It’s currently my off season, the days are tipping toward the winter solstice and I’m relishing the extra time to stay under my covers in the early morning hours when I would otherwise be harvesting. I’ve also been catching up on reading and setting intentions for a new growing season. Most recently I devoured JADAM Organic Farming by Yongsang Cho, the son of the founder of KNF (Korean Natural Farming). I hope to close the loop on all of my farming inputs this year (namely compost, straw mulch, and organic fertilizer) and this book was wildly inspiring.
Below is a list of my top 10 favorite books on natural farming, growing flowers, and running a small business. From the way I lay out my rows (thanks Eliot Coleman) to my minimalist business model that has kept me out of debt- these books and authors have had an enormous influence on my life and work.
The New Organic Grower: A Master’s Manual of Tools and Techniques for the Home and Market Gardener by Eliot Coleman
The Organic No-Till Farming Revolution: High Production Methods for Small-Scale Farmers by Andrew Mefferd
The Lean Farm: How to Minimize Waste, Increase Efficiency, and Maximize Value and Profits with Less Work by Ben Hartman
This is Marketing: You Can’t Be Seen Until You Learn to See by Seth Godin
The Living Soil Handbook: The No-Till Grower’s Guide to Ecological Market Gardening by Jesse Frost
JADAM Organic Farming: The Way to Ultra-Low-Cost Agriculture by Yongsang Cho
Teaming with Microbes: The Organic Gardener’s Guide to the Soil Food Web by Jeff Lowenfels
Company of One: Why Staying Small is the Next Big Thing for Business by Paul Jarvis
The One-Straw Revolution: An Introduction to Natural Farming by Masanubo Fukoka
Cool Flowers: How to Grow and Enjoy Long-Blooming Hardy Annual Flowers Using Cool Weather Techniques by Lisa Mason Ziegler