Farmers Apprentice

Enlist Weed Help: This year, we planted a living mulch of Dutch clover in the aisles of the garden with intent to do more actual gardening and less pulling prickly amaranth out of the walking path.

Learn more about raising and processing your meat: How to Butcher a Chicken 3 Carcass Cut Sheets to Simplify Butchering How to Process Livestock How to Start a Premium Beef Business 9 Responsible Uses for Your Meat Byproducts « More Plowing Through »...

The Final Word: Any ecologically minded growers who want to maximize their food-waste recycling and make their gardens look better than ever should give Bokashi Composting a try—it's low-cost, high-yield and easy to begin.

That being said, not everyone looking for a farming apprenticeships is a tough, hard-working lad trying to find a good farming education. Have each applicant work at least one whole day on the farm before the season begins—a “see how we work together”...

Ask for help before you need it. And it's not just our spouses or farm partners who suffer when we go down for the count—our children suffer from unexpected changes, our customers suffer when we can't deliver our best selves to market, and our livestock...

Despite the lack of teachers, students still demonstrated a substantial interest in these fields, with veterinary medicine appearing as one of the top choices on a survey of students' career goals.

And when the celebrity farmer truly hits the mainstream, I fear customers will struggle to find good farmers in the same way that the restaurant industry is struggling to find good cooks.

The land we live on can be particularly brutal for people like us who haven't been sensitized to its unique ways. We have to carefully navigate hills, pay attention to the condition of our soggy valleyland and watch out for small boulders sticking out...

Walking along the tree line in our back field, the sound of swooshing wings from a clumsy bird made me turn my head. We've had a number of turkey vultures circling the property lately.

Little kids have to reach up, but that's their problem. This means the run is tall enough that I can stand in it to rake it out and change food and water. Deep litter allows droppings to accumulate in the litter material, composting it right inside the...

HF: What's one piece of advice you have for beginning small-scale, sustainable farmers? In my attempt to design a proper organic farm, I became interested in the broader issue of sustainability and have been involved in the movement ever since.

More than 700 food-producing urban farms are spread across the five boroughs , and farmland spans more than 7 million acres across the state. Support for the markets is strong: In 2013, the Northeast Organic Farming Association of Vermont offered grants...

I've been taking a few hours out of my week to work away at the terraced garden beside the house, because I'm pretty sure we were growing more grass than mint there—and that's saying something! A friend and I also did some emergency weeding in the large...

If we all pitch in and change our habits just a little, maybe we can beat the heat. Reduce, reuse, recycle – more! Grow more of our own food organically. Take them or leave them.

A little recalibration of your chores and routines could save you time and money over the course of your farming career. “Put it on paper, but don't fret all the details (unless you want to talk yourself out of it).

And we're organizing. And we're scrubbing. And we're sweeping. The spring purge is a great feeling, isn't it? You see, when you buy or inherit a farm, you're getting a lot more than just the land and some buildings.

Blocked from the pond, the otter then meandered on up the creek to cause trouble somewhere else. Today, all kinds of wildlife visit our pond. Reclaiming a house and farm is the most difficult work I have ever done.

While we're glad you rely on us here at HobbyFarms.com to bring you the resources and inspiration you need to keep your farm afloat, it's time to throw the agricultural ball into your court.

She quotes a cancer survivor interviewed during her study: “Apart from travel expenses, sometimes one has to consider accommodation and living expenses while away from home. “One of the most difficult barriers facing women in rural areas regarding...

Plus, the length of time that the odor has been around, the smell should have been long gone if that were the culprit. The smell lingers around the area where our propane tank, septic tank and lagoon reside, though doesn't seem to specifically be emanating...

We've received above-average amounts of precipitation, and the winter seems to be drawing out, with what we hope will be our last snowfall occurring just this week. I've relished in the quick snows that have graced our land the past month, and the cold,...

Meat will still exist, of course, but it will be more economical perhaps to finish it on grass, thus more expensive for the consumer. A Transition To Urban Farming USDA/Flickr This jump in population may also mean more food must come from urban areas.

Here's the recipe if you'd like to make your own creation: Ingredients 180 grams sourdough starter 150 grams whole-wheat flour 1 cup milk 1 tablespoon oil 1 egg 1 teaspoon baking soda 1/2 teaspoon salt Preparation Mix starter, flour and milk, and let...

A savage new generation of hoodlum bees? There are heaps of stories about beekeepers approaching their hive without protection and escaping unscathed, while their unfortunate friend standing several feet away get stung to bits.

Dealing with why “potassium,” which clearly begins with the letter “P” is labeled “K” is confusing enough. A super-simple understanding of all things N-P-K helps beginning farmers like me get started.

It's business, and I get that, but it's misleading and the customer isn't be getting a fair shake. Jeff Kraus/Flickr Editor's Note: “Burning Questions” takes an in-depth look at the hot-button issues facing today's farmers.

We've watched documentaries. Or will it just be taken for granted? Most of our customers can't stretch their tastes beyond “ corns and tomatoes ” and don't want to come to market when those things aren't in season.