Review – Mini Farming: Self-Sufficiency on 1/4 Acre

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For Christmas my brother bought me the book – Mini Farming: Self-Sufficiency on 1/4 Acre. He knows my passion for gardening as well as a desire to learn everything “homesteading” that I can. I live in a typical suburban community – so I am maximizing my property within confines of the Rules and Regulations of the community Homeowners Association.

I have been gardening for 7 years and every year has been filled with successes and failures. Also, every year that has gone by my successes have increased while my failures have decreased. I am learning. If I had this book 7 years ago – it would have helped tremendously.

I’ll give you a few examples of some things I have found in this book that it took me time to learn. Some may seem ridiculously obvious to you – but when I started off I knew absolutely nothing.

The importance of open-pollinated seeds – especially if you are going to save and harvest your own seeds
Compost and preserving soil fertility
Growing vegetables with raised beds
How to use horse manure in a garden
Crop rotation

Above are just a few examples of things that would have really helped me if I had access to this book when I first started gardening. The information is complete and thorough. This past year I built my first raised bed and it did great. I now plan to do at least two more. The information on Mini Farming on raised beds is just superb. In addition to gardening there are chapters that I hope to utilize one day – including those on Raising Chickens for Eggs and Raising Chickens for Meat.

This book is well illustrated with crystal clear, glossy, full-color photographs.

Unless you are a Master Gardener this book is bound to have some useful information to helping you become a better gardener.

Click here for more information.

Rourke

By the way – if you are planning your spring garden – check out the Emergency Seed Bank. They contain no hybrids!

Tags: Gardening, survival gardening

Gardening | Rourke February 4, 2011

5 Comments to “Review – Mini Farming: Self-Sufficiency on 1/4 Acre”

By Beprepared, February 4, 2011 @ 8:50 am

I am in no way affiliated with the Baker Creek Heirloom Seed Co., but I would still like to give them a little boost to your readers Rourke. My orders from http://www.rareseeds.com are filled and inspected by a single person who then gives a note of thanks on my order forms.

All of the seeds raised (on the Baker Creek Farm) and sold are heirloom and some are very old and/or rare varieties. I’ve yet to find a bad batch of seeds.

In addition to raising the seeds they embrace the self sufficent lifestyle on the farm.
By Grill Sgt., February 4, 2011 @ 9:11 am

Providing, of course, IF we have a summer… unlike last year.
By REB, February 5, 2011 @ 9:34 pm

First time here…You cant go wrong learning how to feed yourself! I have been learning how for over 40 years and I will never know it all,but I raise the bigger share of what I and my family eat and continue to work and learn how to do better each year…good luck in your gardening!
By Rourke, February 5, 2011 @ 9:36 pm

Hi REB –

Welcome and glad you stopped by.

Take care – Rourke
By heirloom vegetable seeds, February 15, 2011 @ 5:29 pm

Just began intensive gardening and I’ll definitely give this book a glance. I don’t have 1/4 acre… more like an 1/8, but it should still be somewhat useful? Anyways, thanks for sharing.