Honey has been an important food for people for thousands of years. Their desire for it led to the, domestication of bees, through crafting artificial beehives and manipulating the bees' food sources. But quite apart from the harvests of honey and wax, the life-giving role of bees in pollinating many plants that people rely on for food, has made them the stuff of legend, mystery, worship and, nowadays, also controversy. Although some people believe that our reliance on bees for the cultivation of food crops is much exaggerated (as some major staples like rice, wheat and even potatoes don't nee... View More...
UPDATED REPRINT 2016 Did you know that to collect a kilo of honey, bees need to visit one million plants? In going about their daily lives, bees provide plants with pollination necessary for reproduction and biodiversity, and they provide food for many species from ants to insects to birds. They are also an integral part of the self-sufficiency approach to sustainable production. The authors look after over 100 honey and native bee hives. They have run bee workshops in schools and colleges, mead-making workshops for grown ups and started successful bee clubs. This book contains the an... View More...
No matter how small your lot is, you can keep chickens and enjoy fresh eggs every morning. Barbara Kilarski shares her passion for poultry as she fills this guide with tips and techniques for successfully raising chickens in small spaces. Spotlighting the self-sufficient pleasures of tending your own flock, Kilarski offers detailed information on everything from choosing breeds that thrive in tight quarters and building coops to providing medical care for sick animals. You'll have fun as you keep happy and productive chickens. View More...
A practical, systems-based approach for a more sustainable farming operation To many people today, using the words factory and farm in the same sentence is nothing short of sacrilege. In many cases, though, the same sound business practices apply whether you are producing cars or carrots. Author Ben Hartman and other young farmers are increasingly finding that incorporating the best new ideas from business into their farming can drastically cut their wastes and increase their profits, making their farms more environmentally and economically sustainable. By explaining the lean system for identi... View More...
Whether you're interested in raising rabbits for show, meat, fur, or as pets, this comprehensive guide covers everything you need to know to keep your animals healthy and productive. Offering expert advice on breed selection, housing, feeding, humane handling, routine medical care, and dealing with diseases, Bob Bennett also provides tips on how to make raising rabbits a financial lucrative endeavour. Storey's Guide to Raising Rabbits will help both the commercial producer and the backyard fancier achieve their rabbit-raising goals. View More...
Beautiful stone was nature's gift to South Australia, and an irresistible building material for early settlers. Many stone walls, without mortar or with no more than mud as glue, have defied gravity and the elements all these years. Or did gravity combine with deft balance to sustain them? Join Bruce and Kristin Munday as they traverse South Australia in search of these walls, finding historic masterpieces and insights into rural life in the years following settlement. Those Dry-stone Walls is rich with beautiful imagery of these walls, the stories behind them, and advice to inspire you to fol... View More...
Poultry Breeds is a fresh field guide of feathered friends with stunning photos highlighting the beauty and unique attributes of 104 chicken, duck, goose, and turkey breeds. Each profile outlines the bird's history, physical characteristics, and common uses, with specially noted fun facts sprinkled throughout. This pocket-size, browsable guide is easy to use, and author Carol Ekarius knows her birds: she has been writing about livestock for nearly 20 years and has raised her own for decades. View More...
Poultry in a pocket-size book? Why not, when the birds in question are neatly corralled into an appealing little volume, just right for gift giving, easy browsing, or tucking into a bag or pocket for quick reference at a poultry show or auction. More than 100 poultry pals show their amazing colours in full-page images that capture their good looks and lively personalities. Intricate feather patterns, imposing crests and wattles, and grinning beaks are just a few of their appealing features. From laying hens to heritage turkeys to adorable ducks, here are all the common barnyard favourites, plu... View More...
From the large-tailed Karakul sheep to the floppy-eared Gloucestershire Old Spot pig, North America is home to an extraordinary array of livestock. Comprehensive, colourful, and captivating, Storey's Illustrated Breed Guide to Sheep, Goats, Cattle, and Pigs features full-colour profiles of 163 livestock breeds. Whether you're looking for a gentle domestic backyard animal or are hoping to introduce a rare heritage breed on your farm, you're sure to find an animal that's perfect for your needs. 320 pages. View More...
More than 128 birds strut their stuff across the pages of this definitive primer for intrepid poultry farmers and feather fanciers alike. From the Manx Rumpy to the Redcap and the Ancona duck to his Aylesbury cousin, each breed is profiled with a brief history, detailed descriptions of identifying characteristics, and colourful photography. Comprehensive and fun, Storey's Illustrated Guide to Poultry Breeds celebrates the personalities and charming good looks of North America's quirkiest barnyard birds and waterfowl. 288 pages View More...
Transform miraculous beeswax into environmentally friendly household cleaners, personal care products, candles and crafts Features over 100 step-by-step recipes, this book presents easy-to-follow recipes that utilize the amazing flexibility of beeswax for crafting safe, highly effective home products. From lotions and salves to candles and cleaners, The Beeswax Workshop shows you how to make organic alternatives to chemically-laden store bought items. You will love stocking first aid kits with natural sunburn salve and antimicrobial ointment; making beeswax-based beauty products like lip balm,... View More...
Whichever comes first for you, the chicken or the egg, this book shows you what to do next. In this hands-on, easy-to-use guidebook, longtime chicken breeder and poultry expert Christine Heinrichs tells you everything you need to know to raise chickens in your backyard--from laying out the yard and designing a coop to choosing breeds, caring for chicks, egging, sexing, and butchering. Whether you're interested in rare breeds or the garden variety; whether you want to show your chickens or serve them, this brightly illustrated, clearly written guide will prove an indispensable resource. View More...
Whether you want to raise 5 chickens or 50, have a 40-foot city lot or a 40-acre farm, the expert advice in Future Farmers of America (FFA)-endorsed How to Raise Chickens makes it easy for young readers and beginners to get started raising a healthy flock. Whichever comes first for you, the chicken or the egg, this book shows what to do next with the help of longtime chicken breeder Christine Heinrichs, who explains all the helpful dos and important don'ts. Easy-to-follow advice helps readers Choose breeds and obtain stock; House and feed chickens; Manage your flock and keep it healthy; Select... View More...
Not so long ago, in a small island nation in the South Pacific, beekeepers produced a most peculiar honey. It was much darker than the clover honey everyone put on their toast in the morning, and it tasted very different. In fact, the honey was a problem: it was hard to get out of the combs, and even harder for beekeepers to sell. Today that honey, manuka from New Zealand, is known around the world. It fetches high prices, and beekeepers do everything in their power to produce as much of it as possible. Wound dressings containing manuka honey are used in leading hospitals, and it has saved ... View More...
Two Percent Solutions for the Planet profiles fifty innovative practices that soak up carbon dioxide in soils, reduce energy use, sustainably intensify food production, and increase water quality. The two percent refers to: the amount of new carbon in the soil needed to reap a wide variety of ecological and economic benefits; the percentage of the nation s population who are farmers and ranchers; and the low financial cost (in terms of GDP) needed to get this work done. As White explained in Grass, Soil, Hope, a highly efficient carbon cycle captures, stores, releases, and recaptures biochemic... View More...
Covering everything from breeding to butchering, Dave Holderread provides all the information you need to know to successfully raise your own ducks. With in-depth information on feeding, housing, behaviour, and health care, this comprehensive guide also provides proven strategies for creating a profitable business plan and marketing your products. Whether you're about to acquire your first ducks or are interested in experimenting with rare breeds, Storey's Guide to Raising Ducks will help you achieve your duck-raising goals. View More...
With over 30,000 copies in print, this is Australia's most popular guide to worm farming by far. Convert your household compost heap into a constant supply of nutrient-rich vermicast for your garden, and minimise the need for manufactured fertilisers and deep ploughing. Drawing on information from the world's leading agricultural research centres (including the CSIRO), this is a comprehensive and easily understood guide. View More...
Turkeys are an excellent source of succulent meat, rich eggs, and nutrient-dense manure, and raising them is a rewarding and profitable activity for many farmers. Storey's Guide to Raising Turkeys provides expert information on breed selection, facilities management, health care, and slaughtering. With helpful tips on acquiring organic certification, processing both meat and eggs, and marketing your products, you'll have all the information you need to successfully raise your own healthy and productive turkeys. View More...
Everything you need to know to keep bees on your rooftop, balcony or in your backyard. Just about anyone can keep bees. All you need is a bit of space in your backyard (or on your rooftop) and a little love for the creatures that pollinate the vegie patches of your neighbourhood. Once introduced to the charms of beekeeping and the taste of warm honeycomb direct from the hive, you'll be hooked. Backyard Bees is the ultimate guide to installing and maintaining a hive through the seasons. Learn how easy it is to keep happy, healthy bees, and how and when to harvest the liquid gold. Includin... View More...
A grower's handbook to attracting bees and other beneficial insects. Bees are our most important pollinators and they are in decline the world over. They love to live in urban environments, where it's a short flight path from one type of plant to the next. But conventional gardens that favour lawns and pesticides over flowers and edible plants are scaring the good bugs away. The Bee Friendly Garden is a guide for all gardeners great and small to encouraging bees and other good bugs to your green space. Includes: - How bees forage and why your garden needs them - A comprehensive plant ... View More...