Soil and Land Prep
How to Prepare the Land for Farming
Preparing your land for crops, pasture, or animals is critical to success as a small farmer. With the proper preparation, veggies and animals will thrive. If you skimp here, you may end up with more maintenance later on, desperately weeding an overgrown garden or scrambling to get water to animals in the winter. So take the time to learn a bit...
Prepare Your Soil
Learn how to prepare your soil for planting: tillage methods from conventional to no-till to reduced tillage will be discussed. Whether you have a homestead, a tiny hobby farm or a small-scale farm, you'll find the right method for tilling your soil here.
How to Test Your Soil on the Small Farm
Learn how and when to test your soil so that the plants on your small farm grow as luscious and big as possible. Also find out where to get your soil tested and what tests to ask for as well as specifics on how to take a great soil sample.
Know Your Soil
Learn about the different soil types, how to tell what type of soil you have, and the basics of how to amend your soil to produce delicious, high yields of your crops.
The Dirt on Soil: Make Your Garden Soil Great
About.com Gardening Guide Marie Iannotti breaks down the components of soil, identifying the different types of texture, structure and pH. Learn how to improve your soil to get better yields with your garden and crops.
Soil Tests - Four Simple Do-It-Yourself Soil Tests
Want to know what type of soil you have? These four easy tests from About.com Guide to Organic Gardening Colleen Vanderlinden will help you figure it out.
Choosing the Right Tractor
Could you possibly get a tractor that's too big for your needs? Get help choosing the right tractor for your small farm. Learn how many horsepower you need for your number of acres.
DIY Green Manure for Garden Soil Enhancement
You too can have lush, nutrient-rich soil! Use green manure. This article shows you how.
Cover Crop Basics
Cover crops are a great way to add fertility, suppress weeds, and fill a niche in your small farm crop rotation. Learn when, how and why to plant them, and which ones to choose for your needs.
How to Make Your Own DIY Seed Starting Mix
Learn how to create your own recipe for a seed starting mix for growing your own plants from seed. It is easy to do and will save you money on your small farm, hobby farm or homestead.
Cover Crop - Buckwheat
Learn when and how to plant buckwheat as a cover crop on your small farm or homestead.
How to Select the Right Compact Tractor
Your tractor is one of the most important pieces of equipment on your small farm. Learn how to choose the right compact tractor for your needs.
Cover Crop - Rye
Learn when and how to plant cereal rye as a cover crop on your small farm or homestead.
Cover Crop - Clover
Learn when and how to plant clover as a cover crop on your small farm or homestead.
Cover Crop - Sorghum-Sudangrass
Learn when and how to plant Sorghum-Sudangrass as a cover crop on your small farm or homestead.
Cover Crop - Hairy Vetch
Learn when and how to plant hairy vetch as a cover crop on your small farm or homestead.