This is the first book I read on farming, and it was the perfect intro for me. It’s a great “shallow and wide” overview of the practicalities of organic farming. I would recommend it as a first book for anyone getting into farming. It’s a little dry and practical though, so I’d pair it with something more focused on heart, values, and culture.
Hansen gives a good summary of the history of organic farming, how to find land, how to care for and think about soil, plants, tools and infrastructure, types of farms (veggie, orchards, dairies, meat, grains, etc), marketing and selling, etc.
Since it’s an overview, I will never re-read it and will probably reference it again rarely if ever. Every topic this book covers is better handled by more in-depth books. But, being the first book I read, it gave me a good sense of what’s out there, what to think about and consider, and how to move forward!