BE SURE TO JOIN KARI’S LIST TO GET A FREE DIGITAL TOOLBOX INCLUDING 9 ONLINE GARDEN TOOLS
Sneak peek at City Farming
I’m a city girl. I love the hustle-bustle, the entertainment choices and social activity, and having friends and neighbors within close proximity. But, I’m a little bit country, too. My inner farmer longs to get my hands in the dirt, to hear the early-morning rooster crow, and to gather around the dinner table to enjoy the fruits of our labor.
I am not alone. A movement is growing, comprised of urbanites who would rather pick tomatoes than mow grass, and for whom chickens are more appealing pets than hamsters.
Perhaps you are part of the movement. If you count yourself amongst those who live in the city but long for the fresh smell and feel of the soil; if you desire a creative connection to the earth and to the source of your food; if eating locally grown foods means stepping out of your back door to pick produce from your garden, you’re in!
This book was written with you in mind, whether have been growing or raising food for a while, or are just starting out. A how-to manual for gardening and raising livestock, the pages are packed with practical information. Each section spotlights examples that show how backyard farmers creatively apply agricultural know how to the real world of urban farming.
And although urban farmers employ a variety of conventional growing methods, there is a new movement amongst urban food producers that is far from conventional! It is revolutionizing what it means to be a farmer. Enter the exciting world of Permaculture, the art and science of working with nature to create landscapes that are increasingly productive over time with minimal labor and expense.
Learn how to garden, explore what it takes to keep chickens goats and other animals, and discover specific urban farming techniques that range from simple and inexpensive to more complex for those who like a challenge!
City Farming will help you to understand the basic principles of Permaculture and successful urban farming. It will provide you with an arsenal of practical tools and techniques that you can apply to produce bountiful food on your own property. Best of all, you will be equipped to come up with your own innovative solutions to create the urban farm that you desire.
How to use this book:
CHAPTERS
Chapters are divided according to specific urban farming challenges related to growing food in the city. It is organized in such a way that after your initial reading, you can easily flip through to find the solutions that apply to your individual needs. Whether you are looking for ways to grow a garden in your specific climate, want to explore space-saving techniques, or need answers to questions about livestock, soil, pests and other topics, chapter titles and headings will help you to find the relevant information quickly. Feel free to highlight text, dog-ear pages and use bookmarks to reference key passages.
- Sunny Side Up! Optimizing Light & Temperature on Your Farm
- Make It Rain: Guide to Watering, Water Harvesting and Conservation
- To Everything A Season: Season Extension & How Seasons Affect Plants and Animals
- Chock Full! Maximizing Space on Your Urban Farm
- Sacred Ground: Guide to Soil Building, Garden Types and Composting
- Seeding the Future: Plant & Animal Propagation
- Pests, Weeds & Disease…Oh, My! Chemical Free, Hassel Free Gardens & Livestock
- Carpe Diem! A New Look at Convenience & Strategies to Maximize Benefits
- Endless Love: Creating a Sustainable Farm that Lasts
- We Are All Connected: The Role of Urban Farming in Creating Community Connections
EXERCISES
Chapters include helpful exercises entitled Inventing Your Farm. Whether you are already an urban farmer, or are exploring the idea, the exercises will assist you in creating, expanding or redesigning your homestead.
OPTIONAL SUPPLIES
To accompany the book and the website, you may wish to have the following:
- a notebook,
- a simple, hand drawn aerial-view map of your property,
- several sheets of tracing paper.
These will be useful tools, should you wish to perform the Inventing Your Farm exercises suggested in the chapters.
WEBISTE
You will often see links to the CityFarmingBook.com website that you can visit for more information, virtual farm tours, interviews, photos, tutorials and tips. There are also links to the best online information and helpful resources for urban farmers. These links will help you to discover local supports and information relevant to your location and climate.
