This book introduces anyone owning (or planning to own) a small farm to both the harsh realities and real potential involved in making a full or part time living on the land. Karl Schwenke's clear-eyed approach to the best farming methods covers a wide range of proven techniques and practical advice, including: How to improve, conserve, and enrich your soil organically, to ensure the highest (and healthiest) yields. What machinery you'll need and how to use it. The best "cash crops" and specialty crops to grow for profit and how to raise them. How to use innovative strategies to find or create a market "niche" for your farm's crops or services. A concise overview of essential farmstead skills, such as haying, fencing, and managing a woodlot. Numerous charts and tables that put useful calculations at your fingertips.