5 comments about A Kid's Herb Book.

1. I found this from an EarthWalk class that I sometimes volunteer for. A 4th grader showed this book to her teacher who in turn showed it to us. I wrote down the name and bought it a few days later. Why? Because it is really informative and done really really well. I'm new to the whole outdoor, edible herb thing so I feel like I could use a kid's book to help teach me (it even has sections for me to color!) :-)



2. Reviewed by Juanita Watson for Reader Views (4/07)
   
   Lesley Tierra's book is just as the subtitle suggests, "for children of all ages." This fantastic herbal showcases 16 commonly used medicinal plants that could realistically form the core of a home herbal pharmacy. It is truly a great introduction to the world of herbs.
   
   I adore Tierra's original stories for each herb which will stretch children's imaginations while connecting them deeper to the spirit of each plant. Lesley pays special attention to warnings where indicated, explains specific doses for children, and includes a convenient quick guide to treating illnesses (matching symptoms with herbal remedy).
   
   Beautiful drawings adorn nearly every page of this book bringing each and every page to life. As an adult I appreciate the visual aspect, so I can only imagine that children will fall for them too - maybe even color in some of the bigger pictures adding an artistic element to the book itself.
   
   Tierra's includes sing-along songs for each herb (with accompanying sheet music), as well as a vast array of crafts, projects, activities and herbal recipes. This author hasn't left anything out, and it doesn't surprise me knowing her background and the 15 years spent researching this book. Tierra is a nationally renowned practicing herbalist with family and friends in the herb world, many of whom somehow contributed to this book.
   
   The thing that really stood out for me about "A Kid's Herb Book" is the way the author attempts to connect the reader (parents, children, and ultimately, that inner child within all of us) with the amazing life force found in herbs. This book is a timely bridge that serves to unite the heart of each reader with the natural world in fun, useful, creative and joy-filled ways. I feel that this is what makes "A Kid's Herb Book" unique in comparison to many other herb books on the shelves today.



3. I purchased this book for my 7yo son because we do use a lot of herbs at home. He likes the book very much but my 4yo dd LOVES it! She loves making the recipes, learning about the plants and how they work, and hearing the stories. It has become her favorite book. I love the recipes as well since they are wonderful to give to children. I can't recommend this book enough.



4. Seriously this book is great! It was wonderful ideas for the garden, crafts, the seasons, herbal stuff. It is just fun, cool, great!
   
   Heather mama of 5



5. This is a good book and my son and I both enjoyed the fairy tale-like stories in each chapter about how the herbs came to be known for their healing qualities. There are a lot of recipes and activities for each herb but it's not what I personally was looking for. I was hoping there would be more different kinds of herbs listed and what they are used for.

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. :-)
   
   ---------------------------------------------
   Eight Months Later
   ---------------------------------------------
   
   It's August, 2008 now, and I have just finished my first attempt at Basil Lime Fizz from this book. I decided I would write this before I finished my first glass of it.
   
   This is crazy. I want to give this guy another star, even if it breaks the Amazon Ranking Algorithm.
   
   Since I wrote the first review, above, I have made this drink (He has several recipes for drinks, ice cream, and appetizers.) as well as the appetizers called Saltimbocca. Everything I have made from this book has turned out perfectly! I am cook of average ability -- an occasionally enthusiastic amateur who only knows how to do one meal by heart. I have never had *every* recipe from a book work out well before.
   
   Not only work out well, but these things have each become instant-classic, top-ten-favorite things in my modest repertoire. And I have never looked at one of Mr. Traunfeld's recipes and thought "what the heck does *this* mean?" I think his are the only books where that doesn't happen.
   
   Here's another detail about how practical he is. In another recipe, he said to carmelize onions in a sauce pan rather than a frying pan, because that will keep the juices from evaporating longer and help the process -- and you can stir the onions quickly without having them fly out of the pan. He has details like that all through his books. These are pointers to becoming a good craftsman with food, even while he's showing you how to do genius-level things with herbs.
   
   I feel like a baseball talent scout who just watched a new kid hit five consecutive pitches out of the park. We -- really -- need to hire this guy.
   
   ...
   
   
   Now I will finish my fizz.



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.

2 comments about The Moosewood Restaurant Kitchen Garden: Creative Gardening For The Adventurous Cook.

1. This is an easy-to-use and easy to read book with helpful tips on not only selecting and growing, but cooking with your veggies, edible flowers and herbs. There is also a great list of mail-order sources with descriptions of supplies. I especially liked the design section for its simple and straightforward approach to considerations and approaches towards my garden layout.



2. It's called "a gardening book for cooks and a cookbook for gardeners." David Hirsch has updated and revised this different and terrific cookbook. The subtitle ("Creative Gardening for the Adventurous Cook"), encapsulates quite nicely why this is a cookbook far beyond the norm. Written specifically to help in growing vegetables so that we can cook with them, each flower, herb or vegetable is accompanied by tips for its best use in the kitchen.
   
   Published originally in 1992, the 2004 update includes more information, resources and recipes. The text is simple yet thorough, and is chock-full of tips, ideas, illustrations and charming anecdotes. In simple, straightforward text, Hirsch gives instructions for growing, harvesting, and cooking with over 75 vegetables and herbs.
   
   The cookbook is accessible for beginners, while being complex and satisfying enough for more experienced gardeners. Chapters are devoted to gardening techniques, crop rotation, seed starting, and natural ways to defend against insects. Another chapter covers various kinds of gardens, from hillside, to walled patio, to container gardening, while the 70+ recipes will showcase the fruits of your labor and help transform them to the the pleasures of the table.
   
   The recipes are delicious and comprehensive, from soups, dips and salads to appetizers and main dishes. Hirsch also includes information on cooking times and techniques, as well as the effective use of herbs (with advice for planting, compatibility and cooking). It is hard to pick favorites, but the Vegetable "Pasta", Summer Rolls, and Portuguese Kale Soup are among my favorites so far.
   
   The recipes are not all vegan (although of course they are vegetarian), but vegan options can be substituted (soy cheese for non-soy, etc). A must have cookbook for gardeners and cooks alike.--By Lisa Steele

5 comments about The Medicine Wheel Garden: Creating Sacred Space for Healing, Celebration, and Tranquillity.

1. Creating Sacred Space means more to us today than every before. I feel that this suthor has really offered us bold new perspectives along with numerous alternatives for coming to balance in these trying times. This book is a valuable, in-depth gardening guide with far more sensitivities than are usual!
   1. I find the resource guide in the back most valuable.
   2. The herbal lexicon that is the central third of the book is amazingly detailed; here is the info I need to propagate native herbs & wildflowers.
   3. Research on the medicine wheels as ancient landscape features is the best I've yet encountered, & offered with great respect & reverence for sacred space.
   4. Part III in this book is filled with imaginative new ideas, recipes, & suggestions for gifts & projects to make from one's gardening success.
   What a fine book!
   The most unique book on this subject, likely to make other gardening books out dated...



2. Very thorough and informative. Lists many plants, uses of the plants, terrain differences - in consideration with reference to locating and designing your garden - I thoroughly enjoyed this book - and - like most other selfhelp books - do not have to buy more titles to get the full picture.



3. Very well written, easy to understand and follow. Wish I had a larger area to create :-)



4. I built a Medicine Wheel in a garden area I wanted to re-do recently and then saw this book. I have experience in different herbs and plants and thought I could make a good one. In fact, I did. However, I bought this book thinking I could get more ideas. I was right. This is a book I refer to often. Daily, when I first received it. Very informative. I could not put it down and the book traveled with me everywhere for at the first 2 weeks. I remains a prominent part of my reference material.



5. I think the paper in this book is beautiful and love the gardens it lays out. This is one of my most enlightening garden books, combining native american herbalism and spirituality with one of my favorite pasttimes. I really appreciate the author's writing style and obvious knowledge of her subject, and find it a very pleasurable book to read again and again.

5 comments about Little Herb Gardens: Simple Secrets for Glorious Gardens--Indoors and Out.

1. First let me admit I am biased, since this gem is written by someone I know and admire, here in Northern California. But it nonetheless a gem of a book with superb photographs as well as excellent advise on Do's and Don't of raising a variety of herbs. I also like the book because it shows that one can successfully raise year round fresh herbs, and do so on an acre or on a small patio. And the author also covers edible flowers another favorite of my families.



2. If you're the type of person that likes to do things without a lot of theory, this is a great book.
   
   I'm a novice gardener and the introduction gardening instructions just didn't have enough information for me. I decided to purchase Gardening For Dummies and various other books to satisfy my need for detailed information before setting some serious time, money, and effort into a balcony garden for my apartment.
   
   This book has great ideas and did a good job of introducing me to different herbs and plants to grow to be used in cooking. But if you want to get more "hardcore" with gardening I recommend getting other texts as well.



3. This is such a nice book and nicely put together. Whether I read or just browse through it, it just makes me feel good.



4. This seems to be a really good book on growing Herbs for Brown thumbs like me. I have not actually used any of the advice/tips yet but all sound very easy and understandable. I will wait a little longer to start again with growing Herbs again. (Weather)



5. I got this book for my mom for mother's day and ended up reading all the way through it before I gave it to her. It has great ideas for various containers and gives good details for each different herb. Well rounded, detailed, and focused.

5 comments about Designing the New Kitchen Garden: An American Potager Handbook.

1. This book is filled with beautiful pictures and explanations that inspire and educate. Ms. Bartley has her own garden and I felt that I benefited from her own experience. After reading this book, I was ready to place a potager's garden in my own back yard.



2. I bought this book as a gift for my friend Ellen, who loves gardening. She was thrilled!!



3. As a horticulture student, I bought this on a field trip at Pennsylvania's Longwood Gardens. And though I had to truck it with me across 5 states and 2 countries, it's defiantly worth the buy. Not only does Bartley discuss the history of the potager, but she offers insight into both traditional and American gardens as well as helpful hints for the beginning designer. A must have for any kitchen gardener.



4. Like other "potager" books (formal, French-style kitchen gardens), this has beautiful photos of gardens artistically planted in geometric designs, which are unrealistic for those of us without at least fairly large properties and larger bank accounts. It also has the best-researched history, which is interesting in itself and will give you fodder for entertaining conversation. The unexpected bonus that sets this one apart from the others is that it's useful, too, because there are many detailed how-to charts, designs, and lists. These are particularly for those who live in the Midwest (Zone 5 and adjacent), as the author does. East Coasters can benefit, too, but those of us in California will have to adapt her when-to-plant info, for instance. Even so, this is one of the most interesting and useful books of many that I've read or skimmed lately on all variations and topics of vegetable gardening. I actually READ most of this one.



5. I recently purchased a used volume of Designing the New Kitchen Garden: An American Potager Handbook. The page views were very helpful in helping me decide the content was what I was looking for to help me redesign my current garden. The photos and description of the condition of the book ( which was very accurate)also aided in helping make my decision.
   The book arrived in the described condition and in a timely manner. I was extremely pleased with this transaction and the book has indeed met my expectations for the information I was hoping to obtain.

4 comments about Growing & Using Lavender: Storey Country Wisdom Bulletin A-155 (Storey Publishing Bulletin, a-155).

1. This summer I planted 80 lavender plants in honor of my mom who recently passed away. This book has been a major part of the success my garden has achieved, with 2 harvestings of lavender to date. An excellent resource and inspiration for how to grow and use lavender



2. This little gem is so full of useful information it puts the other books I have on lavender to shame. Not only does it discuss the many varieties of lavender and their history and growing wants/needs. But one learns how to propagate, trim and use the various lavenders be it in bath items or medicinally, cooking or as gifts. I grow lavender and make various things from the plants but really want to try making the 'Net sachets' shown on page 24 which are gorgeous!



3. This is a brief bulletin of information but still quite helpful. Ms. Barrett touches on the types, the maintenance and the uses of lavender. It's a small book, but I found tips and recipes in here that were missing in other lavender books. It's plain and simple, short and sweet. A very good basic reference book.



4. This little book is a real gem. It had practical, useful information about growing Lavender, which is exactly what what I wanted!

5 comments about Creating an Herbal Bodycare Business (Making a Living Naturally Series).

1. I found this book to contain general information on starting any type of business, such as licensing information and advice on running a business. If you're looking for information and help specifically for starting an herbal bodycare business, you won't find it in this book.



2. This book didn't stay in my library for long. I'm glad that I read it and I did glean some good ideas but it wasn't at all what I expected based on the title. I appreciate many of Ms. Maine's points but the book is not really about the Herbal Body Care Business. It's about creating a philosophy of business, really your Mission Statement, and the goals that produces. The philosophy is blatantly New Age and so, not for everyone. The best part is the many stories of other soap makers.

   Ms. Maine is one of my favorite soapmaking book authors. She is the owner of one of the largest businesses of it's kind. She has shared her knowledge over the years with others who would like to make soap via her many books on the market. Those books are the how-to's. This one, by the author's own admission is a "how-can".

   It was interesting but not an essential book for either the hobby or professional soap maker's library.




3. This book begins, and ends, on a hopeful note. Its message is a positive one. There is considerable truth in what Ms. Maine says. Many people believe that big is good, but big is often bloated, and not long after, bankrupt. For some people, small can be both beautiful and happy.

   From the start, I do not believe Ms. Maine intended to write a business book based on the standard boiler plate model for such books. She has endeavored to put something of herself, and her outlook on life into the text, and it shows. Granted, on first pass, the New Age references and more than a few statements are a bit off-putting, especially if you, like me, are skeptical by nature, but if the book is read very closely, you will find that all the basic ingredients of a Start Your Own Business Book are there.

   For example, she makes these and other questionable claims throughout the book such as: society and the planet are going to hell in a hand-basket. What is the solution, you ask? Start an herbal bodycare business! Or, my personal favorite: the natural food and bodycare market is experiencing an annual growth rate of 15 percent. With that kind of growth rate, given the anemic 1 to 3 percent growth rates in mature general retail categories like food and cosmetics, it will not be long before those godless multinationals pick up the scent. In fact, it turns out they have picked up the scent, and are closing in these 'alternative' categories.

   However, this is not to say that there is no value or credibility in the text- far from it. The real value of this text resides in the stories of those folks, like Ms. Maine, who set up their own successful herbal bodycare business, and Ms. Maine's insistence that you think and plan about your herbal bodycare business. This last bit is most important, as it seems everyone and her mother is involved in this area nowadays (in fact, that is LITERALLY the case) so it pays to think of how you can be different and unique, yet still offer value.

   Moreover, Ms. Maine did it the right way, that is, the smart way: she got the business right BEFORE she went into business. That means getting a clear idea of the business (what you offer versus what customers really want and will pay for), putting some flesh to the concept, and laying down a well-reasoned plan. It also means examining various scenarios WITHOUT numbers and prepping yourself for mis-haps, as nothing will EVER go exactly as planned. Ms. Maine, as well as the people she profiles, all started small, worked in and around the herbal bodycare business for a few years before going out on their own, and all of them got their businesses off the ground with five thousand dollars or less, thus demonstrating that it can be done on the literal 'shoestring budget'. As Liz Claiborne once said, 'Start with a low overhead and be willing to everything yourself.'

   My somewhat jaded advice to anyone thinking about going into this or any other business is this: Before you go into business, it is all about thinking, reasoning and planning. Once you go into business, it is all about execution. When you go into business with a flawed concept, even the most mundane annoyances can morph into major and insurmountable problems, and will ultimately kill your business. Get the concept right, and execute flawlessly. That ways lies blockbuster success. Money may be an initial barrier, but you creative types should be able to cobble together what you need from the odd bits and pieces here and there and wow the customer with your presentation and artistic flair. Remember this one lesson from the internet company boom: a lot of money behind a flawed concept equals a fantastic and bankrupt failure. Start simple, start small, and work within a limited budget. That will force you to unleash your creativity. More often than not, the more money we have, the less carefully we think, and the dumber the ideas that come to the fore.
   

   The target audience for this book is not highly accomplished over-achievers with a bent for numbers and order. Rather, this is a book for those free-spirited, creative, chaotic, artsy types who often go by the moniker of 'Right-Brain Person'. There is a definite bias in the text towards the burned-out female company employee working for a god-less, soul-less corporation, and as such, the book is open to the charge of pandering to an escapist fantasy- one that more than a few of us, male or female, in the same bind share.

   I can also say with certainty that the book is more of an exercise in building the reader's self-confidence about starting such a business, and less of a guide to the inner workings of an herbal bodycare business. That, however, is most likely the intended objective- giving those who may not have the confidence to start such a venture a few ideas and a little prodding. Ms. Maine is planting a seed, I think, in a certain type of person, preferably young, single and female but a little unsure of herself. Although I did not get much out of the book (thus three stars), this person I believe will derive the most out of the book.




4. I was a bit disappointed at first, as I was looking for more of a 1-2-3 approach. But I picked the book up again a couple of days later, and found lots of useful information in it. It still wasn't exactly what I was looking for, but well written and informative nonetheless.



5. Very informative and very well written. I learned a lot from this book. Great tips and a lot of things that I never thought about that could make or break my company!
   I would highly recommend this book for small business people who want to make money selling personal care products.

5 comments about The Herbal Home Spa: Naturally Refreshing Wraps, Rubs, Lotions, Masks, Oils, and Scrubs (Herbal Body).

1. I absolutely loved this book! I had an indian friend and she was forever talking about the natural herbal way to maintain out skin is the best way to stay young... she suggested this book. I immediately bought it from a local bookseller. All the recipes are easy-to-make and they didn't sting like some herbs I had used (I have extremely sensitive skin). I'd give the book a full 5+!



2. Not only does this book offer recipes and tips on inexpensive, chemical-free beauty care, but the author also offers advice on purchasing, storing and choosing the proper products. It's a great resource if you want to save money but still look great and without putting toxins in your body.
   
   I also want to note that it is unfortunate that any idiot can post a review on Amazon. Hiding behind a screen name allows people with WAY too much time on their hands to hurt respectable authors that are trying to help people by sharing their knowledge. I am referring to the review by "paradoxes" (ohio) who has a morbid fear of alcohol. Yes it is drying, but those with normal or oily skin should have no problem using it. In fact, it's in almost every commercial beauty product there is. As for her contention about putting "spoiling FOOD" on your skin. What the heck is she talking about? Everyone has heard about cucumbers for tired eyes, mayo for dry hair. And I don't recall any passage in the book that advised using a rotten banana in a facial. My guess is that she doesn't believe in natural beauty care and probably shouldn't have bought the book in the first place. IF she did, that is.
   
   Just keep in mind that not all reviewers are honest and some are plain crazy. If you don't believe me, click on her screen name and check out the 'about me' section.



3. This is a very good book for the beginner like I am. This book has a chock full of very useful information without all the fancy pictures. Most spa books are built like magazines with colorful vivid pictures and not alot of information. This book is to the point and addresses many things and is not filled with fillers or useless junk information. It may not be as aesthetically pleasing to the eye, but it give you the information you want and need to learn about herbal spas. There are many great ideas in here that can easily be used to build your own unique custom gifts that are more personable that going to commercial stores. There is enough reference in here to build your own concoctions as well. I recommend this book for anyone who is interested in herbal spas.



4. it's a great book with lot of recipes for all your beauty needs like i said every woman should have this book and man for that matter it's a great money saver and it's just a really great book



5. This book has lots of ideas for your own use or a home business...a good resource.

3 comments about Greenhouse Gardening: Step by Step to Growing Success (Crowood Gardening Guides).

1. Full of very useful informations. Along with this and other greenhouse books for winter gardening, I hope to grow year round.



2. Given a Greenhouse as a present, I had no idea how to run it. After a lot of searching, I found this book and it answered all my questions. It told me my greenhouse was the perfect size for a beginner, different types of heaters and the advantages and disadvantages of each heater, for the greenhouse, the temperature that should be maintained, and even how to make containers for the plantings. I would reccomend the book very highly to any one interested in having a back yard greenhouse.



3. Not the best book that I have on the subject, or should I say, the most comprehensive. Save your money