Storey's Guide to Growing Organic Vegetables & Herbs for Market: Site & Crop Selection * Planting, Care & Harvesting * Business Basics

This book has become a bible for us. It is a comprehensive, nuts-and-bolts resource for beginning market farmers who wish to follow the organic path, as well for those with years of experience under their belts. The book is organized in seven easy-to-read, information-packed sections, each with multiple chapters.The first section, “In the Beginning”, deals with making the plunge into farming and what to look for when buying or leasing land. The second, “Tools of the Trade” discusses various farm implements, points to consider when buying a tractor and then goes on to discuss greenhouses, high tunnels, and different approaches to irrigation.Section 3, “Looking After the Land”, addresses soil management, crop rotation, the use of cover crops, and building fertility, all viewed from a highly diversified organic farmer’s perspective. The 4th large section provides specifics on growing a wide range of crops, including about twenty different herbs.Then it’s on to “Harvesting and Marketing”, with heavy emphasis on selling in farmers markets. Section 6, “Competing Forces”, gets you started on dealing with weeds, pests, and diseases. Section 7, “Taking Care of Business”, discusses different ways to structure a farm business, keep records, become an employer, and gives valuable (and in some cases, hard learned) tips for maintaining your own health, well-being and sanity.Two-page write-ups on other farmers and how they operate are scattered throughout this wonderfully informative book. On top of all this, Storey’s Guide to Growing Organic Vegetables and Herbs for Market is carefully illustrated and a pleasure to read.

As I have worked to get a small farm operation going, like many people, I have purchased and poured through numerous books. Everyone of them had something to offer, but many were not worth purchasing considering the amount of info I gleaned from them. This book beat them all, hands down. The Storey's Guides always seem to be chocked full of good, practical information, and this book is the perfect example. The book goes into great detail about how to set up your operation and states in simple, readable form. It discusses what type of farming is appropriate for different types of terrain. It explains exactly how successful farmers have laid out vegetable beds, with dimensions stated, and gives little bio's on real working farms, so you can read what they did and how they did it. I love this book. Although I am also referencing some other books as well, for me, this is my single best "go to" book on setting things up for my own small scale farming operation. And please note, they explain and use examples that are applicable to small farms that are only a couple of acres and much larger farms that are many tens of acres. Fabulous book. Thank you Storey's Guides!

I have worked for years with "wanna be" farmers, wide-eyed beginning farmers and experienced farmers who have not put things together enough to purchase their own farms. Keith Stewart's book is the best of its genre that I have read. Mr. Stewart dissects the issues involved in acquiring and making a living in today's small farm economy. His frank and "no holds barred" book is actually an extremely well written and an insightful textbook composed by a person who has obviously" been there and done that".The wisdom that pours off each page make this required reading for those considering farming for a living, farmers seeking to maximize (or achieve) profitability or consumers who want to know who their farmer is or should be. This book is a marvelous resource.

Regardless of whether you are a new and beginning farmer or an old farm hand, you WILL find "Growing Organic Veg & Herbs for Market" useful. I'm an ag professional and find myself referring to this book constantly. Reading it along with Stewart's first, "It's a Long Road to a Tomato..." one ends up knowing just about all you need to finally take the leap and get growing -- from the technical to the spiritual/philosophical and everything in between. Honestly, Stewart shares knowledge and experience about how to set up and run a successful farming operation to a degree that is rare to find in any farm reference literature. I have never reviewed a book before but, in my opinion, this one is worth the time to recommend. Now there's no excuse -- GET FARMING!

Keith Stewart has left nothing out for those looking to go into organic farming or for those already in the business. I believe what Keith writes because I had the opportunity to experience his techniques in farming and marketing by being an employee. For those dreaming of success in organic farming, I strongly recommend this book as a reference to your already existing collection of organic gardening books or possibly the first one you purchase to get your business started.

As a new organic vegetable grower, I greatly appreciate Keith sharing his 30 years of practical experience. This book is the most comprehensive one I've read. It is spot-on, well written and full of very helpful information perfectly suited for any small scale organic vegetable operation. This book covers it all; from crop planning to marketing, equipment to greenhouses, soil health, even garlic and herbs. It has become the single book I recommend to any new farmer and all new farm employees.

Really good book that covers the many facets of organic farming. Loved it

So much amazing information, this book really brings scientific ideas to the home grower and is a great reference for anyone trying to get into organic eating.

Great book for Veg and planning to sell what you grow

Lots of good info.