The Market Gardener: A Successful Grower's Handbook for Small-Scale Organic Farming
Jean-Martin Fortier and his wife have spent over a decade proving that you don't need vast tracts of land to run a profitable vegetable operation. Working just 1.5 acres, they feed more than 200 families through a thriving community-supported agriculture scheme and a seasonal market stall. It's an inspiring premise, and this handbook delivers the practical substance to back it up. Fortier sits squarely within a new wave of professional growers rethinking what a farm can look like, particularly as interest in local organic produce continues to grow. The book covers setting up a micro-farm using biologically intensive cropping systems, all without significant upfront investment. It explains how to work without a tractor, keep fossil-fuel use low, and choose the right hand tools and light machinery for the job. Minimum tillage practices get a thorough airing too. There's also solid guidance on growing mixed vegetables with a clear head for detail, covering weed and pest control, crop scheduling, harvest timing, and how to price your produce sensibly. What makes this handbook genuinely useful is its grounded, low-tech approach. It won't overwhelm you with theory. Instead, it lays out a workable path towards earning a living wage from food growing, even with modest land and limited capital. Accessible, methodical, and quietly convincing.
- Author: Jean-Martin Fortier
- Publisher: New Society Publishers
- Genre: Gardening & Horticulture
- ISBN: 978-0865717657
- Pages: 224 pages