From the bestselling author of The Market Gardener – key principles for biointensive market gardening and powerful stories of successful growers who are farming profitably on a human-scale

Microfarms is a guide to setting up and running profitable small-scale vegetable farms using organic, low-tech, and highly intensive production methods grounded in ecological principles.

This full-color, richly illustrated resource brings to life the core principles of Jean-Martin Fortier's time-tested approach and includes eight detailed case studies showcasing a diverse range of market gardeners who have started successful farms using Jean-Martin's biointensive techniques. Key features of the book include:

• A distillation of Jean-Martin's methods, rooted in agroecology, permaculture, and humanscale business principles
• An exploration of the four essential pillars: proper crop planning, low-tech/low-investment farm tools, organic fertility management, and sound business practices
• Strategies for enhancing farm profitability through direct marketing channels including farm stands, Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) boxes, and farmers markets
• Proven techniques to boost crop yields while preserving biodiversity and improving the livelihoods of those working on the farm
• Engaging stories of successful new market gardeners, detailing their varied journeys, from initial setup and land procurement to crop planning, team coordination, and sales and revenue.

Microfarms champions local agriculture on a human-scale, advocating for a food system that honors the environment, nurtures communities, and supports farmers. This book is an essential read for new and aspiring small-scale farmers, market gardeners, homesteaders, proponents of local food systems, and food lovers everywhere.

Jean-Martin Fortier and his wife Maude-Helene Desroches are the founders of Les Jardins de la Grelinette, an internationally recognized micro-farm famous for its high productivity-profitability using low-tech, high-yield methods of production. A leading practitioner of biologically intensive cropping systems, Jean-Martin has more than a decade's worth of experience in mixed organic farming. He has written articles about his work for popular magazines such as Canadian Organic Grower, La Terre de Chez Nous and Growing for Market. He also contributes occasionally as a tool and equipment advisor for companies such as Johnny's Selected Seeds and Dubois Agrinovation. The original French language version of this book, Le Jardinier-Maraicher, released in Fall 2012, has sold more than 15,000 copies.

Jean-Martin Fortier's profile page

Aurélie Sécheret is a freelance author, journalist, and editor specializing in social and ecological issues with a particular interest in food security. A passionate urban farmer, she works with the noted grassroots French agricultural association Veni Verdi to develop local farming projects in the heart of busy city neighborhoods.

Aurélie Sécheret's profile page

Laurie Bennett's profile page

Praise for Jean-Martin Fortier

The Market Gardener
Jean-Martin’s book is very well done and should be of great use to market growers everywhere.
—Eliot Coleman, organic farming pioneer, author, The Winter Harvest Handbook

This is a thorough farming manual that lays out a human-scale farming system centered on good growing practices and appropriate technology. Had I read this book when I was a starting farmer, I would now be farming with a walking tractor on an acre and hailing Jean-Martin as my market gardening guru! This book is going to inspire new farmers to stay small and farm profitably.
—Dan Brisebois, farmer, Tourne-Sol Cooperative Farm, author, The Seed Farmer

This is a fantastic addition to any aspiring market gardener's library, and even has a few new ideas for old hands. Jean-Martin has laid out all of the basics for how we can farm more profitability, productively, and passionately on a more human-sized scale.
—Josh Volk, Slow Hand Farm, Portland, Oregon

Jean-Martin Fortier extols the virtues of being small-scale, and expertly details the use of such scale-appropriate tools as broadforks, seeders, hoes, flame weeders, low tunnels, high tunnels, and many other unique tools, specifically designed for this brand of farming. [He provides] beginning farmers a solid framework of the information they need to start up and become successful small-scale organic growers themselves.
—Adam Lemieux, Product Manager of Tools & Supplies, Johnny's Selected Seeds

The Winter Market Gardener
The core challenge of growers in the north is learning how to feed our communities with fresh, local, real food in the winter. With great research and detailed charts, this book shows exactly how to do just that. Every grower should buy it, read it, and incorporate its ideas. An indispensable book.
—Ben Hartman, author, The Lean Micro Farm

Jean-Martin’s passion for organic farming is contagious. He is always innovating, experimenting, and sharing his findings with others, and The Winter Market Gardener is no exception. This book is practical, thorough, well-researched, and an invaluable resource for cold-climate growers.
—Erin Benzakein, Floret

The essential guide for winter market gardening for the new generation of growers is here! In the face of capricious socio-economic and environmental conditions, growing food through the winter is of utmost importance. Winter market gardening meets year-round community needs for healthy local produce and sustainable profitability for small-scale farmers.
—Zach Loeks, edible ecosystem designer, author, The Two-wheel Tractor Handbook and The Permaculture Market Garden

This book was written by two people who have devoted their lives to helping feed communities better. Winter is no longer off-limits, it’s open to all of us.
—Michael Kilpatrick, educator, Growing Farmers, farmer, The Farm on Central