Living Soil Handbook: The No-Till Grower's Guide to Ecological Market Gardening

The author of The Living Soil Handbook, Farmer Jesse Frost, shares his farm-tested practices for no-dig market gardening, focusing on healthier, more productive soil. He emphasizes the three basic principles of no-dig market gardening: disturbing the soil as little as possible, keeping it covered as much as possible, and keeping it planted as much as possible. The book provides practical information on tools and practices for growers who want to maximize soil health and blends the idea of meeting the soils needs with the realities of making a living as a professional grower.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 304 pages
Publication date: 26 August 2021
Publisher: Chelsea Green Publishing Co

Discover the secrets of no-dig market gardening for healthier, more productive soil!

From the popular The No-Till Market Garden Podcast, hosted by Farmer Jesse Frost, with nearly one million downloads worldwide!

In this comprehensive guide, Jesse shares his extensive knowledge and experience with no-till practices, gained through his home farm and interviews with successful market gardeners.

The Living Soil Handbook is centered around three fundamental principles of no-dig market gardening:

Minimize soil disturbance.
Maximize soil coverage.
Maximize soil planting.

Farmer Jesse then guides readers in applying these principles to their own garden environment, using their own materials, to achieve their specific goals.

The book begins with an exploration of the crucial role of photosynthesis in living soil, providing in-depth information on various topics such as bed turning, compost and mulch usage, path management, incorporating biology, maintaining fertility, cover cropping, and diversifying plantings through intercropping.

Throughout, the book emphasizes practical information on the best tools and practices for growers who want to build their livelihoods around maximizing soil health.

Farmer Jesse encourages growers to focus on promoting soil life and biology, rather than getting caught up in strict definitions of "no-dig." If a tool helps to enhance soil health and biology, it's considered valuable in his approach.

The Living Soil Handbook seamlessly blends the idea of meeting the soils needs with the realities of making a living as a professional grower. It offers valuable insights and strategies for growers of all levels, helping them achieve success in their market gardening endeavors.

So, whether you're a seasoned market gardener or just starting your journey, The Living Soil Handbook is your ultimate guide to creating thriving, healthy soils that will produce bountiful harvests year after year.

Weight: 738g
Dimension: 178 x 254 x 18 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781645020264