: Intensive market gardening techniques [14].
: Evaluating land potential, including water management (rainwater harvesting) and access [5, 20]. Making Small Farms Work
: Using a structured framework to manage the ecological, financial, and personal aspects of farm life [5, 19]. : Intensive market gardening techniques [14]
While the original book provided a blueprint for small-scale success, Perkins later expanded these concepts in a significantly larger volume titled [12, 24]. This newer work includes more extensive data and comparative analyses of different farm enterprises, further solidifying the roadmap for a new generation of farmers [12, 14]. While the original book provided a blueprint for
" Making Small Farms Work " is a seminal text by pioneer educator and farmer , focusing on a pragmatic whole-systems approach to profitable regenerative agriculture [10]. It documents the establishment of Ridgedale Farm in northern Sweden, which serves as a global flagship for high-quality local food production and agrarian education [5, 24]. Core Philosophy and Strategy
: Unlike many idealistic farming texts, Perkins focuses on "hard" data, sharing detailed spreadsheets, set-up costs, and financial planning vital for long-term viability [12, 14]. Key Components Covered
: Technical guidance on various farm systems such as: