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Your Farm in the City: An Urban Dweller's Guide to Growing Food and Raising Animals
The most complete book on urban farming, covering everything from growing organic produce and raising chickens, to running a small farm on a city lot or in a suburban backyard.
Eating locally and growing one's own food is a rapidly evolving movement in urban settings - Hantz Farms in Detroit has transformed 70 acres of abandoned properties into energy-efficient gardens, and Eagle Street Rooftop Farm, a 6,000-foot vegetable farm in Brooklyn, New York, yields 30 different kinds of produce, while private square-foot farms are cropping up in cities all over the country.
Created by Lisa Taylor and the gardeners of Seattle Tilth, Your Farm in the City covers all of the essential information specific to gardening and farming in a city or town. Clear, easy-to-follow instructions guide and inspire even the most inexperienced urbanite in how to grow and harvest all types of produce, flowers, herbs, and trees, as well as how to raise livestock like chickens, ducks, rabbits, goats, and honeybees. Important information particular to gardening in a city or town is included, such as planning and maximizing limited space, building healthy soil, managing irrigation, understanding zoning laws, outwitting urban pests, and being a considerate farming neighbor.
With 100 two-color instructional illustrations throughout and dozens of vital resources, Your Farm in the City is the most practical, comprehensive, and easy-to-follow guide to the burgeoning trend of urban farming.
Eating locally and growing one's own food is a rapidly evolving movement in urban settings - Hantz Farms in Detroit has transformed 70 acres of abandoned properties into energy-efficient gardens, and Eagle Street Rooftop Farm, a 6,000-foot vegetable farm in Brooklyn, New York, yields 30 different kinds of produce, while private square-foot farms are cropping up in cities all over the country.
Created by Lisa Taylor and the gardeners of Seattle Tilth, Your Farm in the City covers all of the essential information specific to gardening and farming in a city or town. Clear, easy-to-follow instructions guide and inspire even the most inexperienced urbanite in how to grow and harvest all types of produce, flowers, herbs, and trees, as well as how to raise livestock like chickens, ducks, rabbits, goats, and honeybees. Important information particular to gardening in a city or town is included, such as planning and maximizing limited space, building healthy soil, managing irrigation, understanding zoning laws, outwitting urban pests, and being a considerate farming neighbor.
With 100 two-color instructional illustrations throughout and dozens of vital resources, Your Farm in the City is the most practical, comprehensive, and easy-to-follow guide to the burgeoning trend of urban farming.
336 pages, Paperback
First published February 23, 2011
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444 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews
November 11, 2011
I've been reading a lot of books like this (farming / gardening in the city) and they all seem to echo each other in terms of the advice given, the plants suggested...I don't know. I just feel like I've already read this book, several times over.
The illustrations were beautiful - it's unusual to have drawings instead of pictures, so that was fun. But sometimes the desire to make the pages visually stimulating was achieved...and then some! There were times, with all of the different fonts and colors, etc, that my eye didn't know where to look on the page. There were also chunks of verbiage that were repeated - if they had taken out the repeats, it would have slimmed the book down.
I don't know. It was good - it was fine. It just wasn't anything special. This is a book that you need to borrow from the library, browse through it, and then return. Don't buy it as a reference book - there isn't enough specialized information to make it worth it.
Oh, and my one pet peeve was in here: Books and websites always say you have to dip apples in lemon juice before drying them to prevent them from browning. Can I just point something out here? DRIED FOOD IS SUPPOSED TO BE BROWN!!!! I mean, you're sucking the moisture out of the food. Forcing the food to stay one color because...well, I don't even know - looks I guess?...is a complete waste of time. I have never dipped my apples in lemon juice before drying them (or any other fruit I have ever dried) and as of yet, I've never had someone say, "Well golly, your apples are brown - I shouldn't eat them." They don't even turn a dark brown - it's more of a light tan color. The taste is exactly the same.
Skip the lemon juice and save yourself the time. My two cents. :-)
The illustrations were beautiful - it's unusual to have drawings instead of pictures, so that was fun. But sometimes the desire to make the pages visually stimulating was achieved...and then some! There were times, with all of the different fonts and colors, etc, that my eye didn't know where to look on the page. There were also chunks of verbiage that were repeated - if they had taken out the repeats, it would have slimmed the book down.
I don't know. It was good - it was fine. It just wasn't anything special. This is a book that you need to borrow from the library, browse through it, and then return. Don't buy it as a reference book - there isn't enough specialized information to make it worth it.
Oh, and my one pet peeve was in here: Books and websites always say you have to dip apples in lemon juice before drying them to prevent them from browning. Can I just point something out here? DRIED FOOD IS SUPPOSED TO BE BROWN!!!! I mean, you're sucking the moisture out of the food. Forcing the food to stay one color because...well, I don't even know - looks I guess?...is a complete waste of time. I have never dipped my apples in lemon juice before drying them (or any other fruit I have ever dried) and as of yet, I've never had someone say, "Well golly, your apples are brown - I shouldn't eat them." They don't even turn a dark brown - it's more of a light tan color. The taste is exactly the same.
Skip the lemon juice and save yourself the time. My two cents. :-)
July 24, 2011
I love gardening and have often referred to my yard as "my farm". Although the bit about livestock is what initially caught my attention, I don't think Henrico County is going to like livestock on my farm! I would like to have a couple of chickens for eggs, but according to code we cannot have them. Although I have a few friends that have chickens and they tell me how great it is, I see that it is actually a fair amount of work as I thought.
Taylor's chapter, "Urban Farm Animals" gives ample information about various animals she thinks would be suitable as urban farm animals for the reader to decide whether or not to pursue that option. Most of the animals are off of my list, can you imagine what your neighbors would say when they saw you constructing a goat shed? One of my neighbors is getting bees for his hive very soon and I am interested in how that goes for him, although, I really don't need food as calorie dense as honey.
This book is attractively arranged with different sized fonts and page colors to catch the reader's eye as a magazine might. Although, I wish it would have had color photos, this book is a wealth of information on all areas of gardening. This book makes a good reference for gardeners that are always looking for a good idea or a good solution to an issue whether they are in an urban or suburban setting.
Taylor's chapter, "Urban Farm Animals" gives ample information about various animals she thinks would be suitable as urban farm animals for the reader to decide whether or not to pursue that option. Most of the animals are off of my list, can you imagine what your neighbors would say when they saw you constructing a goat shed? One of my neighbors is getting bees for his hive very soon and I am interested in how that goes for him, although, I really don't need food as calorie dense as honey.
This book is attractively arranged with different sized fonts and page colors to catch the reader's eye as a magazine might. Although, I wish it would have had color photos, this book is a wealth of information on all areas of gardening. This book makes a good reference for gardeners that are always looking for a good idea or a good solution to an issue whether they are in an urban or suburban setting.
May 16, 2013
lots of good info - I'm planning things out for this weekend.
October 4, 2022
It was an interesting book and had some good information.
I am a lifelong gardener and was looking for something a little different when I checked this out o the library( digitally) When I got it home I enjoyed it but it was not exactly what I was aiming for.
Had some problem with the layout and design- page color an dprint- difficult to read- use one color!,
or use proper conrast so reading is easy.
Make a book and leave the arts and crafts project for the garden.
All in all it was a pretty good book.
I am a lifelong gardener and was looking for something a little different when I checked this out o the library( digitally) When I got it home I enjoyed it but it was not exactly what I was aiming for.
Had some problem with the layout and design- page color an dprint- difficult to read- use one color!,
or use proper conrast so reading is easy.
Make a book and leave the arts and crafts project for the garden.
All in all it was a pretty good book.
May 31, 2019
A fun and pretty book about home farming. It is full of lots of useful information, but is definitely structured for home farmer in the Pacific Northwest (NOT Florida). Even so, it gave me lots of great inspiration.
May 5, 2020
If I were a rookie gardener, this book would have been much more useful and interesting to me. For a seasoned gardener, this book is chalk-full of redundant information I’ve already acquired.
There is no need for me to keep this book around, I’ll gift it to a new gardener.
There is no need for me to keep this book around, I’ll gift it to a new gardener.
October 15, 2020
Lots of good info for the urban gardener!
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April 2, 2025Decent info; but I hated the layout.
September 29, 2014
This was my first gardening book and and sort of an odd read for me as I've never (and I do mean not ever) had what folks would call a 'green thumb'. However, having taken a recent interest in food - cooking, where it comes from, and if it were possible to grow my own - I grabbed this book from the library when I went looking for another from the same shelf.
It was a bit of a dry read at first but, for a novice like me, seemed filled with a wealth of specific information about veggies and the process of planting them. Really comprehensive stuff. Kind of like a reference manual for the all the basics of backyard gardening. I enjoyed that aspect, knowing it's a book I can always come back to as a reference in the future.
The only criticism I have of the book is the layout. The illustrations and colors are very attractive but some of the graphic design in the book also made it difficult to follow passages from one page to the next. For example, I recall that most chapters had additional information at the bottom of certain pages which were separate from the main narrative. It was a bit confusing to follow in that respect, but otherwise I feel the book is a good read for beginner gardner in need of a reference guide for their initial gardening/backyard-farming research.
It was a bit of a dry read at first but, for a novice like me, seemed filled with a wealth of specific information about veggies and the process of planting them. Really comprehensive stuff. Kind of like a reference manual for the all the basics of backyard gardening. I enjoyed that aspect, knowing it's a book I can always come back to as a reference in the future.
The only criticism I have of the book is the layout. The illustrations and colors are very attractive but some of the graphic design in the book also made it difficult to follow passages from one page to the next. For example, I recall that most chapters had additional information at the bottom of certain pages which were separate from the main narrative. It was a bit confusing to follow in that respect, but otherwise I feel the book is a good read for beginner gardner in need of a reference guide for their initial gardening/backyard-farming research.
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December 13, 2015It's March, and my backyard garden is still covered with snow. When you can't garden, what's the next best thing? Reading about gardening! I like this book because it is visually appealing. The woodcut-like illustrations and the big stamped titles are attention-getters, so that, although I am more or less reading this book straight through, I also flip through and dip in wherever it looks attractive. This book is comprehensive in its topics: understanding soils, fertilizers, good and bad insects, beds and containers, compost, and info on the most popular types of plants. The inclusion of advice about raising small animals sets this book apart from most gardening books. But the information is not deep or extensive. As I am a gardener with some experience, I did not learn a lot that was new. This book is more geared toward a beginner, but even a beginner will want to supplement this book with other sources that have more detail, and color photos. (I recommend the Rodale Encyclopedia of Organic Gardening.) But this is still an enjoyable burst of enthusiasm ("Making compost is addictive." "Sheet mulching will change your life.") that makes even the more tedious aspects of gardening appear hip and fun.
September 30, 2014
If I were to buy another gardening book, thus one would be it. Great resource on beginning a garden from preparing the soil to preserving the harvest. It includes information I stumbled upon in my other readings, but not found in all my gardening books. There is discussion on the more common vegetables (and non-vegetables) and how to grow them too. In addition, the author also presents a chapter on raising urban farm animals, which truly makes Kobe an urban farmer. The final section presents additional resources for a more detailed look on topics of interest. I also liked that this book was co-authored by Seattle Tilth, so I know the information is accurate and relevant for my region.
June 13, 2013
Lots to recommend this book. Good information in manageable chunks. Very thorough. Except no info on growing watermelons. Or any melons for that matter. Do they not do melons in Seattle? One (other) complaint: descriptions of weeds and pests with just b/w line drawings. I understand the environmentally friendly paper and ink, but it's not enough detail to recognize unfamiliar bugs and plants.
But, everything on how to grow from prepping the soil to preserving the produce. A great reference book.
But, everything on how to grow from prepping the soil to preserving the produce. A great reference book.
September 18, 2013
this one was good for all of the detail it went into, but most of that detail i'm not ready to pore over at the moment since my ability to do any of these things is extremely limited at the moment. that being said i'd probably take another look at it when the possibilities became more realistic. also, their use of crazy fonts to make the pages more dynamic is an interesting, but distracting design choice, sometimes making it hard to read the titles/subjects!
April 28, 2011
Love! Love! Love! I don't consider myself a beginning gardener and yet despite the elementary principles introduced in this book, I learned a ton! This book covers everything from planning, soil prep, plant selection, seed planting, individual plant specs, and various other urban gardening/farming methods. Must have for beginning/intermediate gardeners.
July 9, 2011
Okay - I didn't read this cover to cover so I feel like it probably shouldn't count towards my goal of forty books, but I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Incredibly helpful guide to gardening in the city with lots of easy to access information and great pictures! Think this is a book I will want to buy and have on hand as a resource.
October 8, 2012
A very basic how-to for those who are starting to farm particularly in the urban environment. It has a basic info on soil, containers, etc but also weeds (and which are edible), bugs (the good and bad), animals (ones you're keeping and ones that wreak havoc), etc. Pretty simple, possibly too much so, but I think it would be a great place for many to start as it is simple and approachable.
August 29, 2015
I LOVE this book. I am seriously considering buying it, and maybe by fall implementing some of it's advice, proving we stay where we are. It's such an awesome introduction into gardening, and everything was laid out in a way that my ADHD brain could understand easily. Definitely a book to look into!
June 20, 2016
Reading this was like having a conversation with a smug hippie. They're probably right most of the time, but I kept wanting an excuse to contradict them ("I don't think it's very nice to call ornamental plants 'bimbos'!"). As something to sit and read, I give it a pass; if I were actually planning a victory garden right now, though, I think it could be a helpful guide.
December 11, 2016
This book is an excellent guide to begin a garden or improve an existing garden. It begins with the soil, compost, how to lay out the garden, what to plant, how and when to plant it... everything you need for an urban or suburban garden. I have enjoyed listening, and singing along with, Lisa several times, and I highly recommend her as a teacher and author.
March 28, 2011
This book has lots of charts, pictures, and bold words which makes gardening books much easier to read. It had a ton of information in it. It would be perfect for someone who is just getting into gardening/backyard farming.
August 15, 2011
I really liked this book. Enough to add it onto Nate's wishlist. It just gives a great overview of what to grow when, where, and how: animals and plants alike. Well thought-out and I loved the way it was all put together: very organized.
September 10, 2012
This is one of the better urban farming guidebooks I've come across. It's simple, matter of fact tone will help novices while its appendix with additional reading suggestions will appeal to the more knowledgeable.
August 4, 2012
This is such a fascinating read. Full of practical tips and information, resources, websites, and more. I will definitely be buying this book whenever we move out of our highrise and into a house again.
March 2, 2013
GREAT resource! This book was exactly what I was looking for to start my own venture into urban farming and composting. I borrowed this from the library and will be buying a copy to keep. If you're a city dweller or just new to gardening I definitely recommend this!
March 1, 2014
This book was comprehensive, covering everything from crops, to animals, to beneficial insects. There were many great resources listed, as well as diagrams to show you how you could convert your urban lot over several years.
September 10, 2014
As gorgeous as this book is, I was a bit disappointed with the content. Maybe I've just been reading too many gardening books, but I felt it was too broad to be really useful -- nothing really in-depth. Also found some typos.
April 20, 2017
Good overall guide to edibles gardening and animal husbandry in urban or suburban properties. Not heavy on specific details, but very strong sections on planning and other broad stroke issues to getting started. And a nice looking book too, with it's multi-stamped look to it.
April 9, 2011
Probably a really useful book, if you have enough free time to garden. Just flipping through it made me feel stressed out, which I'm taking as a sign that I don't :)
April 1, 2011
Helping with my urban farm....chickens are thriving, and this book is really helpful and kinda cutsie....
May 8, 2011
This was a book I found at my local library - just finished it and will be picking up a copy for my home library asap. A must read/must have primer for gardening!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews