After serving for more than a decade as a hydraulic systems designer and regional manager for Motion Industries (div. Genuine Parts Co.), and then as president and chief hydraulics designer for RPT Industrial Technologies for another nine years, Steve studied and apprenticed for more than eight years under Dr. Rafael Guarga, Eng. prof. emeritus and president of the University of Uruguay. During that time, they collaborated and developed a new frost protection method of controlling cold air flows and draining accumulated cold air masses. An avid sportsman, over the last thirty-five years Steve has devoted much of his spare time to introducing underprivileged children to outdoor sports such as fishing and hunting through a nonprofit organization called the Annual Wild Game Feed. Steve now lives in Crestline, California, and enjoys weekends at the lake with his daughters. He is currently president and CEO of Shur Farms Frost Protection, a company specializing in managing cold air flows in vineyards and orchards worldwide. His speaking engagements range from Chihuahua, Mexico, to Ontario, Canada, and virtually every growing region in the United States. His articles and research in frost protection are regularly published in trade journals throughout the world.

Now in PDF! The unstoppable trend for productive gardening continues-and, to catch the wave, this comprehensive and practical guide to growing your own fruit, vegetables, and herbs will be indispensable for any gardener. Fruit and Vegetable Gardening will quickly become a trusted reference for gardeners at all levels of expertise. It offers all the basics of kitchen gardening-planning, soil preparation, organic manures-and authoritative advice on every aspect of productive growing. A total of 150 individual crops are covered in detail with recommendations for the best cultivars. There is also information on how much your crops will yield; sowing and harvesting times; and which pests and diseases are the biggest threats to your crops and advice on how to deal with them. Whether you have a kitchen garden, a spot in a community garden, a small vegetable patch, or just a collection of pots and window boxes, this is an essential handbook for growing your own.

Nut growing has become more popular and technology has developed significantly over the last 5 years. This book is the starting point for prospective commercial nut growers – large or small scale, for farmers who want to diversify and also for gardeners interested in growing nut trees in their back yards. Nut Grower's Guide is the first comprehensive book to growing almonds, cashews, chestnuts, hazelnuts, macadamias, pecans, pistachios and walnuts. All aspects of site selection are covered, from soil and climate to aspect and topography through to previous land use and local pest species. Soil preparation, irrigation, planting and propagating trees are also covered. It covers the cultivation and processing of each of the major nut species and also provides guidance on packaging and the wholesale and retail marketing of nuts in Australia and overseas.