When George and Ann Rohrbacher began farming in the early seventies, they had no idea their up-and-down adventures on the land would be so harrowing. They weathered drought and flood, insect infestations, poor prices, and brutal bondage to their crops. Exhausted, at wit's end, they gambled every cent they owned that a parlor game invented by George would rescue them financially. And it did! The game that cleverly teaches the economics of keeping a farm afloat has sold hundreds of thousands of copies all over the world. Zen Ranching and The Farming Game is the touching, humorous, fascinating story of the farming couple who were saved by an idea that enabled them to turn misfortune into success. It's The Egg and I of the nineties.

Dryland degradation and desertification now affect almost a billion people around the world. Tragically, the biological resources and productivity of millions of acres of land are lost to desertification each year because people remain unaware of strategies and techniques that could improve yields, reduce risk, and begin healing the world's deserts. A Guide for Desert and Dryland Restoration is the first book to offer practical, field-tested solutions to this critical problem. Author David Bainbridge has spent more than 25 years actively involved in restoring lands across the American Southwest. A Guide for Desert and Dryland Restoration presents the results of his years of fieldwork, as well as research and experience from scientists and practitioners around the globe. The book discusses the ecology of desert plants, explores the causes of desertification and land abuse, and outlines the processes and procedures needed to evaluate, plan, implement, and monitor desert restoration projects. It sets forth economical and practical field-tested solutions for understanding site characteristics, selecting and growing plants, and ensuring that they survive with a minimal amount of water and care. Each chapter represents a guide to a critical topic for environmental restoration; extensive photographs, diagrams and drawings give detailed information for immediate application, and additional resources are included in appendixes. A Guide for Desert and Dryland Restoration is the first comprehensive book focused on restoring arid regions, and clearly demonstrates that arid lands can be successfully rehabilitated. In addition to restorationists, the book will be an invaluable resource for anyone working in arid lands, including farmers, ranchers, gardeners, landscapers, outdoor recreation professionals, and activists.

A world list of books in the English language.

Land Reform Revisited engages with contemporary debates on land reform and agrarian transformation in South Africa. The volume offers insights into post-apartheid transformation dynamics through the lens of agency and state making. The chapters written by emerging scholars are based on extensive qualitative research and their analysis highlights the ways in which people negotiate and contest land reform realities and politics. By focusing on the diverse meanings of land and competing interpretations of what constitutes success and failure in land reform Brandt and Mkodzongi insist on looking beyond the productivity discourses guiding research and policy making in the field towards an informed view from below. Contributors are: Kezia Batisai, Femke Brandt, Sarah Bruchhausen, Nerhene Davis, Elene Cloete, Tariro Kamuti, Tarminder Kaur, Grasian Mkodzongi, Camalita Naicker, Fani Ncapayi, Mnqobi Ngubane, and Chizuko Sato.

Artisan Farming brings to life the past and present of the unique farming culture of New Mexico. Laden with rich photos, ripe with human interest stories, and bounteous with tantalizing recipes, Artisan Farming explores this state's one-of-a-kind heritage, from the ancient Indians who settled here and farmed four thousand years ago, through four hundred years of Spanish, Mexican and Anglo settlement, to the hippie communes of the 1960s and '70s-all factors that have influenced New Mexico cuisine and the present-day revival of traditional, organic and artisan farming. Explore these small farms, farmers' markets, community-supported agriculture (CSA) organizations, heritage seed exchanges and other entities that have made the independent farming revival possible. Also included are more than 50 tantalizing recipes, including authentic and traditional New Mexican recipes and contemporary fusion recipes from farmers and market vendors at New Mexico's farmers' markets. Try the suggested scenic driving tours of the agricultural areas of New Mexico and check out the museums, events and organizational resources that are included to get the complete look at New Mexico's farming traditions.