Small Scale Farming Archives

13Aug 2018 by Farmer No Comments

Choosing the Best Vehicle for Your Homestead: 3 Things Newbies Should Know

As the global population is expected to rise to 9.7 billion by 2050, that means homestead farms will need to produce 70% more food than what is produced now. More American families and individuals are opting to grow their own garden as a means of sustainability and survival. Thus, building a stable shed, picking up and loading materials, and towing a trailer requires a stable truck. Starting a homestead requires you to learn along the way. When you’re running a small homestead, every piece of equipment must be in great condition. Thus, choosing the right truck is of paramount importance. So, how do you know what to look for when you’re just starting to learn the ropes? Here are 3 things newbies should know about the best vehicle for your homestead. Know…

19Jan 2018 by Melissa Hamler No Comments

Some Important points about Farm Storage Sheds

Small Scale Farming

A farm is not an easy place to maintain because it not only requires a lot of tools and equipment but also livestock and other such things that one might need in a farm. A farm storage shed is a shed in which you can keep all your farm equipment. Apart from that, you may need to store some raw materials inside these sheds and you need to construct the sheds with durable and long lasting materials only. Earlier people used to design their firm sheds with hard woods, but these wooden sheds can easily get affected by rain water and climatic disasters. Now you can design the sheds with aluminum, rough metal and stainless steels. What type of steel does it require? The steel you decide to use should…

08Aug 2014 by Farmer No Comments

Right to Farm Equals No Right to Grow Food

Food Supply, Small Scale Farming

Yesterday, Missouri passed by a .03% margin an undemocratic constitutional amendment cynically called "right to farm." Big Ag is pushing this in Oklahoma. This is for the benefit of multinational meat companies (Tyson) and chemical companies (Monsanto). They want it to be impossible for local citizens to exercise any control over these global corporations. Practices and products of these companies have been destructive and dangerous for farming and ranching and for our food supply. Now they are attacking our democracy. In the past 50 years these companies' monopolistic practices have: (1) driven nearly all U.S. farmers and ranchers out of business; (2) eliminated nearly all but the largest 3 meat packers; (3) eliminate nearly all but the largest seed/chemical company - Monsanto; (4) crippled rural farm economies; and (5) made…

05Feb 2011 by Farmer No Comments

Farmers Are Flocking to Manure

Farm Animals, Organic Gardening, Small Scale Farming, Soil & Compost

The closest thing I can find to a directory on getting local manure is CraigsList. I am sure if you look hard enough you can find a location or farmer in your area that will happily supply you with enough manure to use for home organic gardening Then, I ran across this article, Why Farmers are Flocking to Manure that throws out this common statistic... "It has taken us about 100 years to reduce soil organic matter to dangerously low levels from about 5 percent, on average, to below 2 percent." That blog article was adapted from the book, Holy Shit: Managing Manure to Save Mankind" So they are running out of chemical fertilizer. Go Figure. And how fast could our commercial farming industry make the move to organic farming?…

18Jan 2010 by Farmer No Comments

Buying And Managing An Organic Farm Property

Small Scale Farming

Organic farming has been with us since farming began but it has taken on new meaning. The demand for organic farms has increased over the years so much that almost part of the country has them. Organic farms were the way farmers planted and looked after tier crops till fertilizer were discovered. Up to a point, these chemicals which were originally created to help in the control of soil fertility had rather become man's enemies. The poisonous substances were the cause of many diseases. Food from these farms therefore became unwholesome. Compounding the problem was the discovery that chemicals used to control weeds were equally poisonous. It could be said that these developments created the need for a new kind of farm â€“ one which the farmer had taken steps…

29Mar 2009 by Farmer No Comments

Act Today to Protect Food Safety Agency From Monsanto Operative!

Community, Food Supply, Organic Gardening, Small Scale Farming

Food is, as we have been saying for some time, the central battle for freedom and survival. "Change", which sounds great, has, in fact, become the mantra of those who seek corporate triumph over independent producers - and it's happening around food. The mechanism is simple: a set of bills ostensibly devoted to "food safety" and "food security" -- and a plan to put Big Agribiz supporters in charge. In charge of what? Your food and mine - it's supply, farming, production, food quality, irradiation, Codex on your dinner table, unlabeled GMOs and other profitable, but lethal, corporate-friendly food strategies. Through appointments and legislation, the change is coming fast and furious which could even make our own family farms and gardens the site of criminal activity if we attempt to…

07May 2007 by Farmer No Comments

Ten Ways to Have the BEST Small Farm

Organic Gardening, Small Scale Farming, Soil & Compost, Watering

Start Small - 100 square feet of garden can yield up to 200-400 pounds of vegetables, using sustainable organic methods. Go To Beds - eliminate unproductive path space and create growing areas that stay untrampled for healthiest plant growth. Compost - leaves, weeds, grass clippings and kitchen waste can promote fertility. The rules are simple: keep it moist, allow for air circulation, and cover "juicy" layers with soil to keep flies out. Compost in an old garbage can if space is limited. Careful Soil Preparation - is the single most important step. To make the job easy, water deeply several days before digging, then let the soil dry just to the point where it does not stick to the spade. Take your time. Rototillers break down the soil structure I…

14Nov 2006 by Farmer No Comments

Become an Urban Farmer

Community, Organic Gardening, Small Scale Farming, Sustainable Living

Anyone can be a farmer. Growing plants can be done almost anywhere. You don't have to have large fields and hundreds of acres. You have to have imagination. People who grow dope do it in cellars and in caves. Select plants to raise that that you see being sold in quantity by local nurseries or garden centers. In our area arborvitae are in hot demand. These plants can be started from cuttings or you can buy rooted cuttings. Thousands can be grown in a 20'x20' area in small containers. Arborvitae are not the only plants that you can choose. Dwarf conifers and bonsai are other avenues to consider. The first thing to consider is what plants you like. They make a nice starting point. I like arborvitae. Plus they are…

23Jun 2005 by Farmer No Comments

Integrated Pest Management Benefits Farm and Consumer

Organic Gardening, Organic Pest & Disease Control, Small Scale Farming

Today's consumer is educated and more and more people want to know about how their food is treated and where it comes from. Words such as "organic" and "sustainable" that were once reserved for a small population of foodies or environmentalists are now making their way into everyday vocabulary. As a result, farmers are reacting to this new shift in food culture and are learning about alternative growing and treatment methods. For three generations, The Orr Family Farm has been owned and operated by George S. Orr & Sons, Inc. Today, this 1,000-acre farm is managed by Mike and Mark Orr. And, two years ago, Katy Orr-Trenary returned to manage the farm's market. "Our family has a responsibility to the future stewards of our land, and to future customers," she…