 The Original How-to Magazine of Alternative and Traditional Crops, Livestock, and Direct Marketing—Established 1984 Editorials... From the Ridge: Mar/Apr 2008: Water, Water... Jan/Feb 2008: Keeping the Fire Going Sep/Dec 2007: A Look Back, and Moving On Jul/Oct 2007: The Truth: An Irate Editorial May/Jun 2007: Carbon Credits Mar/Apr 2007: A New Year Jul-Oct 2006: Say No to NAIS May/Jun 2006: Planning Ahead Jan/Feb 2006: Reading This Magazine Nov/Dec 2005: Show Lessons Sep/Oct 2005: A Farm by any Other Name... Jul/Aug 2005: Poor Planning: Patenting Life and Preemptive Laws May/Jun 2005: The Best Show in the Country Mar/Apr 2005: Our Connection to the Earth Jan/Feb 2005: Pricing Your Product Nov/Dec 2004: Better Than Ever Sep/Oct 2004: A Risky Business Jul/Aug 2004: Sustainable Ag in Danger in Missouri May/Jun 2004: Spring Renewal Mar/Apr 2004: A Mostly Happy Anniversary to Us Jan/Feb 2004: What Are Your Plans? Nov/Dec 2003: Ramblings From the Ridge Sep/Oct 2003: Some Risks You Have to Take Jul/Aug 2003: Problems with the Farm Problem—Technology is Not the Answer May/Jun 2003: Planning for the Show Mar/Apr 2003: Old Breeds and Old Seeds Jan/Feb 2003: A New Year, A New Cycle Dec 2002: Start Planning Now! The New Year Brings New Opportunities! Sep/Oct/Nov 2002: The Show is Here! Ten Years and Still Growing! Jul/Aug 2002: Saving Seeds Makes Your Farm More Sustainable May/Jun 2002: 10,000 for the 10th Show Mar/Apr 2002: Biotechnology is NOT Saving the World Jan/Feb 2002: Farm Numbers Dwindling? They Don't Have To. Nov/Dec 2001: The Farm Program. Yes or No? or Why? Sep/Oct 2001: Nothing is Inevitable Jul/Aug 2001: A Problem With Soybeans May/Jun 2001: Changes in Current Farming (and an apology) Mar/Apr 2001: Trade Show Talk Jan/Feb 2001: Changing Our Thinking Nov/Dec 2000: Good Life, Good Money Sep/Oct 2000: The GM Blues Jul/Aug 2000: Eurofarming May/Jun 2000: Doom and Gloom and Optimism Mar/Apr 2000: Opportunity Knocks Jan/Feb 2000: 2000 and Beyond Oct/Nov/Dec 1999: Choosing the Right Solutions Aug/Sep 1999: Attitude for Success Jun/Jul 1999: Sex in the Field–and in the Laboratory Apr/May 1999: The More Things Change... Feb/Mar 1999: Protecting the Future Contents: Home About Us Content / Subscriptions Country Store Books™ Books / Back Issues Advertising Writers’ Guidelines For the Farm (new and used products for your farm) Calendar Online Resources (links) 16th National Small Farm Trade Show & Conference™ November 6-8, 2008 • Schedule of Events • Audio tapes from past seminars & short courses about Small Farm Today 3903 W Ridge Trail Rd Clark MO 65243-9525 573-687-3525 (call for fax number) 800-633-2535 smallfarm@socket.net www.smallfarmtoday.com Rebecca DeCourley ChaosDesignArt Feedback on our web site 
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FROM THE RIDGE: A New Year Editorial from the Mar-Apr 2007 issue of Small Farm Today® magazine. Well, it’s January—and the start of a new year. The seed and chicken catalogs are coming in and it is time to make your farm plan for the year, if you haven’t already done so. There are a lot of great heirloom and new open-pollinated seeds that are available this year. Last year was a struggle for me, with health problems, magazine problems, and weather problems—but as my neighbor always says, you have to have a sense of humor; it may be the only crop you harvest. Some years the best farm plan you can have is to do nothing. I’m sure that sounds a little dreary, but spring springs eternal for all farmers and next year is bound to be better. If weather was a problem for you in 2006, what do you anticipate for 2007? Write in and give us your opinion and preparations to cope with problems on your farm. Write to us about your farm and share your plans. Did you reach your goals? I have already made my plan and will be starting plants in the walkout basement next to the woodstove. I have a four-shelf heavy-duty rack with two cheap ($10), regular three-fluorescent lamps per shelf. I start the lights out just about on top of the trays and raise them as the plants grow. I can start about 1,200 plants inside this way. A wheelbarrow and a kid’s wagon will move the plants in and out to harden them off. Nothing gets you more in the mood than growing things. My goal for this year is a hoophouse, but that depends on how much labor I can get. I would like to thank all of our subscribers (you) and advertisers, for without you there would be no magazine. The same consolidation that has happened in agriculture has occurred in the magazine business, and it is a tough world. Not many distributors or magazine sellers want to deal with small magazines—like Small Farm Today—but I love what I do. Although the magazine is not slick and glossy, I try to make it informative, practical, and useful for everyday folks. Small Farm Today has championed the small farmer for 23 years this March. Help us spread the word that you can farm and you don’t need a million bucks of debts or 1,000 acres to do it.
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