The Contrary Farmer's Invitation to Gardening

Between his opening salvo against agribusiness (including politicians, academicians, economists and even charitable foundations) and his closing homage to the pleasures of self-sufficiency, Ohio farmer Logsdon folds practical advice into bold philosophical argument. These 10 essays are grounded in the ""garden economy""--wherein gardens of ""minuscule expense"" enrich the quality of life for low- and middle-income families outside the money economy. Such gardens combine light animal husbandry (""chickens, at least""), grains and the usual vegetable patch with labor saving hot huts, cold frames, hot beds and mulch beds. The author's radical ""Declaration of Food Independence"" warns that even community-supported agriculture is ""just a way... to get hammered good by the mainstream economy""; true social security is built on a caring community of self-sufficient households. General readers in the field may miss here the breadth and depth of E.F. Schumacher and the lucidity of Wendell Berry. But Logsdon's words are long on experience--50 years' worth. Those ready to leave the romance of self-sufficiency for its hard realities (an essay about killing wildlife decries ""sidewalk environmentalists"" and animal rights activists), will find Logsdon's contrary tone and workable methods invigorating. Color photos not seen by PW. (Aug.)