Farms with a Future

Creating and Growing a Sustainable Farm Business

by Rebecca Thistlethwaite

Foreword by Richard Wiswall

Praise

"Farms with a Future should be handed out to every budding young farmer in America. Thistlethwaite guides us through the daunting process of creating a viable small farm by sharing hard-earned lessons of her own, and from experienced farmers she met while researching this book. Indispensable!"

—Novella Carpenter, author of Farm City: The Education of an Urban Farmer

"What is so great about Rebecca Thistlethwaite's new book, Farms with a Future, is that it is not a generalized treatment about how to succeed in the new farm and food revolution, but a detailed and complete description of how some fourteen farms of various kinds have done it. This book does what books are supposed to do, that is, it gives the reader on-the-ground experience that would otherwise take years to gain."

—Gene Logsdon, author of The Contrary Farmer and Small-Scale Grain Raising

"Farms with a Future is an important book. If you are new to farming, read it now. If you've been in the business for a while, read it every year to keep yourself on track."

—Shannon Hayes, author of Long Way on a Little and Radical Homemakers

"Beginning farmers face so many challenges accessing the capital they need to get started or to grow their operations. But those who heed the excellent advice in Farms with a Future will be much more successful in their interactions with banks and other lenders."

—Elizabeth Ü, executive director of Finance for Food and author of Raising Dough: A Complete Guide to Financing a Socially Responsible Food Business

"Farms with a Future should be added to the reading list of anyone getting into farming. Easy to read and full of practical information, it will help those entering agriculture avoid many common pitfalls."

—Nicolette Hahn Niman, author of Righteous Porkchop: Finding a Life and Good Food Beyond Factory Farms

"Looking to get rich? Billionaire investor Jim Rogers says dump stocks and become a farmer! Or, perhaps you simply long to nurture the earth and its inhabitants while feeding yourself and others at the same time. Regardless of why you're being called to farm, your journey begins here. In Farms with a Future, Rebecca Thistlethwaite shares a treasure trove of lessons, stories, and ideas from sustainable farmers who have already traded in the cubicle for the chicken coop. With Rebecca's help, you'll be living your farm dream in no time!"

—Tim Young, author of Poisoned Soil and The Accidental Farmers