5 comments about Design with Nature (Wiley Series in Sustainable Design).

1. Anyone studying environmental planning or LA should read this book.



2. this highly recommended book started out as a compelling read, but became something i had to force myself to finish. it seems to be a series of lectures strung together, which may have been interesting as lectures, but is not cohesive enough to be a book. the good information is lost amidst the rambling style.



3. No has estudiado arquitectura si este libro no ha caido en tus manos. Sin Ian Mcharg la arquitectura sostenible no seria posible. Por lo menos la arquitectura sostenible pensada a escala regional."



4. As a former colleague of McHarg's at the University of Pennsylvania during the 1960's, and currently working in a planned community he designed (The Woodlands, TX), I decided to buy this book to try to understand the strange idiosyncracies of The Woodlands, TX.
   
   The book is very wordy, but it is well illustrated. McHarg successfully blended community design with natural boundary conditions (watershed management, geology, forestry, slope properties, etc) with the case histories he presented (some of which I remember when serving on an invited basis on jury's in McHarg's academic program). The book's strength is his advocacy of melding human planning needs with nature's boundary conditions.
   
   BUT, does it really work? Only at the expense of the time of people working and living in such a planned community. The inconvenient practices that go with such a planned community require a lot of adjustment that asks a bit much of people who work in such places but don't live there.
   
   But it works fine for the affluent and the unhurried who can afford it.



5. My husband is a landscape designer and architect. So, he loves this stuff! I bought it for him as one of his birthday gifts. He has been wanting something of high quality and loves McHarg. I would recommend this book. We keep it on the coffee table because the pictures are wonderful and the design shows through. My husband and I love it!

5 comments about The Orchid Thief: A True Story of Beauty and Obsession (Ballantine Reader's Circle).

1. This book reminded me of a story about the 'fishes':
   Curious about North Americans before moving to North America, friends of mine did all they could to meet a North American. He was quiet when they were discussing life with universal categories. When asked about what he is most interested in, the North American lightened up and told them everything he knew about the fishes, his hobby. He was experiencing, interpreting and loving life through fishes (or orchids, or anything that we are deeply intrigued by), and my friends heard the most interesting story, told with love, passion and knowledge, and remained quiet and speechless for a long time.
   The "Orchid Thief" is a fascinating book, and I truly loved all aspects of this journey - the visual language, the historical references, the characters and the whole gamut of their emotions.
   Some short stories though, were told long in the book, which makes you feel the fatigue in these parts of the narration.



2. Pretty quick read because it is totally, utterly engrossing. Orlean has a wonderful writing style, and a knack for just the right amount of metaphors and similes. Plus terrific descriptive abilities. Every bit as wonderful as the film "Adaptation" which was made from this book. I really liked this non-fiction book about obsession, collectors, orchids, plants, all things in southern Florida. She gets to the heart of a true collectors mind. La Rouche an unforgettable person. She makes us "see" him. To paraphrase one unforgettable line - "I hate hiking in the swamp with convicts who have machetes."



3. Excellent story,great writer and terrific subject matter for anyone interested in Orchids or the State of Florida and some of it's history.



4. Truly fascinating reading. A friend encouraged me to read this after I became interested in and purchased several orchids at a recent orchid show. This book is an engaging journey through the history of orchids and orchid collecting as well as a revealing introduction to the often mysterious and sometimes elusive people who have been drawn to and fascinated by orchids over time. If you have an interest in orchids, do yourself the favor of reading this well-written and meticulously researched work. In fact, even if you do not have an interest in orchids you will find this book well worth your time. You may learning something of yourself in the process of reading it.



5. So the movie of Adaptation was amazing and the overall story within this book is good, the themes and ideas hidden in there are good, but the writing, not so good.
   I was rather disappointed by the extreme lack of decent writing here. This book was not a pleasure to read at all. It opened up with a little mock interview that Susan gave to herself and it was really kind of bad, not creative, and sounds like it was written by a 16 creative writing student.
   All I can say is that the story was a good idea, the longing in some of parts was wonderful, but the writing, I am not a fan of.

2 comments about Starting Seeds Indoors: Storey Country Wisdom Bulletin A-104.

1. The book is clear, concise and very informative. I would definitely recommend it.



2. This is a small booklet loaded with information. It has been really helpful now that my husband has built me a large greenhouse. Anyone that wants to start plants from scratch needs this booklet.

5 comments about The Secret Techniques of Bonsai: A Guide to Starting, Raising, and Shaping Bonsai.

1. This is a fine work on Advanced Techniques for the Bonsai enthusiast, in particular giving full particulars on specialty tools and pruning shears in Bonsai Culture. It is kind of surprising the great tips one can get, from just the one paragraph tips that the authors son added after his father death. Very concise and precise is a great summary for this book.



2. The Secret Techniques of Bonsai: A Guide to Starting, Raising, and Shaping Bonsai An understandable, complete book on Bonsai .



3. In short, my opinion is that this is an excellent book if you are serious about bonsai and would like to get started, or to complement your knowledge from other books.
   
   Before I purchased this book, I checked out several books from my local library. Some books seem to show many pictures of finished bonsai without really getting into details and I feel as if I still don't have the knowledge to even start on a bonsai. This book is a bit more helpful with step-by-step pictures from repotting to pruning, diagrams of undesirable branches, and methods of propagation.
   
   There is a lot of information in this book that I read in this book that other books brush by, but I found helpful to me. Without a doubt, it is important to read different books because each author has their own views on certain issues.
   
   Other books that you might want to look into are "Bonsai (101 Essential Tips)" by Harry Tomlinson and "The Bonsai Workshop" by Herb Gustafson.



4. This is a great little book for the beginner because it explains everything simply but thoroughly.



5. I do not recommend this book to the beginner who is just getting into Bonsai care-taking. This is more of a comprehensive book explaining how to create, shape, and nurture Bonsai trees. This book is very well written for and advanced level Bonsai owner. It goes into detail about how to start Bonsai trees, wire them, how to pick out the right environment, etc.
   So if you're beginning, I think you should pass this book by at first. If, however, you have been into Bonsai trees for a while, this is the book to go with.

5 comments about Planting Green Roofs and Living Walls.

1. Greenroof professionals and enthusiasts alike will be delighted with the easy reading and scope of content offered in "Planting Green Roofs and Living Walls" by Nigel Dunnett and Noël Kingsbury. Very well organized, the book's forte and major value is as an essential resource - especially in terms of plant description, characteristics and specification. It's also a great bargain in that the book is filled with color photos, drawings, charts and reference material. This indispensable hard cover reference guide contains a truly massive collection of appropriate plant information, and perhaps most importantly, extensive plant directories are provided for both greenroofs and façade greening.
   
   Organic Architecture with Plants
   Greenroofs, living walls, and various other bio-engineering techniques are introduced and the authors cite the associated benefits and reasons why we should be integrating these measures of organic architecture into our built environments. The authors refer to current international research and technology; background and history are touched on; and benefits and applications of these "ecotechnologies" are discussed at length. Yet, a "How-To Build" book this is not; basic principles are set out and tools for further research are provided.
   
   Benefits at a Range of Scales
   The section "Why Build Green Roofs?" explores hard evidence and the various benefits operating at a range of scales from amenity and aesthetic values to economic and environmental aspects. Increased roof life, insulation and energy efficiency, green building assessment and public relations, biodiversity and wildlife value, water management, air pollution, and fire prevention and risks are discussed with supporting evidence.
   
   Although previously well known, the biodiversity and wildlife value of greenroofs is expanded upon here, including the new British models of "brown" or "rubble" greenroofs - those which recreate the thin, infertile landscapes of disturbed brownfield sites. Spontaneous colonization is presented as an important natural occurrence.
   
   A Vast Array of Planting Opportunities
   The authors rightly note that "The majority of guides to green roofs and roof greening concentrate on the technical and construction aspects but have relatively little to say about planting opportunities - mainly because most authors are not plant specialists." Well, Noël - a well known writer of plants and gardens, and Nigel - a senior lecturer in the Department of Landscape at the University of Sheffield, most certainly are plant experts, and an entire 47-page chapter is devoted to the wide range of planting opportunities for extensive greenroofs, beyond the ubiquitous albeit hugely successful use of Sedum species.
   
   Prevailing site conditions will always dictate the plant selection, so designers need to know what plant species will not only survive but thrive in extreme local conditions. Desirable physical attributes of plants and how they may be established and managed are presented. Considerations of monocultures, single plant combinations and mixtures, and plant communities are useful as planting design tools. The form and physiology of suitable greenroof plants are nicely covered from a botanical as well as functional and aesthetic perspective. Issues of viewing considerations are pondered and design solutions are offered relating to the roof function and visual criteria. "Methods of vegetation establishment" is particularly detailed and thus extremely valuable. The authors point out, however, that current research is insufficient to show how long each species will live and how each species will interact over the years atop roofs.
   
   The very important aspect of different growing medium properties and functions is addressed in-depth, and comments are provided about particular types of materials, substrate depths, and accompanying vegetative possibilities. Maintenance issues and requirements are briefly noted, touching on feeding, plant protection, drainage, and weeding.
   
   Considerations of Natives and Introduced Species
   The unexploited opportunities of testing and using native vegetation are explored, in terms of increasing biodiversity and aesthetic benefits. Regionally native plants should be tested for many reasons, including ecological restoration. Non-native plant species with invasive tendencies can be a problem, therefore careful selection is critical to maintain healthy ecosystems. Yet many introduced species are appropriate, and there are many circumstances where non-natives offer considerable local wildlife value.
   
   Certain natural plant communities and their soil types are explained and presented as an argument for further study as suitable models for successful roof plantings. Trialing of appropriate local plant communities is therefore recommended and encouraged so as ultimately to be able to introduce more natives into the greenroof matrix of plant species.
   
   "The natural habitats of potential roof-greening plants" explores the potential to discover and trial the world's flora found in similar harsh habitats. Mountain, high latitude, coastal, limestone, sclerophyllous woody vegetation, semi-desert environments, and species whose plants are exposed to climatic extremes are regions with potential for testing of new roof greening plants.
   
   The Task Has Just Begun
   Philosophy and advice to greenroof plant enthusiasts can be summed up with these reflections by the authors: "With roof greening becoming an important part of the new built environment, it is increasingly important that more attention is paid to sourcing new plant material from habitats in the wild where conditions approximate those on rooftops and other problem urban situations...The task of selecting suitable plant species for roof greening has arguably just begun, and it offers potentially enormous rewards."
   
   They are quick to point out that the globalization of our knowledge base and the ready availability of certain aggressive species can threaten entire ecosystems, and care must be provided to the selection of greenroof environments (just as at ground level) so as to avoid invasive and potentially destructive non-natives or introduced species.
   
   Façade Greening and Living Wall Structures and Surfaces are the final two chapters of the book, offering both visual and ecological climbers, clingers, ramblers and scramblers. New support structures, materials, technologies and details provide practical and interesting information for this older yet equally fascinating design element of green architecture. The authors examine how the design of façade greening can equally disguise unattractive features while at the same time enhance existing surfaces. In either case, education and care are necessary to promote vigorous growth that is supported by a variety of vertical and/or horizontal structures.
   
   At the end of the book, 49 pages are devoted to the Roof-Greening and Façade-Greening Plant Directories, listed by botanical names, common names, cultivars and related species. The horticultural and cultural aspects are presented with definitions and listings of many specific plant characteristics.
   
   A minor grumbling on my part about the book is the absence of identifying greenroof project photo captions for the geographic locations and the building application types. It would be beneficial to know not only where each is located, but also whether the project is commercial, industrial, residential, etc.
   
   A Dovetailing of Living Plants, the Building, and Its Human Users
   Whereas Ted Osmundson's excellent 1999 "Roof Gardens: History, Design, and Construction" is considered the bible for the intensive greenroof crowd, Nigel Dunnett and Noel Kingsbury's "Planting Green Roofs and Living Walls" is simply a must have for extensive and intensive greenroofers worldwide.
   
   "Planting Green Roofs and Living Walls" is a comprehensive argument for integrating nature and architecture, and I highly recommend it. It's obvious that Kingsbury and Dunnett are first and foremost dedicated, ecologically minded plantspeople; here, then, is a very important work for those of us in the greenroof industry. ~ Linda S. Velazquez, Publisher Greenroofs.com



2. This book is great for those who may have trouble visualizing the possibilities of what you can do with a green roof. There are many examples of what you can grow, and what types of vegetation are suitable. The book is however not very technical about the architectural detailing considerations involved. Some sections and detail drawings would make this book much more valuable as a design resource.



3. Planting Green Roofs and Living Walls is an excellent book for any landscape architect who has not yet designed and detailed either. For myself, the most helpful bit of information was the data collected and presented from various green roofs.
   
   The living wall section on the other hand was thin. There was no mention of the living wall system Patrick Blanc developed which is much more interesting than putting up a wire trellis and planting vines next to it. The other comment i would have is that almost all of the examples are from Europe. We have fabulous examples in the US with more relevant plant materials and weather conditions.
   
   Finally I would say that the authors didn't seem interested in exploring native plant materials and instead focused on a few cookie cutter plants commonly planted all over the northern hemisphere. Not unlike McDonalds.



4. I am a big advocate on using plants to create green walls and roofs. They can reduce the urban "heat island" effect and create usable green open spaces. I found this book's discussions on Intensive Green Roof, Extensive Green Roof, Ecoroof, Brown Roof, etc interesting. This book is a serious attempt on a difficult subject. The color photos inside the book are helpful also.
   
   There are still technical difficulties in using green walls and roofs: water proofing, how to handle the structural weight of large trees, how to integrate large plants with building structure, etc. All these technical discussions are needed, and they could be the subject of another book.
   
   Gang Chen, Author of "LEED AP Exam Guide" & "Planting Design Illustrated." LEED AP, AIA
   
   



5. Wide range of examples of designs presenting different approaches to green roof and living walls planting. Examples rarely accessible in other books. Described methods, plants selections and names of producers give real help in daytime work. Book for interesting reading! not only for looking on photographs.

5 comments about Tasha Tudor's Garden.

1. I have loved Tasha Tudor's illustrations in books like "The Tasha Tudor Book of Fairy Tales", "The Secret Garden" and "A Little Princess" since childhood. I didn't know anything about Tasha Tudor as a person, and then one Christmas my mother gave me this book. Wow! Mrs. Tudor has lived a remarkable life and she is an amazing person. She has chosen to create a home for herself that seems to exist in a century past. Her son built a rustic house for her, and she has surrounded it with extensive farm buildings, cottage gardens, fruits, berries, chickens, goats and dogs. She dresses in layers of vintage clothing and eats off of china that has been in her family for generations. I just love this woman, and her lifestyle. This is a beautiful book.



2. This is a wonderful book featuring the garden of children's book author and illustrator Tasha Tudor. Not a gardening how-to book but rather a photographic tour of the garden. It does show that a garden can be at its most charming when not rigidly landscaped but grown in a more naturalistic way. A must for all Tasha Tudor fans bookshelves.



3. I received this book several years ago as a birthday gift. It has beautiful pictures of Tasha Tudor's garden and flowers. I bought it this year for my friends 60th birthday gift. She loves it!



4. Tasha Tudor could grow anything, and this book shows her beautiful garden, really cozy. The photography is excellent. She could grow Peonies & Foxgloves, which I would love to grow in the heat of So. Calif. and can't. Her garden is informal, and what I imagine Eden might have been like. Her garden will be a memorial to her life and work as she passed away at 92 just recently. I highly recommend this if you love gardens and flowers.



5. What a wonderful way to live - not that most of us can pull it off. I strongly recommend a cup of tea, a soft throw, a chair by the window and Tasha Tudor's Garden for one of the best afternoons possible. It made me think about just what is important in this world.

5 comments about Weeds of the Northeast (Comstock Books).

1. A very useful book for those of us in the northeast seeking to identify weeds and wildflowers. Certainly a one-of-a-kind publication.



2. Because this book is selective and regional rather than comprehensive, it has been extremely useful in identifying and providing info on the "weeds" I am likely to see. The descriptive information on all stages of the plant, in combination with photos, rather than a focus on flower and secondarily on leaves, make this easy to use for nonexperts like myself; it also sets it apart from the (also useful) Newcomb book and other field guides I have. (In gardening, it is especially useful to be able to identify weeds at their early stages.) The organization of the book is reasonable, but it is also easy enough to leaf through to spot weeds by photo.
   The "weed management" focus of the book (weeds being viewed from the standpoint of crops, orchards, and nurseries) means that it includes native as well as nonnative plants (although the descriptions mention where the weed is a native). It is interesting to me to see what native plants are considered nuisances. My own primary interest is in environmental balance, the promotion of native plants, and the control of invasive nonnatives, and while this not a main resource for me, I find it very useful.
   Incidentally, I have Eastman's "The Book of Field and Roadside," which is an extremely entertaining, idiosyncratic adjunct.



3. A comprehensive book, easy to locate the various types of weeds. I was puzzled by a weed? that popped up last year and again this year Only in increasing numbers. I was finally able to locate and identify it using this book.



4. As many have said, this book is very useful for identifying weed-like plants. I have already used it to id more plants more easily, than I have with any of my other id books.
   
   The downside, is that it essentially ignores whether plants are native or not. To me, that matters A LOT. Native plants may be considered weeds, but they are much more supportive of wildlife and in tune with the ecosystem, and I think the distinction is worthy of being made. Even descriptions for non-native plants that are considered to be invasive make little mention of this fact.



5. This book was recommended to by by a university professor who uses this as a textbook in class, and I can certainly see why. There are several outstanding features besides the excellent disctiptions and pictures of plants at diferent stages of growth. How to identify a weed, a dichotomous key, shorcut ID tables, and a grass chart. Every gardener should have this book in her/his library. Of course, along with the knowlege in this book is the old "chestnut" every gardener should know, "A plant is a weed if it's growing where you don't want it to grow."

5 comments about Growing Great Garlic: The Definitive Guide for Organic Gardeners and Small Farmers.

1. I cannot comment on the end results yet, since harvest is still 10 months away. This book introduces the types of garlic and recommends several organic methods of soil preparation. The greatest revelation was when to plant. All the local home garden supply stores stock garlic for spring planting. The author recommends fall, something subsequently confirmed by a local commercial grower. Hopefully with the fertilizing and time of planting tips, my results won't be quite so dismal.



2. If you finish this book, unless you're already a garlic farmer, you'll have been endowed with about 10 times the amount of information that you'll ever need. This book needs a major edit as the information is jumbled and unclear. I got the impression that the author definitely knows his stuff but was unable for some reason to convey it in any coherent way.
   
   I read the book in its entirety and all I really wanted to know was WHEN to plant and harvest my garlic -- I THINK I know now but I had to go back and re-check what Engeland said on this topic. So, if you just want to know the simple things about growing garlic, just check the internet. This book would definitely be helpful if you were planning to grow garlic as a source of income.
   
   Maybe a revised version will come out soon, which would surely be an improvement.



3. I'd recommend this book no matter where you live as the author gives instruction for all weather conditions. My home here in the Southern Hemisphere is quite cold and snows in winter but is dry and warm in summer - so I now know what I can grow and have found a great organic site that I can buy my garlic bulbs from. Bliss!



4. I'm a gardener who loves to cook, and I love my kitchen herb garden best of all. When I decided to try growing garlic this book was recommended by the seed (bulb) supplier as a great place to start, and they were right! It's well-written, complete, and a great reference. Highly recommended!



5. Type in growing galic in your search engine and 9 out of 10 will tell you it is a snap.
   This author has at least 40 reasons why your crop will fail.
   I don't recommend this book... too negative and too disorganized.

5 comments about Tom Brown's Field Guide to Nature Observation and Tracking (Field Guide).

1. This is an unusual book in which hard core tracking tips are blended with instructions on cultivation of the inner silence. As opposed to other stories about tracking which border the domain of fiction (e.g., "The Way of the Scout"), Brown gives us in this Field Guide practical advice on reading animal tracks, constructing shelters etc. The tips on "Nature Observation" in this field guide are unsurpassed by any other tracking book I know. TB provides us with priceless descriptions of what happens the moment we enter the forest - that is, how the alarm signal spreads from the birds to mammals and how long it takes for it to subside. The forest he is talking about is a living entity, where everything is connected and where one can plug into the circuits of the information flow by learning to listen to the sounds, by studying the terrain and the wind and by knowing how to camouflage and mask one's smell. The book provides useful info on various types of walking/stalking in the woods. Finally, there is deep reverence for nature something which occurs when one has learnt to be silent amidst the whispering trees (no mean trick for the Westerner who tends to function through the head). Tom Brown has learnt the inner silence tricks from his Apache teacher ("the Grandfather") and trackers might find this book useful for learning more about Native American attitudes toward nature. A similar approach to nature is encountered in some of Paul Rezendes' books (which i also recommend). In short, this book will be useful to those who are interested in approaching nature on its own terms. It will inspire the beginners in tracking and complement knowledge of hard core SAR UTS trackers (:)



2. I've read this book twice, and both times I've learned (and re-learned) to see and feel and experience more when I go outdoors, go camping, or take wilderness trips.
   The book teaches a lot of good stuff about tracking, but its best material, I think, is its section on nature observation: on learning to have a wider range of vision, to see more peripherally, to be quieter, and to be more aware of one's surroundings.
   "The tragedy in life is not what men suffer, but what they miss," Tom Brown quotes Thomas Carlyle as saying, and this book is all about helping you not to miss so much.
   The book contains great advice and tips on building sweat lodges (to cleanse your body and mind and increase your awareness), on getting more out of your outdoor experiences,on getting closer to wild animals, and on letting the outdoors free life from its tensions.
   The book is also full of little exercises designed to heighten your awareness.
   My favorite is one where you use sticks to frame a single square foot of outdoor ground. Then you stare at it from a standing position, making note of everything within it: little rocks, a plant, a hole here or there. Then you kneel down and study it from that level: all of a sudden you can see mouse pellets, tiny bugs, and seed husks around the holes on the ground. Then you get down on your stomach and put your face right up to it: suddenly you can see where beetles have nibbled the plant's leaves, you can see the footprints of mice, and you can see the holes are deep, and wider than you'd thought. Then, after about an hour of fascinated scrutiny, you stand up, and the square foot, and all the ground around it seems to pop and buckle, as the realization of how much was all around begins to hit you. The ground seems writhing with life and interesting things, and you can never look around you the same way again.
   It's very cool.
   I highly recommend this book. Its lists of various scat and tracks are a bit long for casual cover-to-cover reading, but as a guidebook its information is thorough and fairly complete. Read it, learn from it, and add new depth to the way you view the world.



3. a good book about how to really see things in nature, not just the obvious. it also goes into some of the basic and more technical aspects of tracking people and animals.
   
   however, i felt that it was to much in the middle of basic tracking and very technical tracking. personally if you want the basics of tracking i would buy his book entitled "Tom Brown's Field Guide to Nature and Survival for Children". this lines out basic tracking skills very well so that a child can understand, but i have found it very helpful in my practices. And if you want very technical tracking advise i would get his "Science and Art of Tracking" book.
   
   And pretty much all of his books go through some nature observation guide. this one just has a lot more excercises for practicing it.



4. I was not impressed. there is very little useful information in this book, mostly just a bunch of tall tales written to impress inner city folks who have never gotten a chance to experience the outdoors. Don't waste your time or money with this book. Field guide to mammal tracking in north america by jim halfpenny is the book you want. Allan a macfarlan is another author i recommend looking into, he has written about the same subject but has more detail.



5. I first read this book several years ago, along with his first book "The Tracker." I was impressed enough to travel by plane, bus and truck to his class in New Jersey. Yep, New Jersey, home the largest wooded area in the U.S.
   Tom says as a kid he was trained by an Apache Scout and Shaman whom he calls "Grandfather." We spent a week sleeping in a barn on the hay, going barefoot is really cold weather and cooking outside on a large communal grate. Lecture sessions were held in a 100-year old barn and tracking (or dirt time as Tom calls it) was in various woods and fields. This was one of the texts and we had a meal or two using it as a guide-deep fried clover blossoms as I remember, using cattail blossoms as flour. It was very good.
   Tom still has classes in NJ. When I left I was certain, as I still am today, that I could survive in the woods or anywhere if necessary.
   Get this book along with "The Tracker," for a complete view of Tom's story.
   Tom was also technical advisor on the Tommy Lee Jones movie "Tracker," and the knife used in the production is available from Brown. Enjoy, Learn.

5 comments about Gardening with Guineas: A Step-By-Step Guide to Raising Guinea Fowl on a Small Scale.

1. I had tried raising guineas for several years without success. After reading this book, I have discovered many of my mistakes. No longer will I lose guineas to frostbite or overnight predators. I will provide proper housing and feed as well. I wish I would have read this book much earlier and spared the lives of many guineas. I love guinea fowl and feel better going into the new season with this book in hand!



2. If you're at all interested in Guinea Fowl, this is the "Bible." Everything you need to know. We're going with Guineas for the same reason as the author...insect control.



3. It all started with ducks, actually. Or maybe bugs. I hate June bugs all over my vegetable garden, and I'm not overly fond of other bugs, either. A place near where I work has all kinds of ducks wandering around, and I thought I'd borrow one to eat the June bugs. Then I remembered guineas. When I threw the idea out there, I thought my boyfriend would just ignore it, but he seemed interested, too. I started doing some research on the web and found Gardening with Guineas. We read through it, and picked through it, and now we have guineas. My boyfriend is not much of a reader, but he read Gardening with Guineas. It helped us decide that we could raise them. It is full of information on how to house them, how to train them, and how to take care of them. If you want guineas on a small scale, don't even get any birds until you read this book.



4. I purchased this book in preparation for raising some guinea keets I received from a friend. As a gardener, I was particularly interested in their function as an "organic insecticide".
   
   The information was sufficient, but not well-written or proof-read, more like a newspaper article. Not enough focus on the gardening aspect, other than that they like certain bugs that harm flowers and veggies. The taming process described is impossible to achieve if you have other things to do than playing with the birds. It is not necessary to keep them caged in the chicken coop for 6 weeks - mine are roaming the chicken yard at 6 weeks old with a bantam hen that adopted them. They stick very close to the coop.
   
   All the information presented can be found on the internet without having to shell out almost 15 bucks.



5. Was a great help with starting my Guineas. Thank You very much to the Author.