{"product_id":"the-lean-farm-guide-to-growing-vegetables-more-in-depth-lean-techniques-for-efficient-organic-production-9781603586993","title":"The Lean Farm Guide to Growing Vegetables: More In-Depth Lean Techniques for Efficient Organic Production","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAt Clay Bottom Farm, author Ben Hartman and staff practice \u003cem\u003ekaizen\u003c\/em\u003e, or continuous improvement, cutting out more waste--of time, labor, space, money, and more--every year and aligning their organic production more tightly with customer demand. Applied alongside other lean principles originally developed by the Japanese auto industry, the end result has been increased profits and less work.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eIn this field-guide companion to his award-winning first book, \u003cem\u003eThe Lean Farm\u003c\/em\u003e, Hartman shows market vegetable growers in even more detail how Clay Bottom Farm implements lean thinking in every area of their work, including using \u003cem\u003ekanbans\u003c\/em\u003e, or replacement signals, to maximize land use; germination chambers to reduce defect waste; and right-sized machinery to save money and labor and increase efficiency. From finding land and assessing infrastructure needs to selling perfect produce at the farmers market, \u003cem\u003eThe Lean Farm Guide to Growing Vegetables \u003c\/em\u003edigs deeper into specific, tested methods for waste-free farming that not only help farmers become more successful but make the work more enjoyable. These methods include: \u003c\/p\u003e \u003cul\u003e \u003cli\u003eUsing Japanese paper pot transplanters\u003c\/li\u003e \u003cli\u003eBuilding your own germinating chambers\u003c\/li\u003e \u003cli\u003eLeaning up your greenhouse\u003c\/li\u003e \u003cli\u003eMaking and applying simple composts\u003c\/li\u003e \u003cli\u003eUsing lean techniques for pest and weed control\u003c\/li\u003e \u003cli\u003eCreating \u003cem\u003eHeijunka\u003c\/em\u003e, or load-leveling calendars for efficient planning\u003c\/li\u003e \u003c\/ul\u003e \u003cp\u003eFarming is not static, and improvement requires constant change. \u003cem\u003eThe Lean Farm Guide to Growing Vegetables\u003c\/em\u003e offers strategies for farmers to stay flexible and profitable even in the face of changing weather and markets. Much more than a simple exercise in cost-cutting, lean farming is about growing better, not cheaper, food--the food your customers want.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAbout the Author\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eHartman, Ben:\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e - \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBen Hartman\u003c\/strong\u003e grew up on a corn and soybean farm in Indiana and graduated college with degrees in English and philosophy. Ben and his wife, Rachel Hershberger, own and operate Clay Bottom Farm in Goshen, Indiana, where they make their living growing and selling specialty crops on less than one acre. The farm has twice won \u003cem\u003eEdible Michiana\u003c\/em\u003e's Reader's Choice award. \u003cem\u003eThe Lean Farm\u003c\/em\u003e, Ben's first book, won the Shingo Institute's prestigious Publication Award. In 2017 Ben was named one of Grist's fifty emerging green leaders in the United States. Clay Bottom Farm has developed an online course in lean farming, which can be found at www.claybottomfarm.com.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Chelsea Green Publishing Company","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50557051470098,"sku":"9781603586993","price":25.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0831\/4771\/8930\/files\/img_a940d127-f736-4f61-a475-099b36d51b03.jpg?v=1731769607","url":"https:\/\/surprise-castle.myshopify.com\/products\/the-lean-farm-guide-to-growing-vegetables-more-in-depth-lean-techniques-for-efficient-organic-production-9781603586993","provider":"Surprise Castle","version":"1.0","type":"link"}