Showing titles in Agricultural & Food Sciences

Millions of Americans harbor the dream of living off their land but are held back by the uncertainty of diving into the unknown waters of farming. According to a USDA report, over 40% of the U.S. farmland is operated by someone other than its owner, indicating that the dream of owning and managing a farm is often overwhelmed by fear and uncertainty. But imagine having a comprehensive guide that translates these complex processes into simple, actionable steps - a roadmap that empowers you to convert your little plot into a nourishing, profitable hub of life.

Keeping a herd of pigs brings a lot of enjoyment – they are curious, intelligent and (often) lovable animals, with plenty of character. When the time comes, they can provide you with a fine carcass that can be turned into all manner of tasty things. The River Cottage ethos is all about knowing the story behind what’s on the plate, and as Gill Meller explains in this accessible and comprehensive guide, by rearing and butchering your own pigs you’ll be able to create a full range of delicious pork products in the most sustainable, economical and hands-on way possible.

Marine algae are the supreme eco-engineers of life: they oxygenate the waters, create habitat for countless other organisms, and form the base of a food chain that keeps our planet unique in the universe as we know it. In this audiobook Josie Iselin explores both the artistic and the biological presence of 16 seaweeds and kelps that live in the thin region where the Pacific Ocean converges with the North American continent - a place of incomparable richness.

How do you recognize healthy soil? How much can your existing soil be improved? What are the best amendments to use for your soil? Let Building Soil answer your questions and be your guide on gardening from the ground up. Fertilizing, tilling, weed management, and irrigation all affect the quality of your soil. Using author Elizabeth Murphy’s detailed instructions, anyone can become a successful soil-based gardener, whether you want to start a garden from scratch or improve an existing garden.

Hugelkultur raised bed gardening. This is perhaps one of the most ancient of the no-dig gardening techniques for growing fruit and vegetables, originating in the Black Forest region of Germany, it has been around for many centuries. Created as a way to grow food in areas where good arable land was limited, the Hugelkultur makes use of material that would otherwise be discarded as useless - forest debris and other garden waste.

"Beekeeping For Beginners: Your Essential Guide To Getting Started, Nurturing Hives, and Harvesting Honey As A Beginner" is a well-detailed instructive guide that introduces new apiarists to the fascinating world of bees. To help you learn about bee behavior, social structure, and ecological value, as well as how to set up and maintain a thriving bee colony.

Filled with catchall research, American Hemp examines what this new domestic crop can be used for, what makes it a superior product, and what made it illegal in the first place; the book also delves into the many health and medical benefits of the plant. Hobbs weighs in on how hemp can improve existing industries, from farming to energy to 3D printing, plus how it can make a serious impact on climate change by removing toxins from the soil and by decreasing our dependence on plastics and fossil fuels.

Are you passionate about dogs and dreaming of starting your own successful breeding kennel? Look no further! The "Beginner's Guide to Starting a Successful Puppy Breeding Kennel" is your ultimate companion on this exciting journey.

Aside from fresh eggs on an almost daily basis, chickens have wonderful personalities, they can significantly help out in the garden, you have your own free-range fertilizer, and they are extremely educational for all the family! The benefits of raising chickens far outweigh the potential negatives, especially if you know exactly what you are doing from someone who has had a lifetime of experience.

Embrace a self-sufficient lifestyle with this comprehensive guide to raising happy hens and reaping healthy harvests. Tired of bland, factory-farmed products? Longing for a sustainable, closer-to-nature life? Ready to watch your flock thrive? Discover the essentials of backyard chicken farming. Whether you desire fresh eggs or to harvest birds for meat, this guide ensures your success from start to finish.

Transform your backyard into a chicken paradise… with a healthy flock and a bounty of fresh eggs. With 2020 lockdowns, more people than ever in recent history ran out to get their very own flock of backyard chickens. Quickly, millions realized the simple joys of having these wonderful feathered pets, and animal lovers around the globe rejoiced at the increasing popularity of their favorite birds. But with an increase in novice owners… comes an increase in issues with caring for these birds. If you’ve had some trouble with keeping your chickens happy and safe as a novice owner, don’t fret.

Dive into the fascinating world of duck homesteading with this ultimate guide! This comprehensive guide offers an immersive journey into the art of raising ducks for multiple purposes, catering to both novices and experienced enthusiasts. Discover the joys of tending to these charming, feathered creatures while reaping the rewards of their eggs and flavorful meat.

How do dogs think? Do they fantasize? Do they dream? What do their barks, whines, and growls tell other dogs? How do they communicate in groups, and why do they form hierarchies? What do dogs want? Anthropologist Elizabeth Marshall Thomas attempts to answer these and other questions about a species that has been with mankind for over 20,000 years and still remains a mystery. Based on 30 years and hundreds of thousands of hours of research, this volume describes behavior every dog owner has seen thousands of times but will now understand for only the first time.

With a husband and two children, 1200 sheep and 400 cattle, farm dogs and pet lambs, pigs bent on excavation and a goat bent on escape, country life is never dull. From calving cows to constipated dogs, weddings to weaning lambs, daffodils to ducklings to droughts, each season brings new challenges and delights. Sometimes it's exhausting but it's almost always a lot of fun - anyway, it's all part and parcel of the life of a Kiwi mother, farmer's wife and vet.

Are you ready to embrace a self-sufficient, eco-friendly lifestyle, even if you're starting from scratch? “The Essentials for Homesteading” is your gateway to success. Whether in a cozy apartment or a sprawling countryside, this practical guide will help you thrive without breaking the bank.

Grüne Wiesen, süße Kälbchen, der Käse, wie er immer schon war, und ein naturnahes Leben – das ist die Landidylle aus TV-Serien. 5-Tonner mit 300 PS, viele Stunden harte Arbeit, jede Menge Lärm und Matsch und der ewige Kampf mit der EU-Bürokratie – das ist die Realität für über 250.000 landwirtschaftliche Betriebe in Deutschland. Annemarie Paulsen sieht und kennt beide Seiten, zieht aus beidem den Witz und nimmt ihre Follower mit in die Milchkammer, auf die Weide, in den Alltag einer Bäuerin.

With predictions of a human population of more than nine billion by the middle of this century and 11 billion by 2100, we stand at a crossroads in our agricultural evolution. In this clear and engaging book, wildlife biologist John M. Marzluff takes a personal approach to sustainable agriculture. He travels to farms and ranches across North and Central America, including a Nebraska corn and soybean farm, California vineyards, cattle ranches in Montana, and small sustainable farms in Costa Rica, to understand the unique challenges and solutions to sustainable food production.

If you are interested in beginning the rewarding path of keeping hens in your backyard, is now the ideal time for you to do so? Raising Chicks for Beginners is a thorough book that includes all you need to know to produce chicks that are safe, healthy, and prolific, regardless of your level of experience. Your first flock may be started with its assistance, or your abilities could be improved.

Andy Junkin helps you navigate through the many pitfalls of farming with family and how you can rise above these challenges and get through any tough times. We need to stop being tough on one another, motivate your family to make tough decisions together as a team, change your farm’s culture so you can make the right decisions to bulletproof your farm against any tough times - now or in the future.

Neither an advocate nor a critic of cultured meat, Benjamin Aldes Wurgaft spent five years researching the phenomenon. In Meat Planet, he reveals how debates about lab-grown meat reach beyond debates about food, examining the links between appetite, growth, and capitalism. Could satiating the growing appetite for meat actually lead to our undoing? Are we simply using one technology to undo the damage caused by another? Like all problems in our food system, the meat problem is not merely a problem of production. It is intrinsically social and political.