About this item
From the bestselling author of The Market Gardener - key principles for biointensive market gardening and powerful stories of successful growers who are farming profitably on a human-scaleMicrofarms is a guide to setting up and running profitable small-scale vegetable farms using organic, low-tech, and highly intensive production methods grounded in ecological principles.This full-color, richly illustrated resource brings to life the core principles of Jean-Martin Fortier's time-tested approach and includes eight detailed case studies showcasing a diverse range of market gardeners who have started successful farms using Jean-Martin's biointensive techniques. Key features of the book include:A distillation of Jean-Martin's methods, rooted in agroecology, permaculture, and humanscale business principlesAn exploration of the four essential pillars: proper crop planning, low-tech/low-investment farm tools, organic fertility management, and sound business practicesStrategies for enhancing farm profitability through direct marketing channels including farm stands, Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) boxes, and farmers marketsProven techniques to boost crop yields while preserving biodiversity and improving the livelihoods of those working on the farmEngaging stories of successful new market gardeners, detailing their varied journeys, from initial setup and land procurement to crop planning, team coordination, and sales and revenue.
About the Author
Jean-Martin Fortier is the founders of Les Jardins de la Grelinette, an internationally recognized micro-farm known for its high productivity and profitability using low-tech, high-yield methods of production. A leading practitioner of biologically intensive cropping systems, Jean-Martin has more than a decade's worth of experience in small-scale organic farming and has facilitated more than fifty workshops and conferences in Europe, Canada and the US promoting the idea of micro-scale farming as an alternative lifestyle. Jean-Martin also contributes occasionally as a tool and equipment advisor for companies such as Johnny's Selected Seeds and Dubois Agri-Novation. His first book, Le Jardinier-Maraîcher sold more than 15,000 copies in the original French language since its release in the fall of 2012.
