Novella Carpenter

Grow your own apples, figs, plums, cherries, pears, apricots, and peaches in even the smallest backyard! Ann Ralph shows you how to cultivate small yet abundant fruit trees using a variety of specialized pruning techniques. With dozens of simple and effective strategies for keeping an ordinary fruit tree from growing too large, you’ll keep your gardening duties manageable while at the same time reaping a bountiful harvest. These little fruit trees are easy to maintain and make a lovely addition to any home landscape.

The only book with dairy and vegan options, this do-it-yourself handbook introduces and instructs readers on the essential concepts, necessary equipment, and key ingredients to make delicious cheese at home that everyone can succeed at easily. Beginning with the basics of cheesemaking and a discussion on the ethics of cheese and proper sanitization techniques, the book then covers a wide rage of homemade cheese options, from international favorites such queso fresco and mozzarella to soft and hard classics such as blue cheese, ricotta, and brie. More then just a roadmap to making cheese, this book also provides readers with numerous dairy projects to try their hand at, include yogurt, sour cream, cream cheese, buttermilk, and milk shakes. With clear instructions, humorous stories, dozens of recipes as well as information on running a small home goat dairy and nondairy cheese recipes, Everyday Cheesemaking is a must read for anyone wanting to get started and impress their friends and family with delicious homemade cheese.

What makes a farm sustainable and successful? And what special qualities and skills are needed for someone to become a successful farmer? Rebecca Thistlethwaite addresses these and other crucial questions in this uniquely important book, which is a must-read for anyone who aspires to get into farming, or who wants to make their farm business more dynamic, profitable, and, above all, sustainable. Over an entire year, the author and her husband-experienced farmers themselves-took a sabbatical and traveled the length and breadth of the United States to live and work alongside some of the nation's most innovative farmers. Along the way they learned about best practices, and a whole lot about what doesn't work. Farms with a Future shares this collective wisdom in an inspirational yet practical manner; it will help beginners avoid many of the common mistakes that first-time farmers make. Just as importantly, it discusses positive ideas that can help make any farm enterprise vibrant and financially profitable. Profiles of more than a dozen representative farms help round out the invaluable information and encourage farmers to embrace their inner entrepreneur. Younger growers, in particular, will benefit by learning about "the right stuff" from both their peers and longtime experts.This book provides a useful reference for beginning and experienced farmers alike. While many other books address agricultural production, there are very few that talk about business management for long-term sustainability. Farms with a Future offers an approachable, colorful take on building a triple-bottom-line farming business.