
If you don't like the idea of being an employer, you can, of course, work alone or with a partner. This is a reasonable and perhaps correct approach in the beginning, but for most farmers, especially those who would like to see some growth in their business, working alone is not practical over the long haul. We'll talk more about a workforce in chapter 23.
7. How are your social skills? Can you see yourself selling vegetables to the public at a farm stand or a farmers' market or through a CSA, or do you shy away from social contact with people you don't know?
These days, most successful small farmers have learned to be direct marketers as well as farmers. The retail dollar is highly desirable. Selling wholesale or to an intermediary is seldom a good path to take. You'll have a leg up in your marketing if you enjoy interacting with other people and can show them that you genuinely appreciate their business. If marketing is not your strong suit, you might want to stick to growing and find someone to do the marketing for you.
8. Do you really, really want to be a farmer, and do you understand what it entails?
The more you want to be a farmer and the better you understand what you're getting into, the greater your chance of success.
Concrete Steps to Take
The questions posed above are mostly concerned with your skills, your interests, your likes and dislikes, and your individual disposition. Let's assume you've mulled them over and are not deterred. Now it's time to consider some of the more practical steps you can take to educate and prepare yourself for the farming life.
Attain a Formal Education
You could enroll in an agricultural program at one of the land grant universities that every state has, but this is probably not a good idea. These schools are more geared toward the large-scale agribusiness models that have prevailed in North America for the last 50 years or more. They'll teach you about management practices on farms that rely on chemical pesticides and fertilizer and grow large acreages of just one or two crops. No doubt, you can acquire some useful and specialized information at the land grant schools, but there are easier and cheaper ways to learn how to become an independent, diversified organic farmer.
There are now a few schools that focus on the small-scale, sustainable model. These might be a better bet than the land grant colleges, if you have your heart set on formal education and the money to spend on it. One of my former interns is looking into an apprenticeship program at the Center for Agroecology and Sustainable Food Systems, University of California, Santa Cruz. The cost is several thousands of dollars per session. Housing is not provided.
Fortunately, there are other approaches that may be more effective and definitely cost less. In fact, most of these "other" approaches will cost very little, or nothing at all, or will even pay you while you're learning. Following are some ways to immerse yourself in the world of small farms.
(Continues…)
Excerpted from "Storey's Guide to Growing Organic Vegetables & Herbs for Market"
by .
Copyright © 2013 Keith Downie Stewart.
Excerpted by permission of Storey Publishing.
All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
Excerpts are provided by Dial-A-Book Inc. solely for the personal use of visitors to this web site.
Table of Contents
Preface
Part I: In the Beginning
1 Thinking About Becoming a Farmer?
2 Looking for a Place of Your Own
3 The Farm Plan
Part II: Tools of the Trade
4 Tractors and Tractor Implements
5 Small Equipment and Tools
6 The Greenhouse
7 Growing Under Cover
8 Irrigation
Part III: Looking After the Land
9 Managing Your Soil
10 Cover Crops and Green Manures
11 Crop Rotation
12 Building Fertility
Part IV: The Crops We Grow
13 Our Most Profitable Crops
14 Garlic -- Our Signature Crop
15 Let's Not Forget Herbs
Part V: Harvesting and Marketing
16 Harvesting and Storage
17 Marketing What You Grow
18 More on Farmers' Markets
19 Marketing Through the Seasons
Part VI: Competing Forces
20 Regarding Weeds
21 The Four-Legged Competition
22 Insects and Diseases
Part VII: Taking Care of Business
23 Running a Business
24 Looking After Number One
Afterword
Resources
Index
What People are Saying About This
"This book tells you everything you need to know to get an organic vegetable farm up and running… practical information is enhanced with accounts of Keith’s own experience and the stories of other growers around the country. A great resource and a fun read for farmers, wannabe farmers and gardeners, alike. Makes me want to quit my desk job and get out there and grow and sell."
"Amust-read for anybody thinking about starting a farm or who is interested in the nuts and bolts of running a successful organic farm to market business. Keith Stewart is one of Greenmarket’s most respected and successful farmers and his book is chock-full invaluable advice and practical tips on how to start, operate and make a living as a farmer."
"Keith Stewart has written a veritable handbook for beginning farmers. Not only does he prompt you to ask yourself the right questions, but he also provides the answers. If you are thinking about diving into the world of farming, or even changing up your existing farm operation, you need to read this book."