The Joy of Hobby Farming

April 1, 2011
City dudes tired of the rat race often think life might be simpler and better on a farm. And with todays emphasis on locally produced foods, now might be a good time to take up agriculture. Hobby farming seeks to raise crops and animals on smaller plots of land with minimum negative impact on the environment. The Levatinos offer plenty of detailed guidance based on husbanding their own Virginia acreage. They address concerns ranging from financing land purchase through evaluating water supply. They detail the sorts of flowers, vegetables, and fruits that can be grown and profitably distributed in nearby farmers markets. They suggest guidelines for raising animals, from tiny bees to huge cattle, even illustrating how to shear a llama. Entrepreneurs contemplating starting a small farm will find the Levatinos experience provides a bit of useful direction to avoid costly mistakes.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2011, American Library Association.)