The First Two Years: Small Fann Energy Project (Preliminary Report, January 1977 through December 1978), July 1979,47 pp., from: Small Farm Energy Project Center for Rural Affairs P.O. Box 405 Walthill, Nebraska 68067 402/846-5428 Agriculture's chronic dependence on the fossil fuel glut of the last decades is infamous. Something has to be done soon to reverse that situation, particularly if small, diversified farming operations are to survive. In northeast Nebraska-the testing grounds of the Small Farm Energy Project- the statistics on energy costs are hairraising. In 1977, purchased energy inputs accounted for 13 percent of average gross farm sales of $35,600. This outlay exceeded the net income (profit) of $3,700 per farm. Yet, Department of Energy calculations indicate that energy expenses for conventional fuel sources to these operations will double by 1984, easily wiping out the equivalent of all profits currently earned by these small operations. For this reason alone, the Small Farm Energy Project's two-year experiment in linking rural-based renewable energy systems to small farm operations in order to see what positive resuits can be achieved is vitally important. With the first phase of their study completed, the project has some critical and encouraging data to share with us in its preliminary report. -Steve Ames Food & Agriculture Catalog, 1979, 24 pp., $.50 ppd., from: Food for Thought Books, Desk R 325 Main Street Amherst, MA 01002 413/253-5432 Collectively run and anti-profit, Food for Thought is one of my favorite east COi\st book distributors. I've seen them at innumerable conferences, rallie6 and other events in New England, and they are always a welcome sight. If organizers ask them well in advance, they will travel and set up an excellent selection of titles culled from their extensive inventory. Their first mail-order catalog was on Social Change literature; future catalogs will focus on Sexual Politics, Appropriate Technology & Nuclear Power, Education/Children's Books, Healing/Personal Growth and so on. The Food & Agricultu re catalog includes reviews of over 200 titles, includif!g books, pamphlets, periodicals, and bumper stickers. The result is a collection of some of the best available resources on topics of nutrition, agriculture and land use, cookbooks, food politics and world hunger, health, etc. Food for Thought will also send you for free, on request, their three-page list of Appropriate Technology titles. -MR ~~d:~~~_ ~~:::-;'Lg~ Contour Plowing ~~ elltifurrolJJ~ ~----~--- ~--:;;; -;:.;;- ~ - ~ bllck furrow - -.... ..... ....... Mowing/Combining a Field -.;:-- First Pass - February- March 1980 RAIN Page 15 Successful Small-Scale Fanning, by Karl Schwenke, 1979, $8.95 (field guide edition with washable cover) from: Garden Way Publishing Co. Charlotte, VT 05445 Many of the new, small-scale fa rmers fail due to lack of specific skills and information. In Successful Small-Scale Farming, Schwenke offers this information, tempered with his personal perspective. "Farming is a state of mind. If your JHe's objective is to make . .. money from farming ... to amass things, then small - ~ca lE' farming is not for you ... you are better off staying with a nine-to-five job. " " Simplicity of lifestyle, a dedication to careful planning and a steadfast commitment to permanence are the essential elements of a successful small-scale farm venture. For the dedicated, Schwenke offers chapters on topsoil, plants, machinery, farm operation, cash crops, the "whole farm," and more! New farmers will find many valuable tips here-the sort of knowledge which, neglected by the trend to agribusiness, can usually only be obtained from oJd-tjme farmers. And old-time farmers will be pleased to find the "Charts and Tables" section where a lot of good statistics are gathered from numerous sources including the USDA. There's even a sample Community Land Trust Lease and a Table of Simple Interest calculations. Handy in one book! -Mary Dufur Mary grew up on a 3S0-acre farm in southwest Colorado. She has reviewed books 011 solar energy alld rclated topics for Libra ry lou mal. ~~'''''''''__ ~'-c:~ Second Pass This method is Qd"i~d for fiehi. WIth une"en edges.
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