Five Acres and Independence

First published in 1940, “Five Acres and Independence” by Maurice Kains is the essential and practical guide to small-scale sustainable farming. This indispensable guide has assisted countless farmers, from the novice to the more experienced, to find success on a small scale. Kains, while drawing from his own vast experience gained over decades of farming, gives step-by-step directions on beginning a farm, deciding how suitable the land is for improvements, calculating the cost of those improvements, and practical steps for making them a reality. Kains gives sound and tested advice for choosing crops and animals, building irrigation and greenhouses, improving the yield and value of the small farm, and methods of marketing produce. While much has changed in the world since 1940, Kains’ advice is still very relevant and helpful, especially for those farmers who are interested in self-sustaining and environmentally friendly methods that do not rely on modern chemicals or machinery. Long considered one of the most in-depth and helpful books ever written on small-scale farming, a careful reading of “Five Acres and Independence” can be the difference between success and failure for anyone new to this timeless pursuit.