Five Acres and Independence

by Maurice G. Kains

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Editorial Reviews
Product Description

This classic of the back-to-the-land movement is packed with solid, timeless information. Written by a renowned horticulturist, it has taught generations how to make their land self-sufficient, with explanations of organic farming techniques and reliable advice on other topics, including irrigation, livestock, crops, greenhouses, fertilizers, much more. 95 figures.

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All Customer Reviews
Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars

0 of 0 people found the following review helpful:

3 out of 5 stars

Found some gems but it took some work, 2008-08-25
I'm sure this book was fantastic when if first came out back in the 1940's, but there are way better resources today that provide the information you seek without putting you to sleep or boring you with irrelevant topics on outdated technology.

If you don't mind a dry read (I fell asleep ever five pages) and have read all of the other books there might be some gems in here worth checking out. Otherwise, I'd say save your money and buy something more applicable to farming in the new millenium.

0 of 0 people found the following review helpful:

4 out of 5 stars

Outdated, but still a good resource , 2008-05-25
While many things have changed in our culture, economy and technology since this book was written in the 1930's, there is still a great amount of basic farming information that can be applied to today's small farmer. If you're a modern homesteader looking to return to a simpler life outside the hustle and bustle of even "smaller-town life", this book will only give you a reasonable insight into the general rhythm of the farming life... but don't look for specific answers to off-grid living or 100% eco-friendly methods.

This book may also offend those modern homesteaders or small farmers who see an intrinsic value in the land and animals rather than just looking at everything as a financial profit or loss. However, from the principles outlined in this book, you will get a good idea of things you need to investigate farther and things you absolutely don't want to do. Even some of the outdated recommendations are good because they serve as an example of what the modern eco-farm should NOT be doing. It's all in the way you look at things and what your definition of "profit" is (I found it helped me get through this book to assume "profit" meant "aligning with my values" and not just money.)

All-in-all, it's still a valuable resource written by someone who is an actual farmer (albeit one of days gone by) and not by an idealist/theorist with more anecdotes and agenda than actual experience. There were lots of pitfalls and drawbacks listed in this book that I hadn't considered before... but rather than being disheartened (or blindly taking his advice to quit) I've started researching ways around them. Good for a starting point and keeping on the bookshelf for reference when you're planning next years crops or have problems with soil or crop yields.

3 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

1 out of 5 stars

Revised in 1940. Obsolete., 2007-12-29
Hey, did you know that giving away all your produce free to your neighbors is bad business? Wow, whoda thunkit? Do you know the definition of organic fetilizer? See p. 159: "of vegetable and animal origin". Hm... no mention of hormones, pesticides or antibiotics. How about info on selecting your 1930's model wheelhoe (p. 191)?

Dover Publications specializes in this type of ripoff. They add a little bit of nothing, postdate the copyright and voila! People pay good money thinking they are getting current information.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5 out of 5 stars

Logsdon is Amazing, 2007-09-23
Mr. Logsdon is a real farmer. Really! I say that without the sarcastic pun that he assigns to it. I am so thirsty for a knowledge of farming, and while I like the Extension Agency employees (they are dedicated and anxious to help), it is essential to read the truth about farming -- without the influence of the large agriculture bastards who have taken the nutrition out of our food and reingineered seeds to withstand extremely toxic Roundup sprayed over the fields! We eat that stuff! Anyone who wants live a productive life and touch the earth should Logsdon, Kingsolver, and other experienced small farmers. Thank you, Mr. Logsdon for documenting the experiences of farming and land/water stewardship. You are a gem!

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4 out of 5 stars

Old School Wisdom, 2007-05-25
Do not buy this book to find the latest and greatest information on farming or living independently. But if you want "Old School" wisdom etc on farming and independent living get this book. Many of the principles in the book are timeless and apply as much today as they did when the book was written.

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