The Organic No-Till Farming Revolution: High-Production Methods for Small-Scale Farmers

Learn how to use natural no-till systems to increase profitability, efficiency, carbon sequestration, and soil health on your small farm.

The Organic No-Till Farming Revolution is the comprehensive farmer-developed roadmap showing how no-till lowers barriers to starting a small farm, reduces greenhouse gas emissions, increases efficiency and profitability, and promotes soil health.

Farming without tilling has long been a goal of agriculture, yet tilling remains one of the most dominant paradigms; almost everyone does it. But tilling kills beneficial soil life, burns up organic matter, and releases carbon dioxide. If the ground could instead be prepared for planting without tilling, time and energy could be saved, soil organic matter increased, carbon sequestered, and dependence on machinery reduced.

This hands-on manual offers:

• Why roller-crimper no-till methods don't work for most small farms
• A decision-making framework for the four no-till methods: occultation, solarization, organic mulches grown in place, and applied to beds
• Ideas for starting a no-till farm or transitioning a working farm
• A list of tools, supplies, and sources.

This is the only manual of its kind, specifically written for natural and small-scale farmers who wish to expand or explore chemical-free, regenerative farming methods.

Andrew Mefferd is editor of Growing for Market magazine. He has spent 15 years working on farms, including a year working on a no-till research farm, and 7 years in the research department at Johnny's Selected Seeds. He consults widely with researchers and farmers on the best greenhouse growing practices, and is the author of The Greenhouse and Hoophouse Grower's Handbook. He lives and farms in Cornville, Maine.