Welcoming Home the Farm Next Door: Small Farms are Returning Across the Land
But soon it may be more than just a vision of long ago. More often now, if we turn the corner, the farm is real.
A new form of farm is becoming more and more visible. Under the umbrella term "micro eco-farm," they thrive from backyards to small acreage, and are prospering in our new century. World travel and the Internet have introduced new crops for them, allowing them to grow heirlooms and gourmet varieties not produced large-scale. And global interaction has also brought to them the methods discovered worldwide for organically producing very large amounts on very small plots of land, including backyards.
Both ancient discoveries and 21st century research has helped the new micro eco-farm come to life. Historically, the Incans fed 15 million, always with a three to seven-year surplus. China once fed one billion on less than 10% of their land base. Russians lifted themselves from economic disaster in 1997 when its citizens 'farmed' 0.6 acre plots attached to the Russian village houses. 18 million of these plots totaled 15.3 million acres, becoming the most productive 'farms' in the country. French "potagers," or tiny home gardens or gardens allotted to villages, are everywhere. The French government estimates about a quarter of all fruits and vegetables eaten in France are home-grown. And long ago, royal French gardeners helped discover the French intensive method which out-produced conventional mechanical farming many times over.
In America, today, this information is gleaned and re-molded into prosperous micro eco-farms. www.MicroEcoFarming.com reports some operate in backyards and even urban rooftops. Local Harvest, which tracks statistics on successful eco-farm members, reports that 45% of its member farms are less than 15 acres.
Collectively, they help communities, regions and their own countries reach food independence while restoring topsoil and the local eco-system.
Related Tags: home business, garden, small farming, mini farm, small acreage, family farm, organic gardening, heirloom
Copyright 2006 Barbara Adams
Author: Micro Eco-Farming: Prospering from Backyard to Small Acreage in Partnership with the Earth (New World Publishing)
http://www.MicroEcoFarming.com
Your Article Search Directory : Find in ArticlesRecent articles in this category:
- Online Gardening Store Diy Matters Launch New Product Terram Root Guard
One of the largest importers of landscaping fabric and weed control fabric in the UK has launched a - Snow Removal Burlington
When deciding on a company to provide professional snow removal in Burlington and the surrounding Go - Important Aspects Of Slate Stone Tiles
Slate stones are found in large deposits in the coastal regions, due to random mixture of different - How To Choose Between Asphalt Or Concrete Driveway Pavers
Beautifully designed driveway pavers can undoubtedly improve the appearance of your house. If you ar - Sandstone Export From India
Sandstone is produced when natural cement such as silica, iron or lime makes dense large lumps of sa - Granite Suppliers In India
Amongst all stones used for building, Granite must be the most exclusive. It is put to various uses - Packers And Movers In Hyderabad
When it comes to Packers and Movers, YReach is the first choice to reach. As with any other service - Choosing Pool Cleaner And Maintaining Your Pool
A pool automatic cleaner is very useful equipment that can help you to reduce the difficulty for mai - Create A Backyard Getaway
A few years ago, we were landscaping our new home and had a consultant come in to give us some ideas - How To Keep Your Outdoor Landscaping Safe In Cold Weather
When you think of Florida you probably picture sunny days, pristine beaches and hot days on the golf
Most viewed articles in this category:
- Gazebo Blueprints
In order to use existing open spaces in the backyard or lawn, people opt to install gazebos. They ar - The Best Deck Material
It is always nice to have a backyard at your home and if you are one of the lucky ones to have a dec - Psychic Garden Rapport
A psychic garden is an adventure of many different dimensions. It is a personal relationship: with t - The History of the Tomato
Tomato history has had its origins traced back to the Aztecs around 700AD, therefore it is believed - A Greenhouse Kit for Both Amateur and Professional Gardeners
What is a Greenhouse?Greenhouses are garden structures designed to cultivate plants by harnessing th - History Of Grapevines
The first documentation of grapevines growing in the Americas was discovered in researching the logb - Lawn Mowers Power
Keeping a clean and nice garden or lawn is not an easy task, it is always a source of great pride to - Organic Gardening with Compost - Using Compost for a Naturally Healthy Lawn and Garden
'Mature' organic compost is a natural and simple choice for solving those problems. An application o - Lawn Aeration Benefits
Aerating your lawn is one of the most important things you can do to keep your lawn healthy and attr - The Most Important Components for Your Deck Rail Plans
For anyone who isn't aware about creating a plan for the deck railings, you should know that a deck