Since its publication in 1994, the Small Farm Handbook has been an essential resource for California’s small farmers and the agricultural professionals advising them – selling over 4300 copies. Now this invaluable reference has been updated and expanded for today’s small-scale producers. The handbook covers three essential areas: Background skills and knowledge, the business side, and the farming side Within these broad areas you’ll find specific chapters on: Requirements for Successful Farming Growing Crops Raising Animals Farm and Financial Management Marketing and Product Sales Labor Management Also included are profiles of six small farm operators representing a sample of California’s diverse agriculture. Throughout you’ll get a look at emerging trends and issues for California agriculture and innovative methods for better production and management, all of which can lead to better farm performance. Drawing upon the knowledge of 32 experts from the University of California, No other publication covers the topics, issues, and facets of California’s small-scale agriculture with this depth or level of expertise. From the basics to risk management, specialty crops to marketing and product sales, this guide covers the gamut.

This handbook adapts scientifically based integrated pest management techniques to the needs of the home gardener and small-scale farmer. Covers insects, mites, plant diseases, nematodes, and weeds of fruit and nut trees and vegetables using the IPM approach of making minimal use of broad-spectrum pesticides; the methods recommended here rely primarily on organically acceptable alternatives. 120 common pests are described in individual sections; crop-by-crop symptom identification tables guide you quickly to the information you need. More than 350 color photos and 118 drawings help you diagnose problems and find solutions. What’s new in the Third Edition? •Includes the most up-to-date information on managing vegetable, herb and fruit tree pests with organically acceptable tools. •Over 30 new insect, disease and weed pests. •Crop tables in the back expanded to include 6 new crops and herbs. •Over 120 new color photographs added for a total of more than 400 color illustrations throughout.

Since it was first published in 2002, the California Master Gardener Handbook has been the definitive guide to best practices and advice for gardeners throughout the West. Now the much-anticipated 2nd Edition to the Handbook is here—completely redesigned, with updated tables, graphics, and color photos throughout. Whether you're a beginner double digging your first bed or a University of California Master Gardener, this handbook will be your go-to source for the practical, science-based information you need to sustainably maintain your landscape and garden and become an effective problem solver. Chapters cover soil, fertilizer, and water management, plant propagation, plant physiology; weeds and pests; home vegetable gardening; specific garden crops including grapes, berries temperate fruits and nuts, citrus, and avocados. Also included is information on lawns, woody landscape plants, and landscape design. New to the 2nd Edition is information on invasive plants and principles of designing and maintaining landscapes for fire protection. Inside are updates to the technical information found in each chapter, reorganization of information for better ease of use, and new content on important emerging topics. Useful conversions for many units of measure found in the Handbook or needed in caring for gardens and landscapes are located in Appendix A. A glossary of important technical terms used and an extensive index round out the book.

A guide to starting and operating a successful small farm.

Permanent agriculture - abundance by design "The wealth of practical knowledge in The Permaculture Handbook is a welcome addition to North America's canon of books on permaculture design, and will serve other regions as well. Peter Bane's broad and well-tested experience in ecological living will guide homeowners, gardeners, and small farmers toward designing and living in lushly productive and harmonious landscapes." ― Toby Hemenway, author of Gaia's Garden: A Guide to Home-Scale Permaculture The Permaculture Handbook is a step-by-step, beautifully illustrated guide to creating resilient and prosperous households and neighborhoods, complemented by extensive case studies of three successful farmsteads and market gardens. This comprehensive manual casts garden farming as both an economic opportunity and a strategy for living well with less money. It shows how, by mimicking the intelligence of nature and applying appropriate technologies such as solar and environmental design, permaculture can: Create an abundance of fresh, nourishing local produce Reduce dependence on expensive, polluting fossil fuels Drought-proof our cities and countryside Convert waste into wealth Permaculture is about working with the earth and with each other to repair the damage of industrial overreach and to enrich the living world that sustains us. The Permaculture Handbook is the definitive, practical North American guide to this revolutionary practice, and is a must-read for anyone concerned about creating food security, resilience and a legacy of abundance rather than depletion.

Hardworking and intelligent, draft horses and mules provide clean-energy power for an impressive array of tasks. Bringing strength and endurance to every job, from cultivating farmland and hauling logs to giving long quiet rides through the countryside, these animals love to work. In this illustrated guide, Gail Damerow and Anita Rice provide all the information you need in order to select, train, feed, care for, and work with your own team of draft horses or mules.

This manual is the ultimate guide to pest management for strawberries. Whether you’re a commercial grower or a home gardener, this manual is for you. Using this manual you’ll learn how to prevent and diagnose causes of damage; identify pests and key natural enemies; establish an IPM program for your field; manage problems related to irrigation, nutrition, and the growing environment; and determine when direct control actions are necessary. This revised manual also includes chapters on strawberry transplant production and managing pests in home garden strawberries.

REA's TExES Core Subjects 4-8 (211) Test Prep with Online Practice Tests Gets You Certified and in the Classroom! Teacher candidates seeking certification to teach the middle-level grades in Texas's public schools must pass the TExES Core Subjects 4-8 exam. Written by a team of faculty experts led by Dr. Ann M. L. Cavallo, Associate Dean for Research and Graduate Studies at the University of Texas at Arlington, REA's test prep provides extensive coverage of the four core subject areas tested on the exam: English Language Arts and Reading (806); Mathematics (807); Social Studies (808); and Science (809). In addition to a thorough review, this test prep features a diagnostic test and 2 full-length practice test batteries (1 in the book and 1 online at the REA Study Center) that deal with every question type, competency, and skill tested on the exam. REA's online tests run under timed conditions and provide automatic scoring and diagnostic feedback on every question to help teacher candidates zero in on the topics that give them trouble now, so they can succeed on test day. The new 200-question Core Subjects test, one of the largest of its kind in the United States, was first administered in January 2015; it replaced the TExES Generalist 4-8 (111) exam. REA's test prep package includes: - Comprehensive review of all domains and content categories tested on the TExES Core Subjects 4-8 exam - Online diagnostic that pinpoints strengths and weaknesses to help focus study - 2 full-length practice test batteries based on actual exam questions - Practice test answers explained in detail - Proven study tips, strategies, and confidence-boosting advice - Online practice tests feature timed testing, automatic scoring, and topic-level feedback REA's TExES Core Subjects 4-8 (211) is a must-have for anyone who wants to become a middle-school teacher in Texas.

Inside you'll find a detailed index, a completely revised section on codling moth management with detailed information on mating disruption, revision of leafroller management practices, updates on oak root fungus and wild asparagus, biological control of fireblight, and new control strategies for pear psylla. The emphasis is on least-toxic control methods, selective pesticides, and cultural and biological controls. Also includes a section on organically acceptable control methods. More than 200 color photos and 100 figures and tables.

The Call of the Land is a sourcebook exploring positive pathways for food security, economic stability, environmental repair, and cultural renewal. This book shows how everyone can respond creatively to the challenges we face. From community gardens and locavore restaurants to urban farms and local food banks, this book is a survey and synthesis of the great transition that is underway.