Product Description
Gardeners everywhere love herbs for the wonderful flavors they add to food, the beauty they lend to the garden, and for their many uses in crafts and as home remedies. This hands-on guide shows how anyone can successfully grow a wide range of more than 90 herbs in the back yard. Features a full-color encyclopedia section. 300 color photographs; 50 illustrations. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

--Not just pretty pictures of plants--
I collect books on growing herbs and without exception they are all useful. Some books are personalized and others give general and basic information. This is probably one of the very best"all round" books that I've ever seen.

Some of the topics that are discussed are as follows: Climate, Topography, Garden Style, Understanding Basic Botany, Species Chart, Soil Preparation, Weeding, Propagating Herbs, Over-Wintering Plants, Drying Herbs, Cooking with Herbs, Medicinal Herbs, a Plant by Plant Guide and a USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map.

The section on Preventing Pests and Diseases has very good illustrations of plant damage with a drawing of the insect culprit next to the herb. The Species Chart is six pages long and gives the growth form, the preferred climates, soil conditions, propagation season, the primary usage of the plants and the pests and diseases that each plant is susceptible to getting.

This is a very concise and usable book.

A very good herb gardening book, better for large spaces...
+AH4-More of a 3.5, but I'll round up :-) This is one of the first herb gardening books I got.Because I am not gardening in a large space, like a raised bed or half my backyard, many of the directions and much of the information was sort of overwhelming, at least for right now.I do mostlycontainer herb gardening and in flower boxes and barrels, so there wasn'tmuch info specifically geared for these types in this book, but cut downthe organic gardening, soil preperation, pest control,+AH4-+AH4- sowing,watering, and composting info into small-scale size and it's great.

However, the info on the herbs specifically, which ones work for whatclimate zones and how to cultivate, dry and use them is wonderful and allbut makes up for the focus on larger-scale gardens. The info on more than50 common herbs is invaluable, especially the chart that details each oneindividually with all the necessary info you need at a glance, name, growthform and size, climate, soil condition,+AH4-+AH4- propagation, pests, andprimary uses.It is a good supplemental to the other gardening books Ihave.I use the herb chart and specific herb info in the back of the booka lot, the instructions on how to harvest and dry the herbs, and theculinary and craft ideas, such as how to make herbal vinegar, dressings,spreads, teas, dyes, potpourri, soap, oils, and more.

It is a very goodbook for a beginning herbal gardener, especially one interested in raisingthem organically and wanting to+AH4-+AH4- know the many things you can dowith herbs once you've grown them!I would just hasten to add that thisbook would be best in conjunction with a book on container or patiogardening or something in a smaller scale if that is your main goal,otherwise for larger-scale backyard herb gardening from the ground up, it'sperfect.+AH4- ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (8)

Enjoyed the book!
I really enjoyed this book and keep it for reference.There are many interesting ideas that are worth a try.
I used a nuumber this season and have others that are waiting in the wings.I just consider it fun, worth a try book for the home gardner.

Things You Might Not Figure Out On Your Own.
This book might, might not be for a Grandparent (You they know everything right? :) It is a Montage? Compendium? of gathered knowledge. Things that worked for this gardener, they are sharing with others. They might not work for you but heck it's worth a try right? Definitely pick up if you've got pest problems, plant problems, just starting to garden, wanting to learn a new trick. Basically I feel this is a very good book for any gardener to own and I am happy I bought it. Seriously, love the internet but it would take me ages to find all the info that is neatly, tightly bound in this little gem.

1001 ingenious gardening Ideas: That Will Change the Way You Garden Forever (Rodale Garden Books
1001 Ingenious gardening Ideas is one of my favorite gardening books. It is full of information by gardeners all across the U.S. giving you their gardening secrets, tips, and inexpensive home grown ingenuity. It is arranged into chapters such as vegetables, herbs, flowers, etc. but each article in the chapter stands alone as a separate bit of advice. Many of the articles are illustrated with drawings. You can leaf through the book and start reading it where ever an article catches your eye. Once you start reading it though you'll want to read it cover to cover. It is a keeper because you will want refer back to it. It is a great gardening idea book.

I LOVE this book
I first found this book in my local library, but it is so full of tips and tricks that I can use every day that I knew I had to buy it because I would reference it over and over...and I have.I have had this book for a couple of years now (very delayed review) and I still peruse it every sop often because it is absolutely full of wonderful ideas that anyone can apply to their garden whether they are a master gardener or they just have a couple of containers on a terrace.It is my favorite gardening book so far.

Another wonderful Rodale book
Being a novice gardener, I am sometimes intimidated by gardening books.I have checked out several Rodale books at my local library and have found this one to be another winner. It's easy to read and loaded with useful tips and ideas, some so simple that I wonder how come I didn't think of that myself!Others I think "Wow! What a cool idea". I've got plans to utilize many of them this year. I'd recommend this book for just about anyone, especially a new gardener. This is another one I'm adding to my wish list. ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (4)

Great Book!!
This is an awesome book!!! It describes how to get started in the garden, and gives good advice on what you may need. Good for novices, and for more experienced gardeners.

Essential For Small Space (or any space) Gardening
Inspiring book written by a woman who understands how fragile the food chain is.Ms. Houbein grew up in Europe in the 1940's when, due to war, her region suffered a famine.Houbein learned how easily your food supply can be cut off and how important it is to take responsibility for at least a portion of your own food production.

Despite this harsh experience, her joy and love of gardening come through loud and clear and she is rather laid back about it.Still, she warns about things like terminator seeds (food which has insanely been altered with terminator genes so that they yield no viable seeds) and how to save your own seeds. There are tons of creative and practical gardening ideas. Her story is as compelling as her gardening tips and this is a fascinating read.

This Book is a GEM!
I picked up this book at my local Library.Spring is here and I am always on the look out for a gardening book that is going to motivate me.I did my usual flip the book to the back, and began perusing backwards and came upon the chapter entitled "Hardware In the Food Garden".The first sentence reads "Those lovely pictures of vegetable gardens featuring colorful rows in beds and heaped black soil may be reality somewhere, but not in my climate and not always in gardens run on clean and green principles." Suddenly I wanted to know more.How often have I looked in books and magazines and felt intimidated by the ornate beauty and presentation of the designs.I have never been a confident gardener, but I have always wanted to take control of my own food supply .This book speaks to me on so many levels.It helps me design plots based on what my needs will be (salad plots, stir-fry plots, the herb plot, curry plot etc.).It tells me what I can plant, it lays it all out for me.It tells me how to prepare and maintain my garden without having to spend a fortune.It reads like a book that has been passed down from your favorite Grandmother who is sharing all her secrets with you.I will definitely be purchasing this book. It gets a huge organic green thumbs up from me.

Great book for beginners or seasoned gardeners
I "won" this book in a drawing from the local newspaper here in North Carolina.I have now purchased two more copies for my "non-vegetable gardening" brothers in Oregon and Nevada.Not only are there step-by-step instructions, but the need for and love of planting your own food is expressed so touchingly and basically here.

With this inspiration and guidance, the first garden can be so fun and productive that you will never stop. ... Read more

Product Description
Whether starting from an empty lot or coping with an established landscape, this guide to creating a beautiful, easy-care landscape shows how to get the best results with a minimum of fuss. The photo-packed encyclopedic sections help readers choose from 140 low-maintenance plants for the yard so that they can enjoy flowers, trees, and vegetables with less work than they ever imagined. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Comprehensive, easy-to-follow, chock full of good info
This book hits the mark for anyone looking to create an easy-to-care-for, professional-looking garden that makes the most of your existing soil type, climate and other growing conditions. Helps you design simple tosophisticated gardens, depending on your level of skill and interest. ... Read more

Amazon.com Review
The Rodale Organic Gardening Book series is a consistently reliable basic reference, and the colorful New American Backyard is no exception.Kris Medic is an arborist who, according to her jacket biography, is almostabsurdly qualified to write about garden design. In this comfortable, usefulvolume she provides a guide to sprucing up the backyard for those of us whoweren't born knowing what an NPK ratio is.

Suburban America's obsession with the perfect swath of green hasn't been analtogether healthy one, but thankfully the excessive use of weed-killers,overmowing, and wasteful watering habits that characterized the lasthalf-century of lawn and garden care are being reevaluated in books likeMedic's. Medic emphasizes that adoption of responsible organic methods canactually be more effective than chemical intervention in obtaining thatlush lawn of our dreams. It's just plain sensible, for example, to cut thegrass at a relatively high level and to leave the clippings on the ground:the long grass and clippings create shade, which limits opportunities forweed growth and keeps the roots and soil cool and moist longer, requiringless frequent watering.

It's also easier--and that's the message at the heart of this book. Themost thumbed-through and soil-stained pages of The New AmericanBackyard are sure to be those in the second half, "Timesaving Lawn andGarden Techniques." How to sharpen lawnmower blades yourself, how to prunea tree or thin out a bush with the speed and confidence of a pro, how tochoose a grass-seed mixture that's right for your yard (and decipher thosecryptic seed-bag labels), how to use water efficiently--Medic's valuabletips will help you to cut down the time spent weeding or waving the hoseover the lawn on Sunday mornings when you'd rather be relaxing with a cupof coffee and the paper.

The first part of the book contains the ubiquitous checklists, using whichthe prospective gardener is supposed shape a vision of the ideal (butdoable) backyard environment. The reader should not be discouraged by thepresence of these vague lists--in books of this sort they're neverparticularly helpful, and aren't in this one--because Medic, perhapsanticipating our impatience with authors who prod us into penciling intotheir books what we already know, quickly abandons that annoying tack infavor of the juicy stuff: well-illustrated, real-life landscaping makeoversand detailed descriptions of how to deal with common yard problems. Welearn how and what to plant in those low marshy areas and in small orodd-shaped lots, and how to reduce street noise, wind, and glare. Adirectory of Medic's "top plant picks" features thorough evaluations ofspecific varieties of trees, shrubs, groundcovers, vines, perennials, andannuals. While the list is certainly not exhaustive, and of course notevery plant is suited to every region of the country, Medic's riffs on, forexample, the amur maple or English ivy will give novices an idea of thefactors to consider in choosing what to plant: the variety's mature size,hardiness and heat zones, preferred sites (sun or shade, swampy soil ordry, and so on), pruning requirements, and pest and disease issues.

Readers whose backyards have ever been besieged by Japanese beetles orcrabgrass may have a hard time accepting Medic's recommendations on thecure front (shake the bugs off?), but on the prevention side, this bookmakes it easy to avoid or at least ameliorate those problems in theplanning and planting stages. Xeriscaping, composting, and preventive pestcontrol have never seemed more practical than in Medic's water-wise andpesticide-poor chapters. --Liana Fredley ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Get this one!
I picked up a copy of this book from Kris Medic back in October, when she was a guest speaker at our garden-club meeting.I purchased it before her presentation, and by the time her talk was over, I was already thinking I had made a good decision.Having lived in Columbus IN for 17 years, I recognized her name and knew of her devotion to organic techniques for designing and maintaining landscapes.I had no intention of picking up the book and reading it cover-to-cover, that is not how I would usually approach a book like this.However, that is exactly what happened.I took it along to one of my son's ortho. appt's.In for a bit of a wait, I started reading. I became completely engrossed and was very surprised when my son came out and an hour had passed!I had read nearly one-third of the book.It is rare for me to pick up a 'how to' gardening book and read it in this fashion.This book is a real gem for anyone, especially those who garden (or wish to) organically.Kris touches on everything you can think of to do with landscaping or gardening, including many charts and lists to help guide you in the pursuit of a great yard.I especially like her use of these flowcharts and lists to halp you reach your desired goals.Many of us don't put enough thought into our landscapes, until we've made many mistakes.This book could hlp new or aspiring gardeners to prevent those early mistakes, and help those of us who have already made them, redeem ourelves.Kris includes all aspects of landscaping, including her top ten choices of favorite trees, shrubs, vines, groundcovers, perennials, and annuals.These choices are pictured and include all the information you need and why she considers it a top-pick.You will also find chapters on hardscaping, reducing water use, organic methods for preventing pests and diseases and a very informative section on the correct way to prune.This is a book I do not plan to loan out--get your own copy!I imagine I will refer to it often.Many of the methods and ideas included will mean less time for work and maintenance, and more time for me to enjoy the landscape.This spring, I plan to stop mowing a good portion of our yard.It's simply not necessary, and may have a detrimental effect, keeping beneficial insects and animals from our property. Instead, with Kris' permission, I'll have more time to sit on the garden bench and watch the butterflies.

Get this one!
I picked up a copy of this book from Kris Medic back in October, when she wa a guest speaker at our meeting.I purchased it before her presentation, and by the time her talk was over, I was already thinking I had made a good decision.Having lived in Columbus for 17 years, I recognized her name and knew of her devotion to organic techniques for designing and maintaining landscapes.I had no intention of picking up the book and reading it cover-to-cover, that is not how I would usually approach a book like this.However, that is exactly what happened.I absentmindedly grabbed it and took it along to one of my son's orthodontist appt's.In for a bit of a wait, I started reading.I became completely engrossed and was very surprised when my son came out and an hour had passed!I had read nearly one-third of the book.I continued to read every spare moment, even foregoing the reading of a good novel I'd started.It is rare for me to pick up a 'how to' gardening book and read it in this fashion.This book is a real gem for anyone, especailly those who garden (or wish to) organically.Kris touches on everything you can think of to do with landscaping or gardening, including many charts and lists to help guide you in the pursuit of a great yard.I especially like her use of these flowcharts and lists to help you reach your desired goals. Many of us don't put enough thought into our landscapes, until we've made many mistakes.This book could help new or aspiring gardeners to prevent those early mistakes, and help those of us who have already made them, redeem ourselves.Kris includes all aspects of landscaping, including her top ten choices of favorite trees, shrubs, vines, groundcovers, perennials, and annuals.These choices are pictured and include all the information you need and why she considers it a top-pick.You will also find chapters on hardscaping, reducing water use, organic methods for preventing pests and diseases and a very informative section on the correct way to prune.This is a book I do not plan to loan out--get your own copy! I imagine I will refer to it often.Many of the methods and ideas included will mean less time for work and maintenance, and more time for me to enjoy the landscape.This spring, I plan to stop mowing a good portion of our yard.It's simply not necessary, and may have a detrimental effect, keeping beneficial insects and animals from our property.Instead, with Kris' permission, I'll have more time to sit on the garden bench and watch the butterflies. ... Read more

Product Description
Explains how to grow a healthful, environmentally friendly vegetable garden without chemicals or pesticides, offering tips on plant cultivation, harvesting, container gardening, and more. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

a great guide for everyone
a gardening friend of mine recommended this book to me to begin learning about organic vegetable gardening.although i don't have much gardening experience, this book is easy to follow and very helpful, explaining thingsstep by step.it gives garden designs as well as information on compostingand on growing specific vegetables.a great resource for experts andbeginners alike! ... Read more

Product Description
The best just got better. Reader's Digest's best-selling gardening book is totally revised and updated with hundreds of new plant varieties and all 4-color photos illustrations, plus ALL-ORGANIC solutions and simple projects for eco- friendly gardening.

Written by experts, this full-color edition contains all new illustrations, photos, tips, and tricks for everything from organic fertilizing and composting to rotating a vegetable garden. Diagrams on beneficial bugs, weeds, and plant disorders, sections on bulb care for both outdoor and indoor planting, proper sowing of annuals, and properly planting perennials help make your garden beautiful, every year. And it's all presented in clear, easy-to-understand language.

This practical guide is a refreshing gardening sourcebook that features:
* All-new 2,500 full-color stunning photographs and 800 full-color practical step- by-step diagrams and illustrations
* An extensive plant directory of more than 700 plants-plus hundreds of new plant varieties-listed by common and botanical names
* New information on eco-friendly gardening-including recipes for non-toxic fertilizer and disease & pest controls-as well as recommendations for planting to attract hummingbirds or repel deer
* Over 200 pages of charts that provide easy-to-access information on the latest trends in plants, problem-solving tips, new hardiness zone maps, and more
* All-new organic garden guidance-how to garden safely without nasty chemicals, from planting and fertilizing to pest control
* Directions for specialized and trustworthy gardening websites where gardeners can get additional information
* Comprehensive index that features cross-referenced common and botanical names for absolute accuracy

With All New Illustrated Guide to Gardening as your guide, you'll be designing and implementing a gorgeous organic garden in no time.
... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

EXCELLENT book that has a lot to offer!
I love this book because as an organic gardener myself, it provides many useful tools to help you. One of my favorite features is at the end of each "section", It will tell you the best plants for each type of lawn or preference such as alkaline soil, acidic, shady, sunny, etc, etc, etc. That way, when I want to buy plants, ill know what works perfectly for my yard. The only bad thing I have to say is that if you don't have a lot of money, many of the suggestions will not work for you or you will have to find alternate methods than they provide.

Best Reference Guide You'll Ever Buy
What a wonderful book!I have the original version from 30 years ago, but this newest version is even better.Updated pictures, many in color.Updated techniques.Updated for the many new varieties and hybrids.And the best of all, updated with all new organic solutions to help keep our family as healthy and safe as possible.Yes, a wonderful book.

Easy to use, broad coverage, good detail on popular items
I've been using this book for the past three weeks to help improve my current garden and take care of new fruit trees I planted this year. The organic angle is appreciated, as the answer isn't always "spray with X". They'll tell you when to use an "organic" chemical and when you should through in the towel (pull it out).

The care of apple, cherry, and peach trees has been very useful in knowing how and when to prune them. It provided very specific details of when and how to prune these trees which I didn't even find in the booklet provided by the tree farm.

The beneficial insect section is good, but I'd like to see identification of bad insects also. I did find some answers when reading about specific plants (I have Mexican beetle larvae on my beans).

The non-veg/fruit sections are also good, and I think provide some good insight into planning and care that I found to be weak in BHG Home Garden book, which is better for specific plant id.

This is an excellent book for both beginners and amateurs. I find it to be good primary book to compliment Internet and State Co-Op Ext resources.

Gardening Review-- pretty good.
This is a good review of gardening techniques and plants. It is missing a couple of things that my cousin's old version did have.. like how to prune lilac bushes. If they add more to the pruning section it would be 5 stars.

Beautifully done, tremendously useful
This visually stunning book weighs about five pounds. Its 557 pages contain over 2,500 full-color photos, over 200 tables, and over 800 diagrams. Even the inside cover is a two-page spread color graphic. The plant directory covers over 700 plants.

I come from a family of gardeners, and have been gardening all of my life. I've grown some pretty impressive produce, using organic methods. And yet, I found myself learning new things as I read The All New Illustrated Guide to Gardening. This book defines "garden" to include the yard and general landscaping of a home, rather than just the vegetable garden out back. So it also addresses how to have a healthy lawn, keep trees strong, obtain the best shade, provide shelter for birds, and create peaceful areas within even a small back yard. And how to do all of that in a manner that is sustainable and affordable.

This book consists of twenty-seven chapters, each of which addresses a specific type of plant (except there are two topical chapters). It has an introduction and an extensive index. The two topical chapters "book end" the other chapters, and are:

*Planning your garden.
*Lawns and ground covers.

The chapters on plant types include:

*Lawns and ground covers.
*Ones on various types of flowers. For example, there are chapters on irises, peonies, and roses.
*Ferns.
*Bushes.
*Trees.
*Shrubs and vines.
*Fruits.
*Vegetables.
*Herbs.

The book has a big yellow "sticker" looking graphic on its cover. The "sticker" says, "Now All Organic" and that may put some people off. There is nothing weird about organic gardening. Most people use a mix of organic methods and chemical gardening. While you often get faster results from chemical gardening, you do not get better results.

Organic gardening has several benefits:

*Food smells and tastes better. There simply is no comparison. My organic tomatoes and peppers are bigger, darker, more aromatic, and tastier than those of chemical gardeners in this same locale. My plants are bigger, also.

*Food is better. It's got more nutrients and fewer toxins than chemically grown food.

*It's sustainable. Chemical gardening destroys the soil, creating dependency and then ultimately failure. Organic methods build the soil.

*It costs less money out of pocket. Sure, you are going to do more work than simply spraying chemicals on your garden. But you don't have to buy those chemicals in the first place.

*It's earth-friendly. You recycle kitchen scraps and yard waste, thereby reducing landfill requirements. If you need to use pesticides or fungicides, the recommended ones break down quickly and thus don't load our streams and soil with long-lasting chemicals.

*It's harmonious. Animals love an organic garden. Each spring, robins perch on my garden borders while I work the soil. They sing to me, as I dig up the worms they love to eat. Many kinds of birds visit my garden, eating many kinds of pests while there. Toads perch under the kale leaves, and consume massive numbers of insect pests.

I have a clover patch for a rabbit that lives in an evergreen in my backyard (for some reason, the robins keep the rabbit out of the vegetable garden). Bees visit me while I am tending my basil, and alight on my arms (they never sting, as I give them no reason to). Who needs a prescription tranquilizer, when you have this kind of peace and harmony?


Even when you follow organic gardening methods, you do have problems--up to, and including, crop failure. That's a risk you take. The information in this book helps reduce the risk. For example, you prepare the soil properly, plant a variety of crops (if one fails, you have others), rotate crops, watch for problems and catch them early, and so forth.

With organic methods, you don't try for perfection. You reduce risk factors and thus bring problems down to a tolerable level. In so doing, you eliminate the "cure is worse than the disease" problem that inflicts so many chemical-dependent gardeners. This book reminded me of my own laxity in practicing crop rotation. It's something I need to improve on ("It's the rotation, stupid.").

Planning, prevention, and focused attention are the "secrets" to successful organic gardening. These prevent you from needing to throw chemicals at a problem that shouldn't have occurred in the first place. Follow the practices recommended in this book, and the garden just about takes care of itself. In the event it doesn't, this book provides a wealth of advice on remediation.

Even if you already enjoy success as an organic gardener, you will no doubt find much value in this book. And, you could use it to teach people who ask why your flowers are so bright or your tomatoes taste so good.

Another benefit of reading a book like this is that understanding this information can help when you seek professional advice. When I visit my garden shop with a problem, the fact that I am generally following recommended practices means something to the experts. (I suppose it doesn't hurt to give a 9 lb honeydew melon to the resident expert, either....).

When you don't grasp the fundamentals, it's discouraging to those who could help you. This book clearly explains the fundamentals, and then takes you beyond them.

For a book of this size, there are surprisingly few editing errors. The writing was clear, requiring no mental gymnastics to understand what was being said. Typos are almost nonexistent, and the grammar is correct throughout. I have found correct grammar to be the exception, not the rule, in publishing today--kudos to those who care enough about readers to respect our language.

The All New Illustrated Guide to Gardening should be on every serious gardener's bookshelf or coffee table. Read it through once as a tutorial, and refer to it often. Its organization and arrangement make it easy to find answers to just about any gardening problem. Reviewing the applicable sections in winter before planning spring gardening activities is also a wise investment of time.

The one sad thing about this book is it's so useful that you're going to end up leaving its beautiful pages soiled and dog-eared. At least, I know that's what'll happen with my copy. Whether you want a great coffee table book or a practical guide to healthy gardening practices, this book is for you. ... Read more

Product Description
An A-to-Z, photographic guide to organic gardening provides complete instructions for combining plants that repel pests and enhance one another's growth. By the author of The Harvest Gardener. Simultaneous. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Not enough direct information on companion planting....
It seems to elude me any book that puts proper companion plants together or gives illustrated garden plans and how to implement them. The first 2/3rd of the book gave great advice I already knew and then the last third book gets into companion planting. Though most of them are printed as "Many believe "blah" wards off flies, but no research shows any truth." Plus many of the ones that include companions that are supposed to be univeral amony brassicas, trees, or nightshades aren't listed individually under that name. Such as Garlic and onions around Peach trees aren't even listed. Will no one have a properly edited and LISTED together guide to companion planting. The best thing I found was lists of plants for beneficial insects / repellants on Wikipedia which Wiki usually doesn't give good info, but in this case gave lists and better info than most books on companion planting. Anyone know a better companion book, please comment and let me know...?

If you grow veggies, you need this book
I'm a Calfornia Master Gardener, and I use this book every season when I plant my summer and winter veggie gardens. I've given it as a gift on numerous occasions.

According to Rodale, "Companion planting is the technique of combining two plants for a particular purpose." That purpose is usually to attract good bugs, repel bad bugs and provide other beneficial conditons so that you produce the highest quality and amount of vegetables.

Each vegetable includes a section on allies (good bugs), companion plants, enemies (bag bugs), and growing guidelines. For example, each year when I plant tomatoes, I also plant marigolds to control nematodes. I plant onions with my potatoes to discourage potatoe beetles. I don't plant onions next to peas, beans, or sage.

The book also includes sections on companion planting basics, interplanting, creating a planting plan, planting companions, and caring for companions.

... Read more

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Customer Reviews (5)

Relevant advice on nearly every page
Ann Lovejoy advises in her book to add a thick layer of compost to the soil every year, because Northwest soil isn't very fertile. That's because the winter rains compact the soil and wash away a lot of nutrients. She also includes other useful tips, like transforming a meadow into a lawn simply by mowing, using a flame weeder to clean up gravel areas and the cracks between the driveway and the retaining wall, and many other pieces of advice for Northwestern gardeners who want low-maintenance gardens that make sense in our climate and don't depend on toxic chemicals. She has a common-sense approach to plant selection (by far a gardener's biggest challenge, in my opinion). Choose plants that suit the site and will mature to the size you want. Don't commit to a plant that will need continual pruning, because you'll be a slave to this chore. The book is full of other pieces of advice along the same lines, and it avoids being redundant or weak.

This book was onmy wish list for a long time, and I would thumb through it at bookstores and community events where gardening organizations had ragged copies on display as examples of good local resources. My husband surprised me by ordering a copy, and I can't put it down.

Wonderful information and enjoyable read.
I usually do not buy what I call "How To" books as I can skim what I want in the book store.I purchased this book as a skim read too, hoping only to get some good info for my PNW area.
Once I started the book though, I couldn't put it down.It was a great read and full on information.There was no dryness or boredom at all.Ann is great at entertaining you while educating you and keeping you interested.One of those teachers that makes you enjoy the class.
I would recommend having your highlighter ready.I did highlight certain things I came across that I wanted to be able to flip to easy.
I definetly recommend this book to any gardener beginner and already educated.It is full of ggod information on how to make your garden grow and work for you.

the essential book for the northwest
I love all of Ann Lovejoy's books for her straight forward style of writing and gardening and the photography is always wonderful too. I checked this book out several times (after long waiting lists) from the library and finally decided i didn't want to share it anymore! If you live in our amazing Pac.N.W. and love to garden, this is the only book you really need.

The Best of Its Kind
I've read several general gardening books, and this one is by far the best. I love it for all the same reasons as the other reviewer (Valerie Adolph)gave. Every gardener should read and own this book.

Easy, natural gardening
I always look forward to a new gardening book from Ann Lovejoy and this one did not disappoint. Beautifully illustrated with Janet Loughrey's color photographs, this book is full of practical ideas for creating a Northwest garden that is both beautiful and easy to care for.

The writer's mantra "Natural, sustainable, organic" pervades the whole book - fourteen densely packed chapters covering topics from "Sustainable Garden Design" to selecting different types of plants. In the chapter on garden design she outlines what she considers to be the ten issues of good garden design. They are good, basic common sense, but so easy to ignore or forget. In just a couple of pages the writer addresses them briefly but vividly, then goes on to suggest how you might start your garden planning from an assessment of your garden's assets and liabilities.

One of Ann Lovejoy's strengths is her knowledge of and commitment to all aspects of sustainable natural gardening. She presents this thoroughly without being wordy (quite a trick in itself) and points out that natural gardening - working with nature - is far easier and more satisfying than trying to control nature.

In the chapters on plant selection the reader is guided in the choice of trees, shrubs, perennials etc that are not just pretty, or fashionable this year, but that will really work well in a specific place in your garden. Careful plant choices mean a minimum of stress for the plant and a minimum of effort for the gardener.

This writer's particular talent is her ability to combine practicality with vision. Her books, while primarily written for the gardener in the Pacific Northwest, contain much that is of value to gardeners elsewhere. ... Read more

Product Description
Any gardener who already works with biodynamics will tell you the difference it has made to his or her garden. From crispier lettuce to more intensely-flavoured onions, biodynamics is a great way to get your garden to produce tasty, nutrient-packed fruit and vegetables. The ideas behind biodynamics can sometimes be difficult to explain, however, and appear rather strange to those who are new to the technique. Hilary Wright, an experienced and passionate biodynamic gardener, guides the novice through the key points, whilst never losing sight of the ultimate goal: a healthy, abundant garden. Easy-to-follow step-by-step illustrations, explanatory diagrams and colour photographs show how biodynamic techniques can work for any gardener. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Stewardship of the Earth
For one concerned about humanity's collective responsibility to care for what has been entrusted to us by the Creator, this introduction serves to inform, inspire, and initiate!

This book provides a well organized/formatted intro to the field of biodynamic gardening.I suspect this already dog-eared book will long serve as a valued reference for learning more about what is at stake as well as what an individual can do!

Inspiring throughout, this volume will not fail to encourage the reader to shoulder one's responsibility to do all one can to begin healing the land for which stewardship inheres.

Unless informed, purposeful, patient changes are made to how humanity utilizes and thereby benefits from the earth are both initiated and sustained, our individual `portions' of the world will increasingly be depleted or damaged by unintended or even negligent practice.

Worth the investment; particularly helpful as in introduction for one desirous of making changes each can make to better care for the wondrous gift of God that is Earth.

J Patrick Wilkens

Very informative and great pictures
I highly recommend this book to anyone wanting to understand or get more information about Biodynamic Gardening. Being new to Biodynamics I found this to be the best book to give me a detailed summary of the many topics involved in Biodynamic Gardening (history, how-tos, preparations, etc) AND it has great pictures...It also provides recommended sources for more information.After reading this if you want to delve deeper into this form of gardending there are books by RudolfSteiner & others that you can progress to.A good one to start with is 'Agriculture' by Rudolf Steiner. Biodynamics groups are in many areas of the country that you can get in touch with for more information.Biodynamic gardening/agriculture works for small backyard gardeners as well as for larger gardens and commercial growers.

New and Old Ideas
Appreciated reading about new methods of biodynamic gardening dealing with every phase of soil, seed, weather, etc.Next spring will see me trying some of these methods.And in addition, there are reminders of the old and somewhat forgotten ways of gardening.Beautiful book, lots of ideas and very interesting to read. Now let's put it into practice. ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (1)

great for beginners like me
ok..so i'm not an expert..I got this book from the library and was so impressed I tried to find it online...it is for beginners but everyone has to start somewhere..I used to grow veg with both my grandfathers & wanted to get back to this.. this book gives great little tips...ways to use old newspapers to start seedlings...grow potatoes in a container..i'm excited to start my garden next spring... ... Read more

Product Description
Roll out the welcome mat for butterfles and hummingbirds. Attracting Butterfles and Hummingbirds to Your Backyard reveals the secrets for creating irresistible gardens and a welcoming landscape, which will lure these amazing creatures up close and personal for your enjoyment and wonder. Author Sally Roth knows the best plants, feeders, and water features that appeal to butterflies and hummingbirds, plus she offers an entertaining and insightful guide to butterfly and hummingbird behavior.
... Read more

Customer Reviews (10)

AWESOME
This book is AWESOME!!! Very informative and easy reading for a novice like me. I totally impressed myself when I identified a butterfly last night from what I learned in this book. I have planted many of the flowers suggested and BELIEVE me IT WORKS!!! Butterflies are coming! So much fun to see and watch.

butterflies and humming birds
what to plant to attract these pretty creatures to your garden. 2 years ago had 6 butterflies and 0 humming birds. planted some of the plants and flowers. to many butterflies to count and really colorful ones and now have a family of humming birds year around

great
great book, beautiful pictures and discriptions and lots of great information in an easy to read format

great book
Great book for those interested in starting a butterfly/hummingbird gardens.Some of the written text is a little difficult to read.Recommended for the beginner!!

Butterfliesand Hummingbirds
Thisbookisabeauitful learning tool and is sowelldone with illustrations. Adefinite buy. ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (1)

Easy guide for gardeners
An easy, step-by-step guide that's great for anyone new to gardening. I'm sure there are new tips for the even gardening pros as well! It includes sections for both vegetables and fruits (and berries) which is great for anyone hoping to expand their garden's selection. The book is very thorough and definitely a must have for anyone thinking of starting an organic garden. There are also tips for both the urban and rural gardener. A great gardening book, with something for everyone! ... Read more

Product Description
A practical introduction to a revolutionary art of gardening, sowing, planting, and harvesting. Biodynamic techniques are based on the recognition that plants are intimately connected with and depend on live, vital soil. These methods also attempt to harmonize with the influences of the moon phases and cosmos as a whole. You will learn the best times to plant various vegetables; how to deal with pests and diseases; ways to build the soil; and the effects of planets and stars on plant growth. Maria Thun is an authority on biodynamics with a lifetime of experience.

A book in the Hawthorn Press Art & Science series; illustrated. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

exactly what I needed to understand bio-dynamics
Maria manages to render a complex idea into a practical, simple and concise introduction.It now seems feasible...and the images even allow to transmit the knowledge to farmers who cannot write and read.... wonderful

Plants to the Planet
This is a great book for organic farming based on the moon cycles.How the indians farmed.It gives comprehensive theory on the plant planet solar system relationships.Also how to build soil health based on plant and animal derived substances.very good, yet I want to conduct the theories in my personal farm to see if what is mentioned is real.It makes sense

Putting Spirituality into Gardening
Translated from German, GARDENING FOR LIFE, THE BIODYNAMIC WAY is easy reading with beautiful full-colored pictures on just about every page.Maria explains that when we plant a seed we are ENTRUSTING that seed to the care of the Energy of the zodiac constellation the moon is in on that day.Each constellation has its own specialty: Root, Leaf, Flower,or Fruit/seed. Maria conserves water by allowing the Energy of the earth's natural rhythms to to keep soil moist.She doesn't water her crops. Once you start reading this book you wont want to put it down.Have FUN gardening!

Putting Spirituality into Gardening
Translated from German, GARDENING FOR LIFE, THE BIODYNAMIC WAY is easy reading with beautiful full-colored pictures on just about every page.Maria explains that when we plant a seed we are ENTRUSTING that seed to the care of the Energy of the zodiac constellation the moon is in on that day.Each constellation has its own specialty: Root, Leaf, Flower,or Fruit/seed. Maria conserves water by allowing the Energy of the earth's natural rhythms to to keep soil moist.She doesn't water her crops. Once you start reading this book you wont want to put it down.Have FUN gardening! ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (1)

Super-Organic Salad Gardening
When a book is entirely based on organic gardening principles and practices I take notice. And when the focus is on growing more than 200 salad plants, and the book covers every aspect from site preparation to harvesting, and detailing special techniques for growing salad plants, and containing full descriptions of all the main salad vegetables with advice on the best varieties for growing and for flavor - as one reviewer puts it .... I simply cannot and will not hesitate to purchase it.And I have not been disappointed.Beyond belief.Everything and anything I have EVER wanted to know about salad gardening - whew !!!!!!!!!!! My goodness Ms Joy Larkcom - as you say in your Introduction this book indeed has been a 'voyage of discovery".And likewise for me.You have given me insights and new thoughts I never would have dreamed possible.My salad garden is never going to be the same because you do not just talk about lettuce - you share with us insights into not only the leafy salad plants - but the stems and stalks, fruiting vegetables, the onion family, rooting vegetables, peas and beans, herbs, flowers, and an extra special blessing 'wild plants'. Then to top it all off we are more than blessed throughout the book with the incredible full color photography of Roger Phillips; plus, adding to this Mr. Phillips surprises us with images in an advanced photographic technique in the manner of botanical drawings that gives us a book that you will want to treasure. ... Read more

Product Description
With the growing recognition that a wisely planted garden has a lot to offer, more and more people are looking for ways to make their gardens environmentally friendly. However, gardeners have tended to assume that they need a lot of space to create habitats for wildlife and evoke wild and natural places. In Natural Gardening in Small Spaces, renowned plantsman Noël Kingsbury refutes that presumption, showing how even in a small garden you can create a sustainable ecosystem that looks great—and, once established, largely looks after itself. More than 150 glorious photographs of small natural gardens provide visual confirmation of Noël Kingsbury's contention that even the smallest garden can provide a natural haven. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

My All-Time Favorite Garden Design Book
Of the too many gardening books I've purchased, this one has transformed me. It opened my eyes to plant groupings that are natural (often native) and pleasing the year round. The illustrations are very beautiful and really do convey what Kingsbury describes. There is also plenty of useful data to help identify the plants that suit each environment. I bought this years ago and continue to return to it for both inspiration and information.

Emphasis on natural
Kingsbury writes of creating habitat for insects and hedgehogs as well as people, of selecting plants for your soil and water conditions.(He even writes on what grows best in gravel and in bogs.)This book encourages gardeners to be curious and to experiment.It is for those artists who create with plants.

Perfect for the small garden
I have a townhouse and very little room to garden, but I've long desired to plan a garden that would blend in with the woods that back up to our house.This book has given me my inspiration and has cemented my decision to plan a garden that will be both natural, peaceful and beautiful.It may take a while, but I'll do it thanks to this book.Have no garden space at all?They even cover that in the "Natural Gardening without a Garden". ... Read more

Product Description
This classic has now taught generations of gardeners how to use the natural benefits of plants to protect and support each other. Here is a reader's complete reference to which plants nourish the soil, which keep away bugs and pests, and which plants just don't get along. Here is a complete guide to using companion planting to grow a better garden. 555,000 copies in print.Amazon.com Review
This gardening classic was first published in 1975, and now asecond generation of gardeners who prefer pest-resistant planning tochemicals will find a place for it on the shelves. Not only does ittell what to plant with what, but also how to use herbal sprays tocontrol insects, what wild plants to encourage in the garden, how togrow fruit and nut trees, how to start small plots or window-boxgardens, and much more. It's one of the most practical books aroundfor any gardener of edibles, no matter how serious or casual. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (67)

Finally ONE place for this info!
I am a fairly new gardener and read about comb planting and find myself creating charts to keep it straight.Finally a book that does it for me!!! Thank you!!

PLAIN & SIMPLE
For a pure novice...a perfect starter gift.Informative, and idea inspiring.No room for analysis paralysis, only enough to rev-up that just do it attitude. Learn as you go and let the content guide your senses, thinking, and actions.

Some value, some science fiction
There is likely some truth in this book, but some things make me immediately lose faith in anything you say. For example, saying that a garlic spray is going to stop late blight in tomatoes has no science to back it up. After seeing that and one other nonsensical item (escaping me right now what it was) I lost interest.

Vegetable Gardeners Companion
Great book that gives you tips that are especially helpful to new gardeners.If you enjoy growing your own organic vegetable - this is great read and handy reference.

:-)
I bought this book as a birthday gift for my mom. It was delivered on time and in the condition promised. ... Read more

Product Description
The most comprehensive, authoritative organic foods guide available



Flavorful, nutritious meals begin with flavorful, nutritious ingredients. They also begin with knowledge. If you want to learn about and enjoy the benefits of organic foods, this book is an essential resource that will make it easier to "go organic" by helping you "know organic."

Covering fruit, vegetables, meat, eggs, milk, spices, and more, The Organic Cook's Bible expertly addresses the what, where, when, how, and why of choosing and using more than 150 types of organic foods. It includes:
* Easy-to-find entries, organized alphabetically within categories
* Information on selection, storage, nutrition, uses, and preparation
* More than 150 color photos for easy identification
* A special section listing 900 top varieties of organic produce
* A useful list of organic food suppliers and organizations


"This is an amazing book! Jeff brings together the essentials of gardening and cooking with delicious, approachable recipes and a discussion of what it means to eat in an ethical, sustainable, and healthy manner--and manages not to be preachy. It's a great read for those just beginning to explore good food as well as old pros."
--John Ash, chef, food and wine educator, and author of the award-winning book John Ash Cooking One on One

"The Organic Cook's Bible is a fantastic resource to guide both home and professional cooks through a greater understanding of what to consider when using organics."
--Jesse Z. Cool, owner of jZcool Eatery and Catering Company and other restaurants and author of six cookbooks, including Your Organic Kitchen

"The Organic Cook's Bible is a great book and an important tool to spread the good news of organics and inspire us all in the kitchen."
--Ronnie Cummins, National Director, Organic Consumers Association ... Read more

Customer Reviews (8)

Very Informative
Over the last few years, I've slowly become more and more organic. I've made the transition and I feel great! This book was one of the key elements that allowed my transition period to go smoothly. It's very informative and also a makes a great gift to a loved one, or friend.

A 'must' for any serious culinary or home organic cook's collection.
Plenty of books on the market cover organic foods and health, but THE ORGANIC COOK'S BIBLE is a resource which goes beyond recipes to offer a survey of organic ingredients and how to choose, store and prepare them. Home cooks and chefs receive a guide which covers meats, dairy, herbs, spices and more, with an A-Z arrangement for quick and easy reference, and a survey of over a hundred organic foods, from flavor and nutrition benefits to storage, what to look for, and top varieties. A 'must' for any serious culinary or home organic cook's collection.

Diane C. Donovan
California Bookwatch

Amazing!!An absolute must have reference book
I borrowed this book on an impulse from our local library.I was pleasantly surprised at how thorough and easy to use this book is.It is an absolute must, whether you are into organic foods or not.It covers everything from fruits & vegetables, meats, dairy, grains, pasta and nuts.

How many times have you gone to the grocery store and wondered how to tell if the fruit you were looking at was good(like melons) or wondered what some fruit or vegetable tasted like and what to use it for?This book clearly explains how to pick the best produce, what the nutritional information is, with beautiful color photos.

I can't wait to get my own copy and start trying some of the recipes.This will definitely be something I use every day.

This deserves a rating of 10 stars!!!

You need this book.
This book answers all of my questions about produce: the organic factor, (which tells you whether a certain product is sprayed heavily with toxins when you cannot purchase organic), nutrition details, seasonality, what to look for when buying, preparation, and uses.

There is just the right amount of detail including full colour photographs of vegetables, nuts, fruits - or whatever you are looking for. I find this very helpful when I want to buy somethingthat I am unfamiliar with like Okra for instance.

The material is extremely accessible. Everything in this book is organized perfectly so that you intuitively know where to find what you are looking for.I love the headings, shadings, chunking of information and the gorgeous green font that suits this book.

I use this book daily for a reference.On top of being extremely useful, it would make a great coffee table book. I'm sure that people couldn't keep their hands off of it.

Great!!!
This is the Best Organic Cook Book on the Market. Use it every day. Thanks ... Read more

Product Description
Would you like to grow delicious vegetables, fragrant herbs, or colorful flowers without using chemicals that can harm the environment? If so, organic gardening is for you. In easy steps, this book will help you choose the right types of plants for the soil and sunlight you have in your garden, enrich your soil with natural products like compost, and prevent pests in ways that are not harmful to wildlife. It will even show you how to build your own worm composter. Organic Gardening for Kids guides you through the process of creating a special place that will not only provide you and your family with organic food and ornamental flowers, but also attract butterflies, birds, and other local wildlife. ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (2)

A year on the garden path by carolyn herriot
Hello,
Just want to say there is a 2nd edition of this book, and that is what I am shopping for. A friend has it, and how very imformative, I'm hooked on this book.Love the ideas for simply solutions to bugs, enjoyed the week by week help, and simply put, I gotta have it!!

To more gardening with simplicity.

Now in an updated second edition
Now in an updated second edition, A Year on the Garden Path: A 52-Week Organic Gardening Guide is a practical walkthrough to creating healthy landscapes and food gardens organically. Packed cover to cover with great gardening tips and recipes, A Year on the Garden Path covers everything from soil building to maintaining a healthy green lawn, nontoxic antidotes to gardening problems, pruning, seed saving, plant propagation, and much more. Black-and-white photographs throughout enhance this step-by-step guide, filled with both general advice and suggestions specific to individual plant species. ... Read more