Diversity Down On The Farm

The old maxim about not putting all your eggs in one basket may have particular significance to small-scale farmers - and not just those raising chickens.

A new handbook says diversity is one of the keys to financial success for farmers with just a few acres of vegetables or a small herd of livestock.

The 166-page “Small Farm Handbook,” by the Small Farm Center at the University of California, Davis, emphasizes finding and growing crops for specialized markets such as minorities or the health-conscious.

The handbook offers testimonials from farmers who have tried different techniques to improve their operations.

The book covers everything from the basics - such as the need to have good land and enough water - to marketing and “the need to identify consumer needs and desires” rather than focusing entirely on how to sell more of a crop already being grown.