5 comments about Building with Stone.

1. This is an excellent first book for those who want to learn about building with stone as an old-world craftsman, rather than a money-hungry contractor or assembly-line modern mason. Charles McRaven does not fill his book with theory, but with practical methods and ideas which are true to proper masonry techniques but allow even the most novice to begin to lay stone right away. The anecdotal style of this book makes it an easy read, and inspires confidence to pick up that trowel for the first time!



2. This book seems to have a bit of everything that has to do with traditional stone masonry. It shows how to build different types of buildings and objects. Pictures are only in Black and White. If your looking for a full colour glossy paged book on stone architecture this is not for you.



3. This book was better than I expected. I was hoping for color photographs, but it has B&W only. Doesn't get into a lot of details, but covers quite a few topics on the subject of stone masonry. I agree with previous review. Would have been great if the section on Mortaring Stone could have been more detailed. All in all, a good starting book to refer to.



4. An excellent introduction for anyone who is interested in learning more about stone work and masonry.
   
   I enjoyed the book for the breadth of coverage, and for the anecdotal stories. It is one thing to be told safety tips and procedures, but the lesson is much more effective with a good story. I had hoped for a more comprehensive discussion of the tools used, how to use them, and how to shape the stone. However, lack of this does not detract from the usefulness of the book. The closest I have come to stonework was moving stones around for landscaping, but now if I were armed with a set of stonework tools, I would be tempted to try something more complex.



5. Chuck will keep you smiling as your read his books. They contain plenty of humorous stories while they display the stone arts. There are better guides but you should read as many as possible: you'll need it.
   
   Stone work is the hardest task you'll probably ever do in your life. If your project is big, it seems to never end and you'll doubt you'll ever finish. One rock can take 2 hours to lay whereas if all goes well, you can lay 5 in an hour. So, if you are interested in stone work, I'd advise to start small on the first few projects. This book is a good guide to helping you along the way.

5 comments about Making Concrete Garden Ornaments.

1. Explicitly exhibits (photographic) the process of concrete ornament construction - even suggests creative alternatives to Ms. Warner-Hunter's designs. You don't have to be an "official" artist to follow these instructions or to create beautiful garden scultpures/containers! Is written for the average-intelligence adult and is not at all "art-speak"!



2. This is an excellent resource for learning concrete sculpture! Start with this one, then get her other book, "Creative Concrete Ornaments for the Garden: Making pots, birdbaths..." for more advanced projects that reinforce your skill leves.



3. This is a good book for learning how to make your own hypertufa and concrete ornaments, including how to make the molds or reinforcements. Some of the projects are of overwhelming size for a person who is interested in small things for their garden. I like the planters, but some of the other things in this book are way too modern and gaudy for me.
   
   If you want to learn to do concrete ornaments for your yard, there is an incredible book still in print since 1904 called Concrete Pottery and Garden Furniture by Ralph C. Davison, which shows how to make garden ornaments such as columns, table, benches, planters in the Victorian and Greek styles--more my taste. This little book is packed with valuable photos and diagrams of how it's done.
   
   I would recommend Davison's book over this one, but Warner's book still has some great recipes for hypertufa and unique ways to construct molds for concrete statuary.



4. As soon as this book came, I had to go through it cover to cover. I love the projects, and the way everything is explained step by step. You are also given advice on using different mixes and techniques. I feel that the author not only teaches you how to do the projects in her book, but gives you the knowledge, skills, and encouragement to go beyond that. And that is exciting!



5. I've already made about 10 projects from this book. If you are a gardener, or like to 'ornament' your yard with tasteful items, this may be your book.

5 comments about The Encyclopedia of Edible Plants of North America.

1. The Encyclopedia of Edible Plants of North America, by Francois Couplan, Ph.D. is "a reference for all people interested in learning about the numerous opportunities nature offers us in the form of healthful, intriguing, often delicious vegetables and fruits that we do not have to grow to enjoy."

   Couplan provides information for approximately 4000 varieties of wild plants, much of it based on his personal experience.

   An ethnobotanist, Couplan began writing his Encyclopedia 25 years ago. During that time he traveled extensively, spending "a lot of time in the woods with very little in my backpack, finding my food in the plants I gathered." He took copious notes and presented "wild gastronomy" workshops, while also continuing his academic research and studies.

   Plants are listed by their Latin names, however the index includes the common names.

   Information for each plant includes a rating of how edible it is, how abundant it is, and where it grows. Etymology of most names are provided also; thus readers learn that dandelion comes from the French words for lion's tooth, because of the shape of the leaves.

   Couplan describes how to prepare edible parts of the plant, and how they taste. He also discusses the nutritive values and medicinal properties of each plant. Where relevant, he provides information on other uses, such as dyes, soaps, and basketry. Endangered species are noted. The book does not include illustrations and is not intended for use as an identification manual.

   Anyone who has ever wondered if a particular plant could be eaten, or how to harvest and prepare it, will find The Encyclopedia of Edible Plants of North America informative and interesting. People wishing to add a little variety to their diet will find lots of suggestions, and those who use plants for healing will appreciate the medicinal details.




2. Although it lacks color pictures, it is by far the most complete listing of edible plants that I've ever seen (over 4000 plants covered) and tells you how to identify and use EVERY part of a plant from the Flower to the Leaf to the Bark to the Root (and any other part that may be usable) If your into long term survival or just want a snack on the trail, this book has it covered.



3. This book is what it says it is, an encyclopedia. It provides very detailed descriptions on a very large database of plants. It would be close to impossible to use alone as a means of identifying plants in the field, so it is best used as a cross reference to a field guide. Recommended field guides would be "A Field Guide to Edible Wild Plants: Eastern and Central North America" by the Petersons, and "Edible and Medicinal Plants of the West", By Gregory L. Tilford for the western region. I have all three of these, and use the two field guides for identification purposes, and the Encyclopedia for verification and usage.



4. I found this book totaly usless for my purposes. The drawings were useless, and descriptions would help no one in the outdoors other than those persons already familiar with the plants. The entire book (for me at least) was totally self serving for the writer & the editors view. not recommened. Try "Living Off The Land" by McNabb.



5. This plant book has a wealth of basic information.Yet,it could be more extensive and colorful.The book was first published back in the mid 1970s.There is a lot of ethnic historical information about each plant.But,not so much scientific information.Luckily,i am a student of some Latin studies and enjoyed reading the root words for each plant.If you have read other plant books in tandem with this one,it would help you out greatly.As a single book on plants,it's lacking on profound research data for each one.I found the book to be impractical as far as preparing a wild edible plant for medical or comsumptive use.There are throughly good examples of warnings on the dangers of improper uses of the edible plants.
   If prepared correctly,then the plant can be a boon to the body.If carried out incorrectly,the cure can be as deadly as your aliment.I would recommend reading ,'Grieve's Herbal Encyclopedia A-Z',first.And use this book,as a back-up reference.This book suffers from trying to cover too much information in one volume.And straying into other ethnic areas,outside of the North America focus.Alma Hutchins' book on 'Plants of the Native Americans' ran into the same problem.Couplan's plant book is still worthy of inspection by anyone interested in edible native plant studies.

5 comments about Tree Identification Book : A New Method for the Practical Identification and Recognition of Trees.

1. This book is an identification guidebook for trees of the Eastern United States. It is organized according to Symonds' visual key. The first part of the book has tab-indexed sections featuring details of trees, including leaves, flowers, fruits, twigs, and bark. Following this are the main pages, which include entries for individual trees or closely related groups of trees. The entries in the main pages include common and Latin names, notes on range and flowering season, and other notes useful for identification. The book is illustrated throughout with high-quality black-and-white photographs cropped to bring out the important identification details.
   
   This book follows a different methodology than many other identification guides. Instead of following a descriptive key, which forces you to guess on features that may not be observable in your sample, with this book, you first examine your sample to decide which features are most prominent. Then you consult the relevant section of the details guide, whether it is leaves, flowers, twigs, or bark. When you find a photo that matches what you have in hand, you are then referred to the main pages where you can find more details of the tree to confirm whether you have a match, or if you need to give more weight to other features for identification. Although this system takes a bit of getting used to, especially for those accustomed to picking through descriptive keys, once you get the hang of it, it's simple, fast, and very effective for tree identification. However, given the large size of the book, it's not one you are likely to want to carry into the field with you. It makes a better shelf reference for consulting once you return home with your samples.



2. I wanted to see an excerpt of this book, but when I clicked on "Excerpt" I got a blank page with only the words, "Part I Pictorial Keys." So then I clicked on "Surprise Me!" and got a totally blank page. How are we to decide if this book is what we're looking for if there is no sample to examine?
   
   Shame on you, Amazon.



3. This is a great book for the novice of tree research. I use it very frequently and find it very accurate.



4. The photos in this book make it easy to compare what you have in your hand with what's in the book. They are large enough for real comparison, and there is a wide variety of trees described in different ways. It's a useful companion to a more wordy tree encyclopedia.



5. Excellent resource book for anyone seeking to identify trees by their leaves, bark, flowers, fruit, twigs, buds or thorns. Even though the photos are in black and white, their 3-dimensional appearance helps very much in identifying a tree.

5 comments about Scotts Lawns: Your Guide to a Beautiful Yard.

1. Excellent practical resource for maintaining your home lawn. I found many good practical applications in this book. I would recommend it for anyone that just wants to use for making sure their home lawn is well maintained.



2. This is a fantastic book. Better than many that cost much more. My dad reads it, looks at the photos and drawings, and is making plans for the spring.



3. We bought a brand new house last year with an acre of land and had no idea how to take care of the freshly laid lawn. A year of trial and error and the lawn is covered in weeds and missing patches. I just started reading this book and am already very impressed. It has simple steps and is written so clearly that I, someone who killed a lawn, feel comfortable starting over. If you want an easy to follow book with wonderful hints this is your book. I cannot wait to start fixing our lawn!



4. I was looking for the perfect all in one book but that's really impossible right? Well, this is a really good book but the one thing I think it misses are the "organic" options to things like fertilizers and pest defense. All in all it's a great help but I would have liked to see organic fertilizing options and organic pest control. In any case it will get your lawn green again.



5. The book is quite solid, well written & illustrated. No qualms there.
   
   However, Amazon sells both the 1st & 2nd edition for the same price -- but makes no mention of there being a 2nd edition here. This is the FIRST edition, get the second instead. Do a search for "Scotts Lawn".
   
   Also, as someone else mentions, this book (1st ed) is an updated version of the Ortho book on Lawns.
   
   Again, the book is solid, but look for the 2007 2nd edition.

5 comments about The Herbal Kitchen: Cooking with Fragrance and Flavor.

1. If you've always cooked with herbs, but always rushed off to the grocery store to get them fresh for your recipes, now is the time to stop and pick them fresh out of your own garden or pot! This book has a lot of great detailed information about how to grow, cut and cook with herbs. There are also a lot of pictures so you're not left wondering what something, you may never have seen before, should look like. The recipes are easy and tasty, the information is simple and this book makes a great gift or center piece on any coffee table. You'll be entertaining guests with your new recipes, indoor herb pots and wonderful cookbook, while explaining it all, in no time.



2. This books has wonderful herb cultivation tips, as well as recipes using those freshly grown herbs! The photos are a bonus! The book, "Flavoring with Culinary Herbs: Tips, Recipes, and Cultivation" by Mary El-Baz would be a great companion to this book!



3. I've never seen anything like this. This book makes me smarter. The recipes are much simpler than some other books I own, but the food comes out tasting -- amazing. And the recipe I just cooked (cinnamon chicken) ended up *looking* like it did in the book's photograph. Think about that for a while.
   
   That's another great thing about this book -- it has a lot of photographs, and that helps me (a novice cook) a lot.
   
   I think Mr. Traunfeld understands food in a way that other people don't. In simple things, like how to brown chicken pieces in olive oil, he's just practical and -- more correct than other books I have. Put it skin-side down in the oil and *leave it alone* for at least six minutes, then flip it over for two, then take it out. Yikes. It looked great.
   
   But in his use of herbs and spices, he's some kind of saint. I think the Japanese have a phrase for it: "Living National Treasure." Who else would ever tell you to cook what amounts to Chicken Cacciatore with cinnamon sticks and star anise?
   
   It scared me, but I did it, and oh my. It was one of the best three meals I've cooked in my life. (And it Looked Like The Picture.)
   
   How about mushroom and nutmeg bread pudding for Thanksgiving? He said something like "It's like stuffing from Heaven." So I tried it, and I guess I'll be making it forever now. My wife was hiding packages of it in the refrigerator so she could eat it later. I'm not making this up. That recipe was simple, too.
   
   What if all the most miraculous things are simple, after someone shows them to you?
   
   I decided that a guy like that deserves more than the buck or two he got paid because I bought his book. :-)



4. My wife and I have been fortunate enough to eat at The Herb Garden (located in the Pacific NW), but for those who can't make it up here, or can't afford the rather expensive experience of it, here is the answer! Head Chef Jerry Traunfeld's recipes are surprisingly easy, and every single one we've tried (we're working our way through the book) has been a hit. Not just okay. AWESOME. So go to your local market, or out into your garden, get the freshest produce and herbs available, and hit the kitchen. You'll be glad you did!



5. I hardly cook - the local takeout places know me all too well. But, occasionally, I'll bust something out for my book club or a potluck. I've been using the recipes in this book almost exclusively and they always turn out amazing, even the first time. They don't have a ton of ingredients and Jerry Traunfeld explains the steps remarkably well, so I'm not likely to get myself into a mess of trouble trying to cook. The Herbed Skillet Souffle was my first pass at folding egg whites and the results were delicious. I love the Cherry Tomato, Melon and Mint Salad - an unusual combination that makes me look like I know what I'm doing, but easy enough for a child to prepare. And, the Frothy Tarragon Sauce atop asparagus was incredible.
   
   There is something about the way it's written, with careful descriptions of each dish and obvious love for food, that is truly inspiring.

5 comments about How to Grow World Record Tomatoes: A Guinness Champion Reveals His All-Organic Secrets.

1. This book gives you some new and different ideas on how to grow tomatoes.
   I can't wait for spring to try it.



2. If you have ever thought of turning to organic gardening then this book will be very helpful. If you have been practicing organic gandening for years there are still some enlightning new theories for you here. If you believe you can get good produce to grow from a brick with the proper amount of chemical fertilizer and don't plan on changing your mind then this book is a waste of time.



3. After growing tomatoes for years in a small family garden, I decided to take up the hobby Academically. This book will clearly put my efforts over the top. Armed with all of Mr. Wilbers knowledge and research I should be able to grow the best tomato plants ever. There is lots of conflicting information out there, but from my experience I will go with Mr. Wilber 99%. He gives a clear picture of his purpose. It's all clear and concise. Everyone who reads this book can't help but grow bigger/better Tomatoes! I highly recommend this book.



4. This book is excellent information. I learned so much, especially about composting. Nobody can argue with this man's results. It's just amazing.
   I do wish there were a follow up book for other plants and trees.



5. The most comprehensive tome on growing record breaking amounts of tomatoes on the market.Gives all the information you need to know in one comprhensive resource on how to grow starters, prepare soil and its correct mix, with poignant stries from the authors experience based on proen scientific research that gets the results you would expect from a book with his title.

4 comments about Basic Composting: All the Skills and Tools You Need to Get Started (Basic How-to Guides).

1. This is the perfect book for the beginning composter. With plenty of pictures and easy step by step instructions this book teems with information. Purchased with "The Rodale Book of Composting: Easy Methods for Every Gardener" you have all you need for a great preliminary knowledge base on the subject. I highly recommend this book for those who are interested in getting started fast!



2. I was teaching a class at the local library on Composting and the Librarian brought me this book to display. I was thrilled to see a book that was easy to read and understand for the novice composter. I find alot of people don't get this concept, how easy it is and the great benefits to the enviorment. This book has great pictures and is a quick review even for the old Masters. I display it at all my classes regardless of the subject and refer to it often. It's a MUST HAVE in my library.
   Barbara Kiernan, Marysville, Ca.



3. As simple as it gets! How to create compost, How to build a compost bin (or which to buy), What IS compost and how do you create successful piles. Great for someone on a budget. Step-by-steps are great and the content is easy to understand. I built one of the bins in the book in a few hours. Highly recommend this for those starting out.



4. This is a very helpful book to have at your side when composting and is simple enough for us that are just beginning to compost. I am a very science-y, down-to-the-nity-gritty-biology kind of guy so some of of it seems too simplified. That's why I didn't give the fifth star. But, all in all, it really is a good book and I like the spiral bound style that allows it to stay open while you are actually in the process of composting. I am now in search of a more detailed book about vermiculture (worm-poop ranching!)

4 comments about Good Bug, Bad Bug: Who's Who, What They Do, and How to Manage Them Organically (All You Need to Know about the Insects in Your Garden).

1. Listening to Jessica Walters each weekend on her radio show has rewarded all of us gardeners, horticulturalists, naturalists and biologists with quite ample information on growing organically plants whether for ornament, food or lawn. This full-color-illustrated and short book will help one easily identify the most common insects and bugs deleterious to one's landscaping and to control them organically, in many instances with the beneficial, predatory insects or bugs. This book is not intended to be a field guide. Rather, it is a convenient guide to be used by the gardener. The pages are laminated, thereby encouraging taking this book directly into the garden without fear of water or soil damaging its pages.



2. Finally!
   A straightforward book about pests and beneficial insects for gardeners. I have looked for a book like this for twenty years!
   
   GOOD BUG, BAD BUG has great pictures and brilliant information about each pest, including what their damage looks like, what plants they attack, how to prevent attacks, and how to control attacks organically. Better yet, it has an equally awesome section for beneficial insects, with pictures, detailed information, and tips on how to attract them and keep them in your garden.
   With a great introduction and a very useful glossary, and spiral bound to last a long time, this book just plain ROCKS.



3. This book serves as a helpful guide to identifying common garden bugs. Although I bought it for myself, my 9 year old son, who is a bug lover, read it, too. Good quality pictures make identifying the bugs easy and there is an extremely useful section on the types of plants each bug likes and its natural predators. Written in lay terms and includes concise but helpful facts. This book is good for gardeners, especially if you are trying to control bugs without the use of insecticides.



4. I have always found Jessica Walliser's gardening books to be so useful, but this one takes the prize. The photos of the bugs--good and bad--and what their damage looks like is invaluable when trying to figure out what course of action to take in your garden. I took this book out to my garden and flipped through its pages looking for a picture that matched my plant damage--flea beetles! And again--cucumber beetles! I feel like not only am I learning to identify insects, but I am better managing my vegetable garden, organically. Jessica's advice for "Live biological controls" and "Preventive actions" and "Organic product controls" for each pest tell you exactly what to do when something is attacking your plants. I highly recommend this book for any gardener wanting to learn, before reaching for the spray bottle.

5 comments about Smith & Hawken: 100 Heirloom Tomatoes for the American Garden.

1. Enjoyed the book enough to buy another to give to my tomato-growing son. Also hooked me to the point of buying three other tomato books from Amazon. The author posts regularly on various tomato websites. Great photographs. For the price that Amazon sells this book - you cannot go wrong.



2. Wonderful book written by Dr Carolyn Male. If you don't own or have not read this book, then you really are found lacking in life!



3. I received this book as a gift, after my small 4-plant tomato plot fared disastrously last summer. 1 of the 4 plants produced decent tomatoes, while the rest died unceremoniously. This year, following the recommendations in this book, my 4 plants are all doing great, and I already have little tomatoes-to-be on 3 of the 4. For that reason alone I would recommend this book. I wish some of the planting and tending suggestions were a little clearer; you have to piece some of them together for yourself. Nevertheless, just two of the express recommendations on their own have made a world of difference for me.
   
   The photographs and descriptions of the different heirloom varieties are fantastic, and will inspire you to pick out some different and unusual tomatoes for your garden. You don't have to be a tomato fanatic to enjoy and learn from this book.



4. I love thumbing through this book. I buy most of my seeds from Seed Savers Exchange so it is especially fun because several of the varieties I was already growing, are featured in this book. Plus I have been inspired to try a few more. Well laid out. Beautiful book.



5. I have a small greenhouse and sell organic heirloom tomato plants. This book is my tomato bible! I am growing many of the plants she lists. Some I already knew about, some will be new this year, based on the information in this book. In addition, this book contains the simplest and clearest instructions I have found for saving seeds.
   
   Her pictures - well, they are REAL! What a concept! Instead of pictures of these pristine tomatoes that were probably airbrushed, the pictures of her cherry tomatoes show a little crack here and there, and she unabashedly shows scarring and other blemishes. She shows top views, bottom views, and each picture shows a cut tomato so one can see the flesh. For a tomato grower like me, this is great information.
   
   Her descriptions are frank, and since I was already growing some of these tomatoes myself, I know they are honest. You ever notice how the descriptions of the tomatoes in the catalogs imply that EVERY tomato is the BEST tomato? Dr. Male tells it like it is! In fact, she describes some of them having some faults, but has listed them for other reasons. (We agree - Amish Paste? Ho-hum. But historically significant and in spite of its faults, a very popular tomato.)
   
   If you are a tomato aficionado, then you must add this book to your library! I will have a copy at my booth at the farmers market - and I bet it will be dog-eared by the end of the tomato season! I may have to buy another!