A new membership service from the Soil Association food and farming department.

Soil Association producer members can now borrow a number of rare and important organic technical books – both old and new – which are considered essential reading for all organic producers.

Why offer this service?
“My own organic beliefs and knowledge have been rejuvenated time after time by the writings of several organic pioneers, providing a unique source of knowledge throughout my farming life. The common denominator is humbleness in the face of nature, as well as a realisation that what happens to the soil affects the plant, the animal and eventually man.” Robbie Brighton, Soil Association senior technical officer and an organic farmer with over 30 years experience.

As Robbie suggests, it is of vital importance that the experiences of these “stewards of the land” are not forgotten. Indeed, some of their techniques are just as relevant today for modern organic producers. Our range of books provides a fascinating insight into the minds of many of the veterans of the organic movement. They have much to teach us from their accumulated wisdom.

We hope that the range of books available to borrow will both educate and inspire Soil Association producer members.

How does it work?
The service is FREE to Soil Association producer members. All we ask is that you look after the books carefully and pay for return postage.

To use the library, simply fill in your details and sign the declaration form and return it to us. Once we have received your signed declaration we will keep it on file and you are free to use the service whenever you wish!
Soil Association producer members can borrow one book at a time for a period of up to five weeks. Simply select a book by using Book Request Form, call us on 0117 914 2400 or email ff@soilassociation.org

When we receive your request we will post the book to you. However, please note that many of the books are rare or out of print, and we currently only have limited copies. You may have to wait for a book to become available before we can send it to you. If we cannot send out your selected book right away we will contact you to tell you and put you on the waiting list – or suggest an alternative.

Once you have read the book, simply seal the book in the packaging supplied, attach the enclosed return sticker, and pop it in the post to ensure it arrives by the due date (we strongly recommend using Recorded Delivery). And that’s it!

So what’s available?
For up to date information about the latest titles available, please refer to our Book Request Form or call 0117 914 2400. We are hoping to add more titles to our library in the coming months, so look out for updates to this list of available books. If you have suggestions for books we should add to the list please don’t hesitate to contact us. Or if you have any books that you would like to donate to the library please get in touch!

Here are just some of the books currently available through the Organic Postal Library Service...

An Agricultural Testament by Sir Albert Howard is regarded as one of the most important contributions to the solution of soil rehabilitation problems. The book is often credited for launching the organic farming agricultural movement.

Humus and the Farmer by Friend Sykes ran his prosperous and successful farm on Albert Howard's composting principles; the health and quality of his livestock was extraordinary. His farm was blessed with a fertile subsoil, underlain with chalk, so some of his practices might not work so well on properties without that endowment. But his approach is fascinating and still well worth a read.

Profitable Organic Farming by Jon Newton cover topics such as grassland productivity, production systems for dairy, beef, sheep, pig, poultry and arable farms, farm size and enterprise combinations, marketing, success factors and progress by organic farmers. The book draws on new information available including case studies from successful organic farm businesses.

For background information on the Organic Postal Library, click here to read Robbie Brighton's article on the classic organic farming books that have inspired him (from Organic Farming magazine, issue 96 - winter 2007/08).