5 comments about Grow Great Grub: Organic Food from Small Spaces.

1. This is the first gardening book I have bought and it was worth it!
   You can tell she has such a passion for gardening that you can't help but love it even more too!
   Photographs are wonderful also! very creative.



2. So you're like me: you have a small, but comfortable apartment and you want to have some greenery to spruce things up. A practical soul, you don't just want flowers. You want to be able to grow your own herbs and vegetables, and look forward to your windows popping with color in the summer. But this is your first real foray into the world of container gardening.
   
   This book is not your bible.
   
   While it is beautifully composed, and contains a helpful chapter about canning, there is a distinct lack of real facts and procedures. In short: this is an impratical book. Questions about drainage, how to compose your garden, or how to trellis are barely answered. While the sections on individual produce to grow are inticing, they lack the information you need to really make a go at things. This book can be a good starter, but only when complemented with other, more in depth books, and a good gardening center that can guide you through the practical steps.
   
   As an alternatives, try McGee and Stuckey's The Bountiful Container. Less pretty picture, but far more useful information.



3. I read the whole entire book in one read, and will reference to it frequently..(anytime I plant just about...)
   
   it is great...great pictures, great information, and great personality comes through. It made me feel like I really can do it.
   
   keeping fingers crossed that my garden works out..



4. I bought this book before because I am teaching gardening to a group of fifth graders whose only options to grow plants are in pots or public/abandoned lots. The book shows a bunch of inventive ways to use containers that these kids have at home, some which are more obvious like plastic recyclable containers and soup cans, but other such as paper board toilet roll which I had never thought of before. The book also talks about spacing, growing plants together, and how prevent disease and insect infiltration in a manner that is organic, which besides its obvious health benefits, is not as cost prohibitive for the kids. The book also has brilliant color photographs which provide good examples.



5. I've always thought I had a black thumb. I've killed things that it was thought impossible to kill. I had all but given up. But, I got a bee in my bonnet to grow my own food this year and went on Etsy to buy heirloom, organic seeds. One of the sellers I bought seeds from recommended this book. I am SO glad she did! This book has completely turned me on to gardening the organic way. Not only is this book chockabock full of great tips, the photos are so beautiful that it makes me want to run out and try my hand at growing anything and everything possible. (Shiso? Never heard of it but... yes please!) Love that Gayla uses recycled containers and repurposed items (REUSE BEFORE YOU RECYCLE!!!) I've read this book through and continue to pour over it whenever I have a minute or two. In short... FIVE stars aren't enough. A hundred stars for this amazing book that has given me a new hobby, one that I never thought would be for me.
   
   And here is the proof:
   
   [...]
   
   Gorgeous! Thanks Gayla!

5 comments about The Encyclopedia of Country Living.

1. This book is really great, I find answers when I have questions about my cows, my goats, making cheese or butter from my milk. Garden issues, canning and freezing my produce, pretty much anything else I could need to know. It is like having an expert living with you. It is also written in a easy to understand and easy to find format. I suggest it to anyone who has a small farm or is thinking of starting one.



2. I returned this book as it came damaged. The paper stock used is quite cheap- almost like newspaper. i will not repurchase....



3. This copy of The Encyclopedia of Country Living was purchased as a gift for my mother to replace her loaned copy that someone never returned. She gave me and older copy because she had a newer edition and then found herself without one. She was calling me to refer to my copy for her which had to be annoying for her. Mom raises chickens and raises her own fruit and vegetables and I raise goats, chickens and do some gardening. There are many details on how to raise, feed, house, slaughter and cook poultry and livestock. There is information on different types of vegetables, nuts, berries etc. preservation techniques and recipes. I am just scratching the surface of the contents; the book has been an invaluable resource with answers to just about all our questions. I highly recommend it, especially for beginners to country life!



4. I purchased this book for a friend. I have always loved Carla Emery and have her very 1st country living book. This friend just bought a farm and really did not know anything. That is why I chose this book. As a beginner, she takes you through everything. My friend has been amazed at how thorough it is and how every question she has come up with, it has answered for her. It is easy to follow and understand. Perfect for a beginner and experienced homesteader.



5. This is quite possibly the best reference book I have ever bought. It starts by giving you very detailed instructions on how to conduct research, get the proper surveys done, and, eventually, buy a home out in the country. It is very detailed and makes you aware of the intricacies of living out in the country, or off of the land itself. I would recommend it for anyone who is even considering moving out of the cities and/or suburbs. It is worth every penny, even if you decide not to make the move. The instructions on planting, gardening, and preserving the foods that you raise yourself are detailed, with a plethora of additional resources, both online and offline, to make sure you are well-informed. Also, it tells you how to locate groups that do these things and learn from them. An excellent book! I only wish I could tack on a few extra stars to the rating.
   
   -Jason

5 comments about Second Nature: A Gardener's Education.

1. My first exposure to Michael Pollan's writing was an article in the New York Times Magazine. I loved his writing style and his point of view. He made me think about the environment in ways that were totally new to me. I love those "aha" moments. Those "why didn't I think of that?" moments. And then my outlook on life and the world around me is subtly altered.
   
   So it was with great anticipation that I oopened my copy of "Second Nature: A Gardener's Education". Michael Pollan on gardening. It doesn't get much better than that, right? Well, um, actually it does. I was expecting a completely new perspective on gardening. What I got was just another memoir of a beginning gardener. Admittedly, he does tell much more entertaining stories than most garden memoirists. No one who reads this book will ever forget his monumental battles with a woodchuck culminating in an attempt at incineration that very nearly incinerated the garden. Hilarious, but still quite ordinary. Can you think of a single garden memoir that doesn't contain a battle with a woodchuck? Just as Hollywood screenwriters use a predictable formula for their storylines, garden memoirists all stick to the same, tired outline: How I started gardening. How I made all the newbie mistakes my first year. How I tried to correct them. How I learned the "right" way to garden.
   
   Disappointed, I soldiered on until Chapter 10 when I finally had the hoped for "why didn't I think of that?" moment. The story of the restoration of a woodland area in his town that had been destroyed by a tornado morphs into a discussion of restoration vs replacement vs allowing Nature to take its course and all of the consequences, intended and unintended, that could happen for each option. Now this is a book that I would like to read. The question of what time period a restoration should mimic is particularly intriguing. Colonial, after changes made by European settlers? Pre-Columbian? Taking into account the fact that the indigenous population also had a significant impact on the local ecology, should the area be restored to the state it was before the Native Americans arrived? These are questions that have never occurred to me when thinking about our altered landscape.
   
   Ideally, I would have liked to see the "memoir" part of the book excised and this topic expanded. Where else in the US or even the world has this issue been addressed? What decisions were made and why? Was global warming taken into account? What provisions were made for non-native plant and animal introductions?
   
   And then the book reverts right back to the standard memoir. The last two chapters are the obligatory catalog survey and "What my garden looks like now". Yawn.
   
   I'm looking forward to reading more of Michael Pollan's books and his unique perspective. Even if it is only one or two chapters that grab me, they will be well worth it.



2. This is a book I wish I'd caught earlier - written in the late 80's, it displays the kind of writing that made Pollan famous. The combination of history, garden information, and good writing makes it a pleasure to follow Pollan's development of his property and his understanding of what makes his work 'gardening.'
   
   I see gardens and landscaping differently after reading this book.



3. Who could have predicted that a young Michael Pollan writing about gardening would become a leading advocate for responsible agriculture and one of the country's biggest-selling writers? Just about anyone who read him then, is my guess. Pollan shows in this gem of a book what a terrific and layered writer he is.
   
   For all the fantastic writing, the book, however, is uneven. Many of the chapters were published as magazine articles before the book came out, and it shows. The organization of the book by seasons is forced and the individual chapters in each section don't always belong. Pollan makes a good effort of tying it all together with memories of his grandfather's garden (and the characters of the grandfather and his garden in the beginning narrative are worth the price of admission), but in the end the individual narratives don't hold together as well as later Pollan books manage to do.
   
   But don't let this stop you. Push through some of the more boring chapters (or skip them altogether, since the one advantage of the choppy nature of the book is that each chapter stands alone well), and you'll be rewarded with the absolute perfection of others. My favorite, the chapter about seed catalogs, is at once observational journalism, literary criticism, and writing master class.
   
   If you came to this book the same way I did (which is to say, after reading Pollan's more recent work, including his magnum opus "The Omnivore's Dilemma"), I think you'll find enjoyment in seeing his earlier achievement as a writer, a science journalist, and a modern environmentalist. Don't miss it.



4. This book is a must read, a real page turner. Sit back with a cup of something to drink and soak this book in. Get cozy, you may not want to put it down for a while. Enjoy Pollens style of writing and his good natured humor. I myself enjoyed the battle with the woodchuck as I have done my time with maurading gophers in my day. There is often a moral deliema that comes with the territory of gardening. Pollen brings all that to light with a wonderful common sense and realistic approach while bringing a smile to our face. A book well worth the read, no need to rush through, just enjoy at your own pace. Maybe keep it beside the garden and enjoy while watering....



5. I find Second Nature to be primarily a treatise on urban
   landscaping for homeowners--what to do with the land on which
   your house sits. A very philosophical approach to gardening.

5 comments about Carrots Love Tomatoes: Secrets of Companion Planting for Successful Gardening.

1. I was a bit disappointed in this book. Not necessarily for the lack of information, but for the lack of organization in how the information was presented. It's a lot like someone just rambling on and on about their gardening practices. So, I decided to get out some notecards, and take notes using one card for each vegatable.
   
   For example, if you want info on what plant or what not to plant with carrots, the information is spread the SEVERAL different parts of the book. One part recommends peas, a different chapter tells you to use tomatoes, etc. But once I took all my own notes from the book (and organized them) I had a good set of gardening tips. Although, some of her recommendations seemed like more of a "hunch" she had, as opposed to facts.
   
   The one thing that WAS helpful, was the drawings she included on how to arrange and plant you garden. That part was helpful (I'll probably try one of those plans next spring), but again, not always consistent with other recommendations in the book.
   
   If you are looking for more clear, concrete campanion planting formulas, I recommend searching for "companion planting" on Amazon. There are several other book options available, most of which are more straight forward and clear.



2. This book is a good primer for understanding companion planting.
   
   After reading this book I suspect that vegetables do grow better when planted with or near certain other plants. It's worth trying, so I have tried it and plan to do it even better on my next "crop" of vegetables. Do they care if garlic is planted near them? Maybe, if it scares away bugs that would otherwise play havoc with them.
   
   I planted my first crop in my new greenhouse and now I have all sorts of vegetables growing. It found it comforting to have a guide about what vegetables should or should NOT be planted close to each other. As usual, I was doing too much, and my brain is overwhelmed with all there is to learn, but it doesn't matter. The vegetables are growing and they are doing really well. Even if I don't understand the why's and why not of all of it, I learned enough to do it.
   
   I hope to be able to understand even more of this book now that I have a little experience. Last year I didn't know how to sow a seed! Now I have a garden, in Winter. It's amazing to harvest something you've grown from seed. I feel that I've avoided some mistakes by following the guidelines in this book. I also found out about some poisonous plants that I have now decided I don't want in my garden. That's helpful too.



3. Honestly it was okay. I bought the book to get more of an understanding on how plants interact with each other in the garden. However there weren't very many examples and if you're starting out it was kind of confusing. There were a lot of myths and weird concoctions that I seriously doubt would work but they were entertaining none the less.



4. I really didn't find this book to be super informative. I've read Great Garden Companions by Sally Cummingham, but wanted to see if Carrots Love Tomatoes had anything else to offer. It didn't. It had less. I recommend the Great Garden Companions book. She tells you why you are planting what you're planting, and has everything in list form, which is great for a beginner.



5. Will be planting my first garden this year. This book is an excellent guide for the clueless or the experienced gardener. Quick, easy to read and reference as each vegetable and herb has a paragraph devoted to it. Also diagrams of suggested garden layouts for the best results.

No comments about Grow Your Own Drugs: Easy Recipes for Natural Remedies and Beauty Fixes.

5 comments about The Vegetable Gardener's Bible (10th Anniversary Edition).

1. This book is incredilby informative. It's great to see that organic methods are front and center. Not to mention the induviualize plant by plant rundown is perfect. Definitly recomended.



2. This book is a must have for any novice gardener. Edward Smith provides a wealth of knowledge on starting, sustaining, and turning out high yielding vegetable gardens even if you don't have a ton of space.



3. This is a good book. I like how specific and detailed the information is -- that is what I was looking for. I have a feeling I'll be referring to this book again and again. While I already knew about the advantages of raised beds and compost (who doesn't?), this book is organized well so that I can find specific info about each type of fruit/veggie I might plant. I also liked seeing how he uses his greenhouse to best effect. I don't feel I need another book to get started with a garden, this one covers it all.



4. Wow, this book is so informative and well written. The book is large with well formated pages. The type is large and the pages are almost like a well written picture filled texted book. Makes it so easy to read and learn.
   
   This book has absolutely everything you need to know about growning any type of vegetable in any type of climate. I recommend this book to anyone who wants to get the most out of their garden and learn the best techniques, or anyone who would like to know how to make the very first steps to creating a successful garden. He even has a chapter on composting and how to use it in the garden, something everyone in america should do that has the space.
   
   This book has more than enough information so that this should be the only book any vegetable gardner should need!



5. I am a first time gardener. I have found this book to be very user friendly. The book is beautifully put together with full color pictures and understandable instructions. It has made my first garden very fun to do. There is so much more than just sticking seeds into the ground. My mother, who is a long time gardener, found it very useful too. I highly recommend this book to first time gardeners AND long time gardeners.

5 comments about Animal, Vegetable, Miracle: A Year of Food Life (P.S.).

1. I am not one of the "green" movement types and I don't like to eat my vegetables. Purchased this book for a college class and I was very surprised at how informative it was. Really enjoyed this book and have read it again just because. This year we are starting a garden at my home thanks to this book!



2. It might just be a matter of thinking about red cars and so suddenly seeing red cars everywhere one looks, but it seems to me that once I started researching organic foods for an article I am writing, I began to see books on sustainable farming, organic food markets, news stories about an organic food movement, and farmer's markets everywhere I looked. Something is going on, and I'm pretty sure by this point in my research that it is a very good thing. Suddenly, I am seeing garden fresh red tomatoes everywhere.
   
   Barbara Kingsolver's book about living a year on locally grown and produced food had been on my shelf for some time already. She is an author of whom I take immediate notice, whenever she publishes a new title, whether fiction or nonfiction. My interest in eating a sustainable and healthy diet had been simmering for some time, but it took an assignment to get me digging into this particular garden of delights.
   
   Kingsolver's nonfiction is fully as rich and readable as her fiction. I was entertained, amused, engaged, even as I was educated, astounded, amazed. Daughter Camille Kingsolver, studying biology at Duke University, adds tasty tidbits of sidebars and recipes, many of which I checked off to try. Even husband Steven Hopp adds an occasional sidebar with his perspective. But Barbara Kingsolver is the word master you expect her to be. She makes me wince with pain for our planet as she recites facts and statistics and studies impossible to ignore: if we don't reevaluate how we eat, what we eat, and how that food comes to our table, there is going to be a very sad ending to this tale. She also delights me with her personal stories of her family's food adventure.
   
   The Kingsolver family is moving from Tucson, Arizona to live on a farm in southern Appalachia. When Barbara met Steven, he was living on this farm, but he was willing to move to Arizona, her home, when they decided to join forces. Now, it was his turn. Their turn. The family returned to live on the farm, and part of that return was a decision to live a sustainable lifestyle, eating only foods that were locally grown with but a few exceptions (coffee! chocolate!).
   
   As the family begins their new farm life, the author realizes how disconnected Americans are from our food. We give no thought to its source, no thought to how it is produced or what route it travels to reach us. We praise sunny days and lament the rainy ones, giving no thought to the needs of the farmer who feeds us. Our children think of food as something that comes from a supermarket, conveniently packaged and shrink-wrapped. The very same consumer who craves a steak, make that rare, cringes at mere mention of a slaughterhouse. In the family's yearlong venture, assuredly a challenge, the author is determined to connect to their food in a most intimate way. This means--knowing the farmer who produces what they eat, or producing it themselves.
   
   "When we give it a thought, we mostly consider the food industry to be a thing rather than a person. We obligingly give 85 cents of our every food dollar to that thing, too--the processors, marketers, and transporters. And we complain about the high price of organic meats and vegetables that might send back more than three nickels per buck to the farmers: those actual humans putting seeds in the ground, harvesting, attending livestock births, standing in the fields at dawn casting their shadows upon our sustenance... In the grocery store checkout corral, we're more likely to learn which TV stars are secretly fornicating than to inquire as to the whereabouts of the people who grew the cucumbers and melons in our cart." (Page 13)
   
   Today, however, that farmer casting his shadow across his or her harvest is becoming an ever rarer breed. Increasingly, the food we eat today comes from CAFOs, concentrated animal feeding operations, more factory than farm. Animals here are not treated like living things, but rather as machinery on an assembly line, producing edible product.
   
   Is this a natural result of our ever burgeoning population? Are CAFOs necessary to feed our billions of mouths and bellies? As it turns out, no.
   
   "Owing to synthetic fertilizers and pesticides, genetic modification, and a conversion of farming from a naturally based to a highly mechanized production system, U.S. farmers now produce 3,900 calories per U.S. citizen, per day. That is twice what we need, and 700 calories a day more than they grew in 1980." (Page 14)
   
   Unfortunately, all those extra calories are not making their way into the mouths of the hungry. The problem of hunger in the United States and across the globe continues to increase, even while the waistlines of most Americans continue to increase. Apparently, those 700 extra calories are ending up in those who least need them. "Obesity is generally viewed as a failure of personal resolve," Kingsolver writes, "with no acknowledgement of the genuine conspiracy in this historical scheme." What Kingsolver reveals in these pages is what truly could be called a conspiracy: government subsidized CAFOs that leave individual farmers scrambling to compete (ever wonder why organic foods are more expensive? Look to those government subsidies, none of which go to your local farmer) and additions to processed foods such as corn syrup and artificial flavorings and non-animal fats that increase cravings rather than satisfy them. Americans are having a dysfunctional relationship to our food. Unlike most European cultures, who honor the culinary kitchen and family table, we treat food like a poison and a drug. Which, arguably, it is. We are constantly dieting, trying to control it, rather than appreciating it and its preparation. We are give it all up and indulge in gluttony and supersizing our meals, or we starve ourselves with eating disorders. It is an interesting argument and insight.
   
   Food, Kingsolver writes, is a necessity to life. It is a comfort, it is nourishment, it is a sensual pleasure. (One wonders at the growing problem of obesity in connection with the dissolving tradition of sitting down as a family at the dinner table.)
   
   "Our most celebrated models of beauty are starved people," the author points out. "A food culture of anti-eating is worse than useless." It is our lack of a healthy food culture that Kingsolver laments, arguing that we have replaced it with two extremes, starvation or gluttony.
   
   "Humans don't do everything we crave to do--that is arguably what makes us human. We're genetically predisposed toward certain behaviors that we've collectively decided are unhelpful; adultery and racism are examples. With reasonable success, we mitigate those impulses through civil codes, religious rituals, maternal warnings--the whole bag of tricks we call culture... these are mores of survival, good health, and control of excess. Living without such a culture would seem dangerous. And here we are, sure enough in trouble." (Page 16)
   
   We are the first generation of humankind to have children who are predicted to have shorter life spans than their parents. If that's not a sign of trouble, I don't know what is.
   
   Industrial farming, the author writes, is the cause of much of our pollution problems and resulting climate change. While many of us mistakenly attribute pollution to automobiles, most pollution in this country can actually be traced to CAFOs. Nothing about a food factory is sustainable. Add to this sheer cruelty to animals and...
   
   But let's return to the farm. A local farm producing organic foods that end up on your dinner plate is no punishment. I can vouch for this. Since eating organic foods myself, everything I have so far tasted, from meat to vegetable, is incomparably more delicious than what is food factory produced. If you have ever eaten a greenhouse tomato and then sliced into a tomato sun-ripened in your garden, you get the idea. Eating organic foods is not giving something up; it is a rediscovery of food as it was meant to taste--expectionally good.
   
   The year unfolds, and we are treated to the adventure--and it is that--of the family gardening and living from their garden, or eating what they buy from local markets, locally produced. There is seeding and weeding involved, sure, and lots of canning and preserving, but Kingsolver's point is that doing all of this, getting involved in our own food production and preparation on so intimate a level, is in so many ways and on so many levels what we are missing. It gets a family involved and working together. It brings back to life a family dinner table. It cultivates more than the carrot and potato in the soil; it cultivates relationships. Knowing who grows your food is a true pleasure, and to this, too, I can attest with my own experience. Since "going organic" myself, I have gotten to know quite a few members of my community, and not just area farmers, from whom I now buy my fresh eggs, poultry, steaks, milk, cheese, fruits and vegetables. The anonymous CAFO has receded from my life and in its place--are new friends.
   
   Kingsolver also writes a fascinating argument against mass vegetarianism. Because I, too, have considered that lifestyle and soon abandoned it, I was particularly interested in what the author had to say. Humans, she writes, are naturally adapted to an omnivorous diet, with our canine teeth for tearing meat and the enzymes in our digestive systems for breaking down animal proteins and fats. She describes a vegetarian world with livestock gone wild, and then describes the process of killing a farm animal for food. This is not a story of cruelty. This is, instead, a story of respect for all living creatures and the cycle of life and death, of sustainability. It is far more important, she states, to be concerned about the kind of life we provide to our livestock.
   
   There is so much more to this book. Discussions about pesticides and genetically modified foods. More recipes. And all woven together with Kingsolver's literary skills. Animal, Vegetable, Miracle is going on my top shelf of favorite books, those that have contributed to transforming my own life in a positive way. It's a delicious and highly informative and thoughtful read, a wonderful introduction for those wishing to learn more about the organic food movement and to simply be inspired.
   
   
   ~from The Smoking Poet, Winter 2009-2010 Issue



3. I really liked this book. I wanted to, and I did. I found the essays by Camille a little annoying. (from someone who is too you to have their good ideals have to meet reality...I found her essays to be uppity). There were parts of this book that made me laugh out loud, and I certainly learned some new things, and I'm excited to start our own large garden. But, I did find the author to be surprisingly anti-american and anti-christian, while at the same time surprisingly accepting and protective of other cultures and religions. I always find that strange that someone can appear accepting by embracing other religious cultures...but at the same time they are considered enlightended by not succumbing to christianity and american culture. A bigot is a bigot...whether it's against their own culture or someone elses. Amish good...American bad. Day of the dead good...Christmas bad. Italians great...Americans awful.
   I'm not sure I'm ready to live a completely banana free life, but certainly things like growing some of our own food, joining a CSA and buying from the farmer's market are great ideas. (Not new...but combined with Steven's essay's gives you a new perspective to why you should do these things) There was a lot to think about from this book, and I'm glad I read it. Just take the parts you want from it, and leave the rest. Se got her point across, and it was a good one.



4. ANIMAL, VEGETABLE, MIRACLE gives the reader the big picture as to where our food comes from and the hidden costs to us, families, our health, and our environment. It's about the author and her family's choice/commitment to live on a farm in Virginia and to grow their own food supply as well as buying
   locally (within 100 miles or so) for a year. It's truly an inspiration and has affected my thinking about food. I don't want to duplicate what the author and her family did but I do want to grow more food, put more aside, buy locally, and cook more based on a myriad of reasons the author provides.



5. Initially I read this book because it was written by Barbara Kingsolver. I have read her fiction and like her style of writing. I found that I really enjoyed reading this non-fiction book and felt that it was extremely helpful for people who are trying to 'live off the land' in a healthy, ecological manner. I liked the input of the three authors - each in their different areas. An uplifting book.

5 comments about The Backyard Homestead: Produce all the food you need on just a quarter acre!.

1. Now that I am approaching the age of double nickles, I am thinking on what I wanted to do at retirement. This is my niche. I have a small arce in northwest Missouri. I love to be outdoors. I have gardened for the last 30 years and I thought that homesteading sounded like my cup of tea. This book has it all. Plans and how to set up your garden, how to raise small amounts of livestock, how to raise chickens, milk a goat you name it's in here. Now that homesteading is a trend you can do this in a suprising small amount of land (with very little investment) or just a large vacant lot. Have fun with this book. I am going to try my hand at making homemade cheese. If you want a book that will keep you busy and be a asset to your grocery bill buy this one.
   
   Cindi Stratton from NW Missouri



2. Hey!
   
   This book is truly beautiful. I love the layout, and I really found some great information inside. The true treasure of this book is the Resources at the end. It is what I've used to find all my needs in my attempt to have a homestead of my own. However, everyone should know, the information in this book is a little limited in detail, meaning more research will be required. But this is a nice starting point for those of you, like me, who dream of one day having a Backyard Homestead of your own.
   
   Hope this helps all you potential customers, and happy reading!
   
   Luv ya,
   Tashi :)



3. I found this book a good introduction to all things 'homestead,' but I think it is really lacking in detail. Take for example, the canning section. It is 4 pages long, with much space taken up by pictures of necessary equipment. There are brief descriptions of different canning techniques and for what vegetables you would use them, but no deeper directions on how to actually can, unless you want to can tomatoes. Which I do, but I'd also like to learn to can other foods as well! There must be differences. For gardening, there is a lot of info on soil temperatures needed for vegetables to grow well, but not a lot of info on other plant requirements (water and sunlight). What could I grow well if I have patchy sunlight...anything? "Water basil weekly in dry weather?" If I didn't water my basil almost EVERY DAY last summer, it would have died! What about comparisons of raising foods organically vs conventionally? So, while I now have some excellent inspiration for all the different things I can do, I'm not confidant that this book will really guide me to "Produce all the food (I) need on just a quarter acre." I think that would be quite the accomplishment, as well. Has anybody achieved that? Vegetarians not included; I am having a hard time understanding how one could do both meat and produce on such a small amount of land, especially since you'd have to feed the animals somehow, as well.
   I do like that there is a list of 88 other books to turn to if more detail is wanted, even if they are all Storey-published.
   Overall, I'm glad I checked this one out from the library instead of buying.



4. This is a great book for someone just thinking about utilizing their land for food. It will motivate you, educate you on the basics of where to start, how to plan, what to expect and how to plan long term. It covers a great deal of material considering the size of the book. Well-written, inspiring many opportunities.



5. Great resource to have as we develop our homestead within a community development. Super ideas and helpful ideas no matter how much land you live on.

5 comments about Marijuana Horticulture: The Indoor/Outdoor Medical Grower's Bible.

1. Simply a "Must Read" for anyone who is serious about growing there own medical cannibus, very thorough and informative!



2. Mega INFO! Great for beginners and and long time growers. Best book on the subject out there. Want to be Breeders should check out "The Cannabis Breeders Bible" by Greg Green. "
   ~"Life is too short to smoke bad pot!"



3. Best carry along pictorial for cultivators and those learning to grow medicine to treat their ailments. Color coded pages make locating topics easy,
   The organization of content is perfect.



4. I was able to borrow this book before I purchased and it is worth the retail price no matter what extra discount you get .... This book covers everything you will ever need to know about horticulture that can be applied to any fruit or vegetable but only cannibus is covered in this book everything from Hydro to Potted to outside.



5. This book is wonderful. There is nothing this guide doesn't have in it, and it is so easy to understand.

5 comments about All New Square Foot Gardening: Grow More in Less Space!.

1. Great book, great price, great condition, and on time! What more can you ask for.



2. The All New Square Foot Gardening book is well done with excellent pictures. For most people, finding a source of the right kind of vermiculite is difficult. Try feed stores. We found one near us that had large bags of coarse vermiculite at a reasonable price. They ordered 4 bags for us.



3. I liked and still like the ideas behind the methods.
   
   However, when he says that its the only way; bull!
   
   As an aside, my mom gave me an earlier copy which has much more info. I refer to that one season-wise.
   
   Here's to Spring planting!
   
   Mule



4. book came quickly and I was very pleased with it. contained lots of good info. great read.



5. The techniques and information presented in this book are excellent and work very well. If you are a backyard gardener it's definitely worth doing, and worth doing right. (Don't cut corners on the soil mix. Track down that vermiculite no matter how hard it is to find! Trust me!)
   
   The book lost one star for reading like an annoying infomercial, and another for inadequate appendixes and less than decent supplementary website. I'd recommend supplementing this book with a more detailed book on companion planting or intercropping. You can find information on plant spacing for plants NOT included in the appendix with a quick google search, but good luck finding it on the square foot gardening website forums.
   
   This is a good introduction for beginning gardeners, but experienced gardeners are going to want more.