Sustainable Market Farming: Intensive Vegetable Production on a Few Acres Paperback – February 1, 2013

The specific information on each crop (soil preferences, germination to temperature ratios, succession planting schedules, etc) could have been more efficiently streamlined for quick reference. I appreciate being able to read more deeply into these details, but as I need to revisit the material multiple times, it would be nice to see this information in a chart rather than buried in text.That being said, I am impressed by the amount and clarity of the information available in the book regardless. This text is broken into two sections. The first really is well honed towards the individual who needs clear advice on building a long-term sustainable model. The second half goes into detail on how to grow a basic variety of staple crops. Other books I've looked into either don't address address the foundational material as well, or they are bogged down by pronouncements and proselytizing about sustainability. Of course sustainability is important, but the preaching to the choir seems to be a particularly problematic when it bloats a text. Thankfully this manual is focused solidly on the HOW rather than the WHY. I'm looking forward to experimenting with her advice into this year.

I have the Kindle version and would very much like to have a print copy to refer to. There is so much useful info in this book. Pam Dawling is so incredibly knowledgable and she and her community have an amazing way of running their farm!She doesn't actually sell the produce that she grows, as she's part of the team that produces food for a 100-member residential community, but issues about maintaining production year-round (salad), storage, organic management of pests, seed saving, quality, etc. are all important to her operation - just as they would be on a market farm. The individual crop information that's included is amazing- Dawling has distilled information that's hard to find, and I'm so grateful!I only managed to read 1% of this book per night and then my mind was blown! The index at the end of the Kindle version has links to the pages that are referred to, so that's nice. There are a lot of resources (books, websites, etc) listed at the end of the book, as well.

Best overall book on the topic I have found. Comprehensive, sensible advice. Methods are flexible and fairly conventional. Ordinary tillage equipment is used, though it is used appropriately. Use of propane flamers instead of herbicides. No recommendations to do extremely laborious and impractical things like double digging every bed, etc. Author definitely has a sense of efficiency and the cost of labor. Lots of information. The author is from a moderate-high moisture region in zone 7 in Virginia with fairly good soil, so this book may seem odd for someone with a Northern or Southern climate, but there is still a lot of applicable information. Great index, lots of species specific information. Definitely worth purchasing!

Shows a good example of a production farm with lots of information and charts that are very useful for any farmer. It does not show a good example of a Sustainable and environmentally conscious production farm.

I've been market farming a few years and own a LOT of books on farming - Eliot Coleman, Joel Salatin, etc., but this is by far the most useful book for me and my operation. Reading the book is like touring the author's farm, with details about what tools the farm uses, varieties of seeds, specifics about succession planting, seed starting, etc. I dragged my feet a few weeks on buying this book as I didn't want another book gathering dust on the bookshelf, but I use this all the time. It's well organized and indexed, and I find it very easy to find what I'm looking for. I highly recommend it.

Checked this book out from the library a couple of times and then just went ahead and bought it. I will be referring to it for years to come.

Love this book. This is my 2nd one; the 1st one was accidentally left in the garden and ruined. It’s filled with great ideas for growing for market. Tips on planning, timing and growing your own mulch. Definitely a keeper -I’ll be using this for years to come AND making sure it comes inside with me each day!

This book is just what my friend and I needed to begin producing more vegetables in small places. This book is very informative and an easy read. It includes charts and many ideas. If you want to garden, you must have this book!