Description
Book Synopsis
In The Tiny But Mighty Farm, author Jill Ragan of YouTube’s Whispering Willow Farm teaches you how to turn a typical suburban backyard into a productive mini farm.
Backyard mini farming is about regular people who live in regular houses turning all or part of their property into a productive, high-yielding mini farm. Unlike gardening, mini farming takes a very deliberate approach, with the main goal being to grow as much food as you can with as little land and as few resources as possible. Everything is done with planning and purpose, rather than as a hobby. Whether your property is one-tenth of an acre, one full acre, or somewhere in between, there are so many opportunities to grow vegetables, fruits, and herbs in creative and high-yielding ways.
If concerns about food security and the rising cost of food have you feeling uneasy, or if you just want to play a bigger role in feeding your family and your community, starting a backyard
Trade Review
“The Tiny but Mighty Farm is a wonderful roadmap for gardeners and farmers of all types. Whether you are a hobby farmer, homesteader, or aspiring market gardener, Jill’s book is sure to inspire you to dream big. It will also equip you with the essential information needed to achieve those dreams. Small scale, sustainable farms are the answer to our broken food system, and this book shows you just how impactful they can be!” * Kim Doughty-McCannon, Bell Urban Farm *
"I wish I would have had this book as a reference when I started flower farming 22 years ago. The principles of planning and implementing your dreams found in The Tiny but Mighty Farm are applicable to anything you want to cultivate as a small farm enterprise. Jill's passion for educating others about sustainable growing really shows in a writing style that is easy to understand and truly heartfelt.” * Steve Kaufer, Sunflower Steve Seed Co. *
"The Tiny but Mighty Farm is a must read for anyone wanting to garden and be more self-sufficient. It is packed full of helpful tips, garden knowledge, and ways to cultivate a life well lived. There are also so many beautiful images and helpful charts to inspire your gardening journey. This book will be used in my home for many years to come" * Annette Thurmon, host of the Azure Farm podcast *
“The Tiny but Mighty Farm will inspire you to dig deep, reflect, and create a life you are proud of. This is not just a book about growing food. You will gain an immense amount of knowledge, whether you are a first-time gardener or a long-time grower. It is also a book that is going to show you how to connect with your land and your community. I read it from front to back and felt moved the entire time.” * Mandi Pickering, Wild Oak Farms *
“The Tiny but Mighty Farm has a beautiful, empowering way of inspiring us to not only learn more about gardening but to also evaluate our own aspirations and values. Jill encourages us to dream bigger while also giving us all of the tools and details to actually achieve our goals through everything she has learned. I know that this book will also inspire others as it has me - as a wife, mom, daughter, and farmer. I’ll definitely be sharing this book!” * Lindsey Gilbert, owner of Willow Tree Flower Market *
Table of Contents
Introduction: The Tiny Farm Journey
CHAPTER 1 Small-Farm Values
CHAPTER 2 What Kind of Farmer and Gardener Do You Want To Be?
CHAPTER 3 Grow With Purpose
CHAPTER 4 Soil: The Health & Longevity of Your Farm
CHAPTER 5 In-Ground, Raised Beds & Indoor Growing: Which is Right for You?
CHAPTER 6 Growing From Seed
CHAPTER 7 Tools & Efficient Systems to Grow On
CHAPTER 8 How Structures, High Tunnels & Greenhouses Help
CHAPTER 9 Growing for Community: Turning Your Tiny Farm into a Business
Conclusion: Keep Dreamin’
Acknowledgments
About the Author
Notes
Index
