The Berry Grower , livre ebook

Dig into the fruits of your labor! Profitable, innovative organic fruit farming strategies and skills for modern growers of any scale AN INNOVATIVE GUIDE for growing and marketing organic small fruits and berries, The Berry Grower offers intelligent strategies and solutions for successful small-scale, non-chemical fruit production in the 21st century. Coverage includes:History, innovations, and 21st century challenges in modern fruit farmingCreating your own market farming realityFarm planning for efficiency and profitabilityFactoring in climate change, drought, and extreme weatherSoil fertility, efficient weed management, and organic pest controlModern tools of the trade for efficiencyHarvesting, fruit handling, and packingFruit profiles including raspberries, blackberries, strawberries, currants, gooseberries, figs, tomatoes, and more, including new cultivarsInnovative marketing methods and thinking beyond fresh fruit with multi-product strategies to maximize profitLearn from other experts through interviews with successful growers and marketers from diverse areas around the USA.From the market garden and small farm to the homestead and backyard, The Berry Grower is the essential guide for both new and aspiring organic small fruit growers and seasoned farmers looking to produce high- quality organic fruits and products for local markets and self-sufficiency.Preface PART 1: THE BASICS1. Why Small Scale, Small Fruits? — Why small fruit growing? — How and where to start? — Understanding current climate challenges — Small fruits to the rescue — Why micro fruit farming? — Limitations of small fruit growing — Maximize profits by being the workforce— The future of small and micro farming 2. 21st Century Strategic Planning— Planning it out — How to research — Evaluating agricultural profit forecasts — Understanding your bioregion and regional climate — Choosing cultivars — How many plants?— Pollination3. Sourcing Plants and Navigating the 21st Century Nursery Scene — Sourcing plants and plant material — Sources to avoid — Organic or conventional? — Navigating the nursery scene — Quality nurseries4. Creating Beds — Creating space for small fruits to thrive — Mechanical tillage — No-till options — Spacing — Managing walkways — Stale bedding — Planting the beds — Planting in rows— Cover cropping 5. Managing Soil Fertility Organically — Practical considerations — Soluble and insoluble organic fertilizers — Animal-product based fertilizers — Vegan plant-based fertilizers — Mineral fertilizers — Compost and manures — Consider the impacts — Applying organic fertilizers— Unlocking latent soil fertility 6. Planting Successfully — Handling and inspecting nursery stock — Storing dormant plants — Effectively handling cuttings — Pre-planting preparations — Proper planting practices— Post-planting care 7. Organic Weed Management— Using permanent grass cover — Mulch — Landscape fabric — Flame weeding — Plant Guilds8. Tools of the Trade 9. Maintenance, Protection, and Organic Pest Control — Integrated Pest Management (IPM) — Insect management — Common animal pests — Frost protection PART 2: GETTING TO KNOW YOUR FRUIT ALLIES10. Blackberries — Types of modern blackberries — Site considerations — Cultivation — Fertilizing — Mulch and irrigation — Pests/Diseases/Challenges — Harvest — Marketing— Recommended cultivars 11. Blueberries — Species — Cultivation — Planting — Weed control — Irrigation — Pruning — Pests/Diseases/Challenges — Cultivars (by region)— Harvesting and marketing 12. Raspberries — Species — Cultivation — Irrigation — Pruning — Thinning — Trellising — Mulch— Propagation — Pests/Diseases/Challenges — Marketing— Cultivars 13. Strawberries— Cultivation — Growing Methods — Thinning — Planting — Irrigation — Harvesting — Marketing — Pests/Diseases/Challenges— Cultivars 14. Juneberries — Cultivation — Best species by region — Irrigation — Pests/Diseases/Challenges — Marketing— Cultivars 15. Muscadine Grapes — Cultivation — Irrigation — Pollination — Pests and diseases — Marketing— Cultivars 16. Mulberries — Species of mulberries — Cultivation — Irrigation — Potential for commercial production — Harvesting — Pests/Diseases/Challenges — Marketing— The future of mulberries— Recommended cultivars 17. Gooseberries— Cultivation — Irrigation — Pests and diseases — Harvesting — Marketing— Recommended cultivars 18. Currants— Cultivation — Irrigation — Pests and diseases — Harvesting — Marketing— Cultivars 19. Figs — Cultivation — Cold region (USDA zones 5–7) — Understanding high tunnel fig growing — Warm region (USDA zones 8–10) — Harvesting — Marketing — Pests and diseases— Cultivars 20. Tomatoes— Cultivation — Pests and diseases — Irrigation — Marketing— Cultivars 21. Other Small Fruits Worthy of Consideration ...Or Not — Aronia (Aronia melanocarpa) — Autumn Olive (Elaeagnus umbellata) and Goumi (Elaeagnus multiflora) — Bush and Nanking Cherries — Kiwiberry (Actinidia arguta) — Cactus Fruits — Cornelian Cherry (Cornus mas) — Hardy Passionfruit (Passiflora incarnata) — Elderberry (Sambucus canadensis) — Feijoa (Acca sellowiana) — Goji (Lycium barbarum) — Hybrid Cane Berries — Rosehips — Seaberry/sea buckthorn(Hippophae rhamnoides) — Munson Grapes — Che (Maclura tricuspidata) — Honeyberry (Lonicera caerulea)PART 3: HARVESTING, MARKETING, AND THE FUTURE22. Harvesting and Post-Harvesting— Harvest efficiency— Protecting, storing, and chilling 23. Market Planning and Strategies— Direct marketing methods 24. The Future of Small Fruit Growing— Climate change and fruit growing— Rescuing the genetic pool by selecting your own local cultivars 25. Interviews with Successful Small Fruit Market Growers 26. Conclusion Appendix: Jivamritam Notes Resources Index About the Author About New Society Publishers