5 comments about The Sustainable Vegetable Garden: A Backyard Guide to Healthy Soil and Higher Yields.

1. At best, this is a book an experienced gardener might pick up at the library to glean a few useful ideas about biointensive gardening (I found nothing that isn't presented better elsewhere). At worst, unsuspecting beginners will think this book is the authoritative source it claims to be, try to implement it's convoluted techniques, and fail miserably.
   All gardening books convey a certain sensibility about gardening that sets the perspective for the endeavor. Sustainable Vegetable is weird mix of new age idealism and rocket science. Trust me, gardening is not as complicated as this book makes it sound!
   The Vegetable Gardener's Bible by Ed Smith is THE definitive title on the subject.Square Foot Gardening by Mel Bartholomew is good for small gardens. Four Season Harvest by Elliott Coleman is excellent for winter gardening. Tanya Denckla's Gardener's A-Z Guides are excellent.



2. This is not a book to read in winter when you're dreaming of your perfect garden. This is a book that correctly lists the five plants that have been proven to help deter the Striped Bean Beetle when it's eating your garden down to the nubs. And the intercropping to keep the bean beetle away next year. And soil treatments to keep it from coming back. And what kinds of flowers will attract the beetle's predators. And did you know that veggies will generally produce just fine with up to 30% of their leaf surface eaten, or even produce more when it's attacked just like this? I didn't, until I read this book.
   
   Great information, essential information, complicated information. If you're a dreamer who likes a couple of nice sprays of hybrid cherry tomatoes to munch on each September and want a nice book with pretty color pictures, this isn't the book for you. If you've got dirt under your fingernails and a problem with your French Intensive beds, you will eventually need exactly this book.



3. I was very dissapointed in the length of this book. Compared to other organic gardening books, this should be listed as a brochure, or maybe as a synopsis of "How to Grow More Vegetables..." A buyer's money could be better spent. Personally, I would not buy it again. Figuring that it would cost me half of the cost of the book to return it to Amazon, I'll probably just give it away as a gift to a new gardener. This is not to say that there is no useful information in the book, but more information can be found in other, -longer- books



4. I am thankful to find this book, because it is so rare to find any gardening book that actually tells you how many seeds you need for so much ground, or how to predict yield.
   
   The reviews that complain about this valuable information give me an idea why that might be. People are too stupid to either value or use that information.
   
   Well, if you are intelligent enough to be looking for that information, then you'll be happy to have this book.



5. It is interesting reading if you want to know EVERYTHING about intensive gardening. I view gardening as stress relief, not to eat to live, so I don't like to use my brain this much when working in the garden. I give it 3 stars because I do feel if one really needs this information, it could be useful. An engineer minded person would probably love this book and get a lot of useful info out the main book, How to Grow More Vegetables. I am technical minded, but after working 60 hours a week, I don't want to strain my brain over a garden.

5 comments about Texas Organic Vegetable Gardening: The Total Guide to Growing Vegetables, Fruits, Herbs, and Other Edible Plants the Natural Way.

1. Howard covers the essentials of Basic Organic Gardening as well as the how to's. I bought the book at Rohde's for about the same price before shipping. If you can't get to Garland; but it here. We just completed our 20'x20' raised bed garden. Our front yard is the lushest greenest yard in the neighborhood with NO CHEMICALS. We have been a fan of Howard for a few years now.

   Grant Wiscour Irving, TX




2. This book has been indispensable to me!!! This book, along with The Vegetable Gardener's Bible, have been my "text books" in starting a garden. Without them, I wouldn't have such a great garden. These books take the guess work out of what to do. Thanks Mr. Garrett and Mr Beck!!!



3. This book is nothing more than a compilation of information that can be had for free from the county extension agents. I found nothing new in it. Your time would be better spent talking to the county agent and getting specific information for you county, as it would be easier to find that way, than in this book.



4. If you are intending to grow vegetables in Central Texas, you MUST buy this book! It is the only book out there that realistically tells you how (and WHEN) to grow vegetables in this, very difficult part of zone 8. ALmost tropical...and yet, so dry......and hot.....and such awful soil we have here! (Well, for the most part.)
   
   It has been THE most useful Gardening book in my collection for the last eight years, and though I buy many gardening books, no other book can begin to touch it (mainly because what they have to say just doesn't relate to Central Texas!)



5. I have checked out many Howard Garrett books from the library and had to buy several for myself and for gifts. The photos are beautiful, and he tells you what he thinks of the different species. Howard Garrett writes great books for people wanting to establish beautiful landscapes and gardens. He explains why healthy, organic soil with native plants and bugs works really well if it is done right.
   
   My only complaint with most of his books is that he lists the specimens in alphabetical order. That is what indexes are for. If he would group them with similar specimens, then between the photos and his descriptions, the books would be great for identifying species I find on my property. As it is, I have to get a separate field guide to tell me the names to look up in his books; but, I am willing to do that.
   
   Texas Organic Vegetable Gardening covers much more than just vegetables. It also includes fruits, nuts, and herbs; with lists of recommended varieties for different regions. And it includes preparing the soil, planting dates, troubleshooting, and recipes for homemade pesticides.

5 comments about P. Allen Smith's Container Gardens: 60 Container Recipes to Accent Your Garden.

1. P. Allen Smith's Container Gardens: 60 container recipes to accent your garden
   Clarkson Potter
   ISBN 1-4000-5343-9
   
   Yes, you do get in this book 60 reasonably practical container recipes, each complete with a large colour photograph (plants clearly labelled), a diagram of the planted container and list of plants required. There is also some accompanying text which you can skip; it adds very little to your understanding of the recipe.
   About three quarters of the book is devoted to two-page, full-colour glossy presentations of each container design, presented by season throughout the year.
   The remainder of the book is information about potting sheds, plant care and a plant directory. This section is not glossy, not in full colour, and does not relate visually to the rest of the book. In fact the illustrations and much of the text is hidden behind a muddy yellow wash that made me wonder if my eyes were playing tricks on me. I don't know what the book designer/art director was smoking but the result is horrible.
   What you have here is a large format, coffee table book with a photo of a cute young guy (shirt open) on the front. If you need yet another book about container gardening, or if you like to have a picture of a cute young guy gazing dreamily up at you from your coffee table, then by all means buy this book.



2. What's not to like about P.Allen Smith's approach to gardening? A favorite of Public Television fans, and the fellow who pops up on the Weather channel, Smith is a font of information for the new home gardener. In his nifty new book CONTAINER GARDENS he shows once again that he has many answers to questions the novice might have about a particular topic. Smith follows the seasons of the year discussing what you might display when spring arrives (bulbs and other spring flowers), summer heat bakes everything (some plants like it hot), fall colors the garden, and winter deposits snow and icicles. I must confess, I generally empty most of my pots when late fall arrives as few are frost proof, but I have purchased some containers in recent years that can weather the coldest temperatures and their contents survive freezing. Smith discusses the pots and pot materials you can use to defy temperature extremes be they hot or cold.
   
   Smith suggests winter is the time when the garden is most subtle with its barks, berries and winter blooms, and last year I prepared a few winter containers using ideas he describes in this book. For one thing, pansies seem to be able to stand cold weather and often on a mild winter day their cheerful little faces pop through the snow to greet you. Some bulbs like Galanthus (snow drops) and Scilla will bloom early and give you a hint of the nice weather to come. Hellebores (and Crocus in my Virginia garden) are famous for their winter appearance, as noted in the Christmas carol "Lo a Rose Er Blooming" and small evergreen plants such as miniature hollies and needled trees also can be used to great effect. You can also try your hand at indoor pots. If you work outdoors, the key is to use a weatherproof container so the contents don't freeze and crack the sides of the pot. Smith's book is a great book for beginners and those of us who have been gardening a while.



3. The front section of the book, with its glossy format, is a visual treat. The latter portion, with its faded photographs and mossy contrasts in typeset and paper color made me wonder if I had received a misprinted copy of the book. Not only will the planted containers need good light, I'll need it to read about how to put them together!



4. My husband and I bought this book after seeing it at my brothers and love everything about it. You don't have to be a designer to make beautiful arrangements.



5. This book has the best "recipes" for containers I have seen. They are made from easy to get plants. You can see how to change color schemes. They are intended to look finished and full right away, but once again, changing the number of plants to allow time for the container to grow into a full look is easy to figure out. Advice is very practical. You don't have to buy unusual or very expensive plants to get a great look with this book.

5 comments about Harvest for Hope: A Guide to Mindful Eating.

1. This book is always next to my chair. I review it always. I have bought and given this wonderful book to friends and family. My why of passing the word. This book is an Eye opener for what we put in our mouths & how we are hurting our selfs and our plant.



2. As a huge fan of Ms. Goodall, I was delighted to discover this book just recently. I purchased it right away and read it over a weekend. I have always respected her opinions and was prepared to learn. This book changed my life!
   
   As an environmentalist, I have always wanted to reduce my impact on the planet but thought buying organic was too expensive. Ms. Goodall's expose' showed me that it was not expensive in the long run. After reading about factory farming and its use in the fast food industry, I cut out fast food and was able to purchase organic. Not only does one get the satisfaction of doing something good for themselves and the Earth, but the food taste SO MUCH BETTER! This is how we were meant to nourish our bodies - without chemicals, fertilizers, or frank o foods!
   
   Her coverage of genetically modified foods that bombard the grocery aisles was extremely eye opening. I now find myself shopping only at EarthFare (our regional version of the Whole Foods grocery chain), farmer's markets, and local co-ops for certified organic products.
   
   I loved the reference section which gives the reader website links to learn more about the topics Ms. Goodall covers in the book. I spent two whole days reading more in depth about a variety of topics.
   
   I highly recommend this book to everyone! The reader will walk away realizing that we are but a thread in the web of life and that in our quest to receive nourishment, we shouldn't destroy our natural world.



3. Jane Goodall, the chimpanzee lady, gives an overview of the issues with food, water, transportation of the food, etc. in this book. She does a good general job of explaining the issues. She discusses how crops are raised and used, how animals are raised and treated, genetic engineering, organic growing practices, how food is distributed, fast food and water! She uses an anecdotal style with facts and studies to back the stories up. However, the facts are not always referenced in a way the one could easily follow up. Overall, I liked the amount of information she conveyed in a very readable way.



4. This book was more about Jane's views on food than on food itself. Good book if you are a fan of her work. Bad choice if you are buying it for any insight regarding the culinary industry.



5. This book by Jane Goodall really speaks to how interconnected our health is to the foods we choose to eat.

2 comments about Solar Gardening: Growing Vegetables Year-Round the American Intensive Way (The Real Goods Independent Living Books).

1. One of the best gardening books I have ever read! Excellent information on solar gardening & instructions on how to construct the garden cones, frames & pods. They provide practical information in an easy to understand format. I highly recommend this book to anyone who has an interest in gardening.



2. This book has awesome information for anyone wanting to grow all their own food and become self sufficient.
   
   Also lots of tips for extending the season even if you only grow a few favorites.
   
   Includes growing information on different vegetables, organized into short and long season heat-loving or cold-hardy. Also building instructions for their solar appliances and even the difficulties and learning from their decades of experience growing all their own food.

5 comments about You Grow Girl: The Groundbreaking Guide to Gardening.

1. This book is great for people who know absolutely nothing about gardening, but want to grow a window flower box garden or want to start a backyard herb and vegetable garden. Takes you through the details of gardening in an informative and easy-going way and answers all your questions.



2. This is such a nice book to keep on the shelf and reference. She explains a lot about gardening, indoor and outdoor.
   
   I had originally checked it out of my local library, after reading it, I knew I had to own a copy. I've never regretted this purchase.
   
   Enjoy the book!



3. I love this book! It is full of information that is in a humorous and easy-to-read format. I have been through the whole book once and now go back almost daily to look specific things up. I live in a downtown loft and have a beautiful container garden on my rooftop thanks to this book!



4. I checked this book out so many times from my local library that I finally just bought it. It's fun to read, and a great reference book. I am such a newbie when it comes to gardening, but this book really helped me understand the basics, and at the same time encouraged me and got me excited about gardening! I would recommend it to anyone who has the urge to plant but just doesn't quite know how.



5. What can I say? This book is amazing. Gayla breathes fun and life into gardening in a way I haven't found anywhere else. I was a beginning gardener looking for a book that was fun, hip, easy, and full of useful information. This book DELIVERED and then some. It's been an incredible reference again and again. I surf her site regularly for updates but this book has really been my teacher. My garden is looking a million times better. Some things readers will love: organic fertilizer and pesticide recipes that are easy, simple projects like growing your own herbal tea garden and making a foot scrub, and start-to-finish instructions on how to grow any kind of garden (container, community, urban, etc). THANK YOU GAYLA!!

5 comments about A Dyer's Garden: From Plant to Pot: Growing Dyes for Natural Fibers.

1. I particularly recommend this book as a visual source for historical re-enactors.

   Too often there are descriptions of what dye-plants were used to color garments, but, no examples of what those colors would look like. This book provides clear, vivid color photos on a whole range of dye-plants grown during pre-medieval, medieval, Colonial, and later times. Additionally, it shows the same dye used on different fibers, sometimes with different mordants (fixers). Fiber samples include linen, wool, silk, and cotton.

   I recommend this book to people interested in making clothing from "modern" material...it gives them the best opprotunity possible to try to find close color-matches. Alternately, it provides solid information to dye cloth by hand.

   Also, the low price can't be beat!




2. For those doing creative re-enactment (SCA, Renn faires), this is an essential reference for growing and using natural dye plants. The book includes plants to grow, plants NOT to grow (invasive species), and plants that pay off with dye materials in one season. The margins of the book are organized by color family, and there are lovely schematics on how to organize a dye-plant garden for production or for high-intensity cultivation with raised rows--or just a pretty border. There are some basics of plant dyeing, information on mordants (salts that change color or cause it to stick to fiber.) A small but potent book, probably a must for anyone doing authentic reproduction of antique fibers or for anyone who likes the idea of home-dyed fiber but with naturally-obtained materials. Great for home schooling. Highly recommended.



3. the recipient was very happy, & is busy putting in beds of plants to do home dyeing of medieval faire clothing.



4. This book focuses mainly on the home growing and use of dye plants. There is even a section devoted to the layout of the home dye garden. General mordanting and dye bath info is given at the beginning of the book. In the "Portfolio of Dye Plants" which follows, two pages are devoted to each dye plant. For each plant, 4-10 color photos illustrate the results obtained with various mordants on different fibers. The instructions for using different plants are not in traditional recipe form. Instead, Buchanan indicates how much plant material is generally required for a given amount of fiber ("flowers from 8 plants," etc). This fits in with Buchanan's emphasis on diversity of color over reproducibility, but it could be troublesome for users of purchased dyestuffs. In short, this book is nice to look at, easy to use, and appears to contain highly useful information for dyer/gardeners.



5. This was my first introduction to the world of dyeing with plants. The photography is terrific and gives you a good idea of what you'll get from each plant. Mordants are discussed, and the plants that are included are covered thoroughly for both cultivation and dye recipes. My only regret? That I can't find the seeds for the Japanese Indigo! I recommended this book to several people when we attended our local fiber festival.

5 comments about The Savage Garden: Cultivating Carnivorous Plants.

1. I have read many reviews about this book, and now that I have gotten this book, I have to agree that it is packed full of information! I was not able to keep carnivorous plants alive before I read this book, and now they are bright and beautiful! I would recommend this book to anyone interested in starting a carnivorous plant collection!



2. Zeer goed boek,
   
   Het boek is zeer overzichtelijk geschreven, al de bekende en minder bekende soorten zijn in het boek beschreven.
   Maar het leukste aan het boek vind ik dat er bij elke plantengroep ook een beschrijving is over hoe je de soort het beste kan verzorgen en vermenigvuldigen.
   Ook belangrijk vind ik dat het voor mensen wiens moedertaal niet engels is zeer eenvoudig te lezen en verstaan is
   
   ik heb het boek met veel plezier gelezen!



3. This is by far the best book available for growers of carnivorous plants from beginners to advanced growers. It is full of detailed growing instructions about each species in addition to general rules for growing these plants. The pictures are great and there is a lot of essential detail about their native habitats. In addition D'Amato has included a great deal of interesting background on natural history and cultivation. In short, this book is an absolute must have for anyone interested in growing these plants and I cannot recommend it enough!



4. Whether you plan on growing these monsters or not, this is a fun book to read!
   
   Having spent a lifetime maintaining aquariums (saltwater, freshwater and reef) and reading hundreds of "how-to" books regarding the same, I compliment Peter D'Amato on his ability to instruct and entertain. Beautiful pictures, clear information, and organized presentation make this book a perfect introduction to carnivorous plants. His enthusiam is obvious and infectious! I also loved the movie references.
   
   These plants are the coolest! I can't wait to start my own blood-thirsty garden.



5. If you want to know anything about carnivorous plants this it. If anyone gives this book less than a 5-star review they should be shot(kidding). This book has the most comprehensive list of CP species and how to grow individual species than any other book I've seen. It has the soil, water, light, and climate requirements for every genus of CP, plus tips on where to grow them from a bog garden to a terrarium to a windowsill. It shows you how to grow every plant from Dionea muscipula (Venus Flytrap) to Nepenthes (Tropical Pitcher Plant) to most of the 130 species of Drosera (Sundew). You can truly know how to grow any carnivorous plant with this book. And to make everything better the author is the amazing Peter D'Amato who has been growing CP's for nearly 40 years and runs the California Carnivores nursery since 1989 (which happens to be the largest CP shop in the U.S. and the same nursery I buy my CP's from). Thank you Peter for this amazing book. Well worth buying!!! Trust me.

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.

5 comments about A Japanese Touch for Your Garden.

1. This book contains wonderful pictures and offers many ideas for a Japanese style garden or balcony.



2. The title of this book is a bit misleading, in that it does not offer tips on adding a "Japanese touch" to your existing garden, but rather goes about explaining how to create a Japanese-style garden in the space available to you. In this manner, it is an extremely capable guide and leaves you with the confidence that you can accomplish building your own Japanese-style garden.
   
   "A Japanese Touch for Your Garden" tells both the basic elements of a Japanese garden; rocks, plants, water, artificial elements, and also provides a blueprint for laying out and constructing a garden using these elements. Although packed with lovely pictures, the book is straight-forward and bare-boned, giving you the essentials of what you need. The authors briefly touches upon garden philosophy and such, but acknowledges that there are other, thicker books for the esoteric matters and they will focus on the practical.
   
   The different sections of the book deal with things such as stone lanterns, bamboo fences, bridges, plants and trees...basically everything you will need. The focus is one how to select and use these available elements for the existing space you have to work with, and how to maximize them for the effect you want to achieve. The rear of the book also contains a guide of Japanese gardens in the US that you can visit, and suppliers of the various items you may want for your garden.
   
   An excellent book, it is exactly what you need if there is a spare portion of your house or yard where you would like to put a Japanese garden. For a more deeper, spiritual look at Japanese gardens, look elsewhere. But to be inspired and begin construction on your own "World in Miniature," this is the place to start.



3. I think people have "japanese" gardens or any other type of garden but they for example don't have like english garden with a japanese touch. I don't have this book and i will not buy it, because i want a JAPANESE garden nor mexican-japanese-english-french or anything else garden



4. This book shows how to use essential elements such as rocks, plants, laterns, and boulders etc., within a space. The diagrams in the book illustrated how to use those elements to balance and compensate each other and make your garden looks much bigger and more appealing to the viewers.
   
   A great book to read before you start your weekend garden project. This book will give you inspiration and give your spirit alift. I built my Japanese Rock Garden after reading this book and other book that I bought "Ortho's All About Creating Japanese Gardens". A great garden will add value to your home so did my garden -- a friend of mine who is a realestate appraiser told me that I must added about $30,000 to my property although I spent only about $5000 on the materials.
   
   Highly recommanded for anyone who are interested about Japanese Garden or do it youself gardener!!!!!



5. this book is a good accompanyment to other Japanese gardening books. Definitely not to decorate a coffee table, but to practically show one options (various bridges, paths, fencing, ponds, etc) that one can incorporate into their garden for a japanese feel. I especially liked the detailed garden sketch at the end of the book showing an example of what to plant where. I would have assumed much fewer plants from the pictures than what the author sketched in. This will come in extremely helpfully come planting time!