Build Your Own Farm Tools Equipment & Systems is a DIY and tutorial guide for the small scale farmer by Josh Volk. Due out 3rd August 2021 from Storey, it's 208 pages and will be available in paperback and ebook formats.
Self sufficiency encompasses so many challenges: food security, shelter, repairing and making tools and the systems to support and provide for the other aspects. There's a lot of satisfaction and pride to be had in making tools which work well for their intended purpose. I worked for quite a long time as a jeweler and goldsmith and often there simply weren't ready made tools for some tasks. Being able to forge tools and build carts and other farm implements can make life on the smallholding a little easier, more fun, and (hopefully) safer.
The author has an accessible no-frills writing style and the book is laid out logically and appealingly. The graphics are high contrast, easy to read, and the tutorials are well illustrated. The introduction covers shop setup, basic tools and materials and some good basic maintenance and important safety. The tutorials are arranged into thematic chapters: greenhouse projects, field, irrigation, tools for washing and packing produce, and office tools (including some really spiffy worksheets for planning and record-keeping, which is my downfall).
Tutorials contain isometric and exploded line drawn schematics as well as materials lists and project time/cost/complexity estimates, followed by step by step tutorial directions. The projects are full of good ideas and variations to make them more specifically useful to individual readers' own needs.
Five stars. This is a very good book for home gardeners, smaller "truck farm" gardens, smallholdings, community gardens, maker's spaces, schools, library activity groups, and similar.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
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