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Across North America, an agricultural renaissance is unfolding. A growing number of market gardeners are emerging to feed our appetite for organic, regional produce. At the same time, most books and resources about food production aim at the backyard and hobby gardener, who simply want to supplement their family's diet with a few homegrown fruits and vegetables. Targeted at serious growers in every climate zone, Sustainable Market Farming acts as a comprehensive manual for small-scale farmers raising organic crops sustainably on a few acres.

Informed by the author's extensive experience growing a wide variety of fresh, organic vegetables and fruit to feed the approximately 100 members of Twin Oaks Community in central Virginia, this practical guide provides:

• Detailed profiles of a full range of crops, addressing sowing, cultivation, rotation, succession, common pests and diseases, harvest and storage
• Information about new and efficient techniques, season extension, and disease-resistant varieties
• Farm-specific business skills to help ensure a successful, profitable enterprise

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It's the holy grail of gardening: a plant that perfectly matches your tastes and the conditions in your garden. The hitch? You're not likely to find it at your local garden center. You're going to have to create it yourself.

But don't worry - it isn't hard. After all, gardeners have been doing it for centuries, simply by saving seeds of the varieties that tasted or performed best. But you'll get even better results by following the advice in Plant Breeding for the Home Gardener. You'll learn how to set achievable goals in your breeding program, the ins and outs of genetics, how to pick the best parent plants, how to cross-pollinate, the best techniques to use for popular vegetables and flowers, and how to harvest and store seeds.

In no time at all, you'll be producing a tomato perfect for your palate, a more fragrant rose or a pepper with just the right amount of heat!