The Urban Farmer (growing Food For Profit On Leased And Borrowed Land)

By (author) Stone, Curtis Allen; By (author) Stone Curtis
Short description/annotation
Strategies and techniques for making a living with intensive food production in small spaces
Description
There are twenty million acres of lawns in North America. In their current form, these unproductive expanses of grass represent a significant financial and environmental cost. However, viewed through a different lens, they can also be seen as a tremendous source of opportunity. Access to land is a major barrier for many people who want to enter the agricultural sector, and urban and suburban yards have huge potential for would-be farmers wanting to become part of this growing movement. The Urban Farmer is a comprehensive, hands-on, practical manual to help you learn the techniques and business strategies you need to make a good living growing high-yield, high-value crops right in your own backyard (or someone else''s). Major benefits include: Low capital investment and overhead costs Reduced need for expensive infrastructure Easy access to markets Growing food in the city means that fresh crops may travel only a few blocks from field to table, making this innovative approach the next logical step in the local food movement. Based on a scalable, easily reproduced business model, The Urban Farmer is your complete guide to minimizing risk and maximizing profit by using intensive production in small leased or borrowed spaces. Curtis Stone is the owner/operator of Green City Acres, a commercial urban farm growing vegetables for farmers markets, restaurants, and retail outlets. During his slower months, Curtis works as a public speaker, teacher, and consultant, sharing his story to inspire a new generation of farmers.
Table of contents

Foreword, by Diego Footer
Preface

1: A Farm in the City

1. Why Urban Farming?
2. Connecting the Dots: An Urban Farmer''s Place in the Community
3. Quick Breakdown of Economics

2: A Viable Farming Business On ½ Acre Or Less

1. The Zones of Your Farm and Your Life
2. Crops Better Suited for the City
3. Introdution to Urban Infrastructure
4. Start-Up Farm Models

3: The Business of Urban Farming

1. Starting Small
2. Market Streams
3. Working with Chefs
4. Labor
5. Software and Organization
6. Self-Promotion
7. Finance Options

4: Finding the Right Site

1. Scouting for Land
2. Urban, Suburban and Peri-Urban Land
3. Multiple or Single-Plot Farming
4. Urban Soil
5. Land Agreements and Leases
6. Urban Pests

5: Building Your Farm, One Site at a Time

1. Turning a Lawn Into a Farm Plot
2. Choosing A Site
3. Garden Layout
4. The Perimeter
5. Irrigation

6: Infrastructure and Equipment

1. Base of Operations
2. Tools
3. Special Growing Areas
4. Inexpensive Season Extension
5. Transportation

7: Operations

1. Work Smarter not Harder
2. Harvesting
3. Post-Harvest Processing
4. Portioning and Packing

8: Production Systems

1. Beds for Production
2. Planting
3. Microgreens
4. Extending the Season

9: Basic Crop Planning

1. Determine Your Outcome
2. The Base Plan

10: Crops for the Urban Farmer

1. Parting Words

Acknowledgments
Glossary
Endnotes
Index
About the Author

Biographical note
Curtis Stone is the owner/operator of Green City Acres, a commercial urban farm based in Kelowna, BC. Farming less than half an acre on a collection of urban plots, Green City Acres grows vegetables for farmers markets, restaurants and retail outlets. After five successful seasons, Curtis has demonstrated that one can grow an extraordinary amount of food in a