Another thing I do to get ready for the farm, while it's cold out side is read books. When I happen to get to the library before my shift starts, I roam the stacks. Upon roaming the stacks one day I came upon two wonderful finds. . .
Holy sh!t. . . is a great book. I never thought that a book about manure could be so interesting. However, if you are serious about urban farming, then you are in the business of creating, spreading, and stirring manure. There is a whole ecosystem that is dependent on manure. After reading about cow patties and cow flatulence in relation to green house gases, I actually began to think that these cows are getting a bad rap. When the author discusses the amount of gases from humans in comparison, I begin to think that we might be shifting the blame. You know how it goes, I didn't do it. Nope wasn't me. Must've been the cows. But seriously, the chapter that really got my attention was the one where the author discusses how his friend decided to go into cattle ranching not to sell the meat, but for selling manure!
And while I'm speaking about the other end of farming, why not build your own compost bin?
On another trip through the stacks, I found an oldie but a goodie, Build-it Yourself Homestead published by Rodale press in 1973. I was but wee tot when this book came out, yet the structures suggested for homesteading have stood the test of time. Any of these structures from cold frames to compost bins are in this book. You may find many of these garden structures and their directions in current books about urban homesteading today. However, they won't give that sense of nostalgia. Handle this book with care, if you happen to get a copy from your local library.
