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A Book Review: The Suburban Micro-Farm

A Book Review: The Suburban Micro-Farm | angiethefreckledrose.com

I'm always eager to get my hands on great new gardening books.  No matter how long you have been gardening, there is always still so much to learn.  This is one of the reasons why I love working in the garden.  There is always room to continue growing and advancing at your craft.  I've discovered a book that is just about to be released, The Suburban Micro-Farm by Amy Stross.  It is filled with helpful information that will teach you how to become a master of your own landscape, no matter how big or small, in no time!  She really breaks down how you can turn your yard into an edible paradise from just a tiny seed.

As Amy puts it, "dirt therapy" has really worked for me.  I can really identify with people who start out feeling like they have a black thumb.  Even now, when people tell me I have a green thumb, I question that inside my head.  Do I really have a green thumb?  I always feel like there is more to master and areas I want to improve.  I feel the key to any hobby or career is really loving what you do.  You may see someone with a large homestead or farm and wonder how they got to that point.  This book will give you confidence and take away that overwhelming feeling of not knowing where to start.  Nothing large happens overnight, and this book will guide you through each step you can take to get you to where you want to be.

A Book Review: The Suburban Micro-Farm | angiethefreckledrose.com

About The Book

The Suburban Micro-Farm teaches you how to create and maintain a sustainable and successful garden by putting in just 15 minutes of work everyday.  We are all very busy and are constantly juggling multiple tasks and responsibilities in life.  Setting a realistic goal and putting aside a small amount of time really makes it possible for everyone to have a healthy and happy lifestyle.  She shares how you don't need a ton of space to create your own micro-farm, something that I think can be very daunting to many wanting to get into it.  You can get creative!  I've learned recently about growing vertically.  Implement this into your own garden design and find what works best for you!  Amy shares that it is possible to take an out-of-the-box approach and grow edibles anywhere.  You can even grow them in your own front yard.  She also reminds us to adapt to the situations we are given no matter what limitations we have.  

A Book Review: The Suburban Micro-Farm | angiethefreckledrose.comThis book dives right into developing healthy soil, starting seeds and edible landscaping.  Throughout the book Amy provides stunning photography to help make her ideas and advice more tangible.  It's easy to follow along with her tips, tricks and lifehacks throughout the pages. The book is helpful to have on hand when you are ready to begin implementing a technique to your own garden.  Take composting for example.  I'm looking to become a daily composter this upcoming season so that nothing goes to waste.  In chapter 3, Developing Healthy Soil, she really breaks down all of the different ways you can go about this so it fits into your lifestyle.  I will definitely be flipping through this chapter again in a couple of months!  

If you have ever been curious about permaculture or micro-farming, but don't really understand it, you need this book!  Amy teaches you ways to grow and cultivate all while being environmentally friendly.  We certainly strive for a low-maintenance landscape that is beneficial for not only us, but also the ecosystem around us.  Using water wisely is just one of the techniques she discusses inside these pages. 

One of the many helpful graphics contained in this book

About The Author

A Book Review: The Suburban Micro-Farm | angiethefreckledrose.comI first got to know Amy Stross through her inspiring blog, Tenth Acre Farm.  I find myself frequently reading her latest posts and becoming motivated by her ideas and permaculture adventures she shares.  I love her ambition and her no-holds-barred approach to trying new things in her own yard.  I also admire how she is constantly learning and studying different aspects of nature, and I can feel her passion about what she does in her writing.  

She shares some helpful information that relates to her book in one of her latest post 5 Myths About Micro-FarmingIt's articles like this that really introduce the concept of micro-farming to even the most novice gardener.  I love how she is willing to share her savvy garden knowledge with us.  A great example of this is in her article Want To Be A Micro-Farmer? 6 Tips For Success (And 6 Things Not To Do).  Right now, Amy lives in the suburbs of Cincinnati, Ohio with her husband and farm cat.  They are currently transforming a 3-acre suburban property into a biodiverse micro-farm.  

I love how Amy has overcome hardships in her own life to find health, happiness and adventure on the other side.  I have been suffering with the negative effects of autoimmune disease just like she has.  I feel like growing my own edible garden and working outside with nature daily has made a huge difference in my life.  Like Amy, my health and diet has improved immensely.  I really enjoy her curiosity to constantly learn more and her ability to teach people about incorporating gardening into your everyday lifestyle.  Make sure you follow along with her on social media. 

Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest

I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who is interested in learning more about gardening.  Right now, it is available for pre-order on Amazon in paperback and for Kindle here.  The Suburban Micro-Farm would make the perfect gift for the upcoming holidays.  It will be released on December 14, so stay tuned!  Do you grow or are interested in growing an edible garden?  Tell me about your experiences in the comment section below!  

This upcoming spring, I am upgrading and redesigning my vegetable garden.  When I first started gardening, everything was trial and error. Now that I've been learning and growing for the past five years, I'm ready to build something more permanent.  Right now I'm in the planning stages, and I'm using this book as one of my main guides!  It's filled with worksheets, monthly checklists and calendars that are assisting me in my yard transition.  I want to thank Amy for inviting me to review her book!  Don't forget to click the button below and get a copy for yourself.

A Book Review: The Suburban Micro-Farm | angiethefreckledrose.com

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33 Comments

  • Reply
    Melanie Frost
    December 18, 2016 at 2:03 pm

    We can really use this book. My husband has created a line of vertical farming systems that he wants to sell, but it sounds like there are some very important tips in this book. I’m going to tell him about it.

  • Reply
    Annissa
    December 18, 2016 at 9:45 am

    Sounds like a great book! I think I would be willing to spend 15 minutes a day if it meant having fresh veggies from my own garden.

  • Reply
    Tiffany Cardenas
    December 18, 2016 at 5:18 am

    This really sounds like a book I need! I’m a novice gardener, but I would love to get better. Plus, we started composting at home but did not research it first. That chapter would be very helpful!

  • Reply
    Chelsea
    December 17, 2016 at 9:09 pm

    Never heard of this. I’ll have to check it out.

  • Reply
    Agnes
    December 17, 2016 at 8:43 pm

    One of my goals is to buy a house with space for a garden. This books sounds like something I would need.

  • Reply
    andrea
    December 17, 2016 at 8:36 pm

    I really need to check this out. We went from having a large gardening area and land to a small urban yard. I really have no idea what to do with it. This book sounds perfect. Thanks for sharing it

  • Reply
    Chloe
    December 17, 2016 at 7:12 pm

    I haven’t read this book but it sounds great! Can’t wait to check it out!

  • Reply
    Author Brandi Kennedy
    December 17, 2016 at 4:56 pm

    Great review! This looks like the perfect read for a city mom like me, and a fun way to start teaching my daughters how to grow things.

  • Reply
    Ivonne
    December 17, 2016 at 4:53 pm

    Sounds like a great book! I’ll have to check it out the next time I’m at Chapters! I love gardening and have very little space in which to do it!

  • Reply
    Nellwyn
    December 17, 2016 at 4:28 pm

    This sounds like a fantastic book! I really want to learn more about urban farming since I’m a small-town girl now living in a big city with no yard. I’ll have to check this one out and see if there’s any way for be to start a microgarden on my balcony.

  • Reply
    Rebekah
    December 17, 2016 at 4:09 pm

    Sounds like a fascinating book! I’m one of those people with two black thumbs haha but I’d love to eventually learn more about gardening!

  • Reply
    Christy
    December 17, 2016 at 3:57 pm

    I’d love to read this book! I’ve done some mini-vegetable gardens everywhere I’ve lived, but I’m really interested in edible garden landscaping. Thanks for the recommendation, and I’m pinning for later!

  • Reply
    Mrs. Mommy Mack
    December 17, 2016 at 3:20 pm

    First things first, your blog is GORGEOUS. Secondly, this book is now on my To Read shelf. I have about the brownest thumb that ever gardened, but I would love to make a little micro farm next summer. Definitely going to try this.

  • Reply
    Courteney Noonan
    December 17, 2016 at 8:58 am

    This book sounds really good! I really like the 15 minute minute a day idea too – I know a few people who’d love to read this

  • Reply
    EllaBella
    December 13, 2016 at 7:37 pm

    This book looks fantastic! I’ve been looking for a good guide to get me back into the garden! There seem to be so many to pick from that I didn’t know where to start. This one looks perfect for what I’ve been looking for. Thanks for the recommendation.

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