The Lean Farm: How To Minimize Waste, Increase Efficiency, And Maximize Value And Profits With Less Work How To Minimize Waste, Increase Efficiency, And Maximize Value And Profits With Less Work How To Minimize Waste, Increase Efficiency, And Maximize Val

A practical, systems-based approach for a more sustainable farming operation "Ben Hartman has revolutionized his methods, cut down his work hours dramatically, and shrunk the size of his farm, all while making a better income."—Civil Eats To many people today, using the words “factory” and “farm” in the same sentence is nothing short of sacrilege. In many cases, though, the same sound business practices apply whether you are producing cars or carrots. Author Ben Hartman and other young farmers are increasingly finding that incorporating the best new ideas from business into their farming can drastically cut their wastes and increase their profits, making their farms more environmentally and economically sustainable. By explaining the lean system for identifying and eliminating waste and introducing efficiency in every aspect of the farm operation, The Lean Farm makes the case that small-scale farming can be an attractive career option for young people who are interested in growing food for their community. Working smarter, not harder, also prevents the kind of burnout that start-up farmers often encounter in the face of long, hard, backbreaking labor. Lean principles grew out of the Japanese automotive industry, but they are now being followed on progressive farms around the world. Using examples from his own family’s one-acre community-supported farm in Indiana, Hartman clearly instructs other small farmers in how to incorporate lean practices in each step of their production chain, from starting a farm and harvesting crops to training employees and selling goods. Inside The Lean Farm you'll discover how to apply lean practices like: Every Tool In Its Place Ten Types of Farm Waste Establish Pull, Don't Push Limits of Lean Lean for More Profit and much more! While the intended audience for this book is small-scale farmers who are part of the growing local food movement, Hartman’s prescriptions for high-value, low-cost production apply to farms and businesses of almost any size or scale that hope to harness the power of lean in their production processes. Ben Hartman was named a "Grist 50! Fixer" "The Lean Farm should be dissected, digested, and discussed—then applied—on every single farm: big or small, wholesale or retail, livestock or produce. It would make all farms more profitable, productive, and pleasurable.”—Joel Salatin, owner of Polyface Farm A practical, systems-based approach for a more sustainable farming operation "Ben Hartman has revolutionized his methods, cut down his work hours dramatically, and shrunk the size of his farm, all while making a better income." Civil Eats To many people today, using the words factory and farm in the same sentence is nothing short of sacrilege. In many cases, though, the same sound business practices apply whether you are producing cars or carrots. Author Ben Hartman and other young farmers are increasingly finding that incorporating the best new ideas from business into their farming can drastically cut their wastes and increase their profits, making their farms more environmentally and economically sustainable. By explaining the lean system for identifying and eliminating waste and introducing efficiency in every aspect of the farm operation, The Lean Farm makes the case that small-scale farming can be an attractive career option for young people who are interested in growing food for their community. Working smarter, not harder, also prevents the kind of burnout that start-up farmers often encounter in the face of long, hard, backbreaking labor. Lean principles grew out of the Japanese automotive industry, but they are now being followed on progressive farms around the world. Using examples from his own familys one-acre community-supported farm in Indiana, Hartman clearly instructs other small farmers in how to incorporate lean practices in each step of their production chain, from starting a farm and harvesting crops to training employees and selling goods. Inside The Lean Farm you'll discover how to apply lean practices While the intended audience for this book is small-scale farmers who are part of the growing local food movement, Hartmans prescriptions for high-value, low-cost production apply to farms and businesses of almost any size or scale that hope to harness the power of lean in their production processes. Ben Hartman was named a "Grist 50! Fixer" "The Lean Farm should be dissected, digested, and discussedthen appliedon every single big or small, wholesale or retail, livestock or produce. It would make all farms more profitable, productive, and pleasurable.Joel Salatin,owner of Polyface Farm A practical, systems-based approach for a more sustainable farming operation To many people today, using the words "factory" and "farm" in the same sentence is nothing short of sacrilege. In many cases, though, the same sound business practices apply whether you are producing cars or carrots. Author Ben Hartman and other young farmers are increasingly finding that incorporating the best new ideas from business into their farming can drastically cut their wastes and increase their profits, making their farms more environmentally and economically sustainable. By explaining the lean system for identifying and eliminating waste and introducing efficiency in every aspect of the farm operation, The Lean Farm makes the case that small-scale farming can be an attractive career option for young people who are interested in growing food for their community. Working smarter, not harder, also prevents the kind of burnout that start-up farmers often encounter in the face of long, hard, backbreaking labor. Lean principles grew out of the Japanese automotive industry, but they are now being followed on progressive farms around the world. Using examples from his own family's one-acre community-supported farm in Indiana, Hartman clearly instructs other small farmers in how to incorporate lean practices in each step of their production chain, from starting a farm and harvesting crops to training employees and selling goods. While the intended audience for this book is small-scale farmers who are part of the growing local food movement, Hartman's prescriptions for high-value, low-cost production apply to farms and businesses of almost any size or scale that hope to harness the power of lean in their production processes. Publisher Lean Principles Were Originally Developed By The Japanese Automotive Industry, But Hartman Has Applied Them To Farming. As A Result, He's Been Able To Drastically Cut Waste, Increase Profit, And Make His Family Farm More Environmentally And Economically Sustainable. With Ample Examples From His One-acre Farm In Indiana, Hartman Illustrates How To Incorporate Lean Practices, On Farms Of Any Size Or Scale, At Each Step Of The Production Chain, From Starting A Farming Operation And Harvesting Crops To Training Employees And Selling Goods. Hartman's Approach Of Working Smarter, Not Harder, Aims To Prevent The Kind Of Burnout That Start-up Farmers Often Encounter And Enable A New Generation Of Young People To Choose Farming As A Viable Career Path--cover. Every Tool In Its Place -- Farming For Your Customers -- Learning To See Value -- Ten Types Of Farm Waste -- Flow I: Tools To Root Out Farm Production Waste -- Flow Ii: Tools To Root Out Farm Management Waste -- Lean Farm Sales: Pull, Not Push -- Continuous Improvement (kaizen) -- Respect For People: Lean And Farm Staff -- Lean Applied At Clay Bottom Farm: Ten Specific Cases -- The Lean Farm Start-up -- The Limits Of Lean In Agriculture -- Lean For More Than Profit. Ben Hartman ; Illustrations By Emma Gerigscott. Includes Bibliographical References (pages 225-226) And Index. Every tool in its place Farm for your customers: precisely identify value Learn to see value Ten types of farm waste Flow I: tools to root out farm production waste Flow II: tools to root out farm management waste Lean farm sales: establish pull, don't push Continuous improvement (Kaizen) Respect for people: lean and farm staff Lean applied at Clay Bottom Farm: ten specific cases The lean farm start-up The limits of lean in agriculture Lean for more than profit.