“This might be one of the broadest overviews of designing regenerative farm systems aside from Mollison’s original “black book.” Richard’s book is likely to become an important manual of regenerative farming practices for those starting a farm of any scale. This is a timely and detailed account of crucial considerations for starting and managing a farm; I cannot think of anyone, from the beginner to seasoned farmer and homesteader, who doesn’t have something to learn from Richard’s work starting and managing Ridgedale Permaculture.” Ben Falk Whole Systems Design and Author of The Resilient Farm and Homestead
“Industrial chemical agriculture, producing twenty times as much dead eroding soil as food needed every year, is the most destructive industry of mankind - more so than fossil fuels or any mining. Developing a new biologically-based, and holistically managed, regenerative agriculture is imperative if civilization as we know it is to survive. I heartily recommend Richard Perkins’ book for all socially conscious new and old farmers.” Allan Savory Author of Holistic Management President, Savory Institute and Chairman of Africa Center for Holistic Management. www.savory.global
“Richard and Yohanna are an invasive species in Sweden; threatening to destroy our traditional culture of hopelessness. This book may seem harmless, full of sweet pictures and practical advice for small farms, but it is actually spreading revolutionary seeds that jeopardise agribusiness and the alienation between people and nature. Romantic dreamers have been advocating rural livelihoods before, whilst struggling to make a living off the land. Ridgedale Permaculture seem to actually know what they are up to. These folks are walking the talk of Holistic Management, enabling them to manoeuvre within complexity without losing sight of what they really want to achieve. So, good people, if you are standing up for your rights as victims of your circumstances, stay away from these people, and this book.” Jörgen Andersson (Fjällbete) Nordic Savory Hub
“Pay attention as you read this book. What Richard and Yohanna have accomplished in two years sets the bar high. This book will show you the building blocks that are very useful not just to find, design and establish a commercial farm, but to do it all in a very efficient and well planned way.” Stefan Sobkowiak www.permacultureorchard.com Les Fermes MIRACLE Farms
“Clear and concise, while simultaneously broad reaching “Making Small Farms Work” is a humble and visionary companion that is helping to “change the stories that we live by”. This book, based on realworld experience and application of principles, will be helpful to anyone starting out on the path away from an agriculture of destruction and simplification toward one of biological diversity and complexity that “restores soils and ecosystems whilst rekindling local economy”. We are, indeed, in Perkins’ own words, a “species of many incredible possibilities!” ” Mark L Shepard Author: Restoration Agriculture; Real- World Permaculture for Farmers, Acres USA
Author(s): Richard Perkins
Edition: 1st
Publisher: Richard Perkins
Year: 2016
Language: English
Commentary: Best book on small/middle scale regenerative farming
Pages: 334
Tags: Agriculture, Permaculture, Regenerative Agriculture, Agroecology, Small Farm, Farming, Food production, Organic farming, Organic,
1. Context & Introduction
• Preface..................................................................VIII
• Basic tenets of Farm Scale Permaculture and
Regenerative Agriculture.........................................1
• Property Selection & Climatic Considerations.....4
• Climate Classifications.............................................8
• Site specifics.............................................................12
• Photo Log on purchase..........................................14
• Purchase Story.........................................................16
• Year 1 and 2 snapshots...........................................18
• Small farms and their stories................................20
2. Clarifying Objectives & Defining Contexts
• What is Holistic Management...............................24
• Holistic Management Decision Making and
Creating a Holistic Context...................................25
• Our Holistic Context..............................................28
• Testing Decisions....................................................29
• Site Data Collection Check List............................32
• Finding the perfect property.................................34
3.Maps, Landform, Principles & Attitudes
• Making a simple Base Map....................................36
• Our Farm Design Overview..................................40
• Basic Design Process Overview............................43
• Principle & Attitudes to making it work.............44
4. Keyline Design
• The Scale of Permanence.......................................53
• Major Landscape Components.............................55
• Keypoints and Keylines.........................................57
• Applying Keyline Geometry.................................60
• Keyline Patterning examples in real life..............64
• Taking Design to the Field....................................69
• Keyline subsoiling..................................................72
• The importance of Maps & Documentation......74
• Tool tips...................................................................75
5.Water Systems At The Farm
• Water is the basis of life.........................................77
• RAM Pumps...........................................................79
• Using Levels & Surveying.................................81
• Reticulating Water..............................................83
• Ponds & Paddies.................................................86
• Cleaning Water...................................................90
• Tool Tips.............................................................92
6. Trees & Woody Crops
• Trees in the Farm Context................................93
• Tree Assemblies in Design................................95
• Silvoarable Systems............................................98
• Selecting Timber Species...................................99
• Silvopasture.......................................................103
• Windbreaks.......................................................107
• Hedgerows.........................................................111
• Silvopasture at Ridgedale................................113
• Our Tree Planting Process..............................118
• Annual Maintenance.......................................121
• Training Trees...................................................122
• Other Tree Systems at Ridgedale...................123
• Converting Monocultural Forestry...............125
• Local Experimentation...................................129
• Propagating Perennials....................................130
• Cold Climate Species Lists..............................136
• Jean Pain Compost...........................................144
• Growing Mushrooms on Logs........................145
• Tool Tips...........................................................146
7. Building Up Infrastructure
• Utilising Waste Streams...................................147
• Spaces for People..............................................149
• Animal & Farm Infrastructure.......................151
• Tiny Homes......................................................153
• Yurts & Gers.....................................................156
• Root Cellar........................................................159
• Tool Tips...........................................................160
8. Fencing On The Farm
• Moving & Protecting Animals.......................161
• Perimeter Predator Fencing............................162
• Tool Tips...........................................................166
https://www.patreon.com/makingsmallfarmswork
VII
9. Pastured Broilers
• Context is everything............................................167
• Free Range versus Field Pens................................171
• Building and Running a Brooder.........................172
• Water and Feed Considerations...........................174
• Building Field Pens................................................175
• Building an Approved Slaughterhouse................177
• Evisceration & Waste Disposal.............................182
• Workflow in a Farm Slaughterhouse...................184
• Hygiene & Wash Down Procedures....................188
• Nutrient & On-Site Waste Cycling.......................189
• Selling your Produce..............................................191
• Enterprise Planning...............................................193
• Financial Spreadsheets...........................................194
10. Pastured Hens & Egg Mobiles
• Poultry in the Small Farm Context......................196
• Some basic Regulations.........................................198
• Building an Egg Mobile.........................................201
• Building a Mobile Hopper Feeder........................204
• Daily moves & Maintenance.................................205
• Winter Housing......................................................208
• The Egg Packing Facility........................................209
• Selling the Eggs......................................................210
• Enterprise Planning...............................................212
• Financial Spreadsheets & Tracking Time............215
• Monitoring & Data Collection.............................216
• Handling Dead Poultry..........................................217
• Feed Considerations..............................................218
• Conducting Field Surveys.....................................219
• Invertebrate Surveys...............................................220
11. Grass & Grazing
• Grass Productivity..................................................225
• Farming Carbon.....................................................227
• Roots, Shoots & Timing........................................228
• Species in the Fields at Our Farm........................230
• Conducting a Pasture Assessment Survey..........232
• Conducting a Pasture Diversity Survey...............244
• Starting with Holistic Planned Grazing..............249
• Filling in the Grazing Plan...................................253
• Monitoring the Plan..............................................256
12. Creating A Market Garden
• No Dig for Market Gardeners........................257
• The World Beneath our Feet..........................262
• Compost Application Rates ...........................264
• Visiting Jean Pain’s Nephew............................266
• Standardised Cropping & Planning..............267
• Planning Production.......................................269
• Planting Plans...................................................272
• Starting Seeds....................................................275
• Storing Gluts and Value Adding....................276
13. Nurturing The Soil Food Web
• The Soil Food Web...........................................277
• Soil Microscopy................................................279
• Rapid Hot Compost.........................................280
• Carbon and Nitrogen Ratios..........................283
• Compost Teas...................................................284
• Liquid Biofertilisers.........................................285
• Fish Hydrolysate...............................................287
• Calphos..............................................................288
• Indigenous Microorganisms...........................289
• Biochar...............................................................292
• Tool Tips...........................................................294
14. Financial Planning
• The Regenerative Economy.............................296
• Analysing Enterprises......................................297
• The Annual Financial Plan.............................298
• Resources...........................................................304
• Acknowledgements..........................................306
• Epilogue.............................................................307
Index
• Index..................................................................308
