Backyard Farming on an Acre (More or Less) : A Living Free Guide

by England, Angela

• ISBN13: 9781615642144
• ISBN10: 1615642145
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2012-12-04
• Publisher: Alpha

Summary

Plan and plant a successful and sustainable backyard farm from a quarter acre to a full acre and beyond right in your own backyard. By raising and harvesting their own fruits, vegetables, chickens, bees, milk-bearing animals, and more, people are growing locally, sustainably, and at a fraction of the cost. Backyard Farming on an Acre (More or Less)is written by someone who has planned and run a successful small-scale farm. Angela England guides you through the essentials of planning a small farm deciding what should be grown or raised, implementing proven, sustainable techniques, and maximizing yield and harvest.

Author Biography

Angela England is a freelance writer who, along with her husband and five children, cultivates a -acre farm in their backyard, where they raise dairy and meat goats, keep free-range chickens, and maintain a productive garden of fruits and vegetables. They started with a small garden and took on chickens, goats, bees, and fruit trees over time, eventually managing a larger plot while shedding the conveniences of urban life. Angela is the Plants and Bulbs Feature Writer at Suite 101 and founded the Untrained Housewife (untrainedhousewife.com), which guides others in the arts of rural living. She also manages and maintains the Blissfully Domestic web community and contributes to other sites and forums.

Table of Contents

Living Large on a Small Scale	p. 1
The Backyard Farm Adventure	p. 3
The Growing Food Crisis	p. 3
An Earth-Friendly Lifestyle	p. 5
Cost and Health Considerations	p. 8
The Many Benefits of Small-Scale Farming	p. 11
Cost of Land and Equipment	p. 11
Ease of Maintenance	p. 12
Intensive Production Possibilities	p. 13
Finding Land: What Do You Need?	p. 15
Purchasing Undeveloped Land	p. 15
Location and Cost	p. 15
History of the Land	p. 17
Climate and Growing Season	p. 18
Buying Developed Land with the House	p. 18
Layout and Quality of the Land	p. 19
Outbuildings and Existing Amenties	p. 20
Fencing	p. 21
Access to Water	p. 23
Zoning Restrictions	p. 24
Building on Land You Already Own	p. 27
Assessing Your Current Situation	p. 27
Quarter-Acre Lot	p. 28
Half-Acre Lot	p. 30
Full-Acre Lot	p. 32
Creating a Workable Plan	p. 34
Precise	p. 34
Lasting	p. 35
Arrival	p. 36
Natural	p. 36
Adding Buildings and Fences	p. 37
Drainage	p. 37
Building Material	p. 37
Size and Situation	p. 38
Gardening on a Backyard Farm	p. 41
What and How Much Do You Want to Grow?	p. 43
Planning Your Garden Space	p. 43
Square-Foot Style Gardening	p. 45
Raised-Bed Gardening	p. 46
Traditional Garden Plots with an Intensive Twist	p. 47
Keep a Garden Journal	p. 48
Maximizing Your Garden Space	p. 49
Vertical Gardening	p. 50
Container Gardening	p. 52
Edible Landscaping	p. 55
Tools and Skills for the Backyard Farmer	p. 57
Hand Tools	p. 57
Garden Spade or Trowel	p. 58
Secateurs or Preuners	p. 59
Digging Fork	p. 59
Hand Weeder and Hoe	p. 60
Cultivation	p. 62
Tiller	p. 62
Shovels and Spades	p. 62
Garden Rake	p. 63
Fencing and Miscellaneous Homestead Tools	p. 64
Posthole Digger	p. 64
Fence Pliers	p. 66
Wire Cutters	p. 66
Wheelbarrow	p. 66
Other Must-Have Tools	p. 68
Caring for Your Tools	p. 69
Basic Building Skills	p. 69
Cutting Lumber	p. 69
Putting the Wood Together	p. 71
Gardening Smart from the Start	p. 73
Soil: A Dirty Word	p. 73
Types of Soil	p. 73
Feeding the Soil	p. 74
Composting to Build Healthy Soil	p. 74
The Right Ratio	p. 75
Consider the Source	p. 78
Organic Fertilizers and Soil Supplements	p. 79
Zones and Plant Hardiness	p. 81
Sun and Water	p. 82
Organic and Land-Friendly Principles	p. 83
Get the Most from Your Garden	p. 87
Increasing Crops Through Intensive Gardening	p. 87
Crop Rotation	p. 88
Crop Succession	p. 90
Extending the Growing Season	p. 91
Seasonal Plantings	p. 92
Cover Your Crops in the Garden	p. 92
Cold Frames	p. 94
Greenhouses	p. 95
Start Plants Indoors	p. 96
Companion Planting and Interplanting	p. 96
Vegetables for the Backyard Farm	p. 99
Vegetables to Grow on an Acre	p. 99
Cool-Season Vegetables	p. 99
Beets (Beta vulgaris)	p. 100
Broccoli (Brassica oleracea)	p. 101
Cabbage (Brassica oleracea)	p. 103
Lettuce (Lactuca sativa)	p. 105
Mustard (Brassica juncea)	p. 107
Peas (Pisum sativum)	p. 108
Spinach (Spinacea oleracea)	p. 109
Swiss Chard (Beta vulgaris)	p. 110
Warm-Season Vegetables	p. 111
Beans (Phaseolus vulgaris)	p. 111
Carrots (Daucua carota)	p. 113
Corn (Zea mays)	p. 114
Cucumbers (Cucumis sativas)	p. 115
Garlic (Allium sativum)	p. 116
Onions (Allium cepa)	p. 117
Peppers (Capsicum annum)	p. 118
Potatoes (Solanum tuberosum)	p. 120
Summer Squash (Cucurbita sp.)	p. 122
Tomatoes (Lycopersicon esculentum)	p. 124
Winter Squash (Cucurbita spp.)	p. 126
Kitchen Herb Gardens	p. 129
Medicinal Herbs	p. 129
Calendula (Calendula officinalis)	p. 129
Chamomile (Chamaemelum nobile)	p. 130
Comfrey (Symphytum officinalis)	p. 130
Echinaceal (Echinacea purpurea)	p. 131
Lavender (Lavendula)	p. 132
Lemon Balm (Melissa officinalis)	p. 133
Stinging Nettle (Urtica dioica)	p. 134
Culinary Herbs	p. 134
Basil (Ocimum basilicum)	p. 134
Cilantro (Corinadrum sativum)	p. 136
Dill (Anethum graveolens)	p. 137
Mint (Mentha)	p. 138
Oregano (Origanum vulgare)	p. 139
Parsley (Petroselinum crispum)	p. 139
Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis)	p. 140
Sage (Salvia officinalis)	p. 142
Thyme (Thymus spp.)	p. 143
Fruits, Berries, and More	p. 145
Fruit on Just an Acre? Yes!	p. 145
Apples (Malus)	p. 146
Sweet Cherries (Prunus avium) and Sour Cherries (Prunus cerasus)	p. 147
Mulberries (Morus sp.)	p. 149
Peaches (Prunus persica)	p. 150
Pears (Pyrus sp.)	p. 152
Persimmons (Diospyros sp.)	p. 155
Plums (Prunus sp.)	p. 155
Vines and Berries	p. 156
Blackberries and Raspberries (both Rubus spp.)	p. 156
Blueberries (Vaccinium spp.)	p. 157
Grapes (Vitis spp.)	p. 158
Kiwifruit (Actinidia spp.)	p. 160
Melons (Cucumis melo or Citrullus lanatus)	p. 160
Strawberries (Fragaria spp.)	p. 162
Perennial Edibles and Nuts to Grow	p. 163
Asparagus (Asparagus officinalis)	p. 163
Elderberries (Sambucus canadensis)	p. 164
Pecans (Carya illinoinenmis)	p. 166
Walnuts (Juglans spp.)	p. 167
Heirloom Plants and Saving Seeds	p. 169
Benefits of Heirloom Gardening	p. 169
Cost Effectiveness for Growing Produce	p. 169
Sustainability and Self-Sufficiency	p. 170
How to Save Seeds	p. 172
Testing Viability and Starting Seeds	p. 176
Animals for a Backyard Farm	p. 179
Keeping Chickens on a Small Scale	p. 181
Breeds for Backyard Flocks	p. 181
Egg Layers	p. 183
Meat Breeds	p. 183
Dual-Purpose Breeds	p. 185
Chicken Husbandry	p. 188
Chick Brood Box	p. 189
Chicken Coop	p. 190
Regular Maintenance	p. 193
Signs and Prevention of Illness and Disease	p. 195
Eggs from Your Chickens	p. 197
Meat from Your Chickens	p. 199
Other Types of Popultry	p. 200
Guineas Fowl	p. 201
Geese	p. 201
Ducks	p. 201
Turkeys	p. 201
Rabbits on a Backyard Farm	p. 203
Rabbits for Meat	p. 203
Rabbits for Fiber	p. 205
Rabbit Husbandry	p. 207
Housing Rabbits on a Small Scale	p. 207
Care and Maintenance	p. 209
Signs and Prevention of Illness and Disease	p. 211
Harvesting Fiber from Rabbits	p. 213
Sheep and Goats: Backyard Multitaskers	p. 215
Breeds for Small Home Use	p. 215
Breeds for Milk	p. 215
Breeds for Meat	p. 217
Breeds for Fiber	p. 219
Goat and Sheep Husbandry	p. 221
Care and Maintenance	p. 221
Housing	p. 224
Signs and Prevention of Illness and Disease	p. 226
Breeding Goats and Sheep	p. 227
Raising or Selling Your Yearly Offspring	p. 232
Milking a Goat or Sheep	p. 233
Shearing Sheep or Goats	p. 236
Beekeeping in the Backyard	p. 239
Getting to Know the Bee World	p. 239
Starting Your Apiary	p. 240
Equipment Needed	p. 240
Acquiring a Hive	p. 244
Keeping Bees-A Year-Round Guide	p. 247
The Honey Harvest	p. 251
Tools for Honey Extraction	p. 251
Comb Honey	p. 253
Straining the Honey	p. 253
Enjoying the Bounty	p. 255
A Seasonal Guide to Managing Your Harvest	p. 257
Eating Fresh in Spring	p. 257
Spinach Salad with Tangy Dressing	p. 258
Radishes and Egg Salad	p. 259
Summer's Feast on the Kitchen Table	p. 260
Stuffed Tomatoes	p. 261
Basil Pesto	p. 262
Blueberry Zucchini Bread	p. 263
Red Skin Potato Salad	p. 264
Fall Bounty from the Backyard Farm	p. 264
Sweet Potato Casserole with Apricots	p. 265
Simple Autumn Skillet	p. 266
What's Available in Winter?	p. 267
Applesauce Oatmeal Coffee Cake	p. 267
Roast Pork Tenderloin with Winter Greens	p. 268
Butchering on the Backyard Farm	p. 269
Overview of Processing Meat and Chickens	p. 269
Finding Local Help	p. 271
Canning and Freezing Produce and Meat	p. 273
Equipment Needed for Home Canning	p. 274
Pressure Canners	p. 276
Home Canning Safety Tips	p. 278
Basic Steps for Water-Bath Canning	p. 279
Basic Steps for Pressure Canning	p. 281
Freezing Tips and Tricks	p. 284
Vegetable Blanching and Freezer Preparation Chart	p. 285
Packaging Meat to Freeze	p. 286
Erica's Inside-Out Lasagna	p. 289
Dehydrating and Smoking	p. 291
Drying Herbs	p. 291
Choosing a Dehydrator	p. 293
Dehydrating Fruits and Vegetables	p. 294
Fruit Leather	p. 295
Making Jerky in a Dehydrator	p. 295
Drying in a Solar Oven	p. 297
Making Sun-Dried Tomatoes	p. 298
Drying Meat in a Solar Oven	p. 298
Smoking Meat in Home Smokers	p. 299
Root Cellars and Basements	p. 301
Storing Crops in a Cellar	p. 301
Storing Root Cellared Foods	p. 302
Constructing a Simple Root Cellar	p. 305
Trash Can Root Cellar	p. 306
Basement Root Cellar	p. 306
Preserving Garden Herbs	p. 309
Growing Your Own Herbs	p. 309
Drying Herbs for Teas	p. 310
Herbal Tea Benefits	p. 310
Common Herbal Tea Blends	p. 311
Herbal Vinegars	p. 312
Herbed Butters, Oils, and Spreads	p. 314
Herbal Infusions, Decoctions, and Tinctures	p. 315
Crafting from the Backyard Farm	p. 319
Making Butter, Yogurt, and Cheese	p. 321
Butter	p. 321
Butter from Raw Cow's Milk	p. 321
Butter from Goat's Milk	p. 323
Tools You Can Use	p. 324
Yogurt	p. 325
Cheese	p. 327
Fibers: From Sheep to Sweater	p. 333
Cultivating and Choosing Good Fleece	p. 334
Preparing a Fleece for Spinning	p. 336
Washing	p. 337
Carding and Combing	p. 337
Dyeing Your Fiber	p. 339
Hands-Off Dyeing	p. 340
Stovetop or Vat Dyeing	p. 340
Hand Painting with Dye	p. 341
Spinning Yarn	p. 341
Spindles and Wheels	p. 342
Spinning Terms and Techniques	p. 343
Marketing Your Fiber or Yarn	p. 344
Home Brewing Cider and Wine	p. 345
Brewing Homemade Cider	p. 345
Pressing Your Own Cider	p. 346
Fermenting Your Apple Cider	p. 349
Racking Off the Cider	p. 351
Brewing Homemade Wine	p. 351
Goat's Milk Soap Making	p. 355
Health Benefits Infused in Soap	p. 355
Why Make Your Own Soap?	p. 357
Making Goat's Milk Soap	p. 357
Saponification	p. 359
Creative Soap Making	p. 362
Oil Combinations	p. 363
Dyes and Embellishments	p. 364
Other Ways to Use Your Harvest	p. 365
Basketry and Weaving	p. 365
Lip Balm	p. 367
Candles	p. 368
Crayons	p. 369
Flower Cutting	p. 370
Dried Flowers	p. 371
Pressed Flowers	p. 373
Lavender Wands	p. 374
Plant-Based Dyes	p. 377
Appendixes
Simple Plans for the Backyard Farm	p. 379
Gardening Journal Pages	p. 387
Resources	p. 393
Index	p. 397
Table of Contents provided by Ingram. All Rights Reserved.