Farming without tilling has long been a goal of agriculture, yet tilling remains one of the most dominant paradigms; almost everyone does it. But tilling kills beneficial soil life, burns up organic matter, and releases carbon dioxide. If the ground could instead be prepared for planting without tilling, time and energy could be saved, soil organic matter increased, carbon sequestered, and dependence on machinery reduced.

Andrew Mefferd, the editor of Growing for Market magazine, offers a comprehensive, farmer-developed roadmap showing how no-till farming lowers barriers to starting a small farm, reduces greenhouse gas emissions, increases efficiency and profitability, and promotes soil health.

This hands-on manual offers:

• Reasons why roller-crimper no-till methods don’t work for most small farms
• A decision-making framework for the four no-till methods: occultation, solarization, organic mulches grown in place, and mulch applied to the soil
• Ideas for starting a no-till farm or transitioning to a working farm
• A list of tools, supplies, and sources

This is the only manual of its kind, specifically written for natural and small-scale farmers who wish to expand or explore chemical-free, regenerative farming methods.