[PDF] The Year Round Hoophouse eBook

Author : Pam Dawling
Publisher : New Society Publishers
Page : 320 pages
File Size : 33,12 MB
Release : 2018-11-13
Category : Technology & Engineering
ISBN : 1550926551

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Design and build a hoophouse or polytunnel, and grow abundant produce year-round in any climate The Year-Round Hoophouse is the comprehensive guide to designing and building a hoophouse and making a success of growing abundant, delicious fresh produce all year, whatever your climate and land size. Chapters include: Hoophouse siting, size, style, frame construction, and tools Bed layout, soil, crop rotations, and extensive coverage of various crops for all seasons Organic solutions to pests and diseases Disaster preparation Tested resources for each chapter. The Year-Round Hoophouse is ideal for farmers who wish to move into protected growing, as well as beginning farmers in rural and urban spaces. It is an essential reference resource for professors and students of courses in sustainable agriculture, as well as interns and apprentices learning on the job. Growing in hoophouses – also known as high tunnels or polytunnels – reduces the impact of an increasingly unpredictable climate on crops, mitigates soil erosion, extends the growing season, keeps leafy greens alive through the winter, and enables growers to supply more regional food needs.

Author : Pam Dawling
Publisher : New Society Publishers
Page : 459 pages
File Size : 17,43 MB
Release : 2013-02-01
Category : Gardening
ISBN : 1550925121

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Growing for 100 - the complete year-round guide for the small-scale market grower. Across North America, an agricultural renaissance is unfolding. A growing number of market gardeners are emerging to feed our appetite for organic, regional produce. But most of the available resources on food production are aimed at the backyard or hobby gardener who wants to supplement their family's diet with a few homegrown fruits and vegetables. Targeted at serious growers in every climate zone, Sustainable Market Farming is a comprehensive manual for small-scale farmers raising organic crops sustainably on a few acres. Informed by the author's extensive experience growing a wide variety of fresh, organic vegetables and fruit to feed the approximately one hundred members of Twin Oaks Community in central Virginia, this practical guide provides: Detailed profiles of a full range of crops, addressing sowing, cultivation, rotation, succession, common pests and diseases, and harvest and storage Information about new, efficient techniques, season extension, and disease resistant varieties Farm-specific business skills to help ensure a successful, profitable enterprise Whether you are a beginning market grower or an established enterprise seeking to improve your skills, Sustainable Market Farming is an invaluable resource and a timely book for the maturing local agriculture movement.

Author : Andrew Mefferd
Publisher : Chelsea Green Publishing
Page : 290 pages
File Size : 25,93 MB
Release : 2017
Category : Gardening
ISBN : 1603586377

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The Greenhouse and Hoophouse Grower's Handbook shares best practices for both large- and small-scale production of the eight most profitable crops - tomatoes, eggplant, cucumbers, peppers, leafy greens, lettuce, herbs, and microgreens. Every year, more growers are turning to protected culture to deal with unpredictable weather and to meet out-of-season demand for local food, but many end up spinning their wheels, wasting time and money on unprofitable crops grown in ways that don't make the most of their precious greenhouse space. This book levels the playing field with decision-making framework that goes beyond a list of simple dos and don'ts. With comprehensive chapters on temperature control and crop steering, pruning and trellising, grafting, and more, Andrew Meffer's book is full of techniques and strategies that can help farms stay profitable, satisfy customers, and become an integral part of relocalizing our food system. From seed to sale, this book is the indispensable resource for protected growing.--COVER.

Author : Lindsey Schiller
Publisher : New Society Publishers
Page : 331 pages
File Size : 22,65 MB
Release : 2016-10-01
Category : Gardening
ISBN : 1550926187

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Build your own passive solar greenhouse for year-round food production in any climate Fresh, local nutrient-dense fruits vegetables are hard to find in winter in cold climates. Growing warm-weather crops like tomatoes, bananas, avocados, and other perennials is nearly impossible using conventional structures. The solution for millions of backyard and small-scale commercial growers is self-heating solar greenhouses. The Year-round Solar Greenhouse is the one-stop guide to designing and building greenhouses that harness and store energy from the sun to create naturally heated, lush growing environments even in the depths of winter, covering principles of solar greenhouse design and siting, glazing material properties and selection, controlling heat loss, ventilation, and construction methods. Additionally, an in-depth section covers sustainable ways of heating the greenhouse without fossil fuels, including using thermal mass and storing heat underground with a ground to air heat exchanger. Variations include attached solar greenhouses, earth sheltered greenhouses, plus integrating hydroponics and aquaponics. More than a dozen case studies from across North America provide inspiration and demonstrate specific challenges and solutions for growing year-round in any climate. Grow your own food, anytime, anywhere using the power of the sun!

Author : Niki Jabbour
Publisher : Storey Publishing, LLC
Page : 257 pages
File Size : 22,61 MB
Release : 2011-12-14
Category : Gardening
ISBN : 1603427856

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Even in winter’s coldest months you can harvest fresh, delicious produce. Drawing on insights gained from years of growing vegetables in Nova Scotia, Niki Jabbour shares her simple techniques for gardening throughout the year. Learn how to select the best varieties for each season, the art of succession planting, and how to build inexpensive structures to protect your crops from the elements. No matter where you live, you’ll soon enjoy a thriving vegetable garden year-round.

Author : Ben Hartman
Publisher : Chelsea Green Publishing
Page : 274 pages
File Size : 45,32 MB
Release : 2017
Category : Gardening
ISBN : 1603586997

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At Clay Bottom Farm, author Ben Hartman and staff practice kaizen, or continuous improvement, cutting out more waste--of time, labor, space, money, and more--every year and aligning their organic production more tightly with customer demand. Applied alongside other lean principles originally developed by the Japanese auto industry, the end result has been increased profits and less work. In this field-guide companion to his award-winning first book, The Lean Farm, Hartman shows market vegetable growers in even more detail how Clay Bottom Farm implements lean thinking in every area of their work, including using kanbans, or replacement signals, to maximize land use; germination chambers to reduce defect waste; and right-sized machinery to save money and labor and increase efficiency. From finding land and assessing infrastructure needs to selling perfect produce at the farmers market, The Lean Farm Guide to Growing Vegetables digs deeper into specific, tested methods for waste-free farming that not only help farmers become more successful but make the work more enjoyable. These methods include: Using Japanese paper pot transplanters Building your own germinating chambers Leaning up your greenhouse Making and applying simple composts Using lean techniques for pest and weed control Creating Heijunka, or load-leveling calendars for efficient planning Farming is not static, and improvement requires constant change. The Lean Farm Guide to Growing Vegetables offers strategies for farmers to stay flexible and profitable even in the face of changing weather and markets. Much more than a simple exercise in cost-cutting, lean farming is about growing better, not cheaper, food--the food your customers want.

Author : Joyce Russell
Publisher : Frances Lincoln
Page : 192 pages
File Size : 27,27 MB
Release : 2013-04-04
Category : Gardening
ISBN : 1781011109

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‘Until now, there has been next to no information available on how to make the best use of a polytunnel. The Joyce and Ben Russel team have filled that gap, showing us in clear, precise detail how to erect and manage polytunnels, and above all, what to grow in them.’ Joy Larkcom The Polytunnel Book is the most comprehensive, practical month-to-month growing guide to polytunnel gardening available. Whether you are a complete beginner, or a more experienced grower, this book has got what you need including information on: Preparing the site How to get the best from each crop Identifying and coping with pests Making a hotbed Composts and organic feeds Month-to-month planting plans for year-round growing But at the heart of this book is Joyce Russell's experienced hand guiding you through each month of the year. It tells what to do and when to do it, in order to grow the best fruit and vegetables all-year-round. 300 colour photographs illustrate the wealth of practical tips and techniques as well as celebrating what can be achieved. 'A polytunnel offers a relatively cheap and simple way to tend crops undercover. And Joyce Russel tells exactly how to do it.’ Kitchen Garden Magazine

Author : Dan Chiras
Publisher : New Society Publishers
Page : 469 pages
File Size : 37,34 MB
Release : 2020-11-03
Category : Gardening
ISBN : 177142317X

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“A prescription for survival in this gorgeously illustrated and accessible guide to the future of farming.” —Albert Bates, author of The Biochar Solution Grow vegetables year-round in a greenhouse powered only by solar energy! Originally developed in China to feed millions, Chinese greenhouses are earth-sheltered, solar-heated, east-west oriented, intelligently glazed, and well-insulated. They have proven highly effective in growing warm-weather vegetables and fruits like green peppers and tomatoes in cold climates through fall, winter, and early spring using passive solar energy as the sole heat source. The Chinese Greenhouse is a full-color comprehensive guide to these passive solar greenhouses for self-sufficiency and growing year-round in soil or aquaponic grow beds with no additional heat. Coverage includes: How to design, build, and operate a Chinese greenhouse How to improve performance via short-term and long-term heat banking How to provide additional heat to make your greenhouse operate even more effectively How to cool the greenhouse during the summer. Become a more self-sufficient gardener, growing and harvesting a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables year-round, with your own Chinese greenhouse. “Wonderfully researched . . . brilliant.” —Jean-Martin Fortier, farmer and author of The Market Gardener, editor of Growers Magazine “Essential reading for pioneers of Chinese greenhouses.” —Pam Dawling, author of The Year-Round Hoophouse and Sustainable Market Farming “Every enthusiastic vegetable farmer dreams of this winter-growing miracle, and Dan shows how to do it.” —Shawna Coronado, author of 101 Organic Gardening Hacks

Author : Peter Burke
Publisher : Chelsea Green Publishing
Page : 210 pages
File Size : 19,38 MB
Release : 2015-08-21
Category : Gardening
ISBN : 1603586164

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The Low-Tech, No-Grow-Lights Approach to Abundant Harvest Year-Round Indoor Salad Gardening offers good news: with nothing more than a cupboard and a windowsill, you can grow all the fresh salad greens you need for the winter months (or throughout the entire year) with no lights, no pumps, and no greenhouse. Longtime gardener Peter Burke was tired of the growing season ending with the first frost, but due to his busy work schedule and family life, didn’t have the time or interest in high-input grow lights or greenhouses. Most techniques for growing what are commonly referred to as “microgreens” left him feeling overwhelmed and uninterested. There had to be a simpler way to grow greens for his family indoors. After some research and diligent experimenting, Burke discovered he was right—there was a way! And it was even easier than he ever could have hoped, and the greens more nutrient packed. He didn’t even need a south-facing window, and he already had most of the needed supplies just sitting in his pantry. The result: healthy, homegrown salad greens at a fraction of the cost of buying them at the market. The secret: start them in the dark. Growing “Soil Sprouts”—Burke’s own descriptive term for sprouted seeds grown in soil as opposed to in jars—employs a method that encourages a long stem without expansive roots, and provides delicious salad greens in just seven to ten days, way earlier than any other method, with much less work. Indeed, of all the ways to grow immature greens, this is the easiest and most productive technique. Forget about grow lights and heat lamps! This book is a revolutionary and inviting guide for both first-time and experienced gardeners in rural or urban environments. All you need is a windowsill or two. In fact, Burke has grown up to six pounds of greens per day using just the windowsills in his kitchen! Year-Round Indoor Salad Gardening offers detailed step-by-step instructions to mastering this method (hint: it’s impossible not to succeed, it’s so easy!), tools and accessories to have on hand, seeds and greens varieties, soil and compost, trays and planters, shelving, harvest and storage, recipes, scaling up to serve local markets, and much more.

Author : Barrett Williams
Publisher : Barrett Williams
Page : 77 pages
File Size : 15,11 MB
Release : 2024-06-28
Category : Gardening
ISBN :

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**Hoop Houses for Every Grower Unlock the Secrets to Year-Round Gardening Success!** Unveil the transformative power of hoop houses with this comprehensive guide designed for growers of all experience levels. **"Hoop Houses for Every Grower"** demystifies the art of building, maintaining, and maximizing the use of hoop houses, ensuring your green thumb stays productive in every season. **Discover the Essentials** Begin your journey with an insightful **Introduction to Affordable Hoop Houses**. Learn the basics, understand the benefits, and explore how hoop houses can extend your growing season, providing a significant edge for your garden or farm. **Plan with Precision** Successful gardens start with meticulous planning. Dive into **Planning Your Hoop House** where you'll master site selection, determine the perfect size and shape, and gather all the materials and tools necessary for your build. **Construct with Confidence** Build a solid foundation with our step-by-step guidance in **Constructing the Frame**. From selecting the right PVC pipes to assembling a sturdy structure, you'll find all the tips and techniques needed for a reliable hoop house. **Protect Your Plants** Ensure your plants thrive by learning about **Covering Your Hoop House**. Choose the best greenhouse plastic, install it efficiently, and secure it effectively against the elements. **Optimal Environment** Control your growing environment with ease through **Ventilation and Temperature Control**. Explore both passive and active systems to manage temperature and humidity, keeping your plants in optimal condition. **Light and Soil Mastery** Maximize natural light and manage shade efficiently in **Optimizing Light and Shade**. Enhance your soil quality with **Soil Preparation and Amendment**, ensuring your crops get the best start possible. **Planting and Care** Dive into the specific needs of planting within hoop houses with chapters on **Planting in Hoop Houses**, **Irrigation Systems**, and **Pest and Disease Management**. Learn organic control methods and integrated pest management strategies to keep your garden healthy and productive. **Extend and Maximize** Extend your harvest with techniques found in **Extending the Growing Season**. Ensure efficient seasonal maintenance and uncover **Maximizing Productivity** with succession planting, intercropping, and high-yield crop selections. **Harvesting Know-How** When it’s time to reap the fruits of your labor, rely on the insights from **Harvesting and Storage**. Learn best practices for post-harvest handling and explore effective storage solutions. **Economics of Growing** Finally, make informed financial decisions with **Cost Analysis and Budgeting**. Break down your initial investment, understand annual maintenance costs, and calculate your return on investment with clear, practical advice. **Success Stories** Be inspired by real-world **Case Studies** showcasing small-scale farms, urban gardens, and educational projects that have flourished using these techniques. Embrace the full potential of your growing space with "Hoop Houses for Every Grower" - your go-to manual for year-round garden success. Secure your copy today and transform the way you grow!