Citizen Farmers: The Biodynamic Way to Grow Healthy Food, Build Thriving Communities, and Give Back to the Earth

by Daron Joffe, Rinne Allen (Photographer), Susan Puckett (Contributor)

IACP Cookbook Award Winner in Food Matters

Biodynamic farming, with its focus on ecological sustainability, has emerged as the gold standard in the organic gardening movement. Daron Joffe (known as Farmer D) has made it his mission to empower, educate, and inspire people to become conscientious consumers, citizens, and stewards of the land. In this engaging call to action, Farmer D teaches us to not only create sustainable gardens but also to develop a more holistic, community-minded approach to how our food is grown and how we live our lives in balance with nature. Illustrated with photographs of gardens designed by Farmer D as well as line drawings, the book is an indispensable resource packed with advice on establishing a biodynamic garden, composting, soil composition and replenishment, control­ling pests and disease, cooperative gardening practices, and even creating delicious meals.

Genres: Gardening, Nonfiction, Reference, Agriculture, Nature

224 pages, Paperback

First published March 18, 2014

Reviews

[Jade · Rating 2 out of 5]

To be honest, I found the woo very offputting, and nearly stopped reading when he discussed homeopathy. The author advertised his own products all through the book, and often referred to things (like foliar feeding) without actually describing it or telling the reader how to actually do it.

[Charlie Moynahan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cool and “edgy” (pun intended, I suppose) gardening book that is more than your average what grows, and where, and how often during which season. This book is perfect for the stick-it-to-The-Man using my gardening knowledge reference reader!

Particularly useful and handy are the seemingly sporadic, yet plentiful, “Top 10” lists (Top 10 winter edibles, Top 10 grocery saver veggies, etc).

[Magalys · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you've ever wanted to grow anything, read this book.

[Ashley Waligura · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some interesting concepts and I learned a lot about compost, but was a little too "plant with the moon cycles" woo for me

[E · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book isn't without merit or useful information, but the parts of it that I want to remember and utilize could have probably been put into a long essay.

[Bianca · Rating 1 out of 5]

The entire book is an advertisement. Superficial information for someone who has never grown a garden before. The author is probably insufferable

[Nathalia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good read on the value of gardening in our society and how to go about creating a healthy little farm. Lots of good information and great ideas. It'd be a good book for a beginner to intermediate gardener or someone wondering if they should even be interested in gardening in the first place.

I would have liked for him to touch more on biodynamic farms since he values them so highly and it is how he sets up farms. Elaborating on growing with moon signs would have been most intriguing.

A bit self-promotional but when you're constantly having to sell yourself and your product (gardening) in a non-gardening atmosphere, I don't entirely blame him.

[RuBisCO Reviews · Rating 1 out of 5]

If you like basic farming advice mixed with pseudo science and freshman philosophy this is for you.

[Mallory · Rating 1 out of 5]

I was so disappointed in this book. There is some good information, especially for first-time gardeners, but "Farmer D" is a complete narcissist. He shamelessly promotes his own business through the guise of caring about community improvement through farming. He brands the book like it's about taking action against the issues surrounding food in our society, when it's really just an autobiography.

There are so many other gardening and farming books out there that are well-written and informative. I just don't think this one makes the cut

[Brittany · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lots of helpful tips for novice gardeners, but this is definitely not a resource text. Extra research is necessary on most plants and techniques discussed as the information given is very basic, simply a starting point. I found the personal antidotes a little dry and skimmed most of those sections.

[Casey · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not as practical or engaging as I expected it to be -- there was a good bit of hippy nonsense, and not as much practical advice and instruction as the book jacket let on. It seemed like a lot of the topics were repeated, or forced to fit in with the theme of each chapter. I did learn a bit about gardening tools -- I wasn't aware that there were so many.

[Fran Parrish · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not a good book for learning about biodynamic methods so look elsewhere for that. This is a good overall primer for aspiring gardeners. Also, to my disappointment, Farmer D recommends tilling soil in this book- which is the worst advice you could possibly give a gardener.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Farmer D takes an almost spiritual approach to growing and eating food organically in community. My kind of guy. I dug the vibe and the gorgeous photos of his vegetable gardens in this book.

[Darcy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yes please. Amazing ideas and tips for gardening.