Farmbrarian

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The Carrot Seed – Written by Ruth Krauss, Illustrated by Crockett Johnson

This classic tale begins with a little boy planting a carrot seed. Ignoring the pessimistic refrain from his father, mother, and big brother that the seed will not come up, the boy resolutely cares for the seed each day, providing it with water and removing weeds. His perseverance finally pays off when the seed grows into a gigantic carrot, “just as the little boy had known it would.”

Over 60 years after its publication, Krauss’s simple story about one boy’s unwavering faith still has the power to captivate young readers. The succinct text is full of repetition, making it easy for young readers to follow. The text is matched perfectly by the minimal illustrations that capture the spirit of the story by reflecting the boy’s patience, determination, and ultimate validation. Recommended for ages 3-6.

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Winnie Finn, Worm Farmer – Written by Carol Brendler, Illustrated by Ard Hoyt

Young Winnie Finn is passionate about earthworms, going so far as to take them for rides around Quincy County in her wagon. With the Quincy County Fair approaching, Winnie hopes to win a prize for best worms. Though several of her neighbors are dismissive of her idea, Winnie remains undeterred and builds a worm farm. The fertilizer it produces is used by Mr. Abernathy to grow tall corn, which is then used by Mrs. Yamasaki-O’Sheridan to feed her Plymouth Rock hens, whose eggs are used by Mr. Peasley to make his Afghan puppies coats shine, causing all three to win first prize at the fair. Winnie is an appealing, clever heroine who uses her ecological knowledge to save the day for Quincy’s residents. The humorous, detailed illustrations depicting Winnie’s adventures are bound to elicit chuckles. An author’s note includes instructions on how to build a worm farm for budding worm enthusiasts like Winnie. Recommended for ages 5-8.

Thanks again to our friend and Children’s Librarian Cassandra for the great reviews! For many, many more suggested children’s titles about agriculture, see School Library Journal’s “Farm Fresh” report.

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Richard Wiswall’s The Organic Farmer’s Business Handbook: A Complete Guide to Managing Finances, Crops and Staff – and Making a Profit (2009), is an excellent resource for any farmer. Given the recent trend of abandoning a day job to start a small farm, this book should certainly be a success.

The book aims to teach readers how to run a profitable farm, and the focus is distinctly financial. Wiswall successfully explains how to treat your farm as a business and then how to run it profitably, like any good entrepreneur would. “Farm for profit, not production,” (15) he implores. Wiswall provides a step-by-step approach to reaching a target income, including exactly what to grow and how much, along with where to sell.  Also addressed are the often scary topics of writing a business plan, managing staff, marketing, and other concerns. Very little information is given on farming and growing practices, which was an appropriate choice by the author, given the plethora of existing material on such topics.

A successful farm truly is much more than growing and selling food. Richard Wiswall has provided a great asset–especially for farmers looking to improve profitability or get up and running.

This book was kindly provided by Chelsea Green Publishing–thanks for the resource!

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Pamela Ronald and Raoul Adamchak are an unlikely husband and wife duo that joins forces to provide a unique discussion on the roles of organic farming and genetic engineering in present-day and future agriculture. Both work at the University of California, Davis: Adamchak as an organic farmer and Ronald as a plant geneticist doing research mostly on rice.

Ronald’s unique position makes her argument in favor of transgenic crops much easier to digest than one taken out of a Monsanto catalog. She shows why, in her opinion, genetically engineered crops and organic methods are not only compatible, but mutually dependent.

Set in the authors’ Sacramento Valley community, Tomorrow’s Table: Organic Farming, Genetics, and the Future of Food (2008) reads like a civil discussion among friends or respected colleagues. The focus of the debate is on the best way to properly sustain the earth, while feeding a growing population.

The book gave me better understanding of and some level of respect for transgenic crops. It is a useful contribution to the food movement that provides a surprisingly objective look at the use of genetic engineering in modern day agriculture.

Quotes:

• “What if…GE is a tool that can be refined and shared, as grapes can be fermented and made into wine that delights and nourishes those who drink it?”(68)
• “Herbicide-resistant soybean has helped foster use of low-till and no-till agriculture, which leaves the fertile topsoil intact and protects it from [erosion].” (70)