Artist Rien Poortvliet paints an impressive and certainly diverse range of subjects--gnomes, theological scenes, and now a book completely devoted to dogs! Canine fanatics will fall in love with Poortvliet's amazingly lifelike portraits of basset hounds, fox terriers, dalmatians, and just about every dog ever invented! The artist works with both oil and pencil, astutely observing the physique and even the unique spirits of different breeds. Short snippets of dog history and humor also accompany this majestic collection of paintings and drawings. --Naomi Gesinger

An alphabetically organized reference for farm implements from the 1800s through the 1940s. Each entry includes an overview of the implement or tool (for example, churns), and notable examples of brands, often illustrated by drawings or photographs. Each example includes a brief summary of the history and use of the particular implement. Although confusing at times because of its lack of an index and broad subject headings, this volume will be useful and entertaining for farm antiques buffs.
Book News, Inc.©, Portland, OR

Now, I don't want to sound dramatic, but Kain's book had a profound effect on my life. "Five Acres" can be looked at as a gardening book or a mystical piece about living in harmony with nature. I live in the suburbs, not on a small farm, but the interesting reading brings a certain peace to me. I am comforted in the fact that my family and I could live off the land in the country when I read Kain's words. He is very sure of himself, and even though the book is somewhat of a period piece, he makes homesteading seem like a science.

I looked at every book about Farming I could get my hands on and this one came out on top. I grew up on a farm and am hoping 30 years later to buy the old homestead back. I loved the detailed diagrams and explainations. Maurice went into detail on important areas like soil types and care and feeding of soil, irrigation, even waste disposal systems. He refreshed my memory on a lot of important points and taught me some things I don't even think my father knew. If I were to ask for any changes, I wish he would have included a lot more about livestock and perhaps less about orchards and growing fruit. But all in all, it deserves 5 stars. Buy this one first!!!

This book was one of my father's favorites, even though he never took up farming. For those considering a rural lifestyle, perhapse even self-suffiency, this has to be the starting point. However, it is the pre-war, 1940 edition. I literally cringed when I read about lining the cistern with sheet lead, or using mercuric chloride to sterilize wounds on fruit trees (it's a wonder our ancestors lived long enough to have children). I'm sure this book has a lot of good advice, but if this city boy ever moves to the farm my father never had I'll try to check all facts with a second or third source. Is there anyone who's qualified to write the 21st Century edition?

I have a 1946 edition of this book which my father used as a reference in supplying our family all of our food from 1948 until 1962 and a large portion of our food thereafter. I have referred to it on a regular basis since 1972. While the precise numbers for costs and quantity of production are dated, the basic principles for successful small farming are clearly elucidated. You can update the costs and quantities yourself. Some of the information on animal breeds should be updated by additional research. But the priciples are all here. The chapters on "City vs. Country Life" and "Tried and True Ways to Fail" are essential reading if you have never been involved in agriculture previously. I have many reference books, and this is one of the best...with a tattered cover and yellowed pages!

A Small Farmer's Journal book

A Small Farmer's Journal book

Here master grower Coleman presents a simple, effective formula for growing quality organic vegetables, updating details on marketing harvests and using small-scale equipment

Starting a small-scale livestock farm? First, you need this book!

Yes, you can have a prosperous farm and achieve the lifestyle of your dreams -- and farming expert Carol Ekarius will show you how. Small farms can pay big dividends, Ekarius explains, but hard work alone isn't enough: Success demands knowledge and effective management.

Ekarius's natural, organic approach to livestock management produces healthier animals, reduces feed and healthcare costs, and maximizes your profit. Through case studies of successful farmers, nitty-gritty details on every facet of livestock farming, and fascinating insights for working with nature instead of against it, you'll learn to make your farm thrive.

Small-Scale Livestock Farming will help you:

• Determine what you want from your farming life (even if your farm is simply a few backyard animals)
• Choose suitable livestock
• Understand housing, fencing, and feeding needs of livestock
• Learn about reproducing stock and caring for your animals' health
• Investigate conventional and cutting-edge market strategies
• Create a complete financial and biological farm plan
• Make decisions that are good for you, for your animals, and for your land

Involved with the sustainable agriculture for years, author Carol Ekarius is a full-time livestock farmer whose natural approach to livestock management shines in her Storey book, Small-Scale Livestock Farming. She has also written articles for various newspapers and magazines. Carol is on the board of directors of the Sustainable Farming Association of Minnesota and the board of the Minnesota Institute for Sustainable Agriculture. She lives and farms in Colorado with her husband, Ken Woodard.

Being a new, new, new, what they call in Texas 'gentleman farmer'. I found this book to be the first to make any type of since!!!! A keeper!

"No one plans to fail. Yet so many people, particularly in the agriculture, fail at what they try to do. Beginning farmer and third-generation family farmers often suffer from the same types of failures, and those failures usually lead to jobs in town."

We Springers are fifth generation Colorado ranchers. We are trying desperately not to go belly up. We want a sixth generation to know the joys of watching a calf come into this world, drink the product from a cow they milked, smell alfalfa in bloom, herd the cattle to summer pasture and sleep sound after a hard day of solid work. Yet, we no longer have a home place. We are living off leases; we are displaced ranchers.

We have been muddling along going to seminars (a little disjointed) trying to find out how to stay in this industry. This book put it all together, what we know, what we learned and what we are learning. It put a lot of things in focus for us. We had thought of the beginning farmers as green horns; horning in on our way of life. This sounds a bit corny but I think they might just save us: Save America from corporate agriculture. Our land will be healthier and so will the population that lives off of it.

I believe for the beginner this book is a must. We, multi-generation ranchers have our own language-chickens go on strike, (stop laying), breachy cows (ones that jump fences), in heat (estrus cycle)-that don't make apparent sense. Yet, Carol spells it all out for them. She gives a general heads up about normal health problems, giving examples that range for the simple cure to a bit more technical maneuvers. She further dabbles in alternative health practices. The book lays the ground work for understanding resource books like the Stockman's Handbook. Inevitably someday a shot will have to be given, a calve tubed or a lambs tail docked. Reading about all this will alleviate the cluelessness of standing around hopping from foot to foot, waiting for an experienced neighbor, or vet to show up.

The big secret revealed, for us is in section three, which focuses on marketing. This one opened our eyes. We read it first, then reread it, went to more seminars, and now are making a working plan. Carol wrote, "To really maximize income, the small-scale framer or rancher needs to develop some alternative marketing strategies." We feel like this dream of a sixth generation can now fall into the arena of attainable goal. We have been sold this ideal that we feed the world with the help of big business. Not all true. We can directly sell our product to the consumer. We supply a healthier product at a reasonable price and we actually get to make a profit, what a novel idea. "On the average, conventional marketing strategies leave the farmer with far less than half the money that the consumer spend on meat and dairy products." Carol wrote. Actually in Colorado the farm and rancher receives about six percent of the amount consumers spend. (Statistic taken from the 2001 Governor's Agricultural Summit).

In closing I have to say that the really cool thing about this book is the farmer profiles. The I have done it, so thus you can create a version that works for you too. "The future belongs to those who can give hope to succeeding generations", Vatican II.

5 out of 5 stars A Very Touching Book, June 16, 2000

I cried when I read this story. That doesn't happen very often to me while reading a children's book, but Tight Times is so sweet that I was very moved. The story is about a small family doing their best to cope despite their financial troubles. The parents are worried and feel bad for their son. Seeing their child do without is so much harder on them than their own deprivation. It was gratifying that the little boy found a way to get a pet after all. The little family is filled with such a strong love that the reader knows that somehow things will turn out well for them, despite their problems. The artwork is excellent. In particular, the drawing of the mother and father hugging their son says more than words ever could. I just love this book and recommend it for any family, whether having "tight times" or not.