www.sare.org resources guide-to-honey-bee-queen-banking Guide to Honey Bee Queen Banking This guide will walk you through the step-by-step process of establishing and maintaining a queen bank. The guide starts with the basics and walks the reader through each step to create a successful honey bank that includes a queen bee. Because queen bees are so critical in maintaining a bank, beekeepers center their focus on […]
www.sare.org resources building-soils-for-better-crops Building Soils for Better Crops The 4th edition of Building Soils for Better Crops is a one-of-a-kind, practical guide to ecological soil management. It provides step-by-step information on soil-improving practices as well as in-depth background—from what soil is to the importance of organic matter. It will show you how different physical, chemical and biological factors of the soil interconnect, and how […]
www.sare.org resources cottage-food-success-a-labeling-guide-and-toolkit-for-creating-canned-food-products-that-sell Cottage Food Success: A Labeling Guide and Toolkit for Creating Canned Food Products that Sell This guide and toolkit provides ideas with step-by-step instructions on how to increase sales of canned products made in your home kitchen under your state’s cottage food law through improved labels and creative packaging.
www.sare.org resources high-tunnel-growing-is-it-right-for-me High Tunnel Growing: Is it Right for Me? This 17-page project report provides information and data to help farmers evaluate whether high-tunnel growing is right for season extension and potential increased profit. The guide includes farmer profiles, a self-assessment worksheet, market data, research and findings from the Mid-Ohio Valley in West Virginia.
www.sare.org resources a-farmers-guide-to-crop-quality-for-wholesale-outlets A Farmer's Guide to Crop Quality for Wholesale Outlets This 20-page guide aims to support beginning farmers looking to improve quality and consistency of farm produce in order to expand sales to include wholesale accounts. Focused on tomatoes, cucurbits and greens, the guide includes photos of good and poor crop quality, as well as best practices for post-harvest handling techniques that will enhance crop […]
www.sare.org resources berry-soil-and-nutrient-management Berry Soil and Nutrient Management Guide for Educators and Growers Commercial berry growers in the Northeast have traditionally made standardized fertilizer applications based on crop age or past fertilization practices, and not on site-specific data of plant nutrient status. This practice continues today, some 20 years or more after commercial berry crop guidelines for analysis-based fertilization programs became widely available. Adoption of soil health improving practices (including the consideration of physical and […]
www.sare.org resources building-sustainable-farms-ranches-and-communities Building Sustainable Farms, Ranches and Communities This guide lists funding opportunities offered by federal programs, and is indispensable for anyone seeking government help to foster their innovative enterprise in forestry and agriculture. Specifically, it addresses program resources in community development; sustainable land management; and value-added and diversified agriculture and forestry. Thus, it can help farmers, entrepreneurs, community developers, conservationists, and many […]
www.sare.org resources farm-to-hospital-toolkit Farm to Hospital Toolkit This twelve-part document contains tools that farmers, ranchers and hospitals can use as they work to increase direct hospital purchases from local farmers.
www.sare.org resources the-organic-seed-grower The Organic Seed Grower The Organic Seed Grower is a comprehensive manual for the serious vegetable grower who is interested in growing high-quality seeds using organic farming practices. It is written for both serious home seed savers and diversified small-scale farmers who want to learn the necessary steps involved in successfully producing a commercial seed crop organically. Detailed profiles […]
www.sare.org resources organic-broccoli-production-manual Organic Broccoli Production Manual Each summer, the Twin Cities experiences a shortage of locally grown, organic broccoli. So a team of local, organically-certified farmers worked to scale up organic broccoli production to meet the needs of wholesale accounts in the region. This guide provides steps that the Twin Cities farmers took in an attempt to scale up organic broccoli […]
www.sare.org resources applying-for-the-conservation-stewardship-program-csp Applying for the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) This plain language guide from New Entry Sustainable Farming Project provides information to farmers who are interested in applying for the USDA-NRCS Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP), which pays farmers to maintain, improve and adopt conservation systems. The guide explains program eligibility and how to apply. Download now: Applying for CSP.pdf 1.80 MB Plain language guides […]
www.sare.org resources wholesale-packing-resource-guide Wholesale Packing Resource Guide This plain language guide from New Entry Sustainable Farming Project is for farmers and ranchers interested in selling to supermarkets, produce distributors, restaurants and institutions. The guide explains packing requirements and seeks to help farmers decide if the wholesale market is right for them. Download now: Wholesale Packing Resource Guide.pdf 816.09 kB Plain language guides […]
www.sare.org resources design-and-construction-of-a-high-tunnel-in-west-virginia Design and Construction of a High Tunnel in West Virginia This fact sheet from West Virginia University Extension describes details of high tunnel design and construction, with specific considerations for West Virginia.
www.sare.org resources crop-rotation-on-organic-farms Crop Rotation on Organic Farms This manual provides an in-depth review of the applications of crop rotation-including improving soil quality and health, and managing pests, diseases, and weeds. Consulting with expert organic farmers, the authors share rotation strategies that can be applied under various field conditions and with a wide range of crops. Crop Rotation on Organic Farms will be most […]
www.sare.org resources applying-for-environmental-quality-incentives-program-eqip Applying for Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) This plain language guide from New Entry Sustainable Farming Project introduces readers to the USDA-NRCS Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), which pays farmers and ranchers to implement practices that protect water, soil and air quality. The guide explains eligibility for EQIP, how to apply and how the money can be used. Download now: Applying for […]
www.sare.org resources managing-risks-on-the-small-farm Managing Risks on the Small Farm This plain language guide from New Entry Sustainable Farming Project introduces farmers to the risks of farming. It explains the five types of risk—production, marketing, worker, legal and financial—and provides worksheets. Download now: Managing Risks on the Small Farm.pdf 1.31 MB Plain language guides from New Entry include: Applying for Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) […]
www.sare.org resources harvesting-crops-for-market Harvesting Crops for Market This plain language guide from New Entry Sustainable Farming Project shares information on when to harvest vegetables, how to prepare produce for harvest, and safe handling of produce after harvest. Download now: Harvesting_Crops_for_Market.pdf 1.42 MB Plain language guides from New Entry include: Applying for Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) Applying for the Conservation Stewardship Program […]
www.sare.org resources high-tunnels High Tunnels Table of contents Case Studies-----------------------------2 High Tunnels and Marketing--------23 Site Considerations--------------------26 Selecting Your Structure-----------28 Construction Tips---------------------40 Environmental Management--------47 Soil and Crop Management---------54 Pest Management--------------------60 The manual was written by Ted Blomgren of Cornell Cooperative Extension and Tracy Frisch of the Regional Farm and Food Project, with Pennsylvania farmer Steve Moore. It was published by the […]
www.sare.org resources dairy-your-way Dairy Your Way This publication was created to provide information that will help producers explore the many choices available for today’s dairy farms. This book is not intended to be a how-to dairy guide or manual. While there is no one-size-fits-all answer for dairy farmers seeking success as milk producers, there are many options that can be profitable […]
www.sare.org resources greenhouse-ipm-with-an-emphasis-on-biocontrols Greenhouse IPM with an Emphasis on Biocontrols This manual was designed by the Pennsylvania Integrated Pest Management Program to help greenhouse growers implement biological control and integrated pest management (IPM). It begins with an introduction to IPM and its principles, information on starting an IPM/biocontrol program and using compatible pesticides, and then addresses many of the most common greenhouse pests and their […]