Books and Other Reading Material

These are some recommended books for reading. Some are suggested in that they will give you a good basic growing knowledge while others are highly recommended. Some are for the serious gardener while others are for the basic backyard gardener. I will try my best to delineate the differences. Some of these links may provide a small referral to help me keep this website up.

Please note, I am not advocating Reams over Albrecht, but what I am advocating is knowledge. I believe combined, these two men give a better picture of soil than either of them individually. Many times they say the same thing using different terminology. I personally believe that Elaine Ingaham, Christine Jones, and Geoff Lawton need to be considered in the mix as we increase our knowledge of redeeming the soil. From time to time I may amend this list.

Recommended

The New Organic Grower, (Kindle), by Eliot Coleman: All Eliot wanted to do was make a living farming organically on his own. In the process he has become the go to consultant for practical advise. He has standardised the organic industry. His big things are – season extension growing and crop rotations, what should follow what. He is also the expert in making soil blocks for seed starts for transplants. Mr. Coleman works closely with Johnny’s Seed company and has designed many of the forgotten hand tools they carry. All designed with the small farmer in mind.

Teaming with Microbes, (Kindle), by Jeff Lowenfels: Jeff has been a long time conventional garden columnist in Alaska. Dr Elaine Ingham rocked his world with her research on the soil food web and its necessity for healthy plants. He has absorbed her research and rewritten it in very readable prose. I consider this book necessary for a foundational understanding of the invisible livestock in each teaspoon of fertile soil and how to care for them.

Nourishment Homegrown, by Alexander Beddoe: Dr. Beddoe is a student of the Carey Reams school of thought, so the physics of energy exchange in the plant growth process is a focus. Also Ream’s advocated monitoring plant health with a refractometer as well as other soil monitoring instruments. It is geared toward the backyard food grower and covers the whole spectrum, from fertilizers to philosophies. With many references to the Scriptures. NOTE: Search for the book title on the mmpress order page or scroll down to #13 - Agriculture and Gardening.

Eco-Farm, by Charles Walters: This guy deserves most of the credit for the other books on this page. As a young journalist in the 60’s he set his course to help successful non-chemical, non-conventional farmers and ag. scientist write books. Beyond that he does not censor but lets the reader decide. If not for Walters helping these men put their discoveries on paper most of this knowledge would have gone to the grave with them. Walter’s pen is his sword and he has to be counted as one of the modern founders of the movement now in agriculture, even big agriculture to return to a more natural and sustainable approach. This book is just one of his many that he authored himself as a compilation of all his many interviews with the agricultural fringe. It draws from all three schools of thought: biology, energy, and natural chemistry. Walters is considered by many to be the Mark Twain and the Ben Franklin of agriculture.

Science in Agriculture, by Arden Andersen: Arden is a Reams disciple but incorporates more of the other disciplines than the other disciples of Reams. He sometimes does speaking conferences with Dr. Elaine Ingham so he is a big promoter of soil microbial health. He is a student of the Albrecht model as well, so like Walters book this book tries and blend it all together.

When Weeds Talk (formerly known as "Weeds and Why They Grow"), by Jay McCaman: Not really a book more of a pamphlet but tons of information on what weeds tell you about your soil. Most of this book is a chart that lists many of the common weeds farmers encounter and then cross-references them with soil maladies they may foretell. This book will not help you identify the weed but after you have identified it you’ll need this information it has.

Managing Cover Crops Profitably, by Sustainable Agricultural Network: An incredibly easy to understand book for the grower of any size to get a handle on the huge efficiencies in cover cropping between seasons and/or between food crops. Lots of specifics that can be applied, and lots of charts and lists so the information can be accessed at a glance. Really another Must.

Seed to Seed, by Suzanne Ashworth: Takes it plant by plant and describes by region what it takes to grow it. Focuses mainly on food crops and where it really excels is relay how to save the seeds of each specific plant and what isolation requirements are needed.

The Rodale Book of Composting, by Rodale Institute: This is the institute is the grandfather of American organic farming, and has been around since the 1930’s. More than just an excellent information clearing house with books and publications, the institute operates a 300+ acre organic farm. They have been preaching composting for over 70 years they make it scientific yet simple.

Lessons in Nature, (Kindle), by Malcolm Beck: This book is a compilation of newsletter articles “Beck” has written over the years. As a young man working on the railroads, he and his wife stated a garden in their spare time for their own needs. And he knew nothing. A most unassuming natural growing expert as you will ever meet, Beck is a Texas country boy with no formal training. All his vast knowledge comes from a curious mind, a willingness to ask questions, seek answers, and do his own experimenting. He has let nature be his teacher and has found answers that baffled scientist. No fancy jargon, this guy is fun to read.

Super Nutrition Gardening, by William Peavy & Warren Perry: A great book that covers a lot of areas with few words. It leans its focus towards growing food that is nutritious rather than just grown organic which gives it a Carey Reams style. But it is much more than than nutrition and growing plants: building trellis, sharpening tools, how to plan and plant enough for the amount of people you want to feed, etc… The indexes towards the back are terrific. NOTE: This book appears to be out of print but is available for e-loan at the link above or check Amazon here.

Four-Season Harvest, (Kindle), by Eliot Coleman: Another book by Elliot Coleman.

The Garden Doctor, Book 1, Book 2, Book 3, by Jacob R. Mittleider: Although I do not advocate any of his solutions, I do think this book makes a good reference. Mittleider gives examples and pictures of different diseases of the plants and what is causing it. It's a good tool for diagnosing, but I advocate you do not use any of his methods for cures. Also available in a 3-book set (paperback or e-book) at growfood.com

Weeds, Control Without Poisons, (Kindle), by Charles Walters Jr: Charles Walters provides specifics on a host of weeds — why they grow, what soil conditions spur them on or stop them, what they say about your soil, and how to control them without the obscene presence of poisons.

The Market Gardener, (Kindle), by Jean-Martin Fortier: Jean-Martin is a disciple of Elliot Coleman and details how he is making a comfortable living on 1 ½ acres of intensively grown vegetables – without tractors and other large equipment or investment. He is an advocate of no tilling, however I do not agree with that assessment and encourage tilling.

The Winter Harvest Handbook, (Kindle), by Eliot Coleman: The manual for winter growing from the country’s undisputed leader. He does it in Maine with unheated greenhouses! The pictures of his farm are worth the price of the book.

Suggested For Deeper Understanding

Hands-On Agronomy, (Kindle), by Neil Kinsey & Charles Walters: Neil is an agronomist / consultant who promotes Dr William Albrecht’s methods of soil health. Albrecht believed that once the necessary elements were in the soil, in the right amounts, in the right ratios to one another, and in the right forms, that all plants would reach their full potential given that other necessary inputs like heat, light, and moisture were there as well. Kinsey packs this book full with knowledge on the 17 plant needed soil elements and how excesses and deficiencies effect each other and the crops that need them. He consults with both conventional and organic farmers, both large and small. And is attuned to the microbial aspect of soil fertility and how certain soil amendments can negatively impact them. Organized well and full of usable facts, the reader will reference it again and again.

Mainline Farming for Century 21, by Dan Skow & Charles Walters: Another disciple of Carey Reams, Dr Skow is a farm veterinarian who was a close friend of Reams. He goes a little deeper than Beddoe into sciences of physics and electrical energy that are happening in the soil and the growing plant. Because Charles Walters (AcresUSA president) co-authored it, it is easy to read and full of useful information that the home grower can implement. It will cover some of the same ground as Beddoe’s (see above) book but has enough of a fresh angle and information to it, to make it another must in your reference library.

The Biological Farmer, (Kindle), by Gary Zimmer: Gary is an Albrecht disciple. Have not read this one yet but own it and plan to read it soon. Comes at the Albrecht model from a dairyman’s view so it is not just a repeat from the Kinsey’s book.

Market Farming Success, by Lynn Byczynski: Lynn is the editor of “Growing for Market” magazine and has written an easily readable book on how to succeed in market farming.

Sustainable Market Farming, (Kindle), by Pam Dawling: This is a very comprehensive (over 400 pages) year-round guide for the small-scale farmer in every climate zone. Divided into two main sections, part 1 is “Techniques,” and part 2 is “Crops,” with an in-depth look at how to grow all major vegetable varieties. Great reference book!


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