Farms with a Future: Creating and Growing a Sustainable Farm Business

by Rebecca Thistlethwaite, Richard Wiswall (Foreword)

What makes a farm sustainable and successful? And what special qualities and skills are needed for someone to become a successful farmer?

Rebecca Thistlethwaite addresses these and other crucial questions in this uniquely important book, which is a must-read for anyone who aspires to get into farming, or who wants to make their farm business more dynamic, profitable, and, above all, sustainable. Over an entire year, the author and her husband-experienced farmers themselves-took a sabbatical and traveled the length and breadth of the United States to live and work alongside some of the nation's most innovative farmers. Along the way they learned about best practices, and a whole lot about what doesn't work.

Farms with a Future shares this collective wisdom in an inspirational yet practical manner; it will help beginners avoid many of the common mistakes that first-time farmers make. Just as importantly, it discusses positive ideas that can help make any farm enterprise vibrant and financially profitable. Profiles of more than a dozen representative farms help round out the invaluable information and encourage farmers to embrace their inner entrepreneur. Younger growers, in particular, will benefit by learning about "the right stuff" from both their peers and longtime experts.This book provides a useful reference for beginning and experienced farmers alike. While many other books address agricultural production, there are very few that talk about business management for long-term sustainability. Farms with a Future offers an approachable, colorful take on building a triple-bottom-line farming business.

Genres: Agriculture, Gardening, Nonfiction, Plants, Business

306 pages, Paperback

First published November 30, 2012

Reviews

[Shannon Hayes · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was sent to me to review this summer, and I knew then that it would be something special. The author learned many of her farming lessons the hard way, then chose to take some time off to learn from sustainable farmers across the country. The result is a practical introduction to the world of sustainable agriculture that simply cannot be gleaned from any Farm Business 101 course. Thistlethwaite covers a wide array of scenerios from landless start-ups to multi-generational businesses, from vegetables and fruit, to dairy, meat, and other value-added ventures. She covers record keeping and family resource management, holistic management, whole-farm planning, marketing and customer relationships. I think it is an especially valuable read for anyone who is considering farming as a career. But it is equally important for those of us who've been in the business a while to look it over and think about the elements we've been neglecting, and the areas where we could improve.

[Dustin · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very informative book and obviously researched! I enjoyed the stories of different farmers the author tucked throughout the book, which served in letting me see how ideas of building sustainable farms within her book were being implemented in real-life examples.

[Adam · Rating 4 out of 5]

Farms with a Future raises a lot of great points but, perhaps necessarily, due to the highly variable nature of farm enterprises, gives few specifics. It seems like a great tool to help farmers think of all the important aspects of decisions about their business, and for that I might come back to it in the future. It was very similar in that respect to Small-Scale Livestock Farming: A Grass-Based Approach for Health, Sustainability, and Profit, but much better written and more up to date.

[Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice balance of information and personal stories from different farmers. Really great book for starting a farm, what you should consider before going into business and reminders that it's supposed to be a business. Perfect for what things need to be considered, from physical health to marketing and bookkeeping, lots of good tips on value-added products to consider. Will be recommending to anyone that is considering getting into farming.

[Jackie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. It's so helpful to not only get great real world ideas and solutions, but to meet farmers who have struggled through similar issues and share in detail how they managed solutions. This is a book that will be a permanent reference. And, its warm, readable style is truly enjoyable. If you're thinking of farming, you need this one.

[Nick · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good overview of how to build a farm business by looking at a number of great examples across the country with very different business plans and products. I really enjoyed the level technicality that Rebecca uses in this book. It's is in depth yet still approachable when you don't have any experience in a certain subject.

[Naomi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thistlethwaite delivers a class in the business of sustainable farms in each chapter. Each chapter has at least one great example and ends with key learning points, making it easy to discuss and return to with others at your farm. Highly recommended.

[Eileen]

No star rating because I skimmed. Lots of good ideas here about farming as a business. I'm definitely not interested in the entrepreneurial side, so even good advice on marketing, etc. had me skipping ahead. I like the advice that books on farming from the 1900s-1920s (before tractors were so overused) are a good resource for smaller-scale farmers. This one will either light a fire under you or affirm that you're a hobby gardener.

[Claudia Yahany · Rating 4 out of 5]

Si quieres sustentabilidad, tienes que pensar en negocios de alguna forma u otra. Cada industria es diferente y los secretos detrás de la producción son demasiado particulares al modelo de negocio y a su contexto. Sin embargo, bastante completas las bases y muy claro el mensaje: a nadar se aprende nadando.
Me gustó la estructura.

[Dwight Walker · Rating 4 out of 5]

This has very useful tips for running a profitable organic farm.

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

A decent read but no new ideas...