Going organic may be a clear way of getting back to basics—and getting away from the havoc chemicals can wreak on our health and our environment—but the basics themselves may not be so clear. How to begin? What kind of fertilizer and feed are allowed? Is there natural pest management? What does certification entail? And is this the way to go?

This book covers the basics and then some. Whether you’re thinking of starting an organic farm or making the transition to organics, whether you’re growing crops or raising animals, you’ll find everything you need to know in these pages—from getting started to developing a marketing strategy. A list of resources also points the way to other books, websites, and organizations focusing on every aspect of organic farming, including state standards and more information.

 The Midwest Book Review, June 2007

“An easy-to-follow, hands-primer, enthusiastically recommended for current and prospective organic farmers.”

This essential book is the first seed you’ll need to get your organic farm growing!

            From organic certification to planning your crop, harvesting to selling your wares, this book is chock full of everything you need to know. It also covers raising animals—organically!

            The number of organic cropland in the United States has quadrupled in the last twenty years, according to the U.S. Agriculture Department. This hot trend is good for Planet Earth and good for you.

            Experienced organic farmer Peter Fossel offers hard-won, firsthand expert advice on:

·        Vegetables, Crops, and Plants

·        Livestock and Poultry

·        Converting from Conventional Farming

·        Organic Certification, Laws, and Rules

·        Alternatives to Pesticides and Drugs

·        Marketing Strategies for Your Wares

            For every farmer who has ever wished to harvest chemical-free vegetables and livestock on their own acreage, this book will help you fulfill your dreams!

Peter V. Fossel has been an organic grower for 25 years, raising vegetables, herbs, cut flowers, and nursery plants. He has written numerous magazine articles on farming and gardening, including for the magazine for the nation's top rural-agriculture retailer, Tractor Supply Company's Out monthly Out Here. He is currently gardens manager at The Hermitage, home of President Andrew Jackson near Nashville, Tennessee.