Gardening

This study examines the agricultural practices and decision-making processes of a small Tai-Lue village in northern Thailand, focusing on the period from 1959 to 1961, with a follow-up visit in 1965. Conducted through anthropological fieldwork, the research involved living among villagers, learning their language, and participating in their daily life. The primary aim was to understand how villagers in Ban Ping made farming decisions, with a specific interest in their adoption of new agricultural technologies, such as tractors, which had significantly changed rice cultivation by 1960. By concentrating on the local, culturally-informed perspectives of the villagers, the study seeks to provide insights into the factors that influence farming choices within the community.

The analysis explores the complexities of farming decisions through two perspectives: rational decision-making processes related to technology and broader social factors tied to the village’s extracommunity relations. The methodological approach involves a detailed, systematic examination of how decisions were made in 1960, with subsequent insights from the 1965 field trip reserved for the study's final chapter to maintain the integrity of the initial analysis. By doing so, the research attempts to reveal the processes through which farmers select among different agricultural practices, emphasizing the importance of understanding localized decision-making in efforts to improve agricultural development and economic policies.

This work is intended not only for ethnographers studying agricultural practices but also for those involved in economic development, offering a grounded perspective on the technological and social dynamics of rural communities. The study reflects the author's engagement with development work in Thailand, drawing on experiences with various international and Thai organizations. The research benefits from the support of local Thai officials, community members, and academic institutions, whose cooperation made it possible to document the nuanced interactions between tradition, technology, and economic change in Ban Ping.

This title is part of UC Press's Voices Revived program, which commemorates University of California Press’s mission to seek out and cultivate the brightest minds and give them voice, reach, and impact. Drawing on a backlist dating to 1893, Voices Revived makes high-quality, peer-reviewed scholarship accessible once again using print-on-demand technology. This title was originally published in 1968.

This title is part of UC Press's Voices Revived program, which commemorates University of California Press’s mission to seek out and cultivate the brightest minds and give them voice, reach, and impact. Drawing on a backlist dating to 1893, Voices Revived makes high-quality, peer-reviewed scholarship accessible once again using print-on-demand technology. This title was originally published in 1975.

Grow your way to happiness with this practical handbook for a more sustainable life.

Whether you have a large country garden or a small backyard in the city, this essential guide to the ‘Good Life’ will help you on your journey to becoming more self-sufficient – which is something we all need to be thinking about. Climate change, industrial farming with its reliance on chemicals, rising food prices, fears over food security or just a desire to spend more time outdoors – there are many reasons driving people towards homegrown food and self-sufficiency. 

Growing your own fruit and vegetables, preserving your produce and generating your own energy are all covered in this thrifty guide by the original ‘Tom and Barbara’, Eve and Terence McLaughlin, who wrote the first edition of this book in 1979. This information-packed book has expert advice on growing, harvesting, storing and preserving your produce. You can brew your own beer and learn how to bottle, cure, smoke and pickle your produce to make it last longer.

The book features easy-to-follow instructions for DIY tools and equipment to save money, reduce energy consumption and cut back on waste. Learn how to plan your site, explore the best planting times and methods, discover how to grow a variety of vegetables, fruit and nuts, and how to deal with pests and diseases.

As well as growing your own food, the book also covers the basics of keeping livestock – including chickens, ducks, goats and pigs – and how to harness alternative energy sources such as solar and wind power.

Putting your own food on the table and playing your part in creating a more sustainable future is hugely rewarding and also has health benefits – the physical exercise of planting and harvesting, the mental wellness that comes with spending time in nature, and the reduction in chemicals in the food you eat – there is so much in this activity that fosters greater wellbeing.

Whether you're planning a move to full-blown self-sufficiency or are just curious about what's involved and want to take your first steps to growing your own food, this essential guide has everything you need to know.

How home gardeners with limited time and garden space can reclaim the joy and independence of seed saving

Beginning Seed Saving for the Home Gardener explores how seed saving is not only easier than we think, but that it is essential for vibrant, independent, and bountiful gardens.

Many home gardeners refuse to eat a grocery store tomato, but routinely obtain seeds commercially, sometimes from thousands of miles away. And while seed saving can appear mysterious and intimidating, even home gardeners with limited time and space can experience the joy and independence it brings, freeing them from industry and the annual commercial seed order.

Coverage includes:

• Why seed saving belongs in the home garden
• Principles of vegetative and sexual reproduction
• Easy inbreeding plants, including legumes, lettuce, tomatoes, and peppers
• Plants with a few more challenges, including squash, spinach, onions, and parsley
• Brief discussion of more difficult crops, including corn, carrots, and cabbage.

Written by a home seed saver for the home seed saver, Beginning Seed Saving for the Home Gardener is a comprehensive guide for those who want to reclaim our seed heritage, highlighting the importance of saving seeds for you, your neighbors, and most importantly, subsequent generations.