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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
    Shelby Bromley
    December 19, 2016 at 10:03 pm

    I have always wanted to start a garden but I’ve always been afraid. I think I can handle 15 minutes a day. Great review!

  • Reply
    Christine
    December 19, 2016 at 2:05 pm

    This is so cool! I love to garden but my plants always dies around July in this hot Texas sun… so I will definitely check out this book!

  • Reply
    Brittany
    December 19, 2016 at 11:36 am

    This books sounds amazing! I have never been one to have a green thumb, but I’d love to try this! It sounds like something I could really do! 15 minutes a day doesn’t sound too overwhelming.

  • Reply
    Cynthia @craftoflaughter
    December 19, 2016 at 10:13 am

    I do not garden but my daughter loves to grow things from the soil! I am so going to get her this book for her birthday. Thanks for the review!

  • Reply
    Theresa
    December 19, 2016 at 6:09 am

    I love farming! This book looks really cool. I wish I had some land so I could do farming because even a micro farm wouldn’t work in my little townhome!

  • Reply
    Jim
    December 19, 2016 at 12:44 am

    Hello! I’ve been following your site for a while now and finally got the courage to go ahead and give you a shout out from Porter Texas!
    Just wanted to tell you keep up the great work!

  • Reply
    Holly
    December 18, 2016 at 11:30 pm

    I wish I was good at gardening. I can’t keep anything alive. I do have one air plant but the rest of my plants are fake. No garden either
    🙁

  • Reply
    Amber Myers
    December 18, 2016 at 11:01 pm

    This sounds interesting! I wish I could grow stuff but alas, I tend to kill it all.

  • Reply
    Heather Denniston
    December 18, 2016 at 10:53 pm

    This is awesome! What a cool practical book. I love it. I love that you included diagrams from within the book as well. Thank you for sharing.

  • Reply
    Raluca
    December 18, 2016 at 10:24 pm

    This book seems really interesting, thanks for sharing this review!

  • Reply
    Internationalcaty
    December 18, 2016 at 9:31 pm

    Now if I had a green thumb this would be a great book. Great review. I love the insight

  • Reply
    Kim
    December 18, 2016 at 8:56 pm

    It’s great that you mention her photos. That is something I always look for in this book genre. It’s always helpful to have good pics.

  • Reply
    The How-to Guru
    December 18, 2016 at 7:35 pm

    I need this so badly. I want to be a gardener but so far my success rate is pretty low. Lol

  • Reply
    Heidi Villegas
    December 18, 2016 at 6:45 pm

    After reading your review, I decided to buy the book! I’m excited to get it and try things out! I used to live in Las Vegas, NV, and without knowing I was doing it, I was growing a permaculture garden, from what I can glean! So I look forward to learning more and doing more on our (slightly) larger property in the mountains. Thanks for the review! I probably wouldn’t have purchased it without reading this! 🙂

  • Reply
    Girl @ girlintherapy.com
    December 18, 2016 at 3:47 pm

    I wish we lived in a place with space for a garden. An indoor herb garden is all we are able to consider atm.
    This book is definitely handy for those who have space constraints and want to grow their own produce 🙂

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