The New American Homestead , livre ebook

Copyright © 2012 by John H. Tullock. All rights reserved.
Howell Book House
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Library of Congress Control Number: 2011945555
ISBN: 978-1-118-02417-1 (pbk); ISBN: 978-1-118-18231-4 (ebk); ISBN: 978-1-118-18322-9 (ebk); ISBN: 978-1-118-18323-6 (ebk)
Printed in the United States of America
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Book production by John Wiley & Sons, Inc., Composition Services
New American Homestead

Table of Contents
Introduction
Rethinking Residential Landscapes
1: The Earth and You
How the Earth Works
How We Impact the Earth
Changes We Can Make
Locavorism
Permaculture
Eco-Urbanization
Seize the Moment
2: Earth-Friendly Gardening Basics
The Original Green
Fire, Water, Air, Earth
Sunlight (Fire)
Water
Air
Earth
Composting
A Simple Compost Pile
Faster Results with a Compost Bin
Indoor Composting
Creating Healthy Soil
Encourage Earthworms
Grow Green Manure
Other Nutrient Sources
Tea Time
Test Your Soil
Integrated Pest Management
Barriers
Natural Pesticides
Traps
Insects as Biological Control Agents
Soil Organisms as Biological Control Agents
Common Sense Pest Control
Plant Genetics
Planting and Maintaining a Garden
Site Selection
Crop Rotation
Seeds or Transplants?
Companion Planting
Irrigation
Fertilization
Weeding
Starting Seeds
Containers for Seed Starting
Starting Mix
Sowing and Growing
Hardening Off
Growing in Containers
Potting Mix
Containers
Raised Beds
Trellises
Season Extenders
Row Covers
Cloches
Cold Frames
Greenhouses
Indoor Growing Systems
Now, Grow Some Food
3: Vegetables: Part One
The Onion Family
Perennial Onions
Scallions and Bunching Onions
Garlic
Leeks
Storage Onions
Shallots
Annual Vegetables
The Daisy Family
Lettuce
The Pea Family
Green Beans
Other Bean Varieties
Peanuts
Peas
Black-Eyed and Other Southern Peas
Pea Greens
The Potato Family
Eggplant
Peppers
Potatoes
Tomatoes
4: Vegetables: Part Two
Cool-Season and Warm-Season Crops
The Cabbage Family
Arugula
Broccoli
Brussels Sprouts
Cabbage
Cauliflower
Chinese Cabbage
Collards
Kale
Kohlrabi
Mustards
Radish
Turnips
Upland Cress
Watercress
The Goosefoot Family
Beets
Swiss Chard
Spinach
Miscellaneous Greens
Dandelion
Endives
Mache
Miner’s Lettuce
Orach
Purslane
Sorrel
The Carrot Family
Carrots
Celery and Celery Root
Fennel
Parsnip
The Squash Family
Cucumber
Melons
Squashes
The Grass Family
Corn
The Hibiscus Family
Okra
The Morning Glory Family
Sweet Potatoes
Warm Season Greens
Malabar Spinach
New Zealand Spinach
Perennial Vegetables
Globe Artichoke
Jerusalem Artichoke
Asparagus
Horseradish
5: Herbs for Flavor and Health
Choosing What to Grow
Herb Gardening Strategy
General Advice on Growing Herbs
Annual Culinary Herbs
Chervil
Cilantro
Dill
Parsley
Tarragon, Mexican
Perennial Culinary Herbs
Bay
Chives
Chives, Chinese
Lemon Verbena
Lovage
Marjoram
Mints
Oregano
Rosemary
Sage
Tarragon
Thyme
Other Especially Useful Plants
Mushrooms
Preserving and Using Herbs
Drying
Freezing
Vinegars, Oils, Essences, and Extracts
Using Sugar as a Preservative
Using Herbs
6: Fruits
Choosing Fruits
Strawberries
Strawberry Culture Considerations
Planting in Beds
Planting in Containers
Feeding Strawberries
Using the Harvest
Bramble Fruits
Choosing Cultivars
Other Bramble Varieties
Growing Methods
Harvesting and Using Brambles
Shrub Fruits
Choosing Cultivars
Culture
Harvest and Yield
Uses for Shrub Fruits
Vine Fruits
Kiwifruit
Passionflower
Tree Fruits
Nontropical Orchard Fruits
Tropical and Subtropical Tree Fruits
Nuts
7: Food from Animals
Bees
Beekeeping Equipment
Choosing and Installing Bees
Hive Management
Troubleshooting
Honey Collection and Storage
Fish
Aquaculture Pond Design and Filtration
Choosing Fish to Stock
Other Pond Products
Poultry
The Coop
Outdoor Spaces
Raising Chicks
Egg Production
Chicken Breeds
Dairy Animals
Barns and Pastures
Goats
Sheep
Cows
The Bottom Line
8: In the Homestead Kitchen
The Homestead Pantry
Drying Foods
Freezing Foods
Canning Foods
Jams, Jellies, and Preserves
Pickling Foods
Salting and Fermenting Foods
Smoking Foods
The Homestead Bakery and Brewery
Homestead Grain Production
An Honest Loaf of Bread
Brewing Beer at Home
The Homestead Vineyard
Growing Grapes
Building and Maintaining a Small Vineyard
Winemaking at Home
The Homestead Creamery
Butter and Buttermilk
Sour Cream and Yogurt
Cheesemaking
9: Putting It All Together
Creating a Lifescape Plan
The Initial Site Survey
What Do We Need?
Locating Growing Spaces
Activity Areas and Structures
Managing Water
Determining Your Water Needs
Reducing Your Irrigation Costs
Hard Water
Rainwater Collection Systems
Managing Site Drainage
Graywater Recovery
Reducing Energy Consumption
Basic Skill Sets to Develop
Essential Tools to Own
Carpentry and Construction Tools
Electrical Tools
Plumbing Tools
Mechanic’s Tools
Garden Tools
Recycling
Reusing
Curb Appeal
10: The Future of the American Homestead
Native Plants and Permaculture
Native Plants for Food and Forage
Native Plants for Butterflies and Other Beneficial Insects
Native Plant Remedies
Invasive Species
Beyond the Property Line
Forging Connections
Community Supported Agriculture
Community Gardening
Other Community Efforts
Appendix: Resources
Periodicals
Composting
Cover Cropping
Integrated Pest Management
Garden Planning
Trellises
Mushrooms
Fish
Poultry
Dairy Animals
The Homestead Bakery and Brewery
The Homestead Vineyard
The Homestead Creamery
Butterflies
Community Supported Agriculture
Emerald Ash Borer
Native Plants
Rain Gardens
Water Gardens



To Jerry Yarnell and everyone else who works hard and refuses to give up on their dreams.
Acknowledgments
Fifty years of growing, reading, and sharing with others have informed the text of this book, and thanking everyone who had a part is simply an impossible task. My grandparents, Clarence and Faye Boswell, played the greatest role in developing my interest in and love for both the natural world and the controlled spaces of farm and garden. In school, some special teachers, including in particular the late Mildred Luttrell, encouraged me to exercise my creativity and to communicate my thoughts through the written word. And throughout the lifelong adventure of gardening I have been privileged to encounter people from every state and several countries that share my enthusiasm for growing plants and enjoying them in every way