Guest guest Posted May 29, 1999 Report Share Posted May 29, 1999 [i have added the cow conference to this list as a blind copy, so they will not be burdened with any further discussion on this line -- in case we stray off topic, as we occassionally do >:-) ] For several years, I have been looking for something called an Acres USA Fieldcrop Primer. I finally found the title, now called *Eco-Farm -- And Acres U.S.A. Primer* as well as a number of other titles in the latest Acres USA Catalog. I've given below the descriptions for the 5 featured titles - which I have not yet read myself. (I have read some of the other titles, which is why I included them.) On one hand, these books are probably geared somewhat toward commercial agriculture, so some of the suggestions may involve a scale of mechanization which we might not want to undertake, but on the other hand, organic farming often tends to be smaller scale than other farming, even when it is commercially developed, so I would expect many useful ideas to be found here. **If any devotees have read any of these titles, please comment on them.** I got the ISBN numbers for the first 5 titles from Books in Print, so I'm not positive they are correct - might be a different edition. Acres U.S.A. is the publisher of the monthly organic farming journal *Acres U.S.A.* P.O. Box 8800 Metairie LA 70011 USA To order the journal or get a full catalog of listings or to order books write them above, or in US call 1-800-355-5313 outside: 504-889-2100 FAX 504-889-2777 Here are the descriptions from the catalog: ******************************* THE NON-TOXIC FARMING HANDBOOK *New* by Phillip A. Wheeler, Ph.D. & Ronald B. Ward "It's not an overstatement to say that this handbook represents the future of farming." Farmers, growers, and serious gardeners around the; world are discovering that the toxic methods taught for the past 50 years do not work. By sledge-hammering nature into submission, every problem solved brings on new problems. Attacking these with another toxic treatment further stresses the balance of nature, bringing on a new set of difficulties. But the answer for modern growers is not to turn back the hands of time, but to move forward to a higher level of understanding. Ward and Wheeler provide that understanding. In this readable, easy-to-understand handbook the authors explain: * What's wrong with conventional agriculture * Weeds - their role in nature and control * Insects - why they attack crops and how to stop them * Soil testing and analysis - and acting upon the results * On-farm methods of soil and plant tissue testing * Soil fertility and fertilizers * pH, lime, N, P & K, and other major and minor nutrients * Working with foliar feeds to maximize crop health and production The authors successfully integrate the diverse techniques and technologies of classical organic farming, Albrecht-style fertility balancing, Reams-method soil and plant testing and analysis, and other alternative technologies. By understanding all the of available non-toxic tools and when they are effective, you will be able to react to your specific situation and growing conditions. The result will be ever-improving soil fertility, healty crops that provide their own insect and disease resistance, fields without the curse of weeds, and the satisfaction taht you are a true steward of the land. Acres U.S.A. # 6339 [iSBN?? 0911311564] paperback 236 pages - $25.00 ****************** ECO-FARM - AN ACRES U.S.A. PRIMER by Charles Walters & C.J. Fenzau With a new title and a cover facelift, the classic book on ecological agriculture is once again available. If you've never read *An Acres U.S.A. Primer*, you're missing out. If you would like extra copies for friends or business associates, now you can present them with the deluxe, hardback edition. In this book, eco-agriculture is explained - from the tiniest molecular building blocks to managing the soil - in terminology that not only makes the subject easy to learn, but vibrantly alive. *Eco-Farm* truly delivers a complete education in soils, crops, and weed and insect control. This should be the first book read by everyone beginning in eco-agriculture... and the most shop-worn book on the shelf of the most experienced. Acres U.S.A. # 122 [iSBN?? 0911311505] paperback 450 pages - $25.00 #122-H (Limited availability, deluxe hardcover edition) 450 pages - $35.00 ********************** HANDS-ON AGRONOMY by Neal Kinsey & Charles Walters The soil is more than just a substrate that anchors crops in place. An ecologically balanced soil system is essential for maintaining healthy crops. This is a comprehensive manual on soil management. The "whats and whys" of micronutrients, earthworms, soil drainage, tilth, soil structure and organic matter are explained in detail. Kinsey shows us how working with the soil produces healthier crops with a higher yield. True hands-on advice that consultants charge thousand for every day. Updated, revised edition. Acres U.S.A. #4120 [iSBN?? 0911311599] paperback 340 pages - $24.00 ********************* WEEDS, CONTROL WITHOUT POISONS by Charles Walters, Jr. Charles Walters, founder and longtime editor of *Acres U.S.A.*, has revised and expanded his now classic text on the secrets that weeds reveal to us about our soil. For a thorough understanding of the conditions that produce certain weeds, you simply can[‘t find a better source than this one - certainly not one as entertaining, as full of anecdotes [stories] and home-spun common sense. The book is a treasury of knowledge, exploring the workings of soil eco-systems through the findings of such giants as William A. Albrecht, C.J. Fenzau and Philip S. Callahan. It contains a lifetime of collected wisdom that teaches us how to understand and thereby control the growth of countless weed species, as well as why there is an absolute necessity for a more holistic, eco-centered perspective in agriculture today. In *Weeds, Control without Poisons*, Walters explains what fifty years of deadly chemicals have done to our soils and our bodies, demonstrating once and for all that the stuff simply doesn't work in any long-term, common-sense agricultural system. He goes on to tell us what will work, and he tells it with precision and clarity in a book as full of human warmth as sound soil science. Contains specifics on a hundred weeds, why they grow, what soil conditions spur them on or stop them, what they say about your soil, and how to control them without the obscene presence of poisons. One reader told us that one sentence alone in the blockbuster book saved him $50,000 in one year. New updated edition covers even more weeds, all cross-referenced by scientific and various common names, and a new pictoral glossary. This is a book for anyone who's serious about understanding soil biology, plant physiology, and the intricacies of weed control. Acres U.S.A. #4005 [iSBN??? 0911311580] paperback 352 pages - $25.00 *********************** THE SECRET LIFE OF COMPOST by Malcolm Beck with commentary by Charles Walters We don't need to poison the earth in order to grow better food, and what is harmful to the environment when improperly disposed of often can be turned back to the soil in a beneficial way through composting - if you know how. Her's how. Malcolm Beck's Garden-Ville, a large-scale commercial composting operation in central Texas, is one of the largest of its kind. Now he shares his insight into the processes of decay that can transform everything from lawn trimmings to sewer sludge into life-giving earth. Bring out the best in a small, backyard garden. Increase the production while lowering the inputs on a huge row-crop operation. Found your own commercial composting business. Whatever your purpose of learning to compost, you will find the information you need right here. Couples with Beck's insight into nature and practical advice are remarks from Charles Walters, founder of Acres U.S.A. Acres U.S.A. #6232 [iSBN??? 0911311521] paperback 160 pages - 19.00 ****************** ECO-AG Library Starter SPECIAL: Five books: *The Non-Toxic Farming Handbook* *Eco-Farm, An Acres U.S.A. Primer* *Hands-On Agronomy* *Weeds, Control without Poisons* * The Secret Life of Compost* Regularly $118 ---- Acres #S-154 $99.00 ************************ Other titles: *The Enlivened Rock Powders* by Harvey Lisle 208 pp #6103 $15.00 *The Carbon Cycle* by Leonard Ridzon with Charles Walters 143 pp #4188 $15.00 *Metrofarm* by Michael Olson [how to farm in the city, and how city dwellers are farming around the world] 576 pp #6079 $30.00 *The New Organic Farmer* by Eliot Coleman 270 pp #3066 $25.00 *Preventing Deer Damage* by Robert G. Juhre 55 pp #6329 $8.50 *Introduction to Permaculture* by Bill Mollison with Reny Mia Slay 213 pp #6212 $20.00 *Permaculture in a Nutshell* by Patrick Whitefield [includes temperate climates and urban environments] 96 pp #6381 $10.00 *How to Make a Forest Garden* by Patrick Whitefield 168 pp #6246 $30.00 *The Soul of Soil: A Guide to Ecological Soil Management, Third Edition* by Grace Gershany & Joseph Smillie 174 pp #6174 $17.00 #SPANISH# *Crecimiento de Alga y Planta* T.L. Senn, PhD 202 paginas # 6238 $14.00 #SPANISH# *Cultivo Biointensivo de Alimentos* John Jeavons 208 paginas #6239 $17.00 *Managing Cover Crops Profitably* 114 pp #6180 $19.00 *Garden Seed Inventory* by the Seed Savers Exchange [directory to open pollinated seeds, info on where to order 6,438 standard vegetables] 632 pp #6316 $24.00 *Sustainable Agriculture: Directory of Expertise* Third Edition, Sustainable Agriculture Network 723 entries, 1000 individuals, 200 organizations in USA 220 pp #6231 $19.00 *The Apple Grower* Michael Phillips "Best book on the topic" 242 pages #6338 $35.00 *Greener Pastures on Your Side of the Fence* Bill Murphy [rotational grazing] 379 pages #136 $30.00 *Chicken Tractor* Andy Lee [A chicken tractor is a bottomless, portable shelter-pen that fits over your garden beds. Chickens eliminate bugs and weeds while fertilizing garden. Devotees will be interested in the vegetarian aspects only] 230 pp #6165 $20.00 *The Complete Herbal Handbook for Farm and Stable* Juliette de Bairacli Levi 471 pp #6317 $22.00 *Turning Wool into a Cottage Industry* Paula Simmons 188 pp #6137 $15.00 *Treatment of Horses by Acupuncture* Dr. Erwin Westermayer 40 pages #6099 $25.00 *The New Organic Grower's Four-Season Harvest* Eliot Coleman [from Maine] 300 pages #4081 $25.00 *Hydroponic Home Food Gardens* Howard M. Resh, PhD 158 pp #6083 $13.00 *Hydroponic Gardening* Raymond Birdwell 216 pp #6182 $13.00 *Raising with the Moon* Jack R. Pyle & Taylor Reese 147 pp #4139 $14.00 *Seed to Seed* Suzanne Ashworth 222pp #6310 $20.00 *Carrots Love Tomatoes: The Secrets of Companion Planting* Louise Riotte 219 pp #6207 $15.00 *********************************** That's all for now. It would be good to get some feedback from those of you who have read these books. your servant, Hare Krsna dasi Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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