Mini Farming: Self-Sufficiency on 1 4 Acre

383 Pages·2010·56.4 MB·English

by  Brett L. Markham

M I N I F A R M I N G
Self Sufficiency on 1/4 Acre
B R E T T L . M A R K H A M
Copyright © 2010 by Brett L. Markham
All Rights Reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any
manner without the express written consent of the publisher, except
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10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Markham, Brett L.
Mini farming : self sufficiency on 1/4 acre / Brett L. Markham.
p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
9781602399846
1. Agriculture--Handbooks, manuals, etc. 2. Farms, Small--
Handbooks, manuals, etc. 3. Self-reliant living--Handbooks,
manuals, etc. I. Title.
S501.2.M37 2010
635’.048--dc22
2009041561
Printed in China
Table of Contents
Title Page
Copyright Page
List of Tables
Dedication
Acknowledgments
Introduction
1 - Overview of Intensive Agriculture
2 - How Mini-Farming Works for You
3 - Raised Beds
4 - Soil Composition and Maintenance
5 - Compost
6 - Plant Nutrients In-depth
7 - Time and Yield
8 - Watering and Irrigation
9 - Crop Proportions and Sizing
10 - Pest and Disease Control
11 - Seed Starting
12 - Selecting and Saving Seed
13 - Season Extension
14 - Fruit Trees and Vines
15 - Raising Chickens for Eggs
16 - Raising Chickens for Meat
17 - The Markham Farm Chicken Plucker
18 - Public Domain Thresher Designs
19 - Preserving the Harvest
20 - Selling Your Produce
21 - Putting It All Together
Bibliography
Alphabetical Index
Notes
List of Tables
Table 1
Table 2
Table 3
Table 4
Table 5
Table 6
Table 7
Table 8
Table 9
Table 10
Table 11
Table 12
Table 13
Table 14
Table 15
Table 16
Table 17
Table 18
Table 19

Dedicated to my father, Thomas J. Markham, the man I most
admire and whose tenacity, resourcefulness, and optimism have
always been a beacon in my life.
His courage, moral leadership, boundless intellect, and helpfulness
have aided uncountable people for decades and have undoubtedly
changed the course of history.
Acknowledgments
I would like to thank my wife, Francine, for putting up with my