Growing Rogue : One Farmer's Search for an Agriculture the World Can Live with

The inspiring story of one trailblazing California farmer that has proven—with over fifty years of hard-won experience—that large-scale farming of high-value crops can be done in a way that’s positive for the planet and the community—while still making a profit. From a first-generation farmer with no agricultural background to a steward of over 1,700 acres growing 20 different crops across 27 fields in the Sacramento Valley of California, award-winning conservationist Scott Park shares his spectacular story in Growing Rogue. When Scott broke ground on his farm in 1974, the use of harsh agricultural chemicals was rampant. After years of witnessing large-scale farms degrade and pollute their land, Scott decided on a different path: Through trial and error, tragedy and triumph, he would develop a holistic farm system—one that benefited the environment while still turning a profit. After more than fifty years of honing his craft, Scott shares his methods for growing organic, high-value crops in this accessible, inspiring, and wryly humorous book. Far from shying away from the current farming crisis, Growing Rogue confronts it head on, arguing for a better world and offering a practical roadmap for how to get there. Growing Rogue reminds us that farmers are environmental stewards with ethical and ecological responsibilities—and when the land is thriving, so, too, is the farm.