5 comments about Micro Eco-Farming: Prospering from Backyard to Small Acreage in Partnership with the Earth.

1. This is a must have book for anyone wanting to get more for less out of their garden, farm, or acreage. I loved it and found it interesting and informative. It'll stay on my shelf long after I pass it around to all of my friends and family! Bravo! The world would be a better place if more people read and would take to heart the message this book brings.



2. If you've ever dreamed of having a small, productive farm but didn't know where to begin or how to creatively make money and have fun at the same time, this book is The Source for you. Barbara Berst Adams' "Micro Eco-Farming" is loaded with great ideas, sensible how-to information and strategies for starting, maintaining and expanding an environmentally friendly mini farm. The breadth of her knowledge is impressive. She obviously understands every aspect of small-scale farming from raising livestock and poultry to growing specialty herbs, flowers and vegetables. This is a practical handbook and a solid reference you will always want to keep on hand. It has earned a permanent place in my library.



3. This is a very enchanting book, but I think the reader would be wise to take it with a grain of salt. The author makes a list of vegetables sound so good your mouth starts to water. Food literally comes to life. One farm has world class leafy lettuce. Another has miraculous tomatoes. A third has peppers for every taste. A fourth makes wool as smooth as silk.
   
   On the other hand, some of the stories are fanciful at best. For example, there is the story of the 'good' coyote. A farmer takes pity on a limping coyote and offers it some food. The standard practice in the neighborhood was to shoot coyotes on sight, but this coyote touches the farmer somehow. The coyote mends. Once recovered, the coyote decides the farmer is 'one of the pack' and his chickens are 'his things'. Thus, she identifies the farmer's chickens as off limits and protects them from other coyotes, raccoons, and varmints. I've got chickens and cohabitate with coyotes. The idea of a coyote protecting the farmer's hens was good for a hearty laugh.
   
   Another story concerns the 'good weed'. This story is part of section on letting plants restore soil depleted of essential trace minerals. The idea is that plants can concentrate trace minerals deep in the soil and deposit them on the surface. In this context, we meet the good thistle. The good thistle pulls out trace minerals out of the stony soil, then dies out as the soil returns to health. I had another good laugh with this story. In some ways there is truth in it, but let me tell you about my thistles. They are beautiful. Every year my soil gets better. I haven't noticed them dying out, though. Maybe next year!
   
   Finally, there is the story of the weak plant calling out to nearby insects to end it's suffering. This theme is repeated numerous times. I guess it is the story of the 'good' bad insect. You see, those worms and beetles are not just eating any plant, they are consuming the suffering plant. I'm not going to argue that nature has a way of maintaining balance, but I had to laugh. I guess those squirrels that entirely consumed 3 trees of gorgeous, plump, red organic peaches were simply answering the peach trees cries of distress! I should have known!
   
   If you want to grow your own food, more power to you. Don't be surprised if Mother Nature throws you a few curve balls along the way, though. Don't count on coyotes to protect your chickens, nor thistles to conveniently disappear.
   
   Finally, Ms. Adams never mentions the local banker or tax man, which seems odd. I've never met a farmer that doesn't have something to say about these friendly folks.



4. This is a concise review of where large and small farming is going. It needs to be read by all. Just reading this book has elevated my urban garden to unbelievable heights.



5. It gives a true beginner some helpful insights into the different forms of micro-agriculture but it never goes into detail.

5 comments about The Apple Grower: Guide for the Organic Orchardist.

1. I have only read the first few chapters, (and have browsed ahead), but so far it's great! They really go into detail about how apple trees grow.
   It reads a little like a textbook, but not too dry. We have 9 apple trees in Mid-Missouri and are hoping to expand and improve in the future. I think this book will be a big help. If you just have a couple trees in your yard and just want to know how to prevent disease, repel bugs, or what fertilizer to use, this book may be a little more in-depth than what you're looking for. No doubt you would find useful information here, but it may be a little more detail than you needed.



2. This is a great book. Indispensible for anyone attempting to grow organic apples. The one drawback is the book is somewhat disorganized and some information is hard to decipher. In any case, I constantly refer to this book in my organic orcharding. A must have for Organic Orcharding!



3. I LOVE this book.
   
   I'm particularly impressed with the density of information: too many hobby farm/small farm books take a once-over-lightly approach, but this one is deep on detail. I also appreciate the discussion of seedling trees: typically I've seen them ignored or dismissed as irrelevant. The discussion of root stock is a help too; before this I've seen it only discussed in terms of it's limiting factor on size, but this also introduces issues of hardiness and climate appropriateness. The book is incredibly thorough while reminding the reader that there are no "cook books" to growing organic orchards, it's still an art and science that is being developed.
   
   I spent the first few years of my life on an old-fashioned orchard and have never recovered. Now, after 30 big-city, corporate years the world is circling back to the kind of orchard I've always longed to have, and this book is filled with invaluable information on how to proceed. Next year I'm headed back to the country, this book in hand, to make a home and create a backyard cider orchard. I know it's hard work and the best of it may happen after I'm gone, but this book gives me the courage to begin and information to guide me as I figure it out.
   
   I hope within 5 - 10 years I'll be toasting the author with my own apple cider!



4. I'm about halfway done reading it. It definitely has covered more than I knew I needed to know about apple growing! All the terms used in it are also defined, so that people (like me) who are new to orcharding can understand what is being described.



5. This is the most comprehensive book I have been able to find on Organic growing of fruit. Get the revised version, it is worth the money. I am in charge of a large community Garden's orchard and this book is a must have for what I do. I have applied the infromation over one season I found in this book and this will be the first year we will have a successful crop. John Cremati

5 comments about Rodale's Illustrated Encyclopedia of Organic Gardening.

1. If you are interested in organic gardening, this is the book to have. I have not had one question that it couldn't answer yet!



2. I've been gardening for a few years, and this book really broadened my knowledge. Also made me feel less like a cheapskate for not running out to buy all the latest garden gizmos - they point out that you can reuse pruned shoots, for example, to stake up your garden plants. Highly recommended.



3. I find this book very user friendly. I find the format helpful and it's contents very informative. I especially find the care and pruning guides helpful and the variety of topics inspiring.



4. This book is poorly researched. One section of the book talks about fungi being plants that do not undergo photosynthesis. This idea has not been accepted by the science community since the mid 50s. It goes on to mention potato blight as common pathogenic fungi....potato blight is not casued by a fungi. The causative pathogen (an oomycete) was once in the kingdom fungi but later moved to a different kingdom in the late 70's. This leads me to beleive that the authors have taken a lot of updated information for granted. I could go on and on about this book. If you are new to gardening and and want something to ready this is an OK book. If you want or need a book that give real uptdate advice this is not the book. In my opinonin this book falls into the catagory of books that are ment to be on a coffe table and not really used. A good name was used to sell a poor product.



5. this is a great source for those who are interested in organic (or close too) gardening/growing, etc. answered many questions i had and shed light on some problems i had with plants last season. great book!!!

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

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



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



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



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



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

4 comments about Growing Vegetables West of the Cascades: The Complete Guide to Organic Gardening.

1. This is the bible for NW people and gardens....clay soil? Fertile valley soil? It helped me work on the best soil and is great for the unpredicatable NWest winter, spring and summer. Add this to your collection and be sure to read it !



2. This is a great resource for gardeners in the PacNW. My only caveat is that it's not geared towards beginners. If you're looking for something to help you get started you should probably get this and something else in conjunction. This'll help you tailor your garden to the unique conditions of the Northwest.



3. I found this book to be incredibly useful. I get tired of being told to wait until my soil thaws in the spring, and articles talking about those humid summer nights are definitely not by locals. Much of the advice that applies well to gardeners across the continent comes up pretty short around here. From soil fertility to choosing suitable varieties to planting schedules, Steve Solomon covers all the specifics that make Cascadia a unique growing climate.
   
   He is realistically, thoughtfully organic. Most organic authorities seem to blindly promote anything that seems like a natural product, and shun anything that seems like a chemical. Steve realizes that blood meal comes from the meat industry and may not be in line with the goals of healthy gardening (Mad Cow, anyone?) although he chooses to take his chances. He suggests Roundup in a couple of sections and explains why it's not just another persistent harmful chemical.
   
   The only irritation I have is that he clearly has a bigger garden than I do. I've got about 200 sq. ft. He talks in fractions of an acre. Sheesh.



4. I am a novice gardener in the PNW, but I am having considerable success thanks almost entirely due to this book. I have read it cover to cover several times, and whenever I have a question I look here first. Thus far, the suggestions I have implemented have been practical, affordable, and shown good results.

5 comments about Jerry Baker's Giant Book of Garden Solutions: 1,954 Natural Remedies to Handle Your Toughest Garden Problems (Jerry Baker's Good Gardening series).

1. I would read this book even if I didn't have a garden! It is more than informative. I feel like I am listening to a favorite uncle telling stories of the good ol" days and how things were done simply and effectively. I love this book and highly recommend it. -Mary



2. I am enjoying this book very much. It has all kinds of solutions to problems I have in my garden.
   I will be using this book for years to come..



3. If you have a problem in your garden , this book will solve it. You would be surprised what you can do with products you have sitting around in the cabinet and fridge.



4. I gave one of these to my gardener mother who liked it so much she asked me to order another for her to give to my gardener brother! Since I'm the non-gardener in the family I can't report on why the book is so helpful, but I understand it offered solutions for some special problems that could not be found elsewhere.



5. this book gave me a lot of simple solutions for my garden. i recommend it, highly.

5 comments about Rodale's All-New Encyclopedia of Organic Gardening: The Indispensable Resource for Every Gardener.

1. This book was recommended by a friend and it is exceptionally informative and well written. I would recommend it to anyone seeking more info on organic gardening. It has ideas that are cheap to do that work wonderfully!



2. Chock full of useful information! This is probably the only book on gardening you'll ever need! I can't believe how informative this is! It truly is an Encyclopedia of Organic Gardening! Whatever your question or plant you are sure to find it here! This is a must have for any organic gardener!



3. I use this book so often. I have several gardening books about specific topics such as soil or companion planting or planting or pruning.. it's good to have specific books but this one has it all as a great general reference. I always check this out in addition to whatever other resource I am using. It is so comprehensive!



4. This is a great book, very informative whether you have just one potted plant or an acre of garden blooming in your backyard. It touches on just about any topic imaginable, including composting, rose care, types of garden pests and how to deter them, and tips on growing flowers, vegetables, and herbs. The information easy to understand and easy to follow. I highly recommend this book, and it would make a great gift for anyone aspiring to have a green thumb.



5. ALL NEW ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ORGANIC GARDENING- It is precise and detailed in its illustration of soil preparation,tree prunning and prevention of disease. It is a book that provide the method of preparing fertilizer and pesticide in an organic way. It is comprehensive about plant care and maintenance, almost all kind of plants are discused and reviewed thoroughly in its presentation. I will recommend this book to an organic gardener.

5 comments about The Humanure Handbook: A Guide to Composting Human Manure, Third Edition.

1. Due to a plumbing fault in the house, my family have been composting in the back garden on a daily basis for over a year. What a bonus to stumble upon this book and find out that our actions have been helping to preserve the future of our planet! A number of residents in our street have complainined that the local environment has been suffering from some kind of unpleasant air pollution of late, so we feel proud to be putting something back.



2. Everyone should read this book, even if they have no intention or ability to use a humanure composting system. It provides a wealth of information on a subject that has been ignored for too long...human waste - how to dispose of it in a sensible, sustainable, practical, useful manner. We haven't flushed a toilet in this house in eight months, since we got this book and built our own sawdust toilet and composting box out back. We had a serious drought here this summer and our well was REAL low, but we had no problems because we weren't FLUSHING FOUR GALLONS OF CLEAN DRINKING WATER UNDERGROUND each time we went in the bathroom. I always wondered why we eliminate in water, anyway. And it doesn't stink, the compost box doesn't stink, it's simple and straightforward and clean and the humanure toilet's time has come! Everybody who comes in our house gets dragged into the bathroom by my husband to meet our new humanure toilet! Then I drag them outside to meet my wonderful compost box! So far we've had one convert, a couple with a camp who were using a stinking old outhouse, and they are just thrilled with the idea of using a humanure toilet next summer when they move back to camp. As a bonus, our electric bill dropped substantially, just because the water pump doesn't have to kick on every time a toilet is flushed. Buy this book, read it, start using a humanure toilet, tell all your friends, lend the book to your friends, do it now! Then read Joe Jenkins' other book, "Balance Point."



3. Fascinating and intelligent book that holds the key to sustainable practices that will help protect our drinking water supply. Why use 1.5 -5 gallons of precious drinking water to wash our poop away? It's a shameful and wasteful practice and this book provides the best solution to managing our excrement in a way that is healthy for us and for the planet.



4. the true revolution is in our poop! its a great read and is a vital piece to the new sustainable culture we are growing. thanks joe!



5. I wish my parents had known about this so they could have taught me instead of me having to teach them. Shame on anyone that has discouraged this sort of creative thinking. Let the rigor with which Joseph Jenkins has researched this topic be a lesson to anyone who wants to make a claim about the validity of any of our social norms.

5 comments about The Organic Lawn Care Manual.

1. I've read quite a few books on organic lawn care, and this one is by far the best. It goes over everything you need to have a healthy, good-looking organic lawn. It contains tons of illustrations and easy to read summaries, as well as entertaining writing. It covers grass anatomy, building good soil, starting a lawn from scratch, overseeding, switching to organic fertilizers, watering the lawn, organic pest control, organic weed control, effective mowing, grass alternatives, and how to make it all low maintenance. It even includes an appendix on games you can play on your new lawn. I keep pulling this book out time and time again as I work on my lawn. The things I use the most are what organic fertilizers are equivalent to the chemicals recommended by a formal soil test, the lawn care calendar, and how to make compost tea so that it is aerobic and contains the most beneficial microbes for your soil.



2. I have to admit, I first looked into organic lawn care for not-so-noble reasons. I have a pool in my backyard, which means that using any nitrogen-rich fertilizer back there risks getting nitrates in the pool water, which is a big no-no for pool owners. I hoped that organic lawn care could provide me with a way to care for my backyard without endangering the pool water. That's not to say that I didn't care about the environment; it just wasn't my first priority.
   
   However, in reading this book, I've become downright enthusiastic about, not just helping the environment, but having a great yard *while* helping the environment. As other reviewers noted, the author does not ask us to settle for inferior lawns in order to help the environment. He is passionate about having a great lawn -- and doing it the right way.
   
   There are essentially two ways to get great looking lawns: treat it with chemicals, or follow the organic route described in this book. They can both produce great looking lawns, but there is a difference. I liken the comparison to making a person look better through either plastic surgery or exercise. Plastic surgery is fast and can have some incredible results, though it does nothing to improve the actual health of the person. Whereas exercising can probably get to the same end, though with a bit more effort, especially at the beginning. However, even though the results may look similar, underneath the person who has been exercising is stronger, fitter, and more able to cope with the physical stresses of life. Similarly, with a bit more effort (at least, at the beginning), an organically cared-for lawn can look great and be healthier and stronger than a chemically cared-for lawn.
   
   I'm ditching the remainder of my Scott's Four-step weed-and-feed lawn care process and embarking on *really* caring for my lawn. Thank you Paul Tukey for opening my eyes!
   
   PS - as an added bonus, I *can* care for my lawn organically without endangering my pool water.



3. I purchased this as a gift for my dad and he seemed think it's a good resource to have on hand. I called him when I had a question about how to naturally get rid of dandelions, and he quickly found an answer for me in this comprehensive manual.



4. This book is like too many "green" or "organic" books lately. It spends as much time arguing for its existence (i.e. why you should manage your lawn organically) as it does providing practical information for how to do it successfully. OK, I bought the book already -- you don't need to convince me!
   
   It was frustrating that, when I needed a solution to a real problem, all the book told me was: if you plant your lawn the way we've told you, you won't have this problem. Not much help!
   
   On the plus side, I did learn about some good techniques like dethatching.



5. Whether it's the pictures or the easy reading style this book has become my goto book for getting my new lawn up and running without chemicals. Anyone just getting into it should find this book an excellent introduction to chemical free lawns.
   
   Only drawback, the book is really an introduction. So for example if you really want to dive into creating different compost tea recipes or different ways to brew them, you would need to get another book.

5 comments about Food Not Lawns: How to Turn Your Yard into a Garden And Your Neighborhood into a Community.

1. Anyone who picks up this book expecting to find a "How to" manual on converting your lawn into an edible garden will be disappointed. However, if you're looking for some fresh ideas on not only changing out your lawn for a garden mixed with a little permaculture, activism, optimism, and community building ideas, this is the book for you.
   
   I read this book twice because there is so much good information and ideas in it that it was hard to wrap my head around the first time. Coming back to the book a few weeks later really made it hit home for me that gardening in your front yard is a community affair, as it should be.
   
   I really enjoyed this book and will likely read it again in the next few weeks as I put H.C. Flore's ideas into motion and need a little pep rally to keep up the hard and rewarding work.



2. definitely not a how to book. there are no pictures - i would have liked to see pictures of her garden....



3. I was very excited about ordering this book. I envisioned it would gave step by step, practical advice on how to transform my suburban yard into a lush garden. I was very disappointed, however, to find it full of advice that was either too vauge, or too complicated for the average home owner.
   Ms. Flores starts off the book preaching about environmental concern. She could have spared the reader, since anyone who would buy this book is already concerned about their eco-system. Several pages of the beginning of the book give spacey, loose instructions on observing your community and yard space, as if the average reader has unlimited time to stare at her yard, and go on excursions for resources.
   
   Flores goes on with her irrational ideas, giving several suggestions which are ILLEGAL, like diving into dumpsters and stealing off of thrift store lots. She also devotes quite a few paragraphs to setting up a water conservation system, which starts with recycling bathwater, which BTW, she also mentions is illegal in many cities. There's no in-between or alternate suggestions given. Flores, instead goes rambling on about elaborate modifications that the average person would not do to begin a garden.
   
   This book might be good for those who have extensive knowledge of gardening, lots and lots of free time, and advanced mechanical skills, who want an all-or-nothing approach, but it offers very little for a beginner.



4. This book has so many great ideas that I just had to have it. She makes many great "eco" points that had me going "ah, I never thought of that." I'm very glad I purchased this book.



5. This is a interesting lots of help starting you own garden in your front yard or back.