July 2017 Issue PDF

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The Acres U.S.A. July 2017 issue; Vol. 47, No. 7; contains the following: FEATURES One Contrarian Agrarianby Tracy Frsich Derek Christianson is living proof that the tired old adag e, “You can’t make a living as a farmer,” is misguided, and he’s doing it his way on 7 acres in Massachusetts. A Rising Tideby Katherine Bell Now is a prime time to consider aquaponic agriculture as more cities are opening up to urban farming as a solution to food insecurity and more consumers clamor for fresh, local produce. Brewing Up Opportunitiesby Jill HendersonFor agricultural producers of any size, capitalizing on the rise of microbreweries presents new avenues to diversify production and take advantage of seasonal income-producing crops. Open Door Policyby Karen Fleur Tofti-Tufarelli The family at Red Barn includes more than 50 farmers who have participated in the farm’s incubator in the last few years; some are now farming full-time. Holistic Planned Grazingby Abbey & Spencer Smith Properly managed livestock help build topsoil and increase the amount of moisture soil can hold, making it droughtresistant. This ultimately increases forage production. Interview: Richard Oswald: Commonsense Approach Farmer, writer Richard Oswald discusses Big Ag influence in the Heartland and growing organic opportunities. DEPARTMENTS View from the Country Letters to the Editor Opinion: Busting Organic Pesticide Myths Ken Roseboro offers a deeper look into the dubious and oft-touted claims that organic farmers use toxic pesticides akin to conventional agriculture. The Harvest Table: An Edible Spider Brought over to Europe hundreds of years ago, spiderwort has been used as a flowering garden plant for centuries. But have you ever tried eating it? Stock & Flock: Four-Legged Peace of Mind Raising livestock and poultry comes with many challenges, and predation is high on that list. Losses to predators threaten the existence of livestock and poultry operations around the world. What would you give to know your stock is being protected 24 hours a day 365 days a year? Small-Scale Success: Market Farming in Suburbia You can see most of Daniel Garcia’s farm from his kitchen table. Looking out over the backyard of his Lawrence, Indiana, lot, which is sandwiched between two subdivisions, you can see wide rows of greens and row-covered beds that hint of the abundance found in Garcia’s Gardens. Reviews & Recommendations From in-depth book reviews to innovative websites and beyond, here are our picks. Marketplace Classifieds Eco-Meetings Meet an Eco-Farmer Show more