The Market Gardener by Fortier, Jean-Martin -- Read -- Imperial Library of Trantor

Index

Cover Title Page Copyright Contents Dedication Acknowledgments Foreword Preface 1. Small Is Profitable

Can You Really Live off 1.5 Acres? Not Just Making a Good Living, but Making a Good Life

2. Succeeding as a Small-Scale Organic Vegetable Grower

A Biologically Intensive Approach Minimizing Start-Up Costs Minimizing Production Costs Direct Selling Adding Value to the Crops Learning the Craft

3. Finding the Right Site

Climate and Microclimate Market Access Growing Space Needed Soil Quality Topography Drainage Access to Water Infrastructure Assessing Possible Pollution Problems

4. Designing the Market Garden

Buildings and Foot Traffic Standardizing the Garden Layout Locating the Greenhouse and Tunnels Protection against Deer Windbreaks Irrigation

5. Minimum Tillage and Appropriate Machinery

Permanent Raised Beds The Two-Wheel Tractor The Broadfork (Grelinette) Tarps and Pre-Crop Ground Cover To Till or not to Till

6. Fertilizing Organically

Soil Tests Crop Requirements Managing Soil Fertility Good Compost Relying on Natural Fertilizers — Why? Establishing Crop Rotation Crop Rotation at Les Jardins de la Grelinette Green Manure and Cover Crops Connecting with Soil Ecology

7. Starting Seeds Indoors

Seeding in Cell Flats The Soil Mix Filling Cell Flats The Seedling Room The Evolving Plant Nursery Heating and Ventilation of the Nursery How to Water Seedlings Potting up Transplanting into the Gardens

8. Direct Seeding

Precision Seeders Seedbed Preparation Record Keeping

9. Weed Management

Cultivating with Hoes Weeding with Tarps The Stale Seedbed Technique Flame Weeding Mulching Weed Control Technology

10. Insect Pests and Diseases

Scouting Disease Prevention Using Biopesticides

11. Season Extension

Floating Row Cover and Low Tunnels Caterpillar Tunnels Hoophouses

12. Harvest and Storage

Harvesting Efficiently Harvest Help The Cold Room

13. Crop Planning

Setting Farming Objectives Determining Production Establishing a Crop Calendar Making a Garden Plan Record Keeping

Conclusion: Farming for Ecology, Community, and Lifestyle Appendix 1: Crop Notes Appendix 2: Tools and Suppliers Appendix 3: Garden Plan Appendix 4: Annotated Bibliography Appendix 5: Glossary Index About the Author