5 comments about Gaia's Garden: A Guide to Home-Scale Permaculture.

1. I have totally enjoyed this book. The principles are a little murky because apparently this is a pretty new field and not very well developed for the eastern seabord which I live but it does provide enough guidance to begin setting up your own permaculture areas and start developing areas to be more ecologically sound food producing and living environments. I would HIGHLY recommend it as a first book on permaculture and the resources section alone has been a joy.



2. This book is excellent for establishing new concepts of applying time tested old technology. I use these principles everyday and I look forward to the days when we need to rely on our local resources and skills in order to make a living. This book teaches you how to make a start with permaculture.



3. This was recommended by someone when I started asking questions about permaculture. I am glad he did! It is a great introduction without being too simplistic. It is showing me how to start small and gradually increase the use of permaculture.
   
   I have shown it to friends who are all waiting to borrow it from me!



4. An excellent book and resource. At the time I purchased this book, I also purchased Bill Mollison's seminal work on permaculture. I intended to read Mollison's book first and Gaia's Garden second. After reading the first few pages of Mollison's book, I set it aside to "look through" Gaia's Garden just to familiarize myself with its contents. I discovered that I could not put it down because it is so well written and informative. I recommend this book to all persons interested in the subject of permaculture.



5. The Library journal review does a huge disservice to this book.
   
   Imagine a beautiful, highly productive, virtually weed-free,
   
   drought-resistant, inexpensive, low-maintenance and ecologically sound
   
   garden bed in your yard. It sounds impossible, but it is very simple
   
   and only requires a few hours to create this fall, no digging required.
   
   You can put to use the bounty of leaves and/or pine needles that are
   
   provided for free to almost every suburbanite in the fall. This
   
   is the ideal time, as the bed is better if it can break down over the
   
   winter.
   
   I have been gardening for about 25 years, and wish had I had heard of
   
   this method sooner. It is perfect, especially for those who are not
   
   physically able to dig, till or do a lot of weeding or simply have very
   
   little time for gardening.
   
   It involves piling up and wetting down 8 -12 inches of layers of
   
   organic matter (we used leaves and some manure) on top of a thin layer
   
   of newspapers or cardboard, with a small amount of amendments such as
   
   greensand, lime and rock phosphate and manure underneath the paper. On
   
   the top is a 1-2 inch layer of mulch (we used white pine needles), to
   
   keep in moisture and suppress weeds. Come spring, you simply push aside
   
   the top mulch and plant seedlings.
   
   This 'sheet mulching' method came from this wonderful book by Toby
   
   Hemenway. We have several sheet mulch beds this
   
   year, and they are outrageously productive. For example, one 4' x 9'
   
   bed in a very sunny spot, contains 6 large tomato plants, 3 sweet
   
   pepper plants, 3 cucumber vines on a trellis, a short row of
   
   sunflowers, one summer squash plant, and 7 winter squash plants. I
   
   find this amazing considering that the ground underneath is very poor,
   
   sandy and barely supported grass.
   
   
   With apologies to Mae West, I have learned a big lesson, it's not the soil
   
   in your life, it's the life in your soil!
   
   I bought this book in January and have many times over saved the price in
   time, mulch and bought amendments using ONLY the sheet mulch idea.

5 comments about The Organic Gardener's Handbook of Natural Insect and Disease Control: A Complete Problem-Solving Guide to Keeping Your Garden and Yard Healthy Without Chemicals.

1. Have referred to this book numerous times for specific problems that I've have in my garden and find it to be very helpful. It covers many plants and every pest and disease that you can imagine. It has separate sections on plants and pest/diseases.



2. Living in the tropics, I have had frequent failures starting up my organic garden due to pests taking it over. This year I have used some tips and "natural pesticide" recipies from this book with great success. It has also helped me identify "good" versus "bad" insects so I can better assess what treatment, if any, to use. I strongly recommend this book to anyone trying to start an organic vegetable garden!



3. I wish I had this book before I ever started a garden. You can look up info by plant or by insect. It will tell you how to grow a certain plant, what kind of soil you need. It tells you about any problems you may have and how to deal with them. It tells you how to water each type of plant and what insects you should attract for a plant type. All and all an excellent book.



4. The book was very good from a technical standpoint but more than I wanted or needed. I was looking more for the home remedies to my garden problems. Things that I would normally have in the kitchen, such as soap, garlic, pepper, etc. It did have some of those remedies but there were many more technically more complex and commercially available fixes to my garden problems. I could have gotten this information from reading the backs of compound containers at the the garden supply store.
   A good and well researched book but not what I was looking because the title led me to believe it was solutions without chemicals and most of the solutions are what I consider to be chemical.



5. As a Master Gardener, I get a lot of questions about insects and plant diseases in the home/backyard setting. Unfortunately, bugs have always been my weakest knowledge area, so it used to take me forever to figure out just who the culprit was and the damage it could inflict. This book has been invaluable in providing excellent pictures so that I can quickly identify the critter in question, and understandable text to know what, if anything, to do next. I highly recommend this book for novices as well as accomplished bug people.

5 comments about The Vegetable Gardener's Bible: Discover Ed's High-Yield W-O-R-D System for All North American Gardening Regions.

1. Highly useful book, and a future edition that contained a few corrections and clarifications would be just about perfect.
   
   The author mentions companion planting without discussing mechanisms, which makes typos hard to decipher. The "Artichoke" page states that tarragon is a good companion to artichokes, but the "Tarragon" page states that artichokes are a BAD companion to tarragon. Which is it?
   
   The author also instructs novice tomato growers to remove all "nonflowering stems that grow between the main stem and the leaf crotches." What does this mean?! All stems will flower eventually...
   (Of course pruning is controversial anyway... some gardeners claim that the complexity of tomato flavor depends upon lush foliage.)
   
   The "Parsnip" section also has some vague instructions in the opening paragraph: "I deposit some seeds and labor in the warm months, and my investment matures the following spring." Does that mean that parsnips should be planted late summer/ early fall? What exactly is done in the warm months? The rest of the text does not explain this.



2. I LOVE this book! It's enjoyable to read and incredibly useful. A great book to begin reading before you plant because it gives you guidance on laying out your garden.
   
   The only people I think it wouldn't be helpful for are those who live in apartments and are container gardening. They should read You Grow Girl: The Groundbreaking Guide to Gardening instead, another awesome book!
   
   If you want to have a hugely successful vegetable garden using organic methods, this book is for you!



3. Hoping to make the most of my new garden, I picked up this book and hoped some of the techniques would work. WOW doesn't even begin to describe how great this was. The techniques outlined in this book will take a relatively small garden and produce veggies like you've never imagined! I can hardly wait for next year when I'll have more time to build beds and plant even more! I really believe it'll be possible to feed my family with just the vegetables we can grow ourselves.
   
   If you wnat to get the most out of your garden space, you need this book!



4. Excellent book to read through and then keep as reference.
   There are MANY nice color pictures (especially at the end there is a vegetable reference guide for planting/care/info).
   This book gives you step-by-step instructions to designing and cultivating a high-yield WORD garden.
   If you are clueless about gardening, get this book.
   If you think you know everything, then get this book (even if you have memorized the companion planting reference matrix).
   From small planter box gardens to acre sized garden plots..
   If you want to learn how to grow vegetables, then this is the book!



5. Excellent book - I checked it out at a local bookstore so I knew it was what I wanted. Next year will be our first year with a garden so we're excited to read this book over the winter to prepare. GREAT book for new gardeners.

5 comments about The Self-sufficient Life and How to Live It.

1. REVIEWER: First up, consider that this review comes from a suburban guy who has his eye on country living. I would imagine if you are a seasoned farmer or off-grider then this book is not for you. Veterans will likely find this book too shallow on the virtually hundreds of topics it addresses.
   
   SKILL LEVEL: However, if you are beginner to intermediate on topics of farming, gardening, livestock and all round back-to-basics living then this book is hands-down perfect. It deals with virtually every aspect of self-sufficient living in a concise, well illustrated manner. It's flat out makes me curious to try (put into practice) and to learn more about many of the different subjects contained within.
   
   QUALITY: A great quality book (well printed, solidly bound). The layout and typography are excellent and illustrations are an excellent companion to the text.
   
   CONCLUSION: This book is the culmination of decades of knowledge from a man who has lived his life as depicted in this book. It must be challenging to pack a lifetime into relatively so few pages (it's still a big book though!) but the "Self-Sufficient Life and How to Live It" does a great job. It packs a lot of punch on a broad range of subjects and one must appreciate that because of this, it will at times feel a little skinny on specifics or in-depth information.
   
   I'm rating this five stars because I believe that it communicates the subject matter perfectly to the audience for which it was intended.



2. I was very impressed by the amount of information covered in this book. It is a very good overview of all topics pertaining to Self Sufficiency. I would recommend it to anyone considering this as a lifestyle or who is looking to make even a few changes. My only complaint is that some topics that interested me were not covered in as much detail as I would have liked but this book is still a wealth of information.



3. For those wishing to find an overview of what it means to live a self-sufficient life, look no further than this text. Engagingly written and bursting with relevant information, Seymour's volume covers just about every topic with the fundamental information you need to properly evaluate your current situation and plan for the future. It is sure to be well-worn and dogeared before too long.



4. What a great find at a time when our lives are having to do an about face! We may not end up with a farm per se but will use the helpful pages in this book to make ourselves less dependent on the super market at the very least. The illustrations are particularly good.
   I recommend it to all I meet!



5. The Self-sufficient Life and How to Live It by John Seymour, Deirdre Headon contains many of the basics needed before one considers the notion of starting out on that journey to self-sufficiency.
   It is, indeed, written with a rather cycloptic view of the world, but that is, as always, the author's privilege.
   The Self-sufficient Life and How to Live It doesn't go into as much depth, subject by subject, as does the TODAY'S HOMESTEAD series of books,Today's Homestead: Volume I, however, it does give one much to consider, and whets the appetite to know more.
   All in all, it makes a good addition to the homestead library.

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

1. In addition to the Grow Bible this book is an absolute necessity. Although if you had to pick one I would suggest the Grow Bible. However, this book has many in depth details to nutrient defencies, various tips, picture illustrated guidelines, what to do, what not to do..I would consider this an illustrated guide more then anything..if that makes sense. MANY tips I have never heard of I came across in this book, and this is to say the least. Jorge Cervantes...two thumbs up (three if I had em)



2. I can't grow the divine weed where I live; I bought this book because it is absolutely the most in-depth, easy-to-understand book in the gardening world! I use it constantly for advice about soil, water, diseases, pests, growth stages, light requirements, etc.--for my tomatoes! Best book out there for weed *or* tomato gardening!



3. If you want to know anything and everything about growing, this is your book. Seriously, this guy goes in depth to explain things without making it overly complicated.
   
   It's simple, thorough, worth the buy.



4. Way too much info on how to grow 100 plants a month. I feel illegal just thinking about it.
   I am just a normal person, Card Carrying Medical Marijuana Pt, who can't afford the $300 - $500 a month for Med grade Cannabis. ( My Pharm Meds are $1200... but my insurance Co. pays that scam! ). The Cannabis works ALLOT better!
   I want to grow 1 plant every 3 months, like 99% of the legit patients. I would destroy any excess I overproduced... personally.
   
   Obviously, this Author is beyond expert and is an authority on the subject. I would love a Medical Growers Bible for your "PERSONAL" Med crop. With a strict recommendation for personal use only. If you sell ANY, you are just a dealer... so, keep it clean... is the book " I " want. My personal opinion.
   Regardless of your personal view.... respect the spirit of the law and intent of the society and community you live in. It is the flow.
   Freedom Rocks!
   215 and 420 set the rules. Just follow them and every one is happy.



5. I love this book. I was very surprised this book is so in depth and awesome. I have grown before, but there is info that I never imagined that would be in a Marijuana horticulture book. It's perfect for anyone. VERY New grower friendly, It's great knowledge for the people getting into growing, and it's great for the experienced growers too: this is a great book to learn more from. There is even a section on how to make Hash! I highly recommend this book, awesome info, packed with awesome helpful pictures, and all I could hope for in a Marijuana horticulture book. ^.^

5 comments about Four-Season Harvest: Organic Vegetables from Your Home Garden All Year Long.

1. Very complete and clear on growing in the winter. Focuses more on northern climates, but still great for us in the south.



2. This book is really better for those places that have four seasons. Not all of the book is applicable to our warmer California winter climate.



3. This was a great book for people like us who would like to be self-sufficient even in a northern growing zone. I learned a lot and I'm sure I will refer to it often.



4. An interesting and different look at gardening. I plan to test the information I picked up this winter. I didn't really care too much about the travel log, but it did help explain the thought process. Well worth a read.



5. This seems like a very helpful book. We all need to learn to grow year round.

5 comments about All New Square Foot Gardening.

1. I had been burned out from the work in my last garden and have not gardened in years. Now I am ready to try again. This method was recommended by a friend who has gardened successfully for years. When she switched to this method, she got 3-4 times the harvest she got before!



2. All New Square Foot Gardening, is a really good book for those who want to grow lots of vegetables and stuff in an extremely limited area. SFG's ideas greatly increase the efficiency of growing in a specific area.
   
   I'm giving the idea 5/5 stars. BUT the book, i going to have to give a 4/5 stars. Reason being, the book has a very odd flow, probably because it is a rewrite. Its a little choppy and slow in some areas, so I usually end up skimming over those areas. Also, some of the ideas are a little odd, and no alternatives to these odd ideas a presented. Its like, "if its not done MY WAY, don't do it at all", some examples include his soil mix and his raised bed height. His soil mix is good and all, but its really expensive, and it will break down into dust in an extremely short time. And his recommendation of 6 inch high beds and NO higher are pretty ridiculous, i mean that is not that high, and if you planting lots of crops in one of these, they probably are going to compete with each other for root space...
   
   Another thing i didn't like with this book, was that it was written with the market target being old people and little kids. Being right inbetween, i felt like it was grannying and babying the reader at the same time. I mean, this book would be so much better if it didnt lead to those "feelings", and was written to convey "Square Foot Gardening" and ONLY Square foot gardening... NOT how little kids can do it, and how old and disabled people would enjoy it. I mean thats great and all, but old peoples' enjoyment of gardening has NOTHING to do with Square Foot Gardening... I mean really. If i wanted to learn about old people gardening, id read something else...
   
   Final note, he recommends growing flowers in a square foot garden. I dont know about you, but my personal opinion torwards this is that this is the dumbest idea ever, i dont think it looks good at all... If you want to grow flowers, id apply this SFG knowledge into putting them into pots and planters, and not 4x4 cubes in some random spot on your lawn.
   
   Good book, recommended, just beware feeling that your getting babied and grannied. Dont buy it for retail price, get it only if you can get a real deal.
   
   Also... little unrelated, i noticed the majority of the books information can be obtained free from previewing this book on Google Books, it goes over the entirety of the square foot gardening method, but doesn't go into detailed specifics on growing certain veggies.



3. I originally got the book from the library. I liked the book so much I bought it on Amazon. Great book! Looking forward to growing my own vegetables.



4. This is my vegetable gardening bible. It contains more inovative ideas than any other gardening book I've ever read.



5. I got this book from the library and loved it and could only find it on Amazon. I intend to follow the system in my new vege garden

5 comments about Root Cellaring: Natural Cold Storage of Fruits & Vegetables.

1. Lots of alternatives to canning and freezing. A very interesting read while you dream of your very own root cellar!



2. This book was very educational. Gave me information on foods I didn't think could be cellared. A lot of insight. Again, I checked this out of the library and liked it enough to purchase it.



3. I am happy I bought the book, but it is a bit wordy. Good lists, but no good cellers that can be build from the book. Just lots of examples. A good starter to make you think hard if Root Cellering is for you.



4. If you have a cellar and have a garden, this book is a great way to enjoy your harvest longer. It offers suggestions on what types of veggies to grow, and how to keep a crop growing longer.
   
   I don't know about you, but my garden takes a lot of work for the short Oregon growing season. I am thankful to have the advice of this book to help me get the most of our gardening efforts!



5. This book has become a useful guide and inspires me to do more with my garden. Previously I'd give away or mulch seasonal crops that were too successful but now I intend to build my own cellar. I was also impressed by the choices of recycled or re-used materials in the construction.

5 comments about Gardening When It Counts: Growing Food in Hard Times (Mother Earth News Wiser Living Series).

1. I would give this book zero stars if I could. I am so surprised this book has such high ratings. First, the author can not stop himself from talking down to his readers, and making himself appear as he is the greatest thing since sliced bread. Half the book is about how great he is and how "Everybody Else" is stupid and worthless. This is the most negative book on gardening I have ever read. I do not recommend this book at all.



2. This is a serious manual for subsistence gardeners. Steve Solomon differentiates himself from "everybody else" and the result is a no nonsense guide delineating the right way to get maximum yield from a piece of land using organic methods. He has no time for hobbyists, so this book is meant for those who are really trying to feed themselves from their gardens. I really appreciate the advice here, but for a light read, I would stick with Barbara Damrosch, who provides good advice in a more light-hearted way.



3. Gardening When It Counts is truly a book for our times. There's already a well-deserved buzz about this book among home gardeners I know. For one thing, it firmly refutes the supposed advantages of mulch gardening. In the burgeoning nationwide return to growing our own vegetables, it's important to produce the most food for the least amount of effort and expense, and this book offers the very advice we need. The author is a Master Gardener from whom beginners and experienced gardeners alike can learn much. Steve Solomon has provided full details on everything from soil preparation to harvesting, and the illustrator Muriel Chen has contributed helpful drawings for even further clarification.



4. I think this book is a very honest account of how to grow veggies under difficult circumstances. He has honest criticisms of the seed/garden center/etc businesses and how to avoid buying stuff that is of poor quality.
   
   His advice on simple methods for determining your soil type, making your own compost fertilizer, spacing for various crops, type of sprinklers that work best and where to get them, and a whole lot more is here and very valuable.
   
   I especially liked his advice on simple garden tools; how to find them and how to use them and how to maintain them. Truly great stuff that does not always mean a rototiller (although he tells how to use them, too, and which kinds work best).
   
   The only reason I did not give it a 5 is MY problem. I have not finished the book yet but I am still reading it. Just MY lack of time right now.
   
   Here is the deal. What if the grid is down and you cannot irrigate your crops with city water? How do you grow a garden without irrigation? How do you grow a garden without a gas-powered tiller? How do you save seeds for the next year's crop? Where do you find open-pollenating seeds?
   
   It's all here and more.
   
   Thanks for a great read.
   
   Warren of Kansas



5. I am a gardener and I read books and magazines in addition to my hands on efforts. This book has made me think about the way I have been gardening and the complications that I have put on my efforts. This is a much more simple way to do things and I have learned so much about larger spaces, the effort levels of fruits and vegetables, simple tool use and care and water resources.
   
   Excellent book. Although I bought it for myself, I had to get it away from my husband.

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

1. Barbara Kingsolver knows how to impart her knowledge with a wit and style that keeps you entertained and at the same time makes you want to change the world (or your life, at least).



2. My students now ask me if I am on Barbara Kingsolver's payroll because I have been so moved by this book and quote it all the time. The emphasis on both personal health and the well-being of the planet is something we ALL need. Brava!! Amazing!



3. Barbara Kingsolver is such a fluid writer and as this book chronicles her families' year eating only locally grown foods, I was inspired to change the way I gather, prepare and consume our meals. I probably couldn't do right now what they did for a year but I am inspired and the recipes she shared were all very very good.



4. This book is very inspiring for those who are unaware or unclear about how much buying produce from far away affects our environment, our farmers and biodiversity. I loved it, and starting following the principles - they make sense.



5. How to rate this book was difficult as there were portions that I enjoyed. But by the time the friend came to visit from Arizona and I heard again about the waste of gas to bring food I felt I had been preached to too much. A shortened version of this book would be better.