Showing titles in Agricultural & Food Sciences

Much like nature, this audiobook is both simple and complex. Zietsman has taken great care to create both a simple technical guide as well as a philosophic declaration about complex human and environmental nuances, all in one volume. Several years from now, many will look back upon this book as foundational to the restoration of—and relationships between—man, cattle, and veld. Zietsman puts forth a much-needed critique of man and his actions over the past century as well as personal stories as contra-example to the narratives that have dominated the ranching world.

How did people eat before giant corporations stocked grocery stores? It's a complex question that many people are facing now more than ever. In recent years, we've seen trends in panic-buying, chemicals infiltrating our produce, and our foods being processed with artificial products. What's happened to the food we eat? What purpose is the land in our backyard serving? Homesteading is having a new surge in popularity as people look for more ways to become self-sustaining.

Many of us want to increase our self-sufficiency, but few have access to the ideal five gently sloping acres of rich, loamy, well-drained soil. Jenni Blackmore presents a highly entertaining, personal account of how permaculture can be practiced in adverse conditions, allowing anyone to learn to live more sustainably in a less-than-perfect world.

A beekeeper herself, she gives insight into the activity in the hive and describes the bees' natural order and habits. She explores the myths of the past and how and when they were replaced by fact. For example, the heated discussions that broke out in the 18th century when it was discovered that the hive was ruled by a queen, not a king as had been the belief since Aristotle.

Still drinking Cabernet after that one bottle you liked five years ago? It can be overwhelming if not intimidating to branch out from your go-to grape, but everyone wants their next wine to be new and exciting. How to choose the right one? Award-winning wine critic Alice Feiring presents an all-new way to look at the world of wine. While grape variety is important, a lot can be learned about wine by looking at the source: the ground in which it grows.

James Dearsley’s wife thought he had lost his mind when he announced his intention to become a beekeeper. But like many interested in the self-sufficient lifestyle, he loved gardening and growing vegetables on his allotment and the old romantic in him had idealistic notions of teaching his little boy where honey came from, so he set himself what seemed a reasonable goal: to get, in a year’s time, just one jar of honey.

Over the past several years, Hardwick, Vermont, a typical hardscrabble farming community of three thousand residents, has jump-started its economy and redefined its self-image through a local, self-sustaining food system unlike anything else in America.

In this fascinating exploration into the curious world of packaged foods, Twinkie, Deconstructed takes us from the phosphate mines in Idaho to the corn fields in Iowa, from gypsum mines in Oklahoma to oil fields in China, to demystify some of America's most common processed food ingredients: where they come from, how they are made, how they are used, and why.

Honey bees get all the press, but the fascinating story of North America's native bees - an endangered species essential to our ecosystems and food supplies - is just as crucial. Our Native Bees is the result of Paige Embry's yearlong quest to learn more about these forgotten, yet fundamental, creatures. Through interviews with farmers, gardeners, scientists, and bee experts, Embry explores the importance of native bees and focuses on why they play a key role in gardening and agriculture.

Do you want to start beekeeping and harvesting your own honey? Worried about getting stung? Or are you not sure how to set up and establish your hive? Then the Beekeeping Guide for Beginners is for you! From ordering your hive and the first exciting days, to maintaining a productive and efficient long-term colony, with this book you’ll be able to kickstart your beekeeping hobby and start harvesting your own honey in no time at all!

Lookin’ to get an early start on your garden? To be more self-sufficient? To save money? Are you ready to start seeds indoors? This audiobook will allow you to become 100 percent self-reliant in growing plants from seeds this season and all the years to come and have the most fun doing it! If you are concerned with the cost of starting seeds indoors, rest assured you can successfully start seeds indoors with any sized budget! If it's the amount of space you are concerned with to start seeds indoors, then this audiobook is for you!

The Problem with Solutions combines an analysis of the rise of tech company solution culture with findings from actual research on the sector's ill-informed attempts to address the problems of food and agriculture.

This is an audiobook about regenerative agriculture gone wild. This audiobook of short stories and essays is a wondrous meditation on sunrises and wildness, on wildflowers and walks. It is also an audiobook about you, about me, and about the ecosystem regeneration possible through learning to see the wild gifts of relationship. It presents a choice to stop; to nurture awareness; to learn a language of relationship instead of dominance - of community not colonization.

Embark on a transformative journey to a self-sufficient rural lifestyle! Are you interested in changing your life? Have you heard people talking about the joys of homesteading and wondered if it’s the life for you? Do you want to learn how to plan and budget for your homestead? People have been homesteading since the 1800s, when land was freely given to people, provided they paid a small fee to register the land in their name, live there, and improve the land. Now, it’s a common way of life, a life many people actively choose to live to change their lives for the better.

Raise goats and reap the rewards. Raising Goats for Dummies provides you with an introduction to all aspects of owning, caring for, and the day-to-day benefits of raising goats. Raising Goats for Dummies is your how-to guide for: breaking down the complicated process of choosing and purchasing the right goat breed to meet your needs and getting facilities for your goat set up; providing in-depth information on proper grooming, handling, feeding, and milking; and much more.

Keeping hens in your backyard is a rewarding hobby for a variety of reasons. The eggs are a delectable temptation, they are tastier and more fresh than any eggs that can be purchased in a supermarket, and they are also superior for use in baking. Even though keeping chickens may sound like a delightful hobby, the majority of individuals who are interested in beginning their own flock simply do not know how to get started.

Several years ago, ecologist Lauren E. Oakes set out from California for Alaska's old-growth forests to hunt for a dying tree: the yellow-cedar. With climate change as the culprit, the death of this species meant loss for many Alaskans. Oakes and her research team wanted to chronicle how plants and people could cope with their rapidly changing world. Amidst the standing dead, she discovered the resiliency of forgotten forests, flourishing again in the wake of destruction, and a diverse community of people who persevered to create new relationships with the emerging environment.

Do you think raising chickens is only for farmers with acres of land? In reality: You can enjoy fresh eggs and feathery companions right in your backyard, no matter the size!

This book is your guide and assistant in your journey to becoming a full-fledged chicken lady. It walks you through the whole process–from getting started and making decisions about your backyard coop to maintenance and keeping your flock healthy.

Twenty years ago, Joel Salatin wrote You Can Farm, which has launched thousands of farm entrepreneurs around the world. With another 20 years of experience under his belt, bringing him to the half-century mark as a full-time farmer, he decided to build on that foundation with a sequel, a graduate-level curriculum. Everyone who reads (or listens to), and enjoys that previous work, will benefit from this additional information.