Farms with a Future: Creating and Growing a Sustainable Farm Business
"Farms with a Futureis an important book. If you are new to farming, read it now. If you've been in the business for a while, read it every year to keep yourself on track.”--Shannon Hayes, author ofLong Way on a LittleandRadical Homemakers"Farms with a Futureshould be added to the reading list of anyone getting into farming. Easy to read and full of practical information, it will help those entering agriculture avoid many common pitfalls."--Nicolette Hahn Niman, author ofRighteous Porkchop: Finding a LifeandGood Food Beyond Factory Farms“Farms with a Futureshould be handed out to every budding young farmer in America. Thistlethwaite guides us through the daunting process of creating a viable small farm by sharing hard-earned lessons of her own, and from experienced farmers she met while researching this book. Indispensable!”--Novella Carpenter, author ofFarm City: The Education of an Urban Farmer“What is so great about Rebecca Thistlethwaite’s new book,Farms with a Future,is that it is not a generalized treatment about how to succeed in the new farm and food revolution, but a detailed and complete description of how some fourteen farms of various kinds have done it. This book does what books are supposed to do, that is, it gives the reader on-the-ground experience that would otherwise take years to gain.”--Gene Logsdon, author ofThe Contrary FarmerandSmall-Scale Grain RaisingForeWord Reviews-As a farmer and sustainable agriculture consultant, Rebecca Thistlethwaite understands how important it is to share information about small farmers who have redefined success, finding ways to sustain their families, their communities, and the planet. The stories of innovative farmers who have embraced their 'inner entrepreneur' fill this collection and serve as ample inspiration for readers who are dreaming of their own farming ventures, as well as those who are searching for new approaches. With chapters organized around specific principles such as “Identifying Your Market Niche” and “Harvesting and Processing,” the emphasis of Thistlethwaite’s book is incorporating necessary tools for survival and profit in a family-based business. Each chapter contains photographs of the farms and farmers, which helps drive home for the reader that these are real people who have—through sacrifice, planning, and hard work—found ways to farm that supports their values. Additionally, each chapter ends with 'Take-Home Messages,' a bulleted summary of dos and don’ts that affirm much of what each family farm story demonstrates. A superior book for its information, organization, and examples,Farms with a Futureis essential for dreamers who intend to be doers, and doers who are seeking more creative dreaming.