When looking into a sustainable farming tradition that works well with the land it is best to hear from someone with experience and sound opinions on the matter. Gene Logsdon is just that, a farmer with a mission. Logsdon has farmed for decades on a small farm in Ohio not farm from where he grew up. He has written numerous books and essays on farming reform. In his book Living at Nature's Pace: Farming and the American Dream he advocates a return to the traditional methods of farming where the farmer knows his land and community and is able to integrate his work with both. Logsdon believes that nature should be used as a model for farming practices and that agriculture should utilize the capabilities nature already provides in caring out its practices. He advocates agricultural methods that are sustainable and will benefit both nature and humanity.

The most helpful book I found in learning about sustainable agriculture is Planting the Future put out by the Iowa State University Press. The book is the final report of a multi-state cooperative research effort sponsored by the Northwest Area Foundation of Saint Paul, Minnesota. It discusses everything from the beginnings of the sustainable agriculture movement to all the implications that accompany farming using this method. It has really useful charts and maps and articles that break down the subject matter into easily maneuverable sections.

Another wonderfully written book that discusses the benefits of sustainable agricultural practices is Farming in Nature's Image authored by Judith Soule and Jon Piper. Both of the authors have connections with the Land Institute and expand upon this knowledge to create an agricultural practice where farms mimic the natural ecosystems in their specific region. They address the problems posed by modern industrial farming practices and set out options for sustainable solutions. Their combination of facts and philosophy is well balanced.

One of the most beneficial sources I came across was a collection of essays compiled into the book Meeting the Expectations of the Land edited by Wes Jackson, Wendell Berry, and Bruce Colman. The essays were written by some of the top advocates in the field of sustainable agriculture and ranged from philosophy, to statistics, to history, to politics. I was able gain valuable information and insights on all the factors that play a role in the world of agriculture. Each essay complimented the others and was woven together in a wonderful web of stewardship.