Contents

Introduction ............................................................... 1

PART I: Getting to Know the Micro-Farm ................ 5 PART 2: Becoming a Micro-Farmer ....................... 155
Chapter 1: Suburbia: Civilizations Opportunity .. 7 Chapter 7: Organizing Your Micro-Farm ........... 157
The Suburban Problem ........................................... 11 Make a Garden Sketch ..........................................160
Suburban Micro-Farming Myths ............................ 12 Make Seed and Supply Purchases .......................161
The Suburban Micro-Farm Solution ...................... 14 Month-by-Month Micro-Farming .........................164
Checklists and Monthly Calendars .......................169
Chapter 2: Managing Expectations ...................... 17
Prevent Garden Overwhelm Syndrome ................ 18 Chapter 8: Seed Starting & Planting .................. 173
Life Hacks for the Busy Micro-Farmer ................... 20 Starting Seeds Indoors: A Step-by-Step Guide ...174
When Its Not Enough .............................................. 23 How to Sow Seeds Directly Outdoors..................181
Overcoming Brown Thumbs ................................... 26 How to Transplant Seedlings Outdoors ..............183
Setting Up Your Neighborhood for Success ......... 28
Chapter 9: Maintaining the Garden
Chapter 3: Developing Healthy Soil ..................... 39 & Harvesting the Produce .................................. 187
Building Soil Health and Fertility ........................... 40 Daily Garden Visits .................................................188
Guide to Organic Soil Amendments ...................... 43 Mulching in the Garden.........................................188
No-Till Micro-Farming .............................................. 60 Watering ..................................................................195
Constructing a Simple Compost System ............... 69 Pest Management ..................................................197
How to Compost ...................................................... 73 Guide to Harvesting Vegetables ...........................205
Cultivate Worm Castings Cleaning up the Garden for Fall ...........................212
with Vermicomposting ............................................ 75 Easy Seeds to Save .................................................216
Storing Seeds ..........................................................220
Chapter 4: Vegetables On The Micro-Farm ......... 79
The Efficient Micro-Farm ......................................... 80
Guide to Planting and Growing Vegetables .......... 85
Choosing Crops to Meet Your Needs .................... 94
How to Place Vegetables .......................................102
Extending the Season with Cold Frames .............110
Chapter 5: Fruit on the Micro-Farm................... 119
Growing Fruit Trees ...............................................120
Growing Berries for Beginners .............................123
Choosing Fruit for Your Circumstances ..............134
Chapter 6: Herbs on the Micro-Farm ................. 139
Kitchen Garden Herbs ...........................................140
Growing a Medicine Garden .................................142
Herbs in a Pollinator Garden ................................146
Create an Herb Spiral ............................................150
PART 3: Advanced Micro-Farming Techniques ... 225 Conclusion .............................................................. 319
Chapter 10: Edible Landscaping ......................... 227
Acknowledgements ............................................... 321
Why Landscape with Edibles? ...............................228
Things to Consider before Breaking Ground......230
Landscape Design Principles for Visual Appeal..232 Bibliography ........................................................... 323
Planning Techniques for the Edible Landscape .232
Choosing What to Plant .........................................235 Additional Resources ............................................ 328
Utilizing the Parking Strip ......................................241 Books..................................................................... 329
Chapter 11: Digging Deeper: Online Resources ................................................. 330
Permaculture & Micro-Farming ......................... 245
Using Water Wisely ................................................246
Index ........................................................................ 331
Building Plant Guilds..............................................259
Farming the Contour .............................................266
About the Author ................................................... 345
Terracing with Check Logs ....................................270
Managing the Edges ..............................................274
Permaculture Plants ..............................................288
Chapter 12: Making Money on Bonus Materials: TenthAcreFarm.com/tsmf-companion
the Suburban Micro-Farm .................................. 297
Perennial Crops ......................................................298
Annual Crops with a Long Season .......................301
Shade Crops............................................................302
The Edible Plant Nursery.......................................305
Cut Flowers .............................................................307
Maple Syrup ...........................................................309
Cottage Food Products ..........................................310
Homemade Soap ...................................................312
Teaching and Writing .............................................313
Tips for Success ......................................................315