The organic farming manual a comprehensive guide to starting and running a certified organic farm Ann Larkin Hansen.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Back to the roots : the story of organic farming -- Land : finding good earth -- Soil : the cornerstone of sustainability -- Equipment : choosing, using, and maintaining machinery -- Plants 101 : basic organic growing -- Garden crops : vegetables from spring through winter -- Field crops : grains and forages on a large scale -- Orchard crops : fruits, berries, and nuts -- Livestock 101 : basic organic husbandry -- Pigs and poultry : raising smaller livestock for meat and eggs -- Ruminants for meat : raising goats, sheep, and cattle on pasture -- Dairying : raising cows, sheep, and goats for milk -- Biodiversity : managing habitat for a thriving farm ecosystem -- Organic certification : preparation, application, and inspection -- Going to market : turning farm products into profit -- The larger context : organic farming's effect on the wider world.

In a comprehensive guide to growing, certifying and marketing organic produce, grains, meat and dairy, the author clarifies every USDA requirement and offers complete advice on selecting equipment, tending the land, caring for animals and marketing farm products, in a book that includes profiles of successful organic farmers.