From lewa0003@gold.tc.umn.eduMon Mar 18 22:23:05 1996 Date: Sun, 17 Mar 96 20:33:59 CST From: "lewa0003@gold.tc.umn.edu" To: sanet-mg@amani.ces.ncsu.edu Subject: Core agricultural reading: results Several weeks ago I requested the names of your favorite (non-academic) books about agriculture and our food system. Many thanks to the seventeen of you who responded. Below are the unsorted titles that people sent me. At the end are other good sources of agricultural books. Thanks again for your help. -Ann Lewandowski lewa0003@gold.tc.umn.edu Louis Bromfield's books Wes Jackson, "Altars of Unhewn Stone" Bill Duesing, edited by Suzanne Duesing, "Living on the Earth" ------------------ "Plowman's Folly," and "A Second Look," both by Edward H. Faulkner "Shattering" by Cary Fowler and Pat Mooney, 1990 An excellent, readable, and comprehensive exploration of the issues surrounding the loss of genetic diversity. "Ishmael" by Daniel Quinn 1992 "An Acres U.S.A. Primer" Charles Walters, Jr. and C.J. Fenzau ------------------ Jane Gussow, "Chicken Little, Tomato Sauce & Agriculture." ------------------ "So Shall You Reap: Farming and Crops in Human Affairs" by Otto T. and Dorothy Solbrig 1994 Shearwater Books / Island Press Presents a general account on the co-evolution of agriculture, agricultural crops and human societies. A nice mix of general historical overview, vignettes, and information about crop plants. I used it in an undergraduate course and the students loved it. ------------------ "Science in Agriculture," Arden Anderson ------------------ Brady,N.C. and R. R. Weil. 1996. THE NATURE AND PROPERTIES OF SOILS, 11TH ED. Prentice Hall, Upper Saddle River, N.J. 740p. This is an ecologically-oriented revision of the book that has the standard treatise on soils since the 1920s. The most authoritative book on all aspects of sustainable soil management. With lots of illustrations, references and diagrams, the book is still very readable for the average person with a good high school education in basic science. Includes extensive information on soil organic matter managment, soil life and ecology, organic and inorganic fertilizer materials, compsting, soil quality, soil profiles, soil conservation, water management, tilth, and the like. Magdoff, Fred. 1992. BUILDING BETTER SOILS FOR BETTER CROPS. University of Nebraska Press. 176 p This is a small, but practical book that explains the basics of managing soil organic matter to improve soil quality. This very readable book focuses on soil management as particularily relevant for grain and livestock farmers. -------------- David B. Danbom. Born in the Country: A History of Rural America. Johns Hopkins University Press, 1995. A general history of agriculture and rural life in the United States from Colonial times through the present. By necessity, there's not a lot of detail, but it covers a lot of ground. Would make a decent basic text for a course in U.S. ag history. Willard W. Cochrane. The Development of American Agriculture: A Historical Analysis. Univ. of Minnesota Press, 1993. A classic. Primarily an economic orientation, but plenty of coverage of social concerns, too. Lots of detail, particularly on role of technology in ag development. James R. Shortridge. The Middle West: Its Meaning in American Culture. Univ. Press of Kansas, 1989. A nice little book, especially for Midwesterners. Basic premise is that the Middle West is what and where you think it is, and that what we think it is is complicated by its being both breadbasket and industrial heartland. William Cronon. Nature's Metropolis: Chicago and the Great West. Norton, 1991. A social/economic history of the development of Chicago. Main premise: the city depended on its hinterland as much as the other way around. Interesting stuff. John Fraser Hart. The Land That Feeds Us: The Story of American Farming.Norton, 1991. Definitely not academic. Accounts of farming from regions around the country. Highlights cultural and practical differences. Some interesting history, too. National Research Council. Alternative Agriculture. National Academy Press, 1989. Analysis of alternatives to conventional ag production in the 1990s. Not basic, but not that hard to read, either. Gary Comstock (ed.). Is There a Moral Obligation to Save the Family Farm? Iowa State University Press, 1987. A series of essays on the title topic by economists, sociologists, philosophers, farmers, and others. Lists of suggested readings, too. A must for those interested in the "family farm" question. Marty Strange. Family Farming: A New Economic Vision. Univ of Nebraska Press, 1988. Read this one along with the previous two. >From Land to Mouth: Understanding the Food System Brewster Kneen. NC Press. An excellent overview of the *logic* behind the modern food system, namely distancing, uniformity, and continuous flow. This book is the basis for most of my studies. New Roots for Agriculture Wendell Berry. Sierra Club Essays on the history of the development of agribusiness and the plight of farmers. The Intimate Commodity Anthony Winson. Garamond Press Similar to above, only Canadian history. A Garden of Unearthly Delights Robin Mather. Dutton A very accessible account of the *pros* and cons of biotechnology. Really well written and entertaining -- more ethnographic than agricultural, but quite relevant. The New Organic Grower Eliot Coleman Don't just read about it, do it! Agricultural tehcniques for sustainable production. -------------- A classic collection is Joan Gussow's The Feeding Web (1978). Also, Brewster Kneen's From Land to Mouth- Understanding the Food System (1993) and Planting the Future- Developing an Agriculture that Sustains Land and Community edited by Bird, Bultena, and Gardner. ---------------- Mothers & Others has written a practical consumer guide called "The Way We Grow: Good-Sense Solutions to Protecting Our Families From Pesticides In Food" (Berkley Books, 1993, $8.95, 90 pages). It covers current methods of food production, sustainable agriculture as a new food system, actions to take to protect families, farmers and the environment (how to get organic and local food into supermarkets, restaurants, etc.), and includes a foreword by T. Berry Brazelton, MD. ------------- All of the Wendell Berry books: "The Unsettling of America" something like, "Sex, Community and ..." "The Gift of Good Land" -------------- We review such books regularly in the Book Stall department of Farmer's Market Online (marketfarm@aol.com). Here's a few we've reviewed and found of value recently. A Garden Of Unearthly Delights: Bioengineering and the Future of Food by Robin Mather Dutton, 1995, $23.95 cloth. As an advocate of sustainable agriculture, Mather approaches the issue of bioengineered food products with a skeptical and often critical eye. REFORMING AGRICULTURAL COMMODITY POLICY, by Brian D. Wright an Bruce L. Gardner. 164 pp. AEI Press, 1995. $29.95 cloth. As Congress pushes its "Freedom to Farm" act toward the President's desk, this volume provides some timely reading. Published by the American Enterprise Institute for Public Policy Research, it contains the results of two studies on U.S. agricultural poicies that provide insight into the politics of and options for the 1995 Farm Bill. THE ORCHARD ALMANAC: A Seasonal Guide to Healthy Fruit Trees, by Steve Page and Joe Smillie. 176 pp. AgAccess, 1995. $16.95 paper plus $4 shipping from agAccess, P.O. Box 2008, Davis, CA 95617; fax (916)756-7188. Growing sweet, unblemished and bug-free fruit is never easy; doing it with little or no chemical inputs is downright difficult. As any backyard orchardist is well aware, organic growers deserve whatever premiums they seek. FOOD AND WINE ONLINE: A Guide to Culinary Online Services by Gary Holleman. Van Nostrand Reinhold, 1995. In a vocation as tangible and personal as cooking, it may be surprising to discover how many professional chefs not only own computers, but are actively cruising the Internet and various bulletin board systems. This book is written for chefs and other food service people who are already online, or who plan to go that direction soon; it is their cyberspace guidebook, no matter how experienced. SO SHALL YOU REAP:Farming and Crops in Human Affairs Otto T. Solbrig and Dorothy J. Solbrig Island Press, ISBN 1-55963-308-5 "Only in the last 200 years have agriculturists come to dominate the planet," note Harvard biologist Otto Solbrig and biology librarian Dorothy Solbrig. In their co-authored history of farming, So Shall You Reap, they detail the gradual emergence of agriculture and how it changed human history and the world's environment. THE CONTRARY FARMER Gene Logsdon Chelsea Green Publishing Co., $21.95 cloth, ISBN 0-930031-67-9 Much of Logsdon's writing, particularly in The Contrary Farmer, is meant to inspire people to buy a small plot of land, till its soil, grow a crop or two, and to invest themselves in the local community. He offers practical advice on mulching, raising hogs, building ponds, cutting firewood and other skills of rural life, but most importantly he provides a philosophical framework for a fulfilling life outside of mainstream consumerism. AT NATURE'S PACE:Farming and the American Dream Gene Logsdon Pantheon Books, $23 cloth, ISBN 0-0679-42741-4 The collection of essays in At Nature's Pace argue against single-crop megafarms, which are moving toward an economic and biological crisis, in favor of frugal and sustainable cottage farms. Logsdon envisions a return to the kind of farming practiced before farmers became obsessed with expanding their acreages, increasing their profits and living more like city folk. The 2 volume set of "Albrecht Papers". (From ACRES USA at 1 800 355 5313). He was one of the world experts on soil and plant/animal nutrition, from the U of MO. He did major and vital work about a generation ago; still highly valid. -------------- These are more philosophical than practical. I am not sure that they are still in print. Hyams, Edward Soil and Civilization Harper Colophon Books, 1976. rev. ed Carter, Vernon Gill & Tom Dale Topsoil and Civilization University of Oklahoma Press, 1974 ------------- ----------------- OTHER RESOURCES FOR LISTS OF AGRICULTURAL BOOKS Several people recommended Acres USA as an excellent source of sustainable ag books: "They have a lot of really good books on agriculture, both practical and philosophical. Some are published by ACRES, USA and some are brokered through them." Acres USA: 504-889-2100, fax 504-889-2777, PO Box 8800 Metarie, Louisiana 70011-8800 One person provided the following toll-free number: 1 800 355 5313. (This might be meant primarily for orders.) ---------------- Request the booklist from agAccess@davis.com--a terrific catalog! available by email. They respond within 24 hrs with a fat file of excellent titles. Also, contact the Price-Pottinger foundation PO Box 2614, LaMesa, CA 91943-2614 (619) 574 7763. --------------- We review such books regularly in the Book Stall department of Farmer's Market Online (marketfarm@aol.com). Farmer's Market Online, is available by e-mail free of charge on request to marketfarm@aol.com. ---------------- The Alternative Farming Systems Information Center/ National Agricultural Library publish an annual "Sustainable Agriculture in Print: Current Books". It lists recent books added to the library collection and gives a brief description of each. Printed copies are free. You may also see this publication (and previous editions...they don't overlap) via their www homepage: http://www.nal.usda.gov/afsic Alternative Farming Systems Information Center National Agricultural Library, ARS, USDA Room 304 10301 Baltimore Blvd. Beltsville MD 20705-2351 301-504-6559 301-504-6409 FAX -------------------- Books Purchased in 1992-1993 by Center for Sustainable Agricultural Systems, University of Nebraska-Lincoln (available through UNL Libraries) June 1993 1991-1992 Green Index: A State-by-State Guide to the Nation's Environmental Health. Hall, Bob and Mary Lee Kerr (1992) 2020 Visions: Long View of a Changing World. Carlson, Richard and Bruce Goldman (90) A Farmer's Guide to On-Farm Research. Janke, Rhonda (90) After the Green Revolution: Sustainable Agriculture for Development. Conway, Gordon R. and Edward Barbier (90) Agriculture Beyond 2000. Poostchi, Iraj (92) Agroecology. Carroll, C. Ron, John H. Vandermeer and Peter M. Rosset, ed. (90) Agroecology: Researching the Ecological Basis for Sustainable Agriculture. Gliessman, Stephen (90) Alternative Agriculture: Scientists' Review. Council for Agricultural Science and Technology (90) Alternative Agriculture. National Research Council (89) Appropriate Biotechnology in Small Scale Agriculture: How to Reorient Research and Development. Bunders, Joske F.G. and Jacqueline E.W. Broerse, ed. (91) Biodiversity. Wilson, E. O., ed. (88) Cereal-Legume Cropping Systems: Nine Farm Case Studies in the Northern Plains, Canadian Praries and Intermountain Northwest. Matheson, Nancy (91) Conservation of Natural Resources: A Resource Mangement Approach. Castillon, David A. (92) Conserving the World's Biological Diversity. McNeely, Jeffrey, Kenton R. Miller, Walter V. Reid, Russel Mittermeier and Timothy B. Werner (90) Crop Residue Management for Conservation: Proceedings of a National Conference. Soil and Water Conservation Society (91) Cycles of Soil: Carbon, Nitrogen, Phosphorous, Sulfur, Micronutrients. Stevenson, F. J. (86) Data Analysis in Community and Landscape Ecology. Jongman, R.H.G., C.J.F. Braak and O.F.R. van Tongeren, ed. (87) Defending the Future: A Guide to Sustainable Development. Holmberg, Johan, Stephen Bass and Lloyd Timberlake (91) Educational Renaissance: Our Schools at the Turn of the Twenty -First Century. Cetron, Marvin and Margaret Gayle (91) Effects of Conservation Tillage on Ground Water Quality. Logan, Terry J., James M. Davidson and Michael R. Overcash (87) Empty Harvest: Understanding the Link Between Our Food, Our Immunity, and Our Planet. Jensen, Bernard and Mark Anderson (90) Energy and the Environment in the 21st Century. Tester, Jefferson W., David O. Wood and Nancy A. Ferrari, ed. (91) Energy and the Ecological Economics of Sustainability. Peet, John (92) Environmental Effects of Stabilization and Structural Adjustment Programs: the Phillippines Case. Cruz, Wilfrido and Robert Repetto (92) Family Farming, a New Economic Vision. Strange, Marty (88) Farming in Nature's Image: An Ecological Approach to Agriculture. Soule, Judith D. and Jon K. Piper (92) Farming, Fertilizers and the Nitrate Problem. Addiscott, T.M., A.P. Whitemore and D.S. Powlson (91) Fertile Soil: A Grower's Guide to Organic and Inorganic Fertilizers. Parnes, Robert (90) >From the Ground Up: Wisconsin Sustainable Farmers Tell of Their Practice and Vision. Irwin, Mike (90) Getting Tough: Public Policy and the Management of Pesticide Resistance. Dover, Michael and Brian Croft (84) Global Diversity Strategy: Guidelines for Action to Save, Study, and Use Earth's Biotic Wealth Sustainably and Equitably. World Resources Institute (92) Green Fields Forever: The Conservation Tillage Revolution in America. Little, Charles E. (87) Growing Our Future: Food Security and the Environment. Smith, Katie and Tetsunao Yamamori, ed. (92) Guidelines for Increasing Fish and Wildlife on Farms and Ranches: With Ideas for Supplemental Income Sources for Rural Families. Henderson, Robert, ed. (88) Harvest of Hope: The Potential for Alternative Agriculture to Reduce Pesticide Use. Curtis, Jennifer (91) Healthy Harvest: A Directory of Sustainable Agriculture and Horticulture Organizations. Healthy Harvest Society (92) Imperiled Planet: Restoring Our Endangered Ecosystems. Goldsmith, Edward, Peter Bunyard, Nicholas Hildyard and Patrick McCully (90) In Praise of Nature. Mills, Stephanie, ed. (90) Intensive Grazing Management: Forage, Animals, Men, Profits. Smith, Burt, Pingsun Leung and George Love (86) Landscape Linkages and Biodiversity. Hudson, Wendy E. (91) Learning to Listen to the Land. Willers, Bill, ed. (91) Lessons from Nature: Learning to Live Sustainably on the Earth. Chiras, Daniel D. (92) Livestock Health and Nutrition Alternatives: Proceedings of a Western States Conference. Hilander, Sally K., ed. (91) Meeting the Expectations of the Land: Essays in Sustainable Agriculture and Stewardship. Jackson, Wes, Wendell Berry and Bruce Colman, ed. (84) Megatrends 2000: Ten New Directions for the 1990's. Naisbitt, John and Patricia Aburdene (90) No-tillage Farming/Minimum Tillage Farming. Young, H.M. and William Hayes (82) Nature Tourism: Managing for the Environment. Whelan, Tensie, ed. (91) New Roots for Agriculture. Jackson, Wes (80) Our Country, the Planet: Forging a Partnership for Survival. Ramphal, Shridath (92) Powershift: Knowledge, Wealth, and Violence at the Edge of the 21st Century. Toffler, Alvin (90) Prescriptions for Healthy Farm Animals. Herrick, Dr. John B. (91) Preserving Communities and Corridors. Macintosh, Gay (89) Private Lands Wildlife Management: A Technical Guidance Manual and Correspondence Course. Barnes, T.G. (92) Protective Plantation Technology. Kaifu, Xiang, Shi Jiachen, N.W. Baer and J.W. Sturrock, ed. (90) Research Priorities for Conservation Biology. Soule, Michael E. and Kathryn A. Kohm (89) Resourceful Farming: A Primer for Family Farmers. The Small Farm Resources Project, Center for Rural Affairs (87) Rural Environmental Planning for Sustainable Communities. Sargent, Frederic O., Paul Lusk, Jose Rivera and Maria Varela (91) State of the World 1992. Brown, Lester R., et al. (World Resources Institute) (91) Steady-State Economics: Second Edition with New Essays. Daly, Herman E. (91) Sucessful Small-Scale Farming: An Organic Approach. Schwenke, Karl (91) Sustainable Agriculture: A Brighter Outlook for Fish and Wildlife. Robinson, Ann Y. (90) Sustainable Agricultural Systems. Edwards, Clive A., Rattan Lal, Patrick Madden, Robert H. Miller and Gar House, ed. (90) Sustainable Agriculture Directory of Expertise 1993. Sustainable Agriculture Network (National Ag Library) (93) Sustainable Agriculture in Temperate Zones. Francis, Charles A., Cornelia Butler Flora and Larry D. King, ed. (90) Switching to a Sustainable System: Strategies for Converting from Conventional/Chemical to Sustainable/Organic Farming Systems. Kirschenmann, Frederick (88) Teacher's Guide to World Resources 1992-93. World Resources Institute (92) The Farmer's Fertilizer Handbook: How to Make Your Own NPK Recommendation. Cramer, Craig, ed. (86) The River of the Mother of God. Leopold, Aldo. Susan L. Flander and J. Baird Callicott, ed. (91) The Changing Atmosphere: A Global Challenge. Firor, John (90) The New Organic Grower: A Master's Manual of Tools and Techniques for the Home and Market Gardener. Coleman, Eliot (89) The Philosophy and Practice of Wildlife Management. Gilbert, Frederick F. and Donald G. Dodds (92) Tools for Organic Farming: A Manual of Appropriate Equipment and Treatments. McRobie, George, ed. (90) Transforming Technology: An Agenda for Environmentally Sustainable Growth in the Twenty-first Century. Heaton, George, Robert Repetto and Rodney Sobin (91) Unwelcome Harvest: Agriculture and Pollution. Conway, Gordon R. (91) Wildlife and Habitats in Managed Landscapes. Rodiek, Jon E. and Eric G. Bolen, ed. (90) Windbreak Technology: Proceedings of an International Symposium. Brandle, J.R., D.L. Hintz and J.W. Sturrock, ed. (88) World Resources 1992-1993. World Resources Institute (92) _________________________ Ann Lewandowski lewa0003@gold.tc.umn.edu (612)871-9315 fax: (612)624-1044 _________________________