Organizations

Quality Deer Management Association. Founded in 1988, the QDMA has more than 60,000 members in all 50 states and several foreign countries. Since the beginning, QDMA has worked to educate its members and all deer hunters about the benefits of the Quality Deer Management (QDM) philosophy. This effort – aided by the support of numerous member-volunteers, corporate sponsors, and other QDM advocates – has rapidly increased awareness and implementation of QDM throughout North America, resulting in healthier, more balanced deer populations and more rewarding hunting experiences.

As it grew in membership and influence, QDMA also began working to secure a sustainable future for wild white-tailed deer through practical research and by advocating for wise policy and regulation that will protect our hunting heritage. Additionally, QDMA works to attract, assist, educate and guide young and new hunters to ensure they become tomorrow’s stewards of whitetails and all wildlife.

North American Fruit Explorers. NAFEX is a network of individuals throughout the United States and Canada devoted to the discovery, cultivation and appreciation of superior varieties of fruits and nuts. Founded in 1967 by a small group of pomological hobbyists, NAFEX has grown to an organization of more than 3,000 members, and is chartered as a nonprofit organization in the state of Illinois. Although the ranks of our membership include professional pomologists, nurserymen, and commercial orchardists, NAFEX members are all AMATEURS in the truest sense of the word; they are motivated by their LOVE of fine fruit.   NAFEX publishes the journal Pomona and sponsors regional and national meetings of fruit enthusiasts.

Northern Nut Growers Association. The Northern Nut Growers Association, Inc. (NNGA) brings together people interested in growing nut trees. Our members include experts in nut tree cultivation, farmers, amateur and commercial nut growers, experiment station workers, horticultural teachers and scientists, nut tree breeders, nurserypeople, foresters, and beginning nut culturists. The NNGA has been publishing articles, research papers, and monographs on nuts, nut tree growth, and nut tree culture since 1910. These are part of the NNGA Library. A summary of some of these articles and a listing of books that can be borrowed is on this site. 

IFAS Small Farms. This web site is developed and maintained by a team of Cooperative Extension Service faculty of the Institute of Food And Agricultural Science at the University of Florida.  Over 50 faculty and staff, represent the Small Farms and Alternative Enterprises Focus Team. Small farms represent over 90% of all farms in Florida, based on the USDA definition of a small farm as one with up to $250,000 in sales. These farms make about 15% of all farm product sales in Florida. Input from counties throughout Florida indicated the need for small farm educational programs to be developed. Small farmers and allied organizations have identified critical issues facing small farms. The issues include access to profitable markets, business skills development, accessible technical information, and alternative crops and enterprises. The Small Farms team provides this web site so you can find commonly needed information from “getting started” to “evaluating an alternative enterprise”, to “finding a market”, all in one place on the web.  In addition, the team coordinates several regional small farms conferences each year.

Southern Region Small Fruit Council. The long term mission of the Consortium is envisioned to involve collaborative efforts at various sites across the region between small fruit growers and grower organizations, industries and service organizations allied with and/or serving small fruit growers, agricultural extension programs and research stations working together to enhance the development of the small fruit industries in the region.

National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service. Looking for the latest in sustainable agriculture and organic farming news, events and funding opportunities? We feature all that, plus in-depth publications on production practices, alternative crop and livestock enterprises, innovative marketing, organic certification, and highlights of local, regional, USDA and other federal sustainable ag activities.

The National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service is managed by the National Center for Appropriate Technology (NCAT) and is funded under a grant from the United States Department of Agriculture’s Rural Business-Cooperative Service. It provides information and other technical assistance to farmers, ranchers, Extension agents, educators, and others involved in sustainable agriculture in the United States.

Florida Native Plant Society Organization devoted to the promotion of preservation, conservation and restoration of native plants and native plant communities in Florida.  Why grow natives? http://www.fnps.org/pages/plants/natives.php

Books and Other References

These selections are timeless, regardless of when they were written.  Many are available at http://www.amazon.com.

TREE CROPS – A PERMANENT AGRICULTURE. 1950. J. Russell Smith, Emeritus Prof of Economic Geography, Columbia Univ.  Harper Colophon Books. The bible of tree crops, with examples from all over the world. A must read.

THE ONE-STRAW REVOLUTION – An introduction to Natural Farming. 1978. Masanobu Fukuoka. Rodale Press. An inspirational book on living a life in balance with nature.

FIVE ACRES and INDEPENDENCE.  1935. M.G. Kains. Greenburg Publisher.  Making a living off a small farm is not that much different today.  

Other similar titles: THREE ACRES AND LIBERTY – 1907. Bolton Hall. 

McMillan Company.   ONE ACRE & SECURITY. 1972. Bradford Angier. Vintage Books.  

FRUITS & BERRIES FOR THE HOME GARDEN. 1977. Lewis Hill. Garden Way Publishing.  Many of the varieties are outdated, but the information is excellent.

THE ORCHARD ALMANAC – a Spraysaver’s Guide. 1986. S. Page and J. Smillie.  Excellent guide to organic and alternate pest control throughout the seasons.

THE BACKYARD ORCHARDIST. 1993. Stella Otto.  A complete guide to growing fruit trees in the home garden.

THE NATURALIST’S GARDEN.  1987. Ruth Shaw Ernst. Rodale Press.  Bring your yard to life with plants that attract wildlife.

PROPER PRUNING OF GRAPEVINES.  2 excellent DVDs on grape pruning.  Lon Rombough POB 365, Aurora, OR 97002.  http://www.bunchgrapes.com

Diverse selections of grape cuttings available as well.

ALL ABOUT GROWING FRUITS, BERRIES, & NUTS.  1987. Barbara Ferguson, Editor. Ortho Books.  A very good introduction to all aspects of backyard production, but not heavy on organic methodology.

ALL ABOUT CITRUS & SUBTROPICAL FRUITS.  1985. Ortho Books. Another good reference, lots of good photography.