Written for farmers who are thinking about changing their farm management from a more conventional farming system to a sustainable, reduced-input farming system, and for agri-professionals who assist them. Written for Minnesota farmers, but has wide applicability to all regions. Many specific examples of successful adaption to sustainable farming.

A totally modern, all-purpose handbook for today’s agricultural dreamers—covering the challenges and triumphs of launching any successful farm—from two leading lights in sustainable farming Do you dream of starting your own farm but wonder where to begin? Or do you already have a farm but wish to become more sustainable to compete in today’s market? Start Your Farm, the first comprehensive business guide of its kind, covers these essential questions and more: Why be a farmer in the 21st century? Do you have what it takes? What does sustainable really mean, and how can a small (as little as one acre) to midsize farm survive alongside commodity-scale agriculture? How do you access education, land, and other needs with limited capital? How can you reap an actual profit, including a return on land investment? How do you build connections with employees, colleagues, and customers? At the end of the day, how do you measure success? (Hint: Cash your lifestyle paycheck.) More than a practical guide, Start Your Farm is a hopeful call to action for anyone who aspires to grow wholesome, environmentally sustainable food for a living. Take it from Forrest Pritchard and Ellen Polishuk: Making this dream a reality is not for the faint of heart, but it’s well within reach—and there’s no greater satisfaction under the sun!

Written for farmers who are thinking about changing their farm management from a more conventional farming system to a sustainable, reduced-input farming system, and for agri-professionals who assist them. Written for Minnesota farmers, but has wide applicability to all regions. Many specific examples of successful adaption to sustainable farming.

Designed to provide Cooperative Extension agents & other agriculture professionals a background on small-scale processing enterprise development in order to educate producers, processors, & communities. Discusses the concept of value-adding & how it contributes to sustainable agriculture. Introduces four enterprise owners who share their experiences with small- scale processing, & presents a description of issues involved in the start-up of a small-scale processing business, including the technical aspects of small-scale processing enterprises. Discusses efforts where processors & community members collaborate to develop or support a local small-scale processing industry.