Eliot Coleman
Encyclopedia
Eliot Coleman is an American
farmer
, author
, agricultural
researcher
and educator, and proponent of organic farming
. His 1989 book, The New Organic Grower, is important reading for organic farmers and market garden
ers. He served for two years as Executive Director of the International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements
(IFOAM), and was an advisor to the U.S. Department of Agriculture during its 1979-80 study, Report and Recommendations on Organic Farming, a document that formed the basis for today's legislated National Organic Program
(2002) in the U.S.
.
in 1968, Coleman and his first wife, Sue Coleman, moved to a farm in Maine
, situated on land purchased from Helen and Scott Nearing
, as part of the back-to-the-land movement. Their first child, Melissa Coleman
, was born there the next year. Coleman taught himself how to farm organically in the harsh Maine climate, and developed many of the cold-weather growing techniques for which he is known. As did the Nearings, the Colemans developed their farm into a learning center for people interested in natural and sustainable agricultural practices.
In 1989, Coleman and other organic farmers toured agricultural operations in Europe to study techniques which might be adapted to the North-Eastern United States. This was one of many such investigative tours that Coleman has taken
On his Four Season Farm in Harborside (Brooksville
), Maine, he produces year-round vegetable
crops
under harsh winter conditions, using unheated and minimally heated greenhouse
structures. He even manages to grow artichoke
s, claiming that "I grow them just to make the Californians nervous."
In his writing, Coleman promotes small-scale organic farming practices and sustainable agriculture
. One of his central principles is "small is better," advocating business growth through improved production and marketing, rather than physical expansion. He also favors direct relationships with customers over formal organic certification
.
Coleman is currently married to gardening author Barbara Damrosch
. For several years, from 1993, they co-hosted the TV series, Gardening Naturally, on The Learning Channel. Coleman and his wife continue to grow and locally market fresh produce.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
farmer
Farmer
A farmer is a person engaged in agriculture, who raises living organisms for food or raw materials, generally including livestock husbandry and growing crops, such as produce and grain...
, author
Author
An author is broadly defined as "the person who originates or gives existence to anything" and that authorship determines responsibility for what is created. Narrowly defined, an author is the originator of any written work.-Legal significance:...
, agricultural
Agriculture
Agriculture is the cultivation of animals, plants, fungi and other life forms for food, fiber, and other products used to sustain life. Agriculture was the key implement in the rise of sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of domesticated species created food surpluses that nurtured the...
researcher
Researcher
A researcher is somebody who performs research, the search for knowledge or in general any systematic investigation to establish facts. Researchers can work in academic, industrial, government, or private institutions.-Examples of research institutions:...
and educator, and proponent of organic farming
Organic farming
Organic farming is the form of agriculture that relies on techniques such as crop rotation, green manure, compost and biological pest control to maintain soil productivity and control pests on a farm...
. His 1989 book, The New Organic Grower, is important reading for organic farmers and market garden
Market garden
A market garden is the relatively small-scale production of fruits, vegetables and flowers as cash crops, frequently sold directly to consumers and restaurants. It is distinguishable from other types of farming by the diversity of crops grown on a small area of land, typically, from under one acre ...
ers. He served for two years as Executive Director of the International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements
International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements
The International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements is the worldwide umbrella organization for the organic agriculture movement, uniting more than 750 member organizations in 108 countries...
(IFOAM), and was an advisor to the U.S. Department of Agriculture during its 1979-80 study, Report and Recommendations on Organic Farming, a document that formed the basis for today's legislated National Organic Program
National Organic Program
In the United States, the National Organic Program is the federal regulatory framework governing organic food. It is also the name of the organization in the Department of Agriculture responsible for administering and enforcing the regulatory framework. The Organic Food Production Act of 1990 In...
(2002) in the U.S.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
in 1968, Coleman and his first wife, Sue Coleman, moved to a farm in Maine
Maine
Maine is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States, bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the east and south, New Hampshire to the west, and the Canadian provinces of Quebec to the northwest and New Brunswick to the northeast. Maine is both the northernmost and easternmost...
, situated on land purchased from Helen and Scott Nearing
Helen and Scott Nearing
Helen Knothe Nearing and Scott Nearing were well-known American back-to-the-landers who wrote extensively about their experience living what they termed "the good life".- Philosophy :...
, as part of the back-to-the-land movement. Their first child, Melissa Coleman
Melissa Coleman
Melissa Coleman is an American author, columnist, and writer best known as the author of This Life Is in Your Hands, a childhood memoir exploring her iconic family's search for a sustainable lifestyle....
, was born there the next year. Coleman taught himself how to farm organically in the harsh Maine climate, and developed many of the cold-weather growing techniques for which he is known. As did the Nearings, the Colemans developed their farm into a learning center for people interested in natural and sustainable agricultural practices.
In 1989, Coleman and other organic farmers toured agricultural operations in Europe to study techniques which might be adapted to the North-Eastern United States. This was one of many such investigative tours that Coleman has taken
On his Four Season Farm in Harborside (Brooksville
Brooksville, Maine
Brooksville is a town in Hancock County, Maine, United States. As of the 2010 census, the town population was 934. It contains the villages of North Brooksville, South Brooksville , West Brooksville, Brooksville Corner, and Harborside .-History:It was first settled by John Wasson, Samuel Wasson and...
), Maine, he produces year-round vegetable
Vegetable
The noun vegetable usually means an edible plant or part of a plant other than a sweet fruit or seed. This typically means the leaf, stem, or root of a plant....
crops
Agriculture
Agriculture is the cultivation of animals, plants, fungi and other life forms for food, fiber, and other products used to sustain life. Agriculture was the key implement in the rise of sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of domesticated species created food surpluses that nurtured the...
under harsh winter conditions, using unheated and minimally heated greenhouse
Greenhouse
A greenhouse is a building in which plants are grown. These structures range in size from small sheds to very large buildings...
structures. He even manages to grow artichoke
Artichoke
-Plants:* Globe artichoke, a partially edible perennial thistle originating in southern Europe around the Mediterranean* Jerusalem artichoke, a species of sunflower with an edible tuber...
s, claiming that "I grow them just to make the Californians nervous."
In his writing, Coleman promotes small-scale organic farming practices and sustainable agriculture
Sustainable agriculture
Sustainable agriculture is the practice of farming using principles of ecology, the study of relationships between organisms and their environment...
. One of his central principles is "small is better," advocating business growth through improved production and marketing, rather than physical expansion. He also favors direct relationships with customers over formal organic certification
Organic certification
Organic certification is a certification process for producers of organic food and other organic agricultural products. In general, any business directly involved in food production can be certified, including seed suppliers, farmers, [food] processors, retailers and restaurants.Requirements vary...
.
Coleman is currently married to gardening author Barbara Damrosch
Barbara Damrosch
Barbara Damrosch is a professional in the field of horticulture, a writer, and co-owner of the Four Season Farm. From 1979 to 1992, she was the owner of a company by the name of Barbara Damrosch Landscape Design. She operated this company in Washington, Connecticut. Her book The Garden Primer...
. For several years, from 1993, they co-hosted the TV series, Gardening Naturally, on The Learning Channel. Coleman and his wife continue to grow and locally market fresh produce.
Books
- The New Organic Grower (Chelsea Green, 1989, revised/expanded 2nd edition, 1995)
- Four Season Harvest (Chelsea Green, 1992, revised/expanded 2nd edition, 1999)
- Winter Harvest Manual (Out of print)
- The Winter Harvest Handbook (Chelsea Green, 2009)