Practical Organics For New Zealand Farmers by Trisha Fisk

$45.00 NZD

Category: Agriculture

Practical Organics is a down-to-earth, accessible guide to farming the organic way. It will be hugely useful to farmers and others who are setting up or converting and managing a farm using organic methods. It is written in three parts - understanding, experience and beyond. Topics include: the soil - m inerals, soil tests, worms and microorganisms; the plants - photosynthesis, plant analysis, pasture species and weeds; the animals -- health, ruminants, horses etc; changing to organics -- liming, fencing, fertilising, management, weed management, animal medicine, stock handling, problems; going official - certification; marketing; conservation. There is also a useful quick reference section with frequently asked questions. ...Show more

Healthy Cattle Naturally by Pat Coleby

$59.99 NZD

Category: Agriculture

This volume demonstrates the inescapable link between good land management and raising healthy productive animals. Modern farming practices, including improved paddock and farm layouts, water conservation and the use of soil analyses are examined.

Beautiful Cows by Val Porter

$25.00 NZD

Category: Agriculture

Placing cows on the catwalk, an award-winning photographer captures them in all their glory. Each beautiful beast is shown posed against a drapery backdrop, and captured at her most manicured moment prior to competition. The top breeds from around the world are grasped by the horns and revealed to a dot ing public, and there are graphic charts with all the essential breed information. There's also a potted history of cattle, an introduction to the breed basics, plus reportage photography of the behind-the-scenes primping and preening at the agricultural shows. Beautiful Cows is the perfect book for anyone from farmers and committed cow connoisseurs looking to beef up their book collection to lovers of fine photography and natural beauty. ...Show more

Choosing and Keeping Chickens by Chris Graham

$39.00 NZD

Category: Agriculture

More and more people, even those in cities, are keeping chickens, tempted by the appeal of eating fresh free-range eggs. This comprehensive guide covers everything from choosing a breed to ensuring they are happy, healthy and productive. How do I make their house secure? What if I go on holiday? Will th ey get on with my children? All your questions and more are answered. "Choosing and Keeping Chickens" includes a gallery of 60 of the most popular breeds, from the Dorking to the Silkie. ...Show more

The Biodynamic Farm: Developing a Holistic Organism by Karl-Ernst Osthaus (transl. by Beate Buchinger)

$32.00 NZD

Category: Agriculture

Large-scale agriculture tends to view a farm as a means for producing a certain amount of grain, milk or meat. This practical book argues instead for a holistic method of farming: the farm as a living organism. This is the principle of biodynamic farming. The author, an experienced farmer, takes a down- to-earth approach. Based on an example farm of around 60 hectares, he recommends the ideal numbers of livestock: 12 cows, 4 horses, 6 pigs, 10 sheep and 120 hens. This mix is drawn from Osthaus's deep understanding of nature, animals, agriculture and the cosmos, and from his many years of personal experience as a biodynamic farmer and teacher. The result is a healthy, balanced and sustainable farm. This is an invaluable book for anyone considering setting up a farm, or developing their existing farm with new biodynamic methods. ...Show more

Forage Conservation and Feeding by Raymond/Waltham

$50.00 NZD

Category: Agriculture

The purpose of this book is to ensure that hay and silage of high feeding value can be made reliably and with minimum loss. The latest techniques and equipment for harvesting and storing forage crops are described, and the effect that different methods of conservation have on the value of the conserv ed product in different practical feeding systems. The first edition of this book, in 1972, appeared as a series of major developments in forage conservation and feeding were beginning. Twenty-five years later, the authors hope this book will show that there are still great opportunities for further progress. ...Show more

Humane Livestock Handling by Temple Grandin

$59.99 NZD

Category: Agriculture

Temple Grandin, one of the most influential advocate of humane livestock treatment, has spent her life developing stress-free facility designs and standards of humane management. In an environment of growing concern regarding large factory farming practices, Grandin is a voice of reason explaining the b enefits of keeping animals calm through every phase of their lives - benefits that include safer working conditions, higher yields of marketable meat, better-quality meat, and, of course, more humane conditions for the animals.The first half of Humane Livestock Handling reviews the natural behaviour and temperament of cattle. Working with the animals' natural instincts, Grandin describes low-stress methods for moving cattle on pastures, paddocks, and feedlot pens. Slow, controlled movement reduces stress and fear, resulting in calmer, healthier cattle. They eat better, are less likely to become sick, and do not run into fences and gates, injuring themselves and bruising the meat. Calm cattle are also far less likely to injure the humans working with them. The second half of the book is packed with construction plans, diagrams and detailed designs for putting Grandin's ideas into practice. ...Show more

The Backyard Beekeeper's Honey Handbook : A Guide to Creating, Harvesting, and Cooking with Natural Honeys by Kim Flottum

$49.99 NZD

Category: Agriculture | Series: Backyard

A truly lush, radiant enthusiast's guide, "The Backyard Beekeeper's Honey Handbook "goes beyond the scope of a cookbook to introduce to readers the literal cornucopia of honey varieties available. An intuitive follow-up to "The Backyard Beekeeper," this book will presume beekeeping experience but reintr oduce the basics. It is an insight into the practical, back-to-the-earth beekeeping lifestyle and well as the artisan cultivation of honey varieties. Supplementary support for this book lay in the fact that interest in tapping honey's holistic and whole-health potential dovetails nicely into the natural health and green movements. Also, honey as natural, lower-calorie sweetener has garnered positive PR by those working against the obesity epidemic. ...Show more

Genuine Value by Hans W Becherer

$79.95 NZD

Category: Agriculture

A corporate history of John Deere & Company

Farm Blacksmithing by J.M. Drew

$42.95 NZD

Category: Agriculture

Discovering Fruit and Nuts by Susanna Lyle

$99.99 NZD

Category: Agriculture

This is an easy-to-read, comprehensive guide to fruit and nut plants that explores old favourites, as well as many little-known yet exciting food-producing plants. It contains an A-to-Z guide to more than 220 species and lists of the most popular cultivars in different countries, as well as a general in troduction to various aspects of horticulture and plant nutrition. At the back of the book is a table of plants for different garden situations for useful ready-reference. This incredibly thorough an extensively researched book contains everything a gardener needs to know and much that a commercial producer would find valuable in terms of choice of varieties and marketing of the harvest. It provides an inspiration for people to grow and try new foods. More than 220 species; history, description, propagation, harvesting times and methods, cultivation and location needs, pruning, popular varieties, uses of the crop are described, with particular emphasis on nutritional benefits. Recipes are included for the less usual plants. Contents: PART I: INTRODUCTION TO FRUITS AND NUTS Planting out and establishment; Propagation; Variations in yield; Pruning and training; Pests and diseases; General nutrient deficiency symptomsin plants; Health benefits from fruits and nuts PART II: MAIN PLANT SPECIES PART III: PLANT CHECKLISTS FOR DIFFERENT CONDITIONS Glossary; Bibliography; Index First published 2006. ...Show more

Storey's Illustrated Breed Guide to Sheep, Goats, Cattle and Pigs by Carol Ekarius

$69.99 NZD

Category: Agriculture

From the large-rumped Karakul sheep to the wrinkled Fengjing pig, North America is home to an extraordinary array of livestock breeds. Increasingly, a rare breed renaissance celebrates heritage breeds for their contribution to biodiversity, adaptation to specific environments, curious appearance, or abi lity to produce singular meat, milk, or fibre. At the same time, people continue to need up-to-date information about the major domestic breeds. Finally, a single resource offers detailed information about both common and heritage breeds: Storey's Illustrated Breed Guide to Sheep, Goats, Cattle, and Pigs by Carol Ekarius.This attractive, at-a-glance reference, written by one of America's foremost livestock experts, covers 194 of the most significant breeds of cattle, goats, sheep, and swine - from the common Guernsey cow to the near-extinct Guinea hog. For each breed, Ekarius provides full-colour photographs, a brief history, and details about the breed's unique qualities and quirks. ...Show more