The Market Gardener: A Successful Grower's Handbook For Small-scale
Organic Farming

Product Description

Les Jardins de la Grelinette is a micro-farm located in eastern Quebec just north of the American border Growing on just 15 acres owners Jean-Martin & Maude-Helene feed more than two hundred families through their thriving CSA & seasonal market stands & supply their signature mesclun salad mix to dozens of local establishments The secret of their success is the low-tech high-yield production methods they've developed by focusing on growing better rather than growing bigger making their operation more lucrative & viable in the process The Market Gardener is a compendium of la Grelinette's proven horticultural techniques & innovative growing methods This complete guide is packed with practical information on Setting-up a micro-farm by designing biologically intensive cropping systems all with negligible capital outlay Farming without a tractor & minimizing fossil fuel inputs through the use of the best hand tools appropriate machinery & minimum tillage practices Growing mixed vegetables systematically with attention to weed & pest management crop yields harvest periods & pricing approaches Inspired by the French intensive tradition of maraichage & by iconic American vegetable grower Eliot Coleman author & farmer Jean-Martin shows by example how to start a market garden & make it both very productive & profitable Making a living wage farming without big capital outlay or acreages may be closer than you think Jean-Martin Fortier is a passionate advocate of strong local food systems & founder of Les Jardins de la Grelinette an internationally recognized model for successful biointensive micro-farming