Description
How farmers can raise livestock with less water WITHOUT wasting time or money
Suppose you want to save water, improve your fodder and bottom line and become a better steward. In that case, this book will give you the foundational knowledge to grow feed for livestock with less water using simple techniques.
WARNING: But first, a warning, this book is not a complete guide on hydroponics.
Thinking Outside The Soil presents proven hydroponic practices that save water and optimize fodder quality. You can use these simple principles and your current knowledge and animals to optimize your farm.
The first part of this book shows the origins of hydroponic farming. It talks about the benefits of hydroponic fodder using over 90% less water and space than the same crops grown in the field with the same yields. Hydroponics’ water-saving and land-sparing potential are integral to any climate change discussion. Finally, the chapter points out the pollution cutback and carbon capture capabilities.
The book’s second part is called the ABCDs of FodderTM. Many field crops that farmers use to feed livestock can be used for hydroponic fodder. Yet, some crops do better than others. Selecting the best crop for you is an important decision to produce high-quality fodder. We will limit it to seven crops – alfalfa, barley, corn, cowpea, clover, duckweed, and sunflower.
The book’s third part will cover three practices used to grow fodder – sprouts, microfodder, and greenwater.
Sean Short –
With this book, Sean has recognized the importance of the Triple-bottom line – People, Planet and Profit. As farmers and stewards of the earth, we must find the most productive ways to grow our food. Methods that conserve resources and produce little waste. Hydroponic animal fodder is a perfect example of this application. Sean explains in everyday terms, the ways to grow more feed, with less water and inputs, in a significantly smaller footprint. And considering the scalability, this can be adapted for the homestead hobby grower to the commercial producer. Through years of research, trials and his own experience, Sean knows first hand what works and what doesn’t to help the reader get started quicker and avoid costly mistakes. – Tawnya Sawyer, Co-owner, The Aquaponics Source