This bumper sticker says it all.

"The Next Green Revolution: Essential Steps to a Healthy, Sustainable Agriculture"

This book informed me about the faults of the system in modern day agriculture and where it all began. Following WWII, the American agriculture attitude was "get big or get out". In order to adapt to this new lifestyle, new farming practices were invented. For example, pesticides were created from chemicals that were originally used as weapons during the war, such as DDT. Americans began a race for big agribusiness, and this trend rippled throughout the entire world. This farming system has made it impossible for small farmers to compete with big agribusinesses, such as Monsanto.

This book is about how a small farmer can survive and become competitive in the modern day conditions. According to the authors, the answer to being a successful small- scale crop farmer is to abandon many of the common day practices and instead become what is called "a contrary farmer". In other words, become a sustainable farmer.

Here are the 8 Steps to becoming a sustainable farmer in modern day agriculture:
1. Create and conserve healthy soil.
2. Conserve water and protect its quality.
3. Manage organic wastes to avoid pollution.
4. Select plants and animals adapted to the environment.
5. Encourage biodiversity.
6. Manage pests for minimal environmental impact.
7. Conserve nonrenewable energy resources.
8. Increase profitability and decrease risk.

This book has been noted as "a blueprint for farmers who want to improve profits and stewardship". Another source wrote that the authors of the book have shown that "sustainable farming is not only possible, it is also very practical". Everyone knows that sustainable agriculture is better for the earth and for consumer's health... but did you know that it can be better for the farmer as well?!?!

Shared Experiences from a Self- Sufficient Farm in Orange County, New York; "It's a Long Road to a Tomato"

 After reading "It's a Long Road to a Tomato" by Keith Stewart, I feel refreshed by the success story of a self- sufficient farmer. Perhaps the most refreshing bit of the whole work was the excerpt of shared experiences from the helpers on Keith's farm. After reading this, I am looking forward to experiencing life on the farm even more than I was before.