Gardens, fields and food you grow yourself. Every guide lists its sources and who to ask locally.
- Planning a Farm GardenA practical way to plan a farm garden: pick a site, size it to your time, map beds, and set a calendar you can keep…
- Choosing Crops for Your RegionHow to choose crops that fit your region: climate, season length, soil, water, markets and your own labor, with local…
- Crop Rotation on Small FarmsLearn how crop rotation helps small farms manage pests, disease and fertility, and how to build a simple rotation plan…
- Cover Cropping BasicsA plain guide to cover crops: what they do, how to choose between grasses and legumes, when to plant and terminate…
- Soil Testing and Fertility PlanningHow to take a soil sample, read a lab report, and plan fertility on a small farm, with guidance on where to get a test…
- Seed Selection and SourcingHow to choose seed for a small farm: varieties, open-pollinated versus hybrid, seed quality, saving your own, and…
- Starting Seeds on the FarmA practical guide to starting seeds indoors or in a protected space: containers, medium, light, temperature, watering…
- Transplanting and Field EstablishmentHow to move seedlings into the field with less shock: timing, soil preparation, planting day, watering, protection…
- Direct Seeding TechniquesLearn how direct seeding works on small farms: seedbed preparation, depth, spacing, moisture, thinning, and common…
- Irrigation Planning for CropsHow to plan irrigation on a small farm: crop water needs, water sources, system types, scheduling, local rules, and…
- Drip Irrigation on Small FarmsHow to plan drip irrigation on a small farm: parts, layout, filtration, scheduling, upkeep and where to find design…
- Weed Management Without ChemicalsPractical non-chemical weed control for small farms: prevention, timing, cultivation, mulch, cover crops, and keeping…
- Integrated Pest Management BasicsLearn integrated pest management on small farms: prevention, scouting, thresholds, biological and cultural controls…
- Crop Disease IdentificationHow to sort out crop problems on a small farm: symptom clues, good photos and notes, and where to send a sample for a…
- Harvest Timing by CropHow to judge harvest timing on a small farm: maturity signs, weather, time of day, handling and the records that help…
- Post-Harvest Handling BasicsBasic post-harvest handling for small farms: cooling, cleaning, sorting, packing, storage, and food safety habits that…
- Vegetable Production for MarketWhat to know before growing vegetables for market: choosing buyers, planning crops and acreage, labor, record keeping…
- Growing Root CropsA practical guide to growing root crops such as carrots, beets, radishes and potatoes: soil, sowing, thinning…
- Growing Leafy GreensHow to grow leafy greens on a small farm: choosing types, timing for heat and cold, fertility, water, pests, harvest…
- Growing Tomatoes and PeppersA practical guide to growing tomatoes and peppers: starting transplants, site and soil, support, water, common…
- Growing Squash and MelonsHow to grow summer squash, winter squash, pumpkins and melons on a small farm: site, spacing, pollination, pests…
- Growing Corn on Small FarmsA practical guide to growing sweet corn and field corn on a small farm: soil, planting, spacing, pollination, weeds…
- Growing Dry BeansA practical guide to growing dry beans on a small farm: variety types, planting, weeds, pests, harvest timing, drying…
- Growing Small GrainsWhat to know about growing wheat, oats, barley and rye on a small farm: choosing grains, seedbed, planting time…
- Growing Forage CropsA practical guide to growing forage crops for livestock on small farms: grasses, legumes, planting, cutting, grazing…
- Pasture EstablishmentA practical guide to starting a new pasture: soil testing, seedbed choices, species fit, timing, and first-year…
- Pasture RenovationLearn how to tell when a worn pasture needs renovation, what the options are, from overseeding to replanting, and how…
- Rotational Grazing SystemsHow rotational grazing works, what you need to start, how to plan paddocks, water and rest periods, and how to adjust…
- Stockpiling ForageStockpiling forage means saving pasture growth for later grazing. Learn what it is, how to plan it, which plants work…
- Orchard EstablishmentPlanning a small farm orchard: site, soil, tree choices, pollination, spacing, planting and the early years of care…
- Fruit Tree Care BasicsFruit tree care basics for small farms and homesteads: watering, pruning, feeding, thinning, pests and records, with a…
- Berry Production BasicsBerry production basics for small farms: choosing crops, soil prep, planting, support, weeds, pests, harvest and…
- Vineyard BasicsVineyard basics for beginners: climate and site, grape types, trellising, pruning, pests, labor, and the rules to…
- Nut Tree ProductionNut tree production basics: choosing species, site, spacing, pollination, patience for first crops, harvest and…
- Herb Farming BasicsHerb farming basics: choosing herbs, markets, soil and drainage, harvest and drying, food safety questions, and how to…
- Cut Flower ProductionCut flower production for small farms: choosing crops, bed planning, succession planting, harvest and conditioning…
- Greenhouse Production BasicsGreenhouse production basics: structure, heat, ventilation, water, pests and costs for small growers, with advice to…
- High Tunnel ProductionHigh tunnel production for small farms: what a high tunnel is, site and soil, crops, ventilation, water, pests…
- Season Extension TechniquesSeason extension techniques: row cover, low tunnels, cold frames, mulch and timing that stretch your growing season at…
- Seed Saving BasicsSeed saving basics: choosing what to save, open pollination, isolation, harvest, drying, storage and testing…
- Crop Record KeepingCrop record keeping made simple: what to write down, simple tools, field maps, spray and harvest logs, and how records…
- Crop Budgeting BasicsCrop budgeting basics: estimating income and costs, fixed and variable expenses, break-even thinking, and testing your…
- Crop Insurance OverviewCrop insurance overview: what it is, how it differs from other protection, who sells it, what to ask, and where to…
- Organic Certification BasicsOrganic certification basics: what organic means, the steps to certification, transition time, record keeping, costs…
- Food Safety on Produce FarmsFood safety on produce farms: hygiene, water, soil amendments, animals, cleaning, records and training, plus who to…
- Wash Pack and Packing Shed BasicsWash and pack shed basics for produce farms: layout, clean water, one-way flow, cooling, sanitation, bins and records…
- Crop Storage BasicsCrop storage basics: curing, temperature, humidity, ventilation, handling, pests and checking stored crops, with local…
- Root Cellar and Cool StorageRoot cellar and cool storage basics: site, temperature, humidity, airflow, safe use, what to store, and how to keep…
- Cover Crop TerminationCover crop termination explained: why and when to end a cover crop, common methods, timing, residue, planting after…
- Annual Crop Production CalendarBuild an annual crop production calendar: map frost dates, planting windows, tasks, harvest and records so the farm…