Gary Zimmer - Advancing Biological Farming: Practicing Mineralized, Balanced Agriculture to Improve Soil & Crops

Ive been on this biological farming journey for over 30 years. Many books, classes,farmers, friends and family have had an influence on how this all came about anddeveloped for me. All the folks at Midwestern Bio-Ag and all the farmers I have workedwith all have certainly kept me challenged and informed telling me whats workingand whats not, and letting me know what got them motivated and involved too.

A lot of my hard work and learning has taken place at Otter Creek Organic Farm, wherebiological farming systems are tested and implemented. Farming together with my family,especially my son Nick and my daughter Sadie, has certainly given me insights onhow farmers think and function. Talk is talk, but I feel that walking the talk hasgiven a lot of credibility and confidence to what I say, as well as helping me realizethe limitations present.

Developing a way to handle, process and become efficient at local food productionand distribution is a major link between biological farmers and consumers. Farmerscan do their best to care for the land and produce nutrient-rich, quality foods,but the consumer needs access to those foods, and this is a motivating force forfarmers to get involved in that intermediate link.

My family has been very involved in our own farm-to-consumer project from my wifeRosemarie running the Local Choice Store and providing local quality foods at affordableprices, to my son-in-law Bartlett developing connections between the farm and theconsumer and getting more businesses involved in buying local. Thank you to everyoneinvolved in these projects.

Special thanks to my oldest daughter Leilani and her one-year-old daughter Greta,who forced her to stay home and watch videos of my winter meetings and write thisall down. Leilani pored over the winter meeting tapes, asking me questions and makingthis a story for you to read, enjoy, and implement on your farms, in your gardens,and in your food production systems.

Lastly, to change agriculture to a more sustainable, environmentally friendly andhigh quality food production system requires an educated consumer. It is the supportand driving force of these people that is the backbone of biological farming.

Thank you so much.
Gary F. Zimmer

I have had a lot of help and input while working on this book, and I am very gratefulto everyone.

In particular I want to thank my husband Bartlett, for spending evenings readingdrafts, helping with dinner, and watching the children while I wrote, edited, pacedand wrote some more.

I also want to thank Mary Pohlman for tirelessly reading and rereading the drafts,and for all of the positive feedback.

Thank you to my mom Rosie, for all the support and positive feedback, and all ofthe short-notice help with the children.

Thank you to Ruthann Faber for digging through the boxes of old photographs, lookingfor pictures of the family farm.

Thank you to Joel Goodlaxson, Lawrence Mayhew, Tim Williams, Bob Yanda, Dan Davidsonand Don Faber for contributions, comments and edits.

Thank you to Michelle Broeske for creating the clear, easy-to-understand illustrations.

Writing a book is a huge project, and it can be very overwhelming at times. The helpof these people and many others helped me tremendously in moving this project forwardand eventually finishing it.

Leilani Zimmer-Durand