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9781603586221

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With grace and grit, Shawn and Beth show you how to cultivate and care for an often overlooked but integrally important part of our food chain grass as well as the diverse livestock that transform pasture into the most wholesome foods on earth. <strong>--David Asher, author of<em>TheArt of Natural Cheesemaking</em> </strong></p>

<strong><em>Library Journal, </em> </strong><strong>Starred Review</strong>-</p> Husband and wife Shawn and Beth Dougherty have written about the 'self-sustaining' grass-based farming movement on their blog, onecowrevolution.wordpress.com. Their first book, a well-organized overview of managing a diversified farmstead, ' takes the concept of backyard hobby farming to the next level. Drawing on their 20 years of experience on the Sow s Ear Farm in eastern Ohio, the Doughertys offer practical know-how on a variety of farming topics, with photos and philosophical considerations of their methods. Although not exhaustive on any given issue, there is enough information for most readers to get started with confidence. They encourage readers to adopt holistic and creative problem-solving techniques. Oft-ignored subjects such as seasonal rhythms and interpersonal dynamics the 'people aspect' of the farm ecosystem are addressed. Easily navigable sections let readers skim as needed, but the conversational style lends a cohesive narrative. With a compelling foreword by holistic farmer Joel Salatin, this is right at home on a workbench or bedside table.<strong>VERDICT</strong>A solid choice for those embarking on a serious animal-based hobby or enterprise, aspiring homesteaders, and sustainable farmers who already have basic knowledge of animal husbandry and agriculture. The authors blog provides a nice supplement; for more introductory guides, try Carleen Madigan s 'Backyard Homestead' books. </p>

Modern Farmer- Shawn and Beth Dougherty divulge how they used intensive pasture management to transform 24 seemingly uncultivable Ohio acres into a thriving livestock and vegetable operation capable of feeding their family of 10. Expect clear-eyed advice on rotational grazing methods, improving soil fertility, and much more. Library Journal, Starred Review- Husband and wife Shawn and Beth -Dougherty have written about the 'self-sustaining' grass-based farming movement on their blog, -onecowrevolution.wordpress.com. Their first book, a well-organized overview of managing a diversified 'farmstead, ' takes the concept of backyard hobby farming to the next level. Drawing on their 20 years of experience on the Sow's Ear Farm in eastern Ohio, the Doughertys offer practical know-how on a variety of farming topics, with photos and philosophical considerations of their methods. Although not exhaustive on any given issue, there is enough information for most readers to get started with confidence. They encourage readers to adopt holistic and creative problem-solving techniques. Oft-ignored subjects such as seasonal rhythms and interpersonal dynamics--the 'people aspect' of the farm ecosystem--are addressed. Easily navigable sections let readers skim as needed, but the conversational style lends a cohesive narrative. With a compelling foreword by holistic farmer Joel Salatin, this is right at home on a workbench or bedside table. VERDICT A solid choice for those embarking on a serious animal-based hobby or enterprise, aspiring homesteaders, and sustainable farmers who already have basic knowledge of animal husbandry and agriculture. The authors' blog provides a nice supplement; for more introductory guides, try Carleen Madigan's 'Backyard Homestead' books. -In The Independent Farmstead, Shawn and Beth Dougherty have rooted a wealth of practical and useful farming information in the fertile soil of social and economic reality and timeless ecological wisdom. Their farm is a grass-based homestead, and their personal story is compelling, but their insights are important for beginning or experienced farmers of any type or scale who don't yet know--or have forgotten--what real farming is about.---John Ikerd, professor emeritus of agricultural economics, University of Missouri -Playing off its title, this informative, companionable book could be called The Interdependent Farmstead It notes how a successful operation relies on interactions among animals, soil, grass, sunlight, and community as well as human ingenuity and, invariably, humor. The book's wisdom is that building on these synergies helps one realize the potential of any given piece of land.---Judith D. Schwartz, author of Cows Save the Planet and Water In Plain Sight -Shawn and Beth cover a broad range of topics in this readable and user-friendly book. They manage to touch on most of the essential information a small-scale farmer needs to graze a cow and make cheese, feed the waste milk to the pigs and make bacon, and practice sustainable land use and animal husbandry along the way.---Sarah Flack, author of The Art and Science of Grazing -With grace and grit, Shawn and Beth show you how to cultivate and care for an often overlooked but integrally important part of our food chain--grass--as well as the diverse livestock that transform pasture into the most wholesome foods on earth.---David Asher, author of The Art of Natural Cheesemaking Booklist- -As mortifying and implausible as creating one's own self-sustaining farmstead might sound to most city folk, the Doughertys, who embarked on their own farmstead 20 years ago, make the venture entirely feasible--even ennobling in the face of climate change--on as little as a half-acre of land. In a conversational style that is both welcoming and reality-based, the authors offer a big-picture plan--selecting property, sourcing water, building soil, choosing ruminants (chickens, goats, sheep, pigs, or cattle)--that is fully supported by a level of detail both practical and comforting to anyone new to the idea. Some examples: milking techniques for cows and goats, what grasses or fencing to consider for which animals, slaughtering techniques, watering tanks, and using paddocks for livestock. Highly recommended for libraries where such farmsteads are even remotely possible.- Choice- -Literature about small, independent farms might be divided into books that focus broadly on sustainable farming and those that constitute a how-to guide. Here Shawn Dougherty and Beth Dougherty (both have been farmers for several decades) offer a whimsical fusion of practical application and agrarian philosophy to great effect. Unlike most monographs on the subject, this volume begins with the assertion that plant life, pasture, and forage (in particular) form the core of an effective small farmstead. From this foundation, the Dougherty's discuss practical aspects of forage, including water, grasses, and fencing, as well as the dynamics of intensive rotational processes. A good portion of the book is devoted to leveraging forage using livestock, particularly ruminants. Their clear favorite is the dairy cow, although they do discuss the virtues of sheep, goats, and swine--but little on beef. The latter part of the work discusses the harvesting of meat and milk and the appropriate use of by-products. The book's entertaining approach is tempered by a realistic view of the mindset required to productively nurture and incorporate the rigors of an independent farmstead into one's lifestyle. Summing Up: Recommended. All readers.- Choice- Literature about small, independent farms might be divided into books that focus broadly on sustainable farming and those that constitute a how-to guide. Here Shawn Dougherty and Beth Dougherty (both have been farmers for several decades) offer a whimsical fusion of practical application and agrarian philosophy to great effect. Unlike most monographs on the subject, this volume begins with the assertion that plant life, pasture, and forage (in particular) form the core of an effective small farmstead. From this foundation, the Dougherty's discuss practical aspects of forage, including water, grasses, and fencing, as well as the dynamics of intensive rotational processes. A good portion of the book is devoted to leveraging forage using livestock, particularly ruminants. Their clear favorite is the dairy cow, although they do discuss the virtues of sheep, goats, and swine--but little on beef. The latter part of the work discusses the harvesting of meat and milk and the appropriate use of by-products. The book's entertaining approach is tempered by a realistic view of the mindset required to productively nurture and incorporate the rigors of an independent farmstead into one's lifestyle. Summing Up: Recommended. All readers. In The Independent Farmstead, Shawn and Beth Dougherty have rooted a wealth of practical and useful farming information in the fertile soil of social and economic reality and timeless ecological wisdom. Their farm is a grass-based homestead, and their personal story is compelling, but their insights are important for beginning or experienced farmers of any type or scale who don't yet know--or have forgotten--what real farming is about. --John Ikerd, professor emeritus of agricultural economics, University of Missouri Playing off its title, this informative, companionable book could be called The Interdependent Farmstead It notes how a successful operation relies on interactions among animals, soil, grass, sunlight, and community as well as human ingenuity and, invariably, humor. The book's wisdom is that building on these synergies helps one realize the potential of any given piece of land. --Judith D. Schwartz, author of Cows Save the Planet and Water In Plain Sight Shawn and Beth cover a broad range of topics in this readable and user-friendly book. They manage to touch on most of the essential information a small-scale farmer needs to graze a cow and make cheese, feed the waste milk to the pigs and make bacon, and practice sustainable land use and animal husbandry along the way. --Sarah Flack, author of The Art and Science of Grazing Booklist- As mortifying and implausible as creating one's own self-sustaining farmstead might sound to most city folk, the Doughertys, who embarked on their own farmstead 20 years ago, make the venture entirely feasible--even ennobling in the face of climate change--on as little as a half-acre of land. In a conversational style that is both welcoming and reality-based, the authors offer a big-picture plan--selecting property, sourcing water, building soil, choosing ruminants (chickens, goats, sheep, pigs, or cattle)--that is fully supported by a level of detail both practical and comforting to anyone new to the idea. Some examples: milking techniques for cows and goats, what grasses or fencing to consider for which animals, slaughtering techniques, watering tanks, and using paddocks for livestock. Highly recommended for libraries where such farmsteads are even remotely possible. With grace and grit, Shawn and Beth show you how to cultivate and care for an often overlooked but integrally important part of our food chain grass as well as the diverse livestock that transform pasture into the most wholesome foods on earth. --David Asher, author ofTheArt of Natural Cheesemaking InThe Independent Farmstead, Shawn and Beth Dougherty have rooted a wealth of practical and useful farming information in the fertile soil of social and economic reality and timeless ecological wisdom. Their farm is a grass-based homestead, and their personal story is compelling, but their insights are important for beginning or experienced farmers of any type or scale who don t yet know or have forgotten what real farming is about. --John Ikerd, professor emeritus of agricultural economics, University of Missouri Playing off its title, this informative, companionable book could be calledTheInterdependentFarmstead It notes how a successful operation relies on interactions among animals, soil, grass, sunlight, and community as well as human ingenuity and, invariably, humor. The book s wisdom is that building on these synergies helps one realize the potential of any given piece of land. --Judith D. Schwartz, author ofCows Save the PlanetandWater In Plain Sight Shawn and Beth cover a broad range of topics in this readable and user-friendly book. They manage to touch on most of the essential information a small-scale farmer needs to graze a cow and make cheese, feed the waste milk to the pigs and make bacon, and practice sustainable land use and animal husbandry along the way. --Sarah Flack, author ofThe Art and Science of Grazing With grace and grit, Shawn and Beth show you how to cultivate and care for an often overlooked but integrally important part of our food chain--grass--as well as the diverse livestock that transform pasture into the most wholesome foods on earth. --David Asher, author of The Art of Natural Cheesemaking Shawn and Beth cover a broad range of topics in this readable and user-friendly book. They manage to touch on most of the essential information a small-scale farmer needs to graze a cow and make cheese, feed the waste milk to the pigs and make bacon, and practice sustainable land use and animal husbandry along the way. --Sarah Flack, author ofThe Art and Science of Grazing With grace and grit, Shawn and Beth show you how to cultivate and care for an often overlooked but integrally important part of our food chain--grass--as well as the diverse livestock that transform pasture into the most wholesome foods on earth. --David Asher, author of The Art of Natural Cheesemaking InThe Independent Farmstead, Shawn and Beth Dougherty have rooted a wealth of practical and useful farming information in the fertile soil of social and economic reality and timeless ecological wisdom. Their farm is a grass-based homestead, and their personal story is compelling, but their insights are important for beginning or experienced farmers of any type or scale who don t yet know or have forgotten what real farming is about. --John Ikerd, professor emeritus of agricultural economics, University of Missouri Shawn and Beth cover a broad range of topics in this readable and user-friendly book. They manage to touch on most of the essential information a small-scale farmer needs to graze a cow and make cheese, feed the waste milk to the pigs and make bacon, and practice sustainable land use and animal husbandry along the way. --Sarah Flack, author of The Art and Science of Grazing In The Independent Farmstead, Shawn and Beth Dougherty have rooted a wealth of practical and useful farming information in the fertile soil of social and economic reality and timeless ecological wisdom. Their farm is a grass-based homestead, and their personal story is compelling, but their insights are important for beginning or experienced farmers of any type or scale who don't yet know--or have forgotten--what real farming is about. --John Ikerd, professor emeritus of agricultural economics, University of Missouri Playing off its title, this informative, companionable book could be calledTheInterdependentFarmstead It notes how a successful operation relies on interactions among animals, soil, grass, sunlight, and community as well as human ingenuity and, invariably, humor. The book s wisdom is that building on these synergies helps one realize the potential of any given piece of land. --Judith D. Schwartz, author ofCows Save the PlanetandWater In Plain Sight

<strong><em>Booklist</em>-</strong></p> As mortifying and implausible as creating one's own self-sustaining farmstead might sound to most city folk, the Doughertys, who embarked on their own farmstead 20 years ago, make the venture entirely feasible--even ennobling in the face of climate change--on as little as a half-acre of land. In a conversational style that is both welcoming and reality-based, the authors offer a big-picture plan--selecting property, sourcing water, building soil, choosing ruminants (chickens, goats, sheep, pigs, or cattle)--that is fully supported by a level of detail both practical and comforting to anyone new to the idea. Some examples: milking techniques for cows and goats, what grasses or fencing to consider for which animals, slaughtering techniques, watering tanks, and using paddocks for livestock. Highly recommended for libraries where such farmsteads are even remotely possible. </p>

Author Information

Shawn and Beth Dougherty have been farming together for over thirty years, the last twenty in eastern Ohio on their home farm, the Sow’s Ear, where they and their children raise grass, dairy and beef cows, sheep, pigs, and poultry. They identify intensive grass management as the point of union between good stewardship and good food. Their ongoing goal is to rediscover the methods and means by which a small parcel of land, carefully husbanded with the application of ruminants, pigs, and poultry, can be made to gain fertility and resilience while feeding the animals and humans living on it. Shawn and Beth Dougherty have been farming together for over thirty years, the last twenty in eastern Ohio on their home farm, the Sow’s Ear, where they and their children raise grass, dairy and beef cows, sheep, pigs, and poultry. They identify intensive grass management as the point of union between good stewardship and good food. Their ongoing goal is to rediscover the methods and means by which a small parcel of land, carefully husbanded with the application of ruminants, pigs, and poultry, can be made to gain fertility and resilience while feeding the animals and humans living on it. Joel Salatin and his family own and operate Polyface Farm in Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley. The farm produces pastured beef, pork, chicken, eggs, turkeys, rabbits, lamb and ducks, servicing roughly 6,000 families and 50 restaurants in the farm’s bioregion. He has written 14 books to date, is editor of Stockman Grass Farmer Magazine, and lectures around the world on land healing and local food systems. Polyface Farm operates a formal apprenticeship program and conducts many educational workshops and events. 

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