The Essential Urban Farmer

by Novella Carpenter, Willow Rosenthal

The "how-to" guide for a new generation of farmers from the author of Farm City and a leading urban garden educator. In this indispensable guide, Farm City author Novella Carpenter and Willow Rosenthal share their experience as successful urban farmers and provide practical blueprints-complete with rich visual material-for novice and experienced growers looking to bring the principles of ethical food to the city streets. The Essential Urban Farmer guides readers from day one to market day, advising on how to find the perfect site, design a landscape, and cultivate crops. For anyone who has ever grown herbs on windowsills, or tomatoes on fire escapes, this is an invaluable volume with the potential to change our menus, our health, and our cities forever.

Genres: Gardening, Nonfiction, Food, Sustainability, Reference, Nature, How To

592 pages, Paperback

First published December 27, 2011

About the author

Novella Carpenter grew up in rural Idaho and Washington State. She majored in biology and English at the University of Washington in Seattle. While attending Berkeley’s Graduate School of Journalism, she studied under Michael Pollan for two years. Her urban farm began with a few chickens, then some bees, until she had a full-blown farm near downtown Oakland.

Author photo courtesy of author website.

Reviews

[Beverly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Skimmed through most of it. Was more for starting garden from nothing. I was looking for info on vertical gardening and small space gardening.

[Alison]

Information overload.

Eventually, I'll get really serious about my tiny garden plot and use this guide to help me recondition the soil and all the rest. Until then, I'll just be dreaming about a composting toilet in the backyard and saving urine to make fertilizer.

[Kathryn Kochunas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book. Well written and covers the basics from day one to harvest (be it vegetable or animal). The authors' enthusiasm makes this an interesting read, especially in reflection after a first year's garden. They don't endorse anything rash, however, and stress responsible decision making. This was a great read and wi be an invaluable reference as I expand some of my ventures.

[Joy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn't realize this was going to be a complete guide to farming/gardening - glad I got it though! I'll keep an eye out for a cheap version to buy - it's a really good reference to own. Lots of applicable info on front yard and container gardening.

[Justin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is probably more appropriate to suburban than urban environments.
I don't see things like fruit trees, bees, goats, greenhouses and outdoor washing stations going over well/being possible in the city. I have a suburban house and bee keeping seems a bit self-centered even here.

That being said, there is a good amount of useful information for suburban farmers here.
There is a bit less of a focus on gardening techniques than I'd like, but there are tons of other useful information such as many building plans for gardening projects.

[Novel Obsession · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Essential Urban Farmer is a great overview and informational resource for those new to gardening in urban settings. The target audience is those without previous garden experience.

Disclaimer: A copy was provided by the publisher.

[Kay · Rating 4 out of 5]

Comprehensive and extremely in-depth guide. Probably best for those new to gardening. I skimmed most of the animal sections because I'm not inclined to raise animals, only plants, but from what I gleaned from them, those sections are similarly detailed.

[Michaela · Rating 4 out of 5]

Practical and comprehensive.

[Jerry Cheung · Rating 4 out of 5]

An in-depth and broad coverage of the authors' experiences at farming in an urban setting. The term "urban farming" annoys me with it's hipster connotations, but the book was genuine in tone and advice. It reads fine sequentially, but I find it more valuable as a reference book -- picking and choosing sections as questions come up. It covers site selection, preparation, growing high yield and high value vegetables in small spaces, bee keeping, rabbits, and goats. I skipped the animal section because we don't have the space for it, but I'd like to revisit those chapters in the future.

[Ellen Bell · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the most comprehensive book I think I've ever read on any specific topic. It is almost an encyclopedia of sorts, covering every aspect imaginable of gardening/farming in an urban setting. For anyone who is serious about growing or raising their own food and doing so in an organic, sustainable way, I would highly recommend this book! I checked it out through the library, but this is one volume that I will likely purchase to add to my gardening reference collection.

[Nina Carter · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've just begun this book, and I'm already seeing some really practical and great ideas. I did find the yield described for 3 hives ODD, since I would expect close to 48 liters out of one strong hive.

[Al Lock · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm not sure that what is described in this book should really be called farming (unless on a very small scale) but there is lots of useful information contained within this book (although a lot of it is repetitive).

[Megan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has SO much good information! Very well written and easy to understand. I learned some things about seed starting, and plant anatomy!

[Martha]

comprehensive

[Catherine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tons of useful, practical information.

[foodagtivista · Rating 4 out of 5]

Chock full of inspiration & information!

[Jes · Rating 5 out of 5]

So informative. Great reference guide.

[Dani · Rating 5 out of 5]

A solid reference book for urban farming - easily rivals Carl Emery's classic homesteading tome, but with a more science-based and environmental focus. Good for novices and experienced land lovers.

[Fritz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mucho useful. An excellent reference in its own right. A great springboard to a lot of other more in depth sources.

[Theresa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Novella Carpenter is an inspiration! Read Farm City too!

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Essential to anyone involved in urban farming. I love this enough that I have both the print and kindle version as I feel it will be a constant reference as we build Urbanstead.

[Mills College Library]

635.977 C296 2011

[Yvonne Loveday · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great reference. Love Novella.

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

No.

[Carolyn · Rating 2 out of 5]

too generic

[Julia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoying this so far. Lots of good information and inspiration.

[Kara]

excellent tips for home gardening+. It would be great to have a section for colder climates.

[Maija Mikkila · Rating 4 out of 5]

Solid manual with lots of helpful drawings and it is organized well!