The Market Gardener
Starting a garden or farm before you have a full plan of what to do is a recipe for lots of unexpected work, frustrations and losses.
J. M. Fortier’s book The Market Gardener is an excellent resource to get you started. Following the wisdom in this book will help you avoid many mistakes when establishing a garden. It gives a proven recipe for success.
Yeah, there are a few things I would do differently from the get-go, which I listed below. But for the most part, I recommend just following this book’s guidance until you’re established. Then you can start a few small experiments as you learn more ideas that may be improvements.
Advancing Eco Ag
Compost is often great – but sometimes it’s not.
I would probably use less compost that the Market Gardener recommends. How beneficial compost is depends on your soil needs and whether the compost you can get supplies your soil needs without causing an excess of something you don’t need. Applying compost can also be expensive and labor-intensive..
I would try skipping much of the composting, and instead trying the recommendations in Advancing Eco Ag’s Veg & Fruit Guide (downloadable from this page).
I recommend testing and consulting with Advancing Eco Ag for any gardens and farms large enough to justify doing so.
Once you’ve figures out the basics of agriculture, check out AEA’s Regenerative Agriculture Podcasts!
Johnny’s Seeds Catalogue
Johnny’s Seeds isn’t just a great seed supplier: they’re also a wealth of resources.
Their seed catalogue gives growing procedures for all the types of seeds they sell.
Johnny’s also makes it easy to select which varieties of seeds to plant by giving important information about their varieties and highlighting which varieties are particularly easy to grow.
Don’t Forget the Locals!
No one knows the peculiarities of your growing environment like those who are already growing in it.
I would caution you to beware of the “this is how we’ve always done it, so this is how it has to be done” attitude that some locals may have.
However, asking locals for their advice is often invaluable.
Ask God for Guidance and Help
Ultimately, you’re going to need God’s help. He’s just waiting for us to ask Him.
God created every plant and garden organism, and gave every one its role.
God also sees the big picture. The weather, the markets, pests, diseases…
Nothing takes Him by surprise.
“Let anyone who needs wisdom ask God.”
James 1:5