5 comments about Golden Gate Gardening: Year-Round Food Gardening in the San Francisco Bay Area and Coastal California.

1. So this past spring I decided, once and for all, that I wanted to start a garden. I had no experience in this subject, and I searched for a good book at the library. I found this book. I ended up renewing it five times, and finally ordering it from Amazon.com. It has truly been a life saver. What I like best is the way the book is laid out, with sections on vegetables, fruits, and flowers, as well as special sections on pests and other problems. The book is well organized and the index points the reader in the right directions, making it easy to find what I'm looking for down to the tiniest detail. The charts make it clear which San Francisco Bay Area microclimates are suitable for which plants, and the book explains down to the tiniest detail how to start plants, transplant them, grow them, and harvest them. At the same time that this book is informative beyond all my original expections, is also excels in not being condescending (one of my pet peeves). I believe it is the perfect book for the seasoned gardener just moving into the area, the seasoned gardener in need of more detailed information, and someone like me, with no gardening experience whatsoever.



2. This is a good book both for the avid gardener as well as the beginner. I've given this book as gifts to many people throughout the SF Bay area and everyone has loved this book!It is particularly a good gift if they grow vegetables and have had limited success in some aspects of gardening such as trying to grow tomotoes the coastal areas of the Bay Area. This book has growing charts of when to plant and harvest, best varieties for the bay area, and covers points to explain the many microclimates even within the same city.

   A great book with lots of pointers. Note that this is not a book to compete with Sunset's Western Garden Book but rather to supplement it. This book doesn't have the details with regard to horticultural specifics.




3. I love this book. I have never read it all the way through, but rather I look up things that I am interested in.
   
   The seed company (and variety) recommendations are likely out of date.
   
   I really appreciate Peirce's reports about her experiences with different plants.



4. I could never have known there was so much gardening potential in San Francisco without this book.



5. It includes useful details that I haven't found anywhere else, even in specialty Web sites and books -- about how to cope with deer and blackberries, for instance, both of which most of us love, but we hate their interference with our gardens. Get it!

5 comments about Edible Estates: Attack on the Front Lawn.

1. I like the idea of growing more of our own produce in our yard, but I was somewhat disappointed in the quality of this book. Not disappointed in the condition mind you - it just wasn't what I was looking for.



2. My husband and I want to convert most of our front and back yard to fruit trees and gardens, as we have long thought that most people do not make use of their grass anyhow. Most of the book made the case for using property for food production, but the book was short on ideas for plants and layouts. The layout on the front cover is good, but there are a few such suggestions contained in the book. I would have liked a book full of ideas that I could use to help me plan my own edible estate.



3. I wanted to like this book. I think the idea is great but the gardens shown are not very pretty and the tone of the book is somewhat hostile. If you want to see a PRETTY vegetable garden suitable for a front yard check out "Rosemary Verey's making of a Garden". Look at the chapter entitled "The Potager". Now THAT's a beautiful vegetable garden. If it's too ambitious try just planting a border of red & green lettuce. It looks as beautiful as any other foliage plant. Put down a layer of wood chips. It really is a nice look. When you start getting into netting and wire fencing in the front yard that's when you leave many people behind. No one want to look at raggedy tomato plants in August.



4. have to agree with "wendycat". all of the photos i have seen of the edible estates are not very pretty, no offense to anyone but some are even somewhat hideous for a front yard garden. anyways, i've read the author has moved on to something else - animal estates....



5. This book reads more like a book report, or maybe a master's thesis than a full-blown book. You can get through it in an hour or two, and although it is an interesting read, it's not something you'll turn to again and again. Honestly, I haven't thought about it since I read through it weeks ago. Thankfully it's not as mind-numbingly verbose as Slow Food Nation, but it also doesn't have the depth of, say, a Pollan book.

5 comments about Cubed Foot Gardening: Growing Vegetables in Raised, Intensive Beds.

1. This item was perfect, exactly what I was looking for to assist me with a new style of gardening. The book arrived looking brand new, not a scratch on it and with 5 days. Thank you this has been a rewarding experence.



2. Watch Video Here: http://www.amazon.com/review/R1TS6AHKY4KN4C PHOTO SLIDESHOW: The pictures with this review are a daily account of the garden I raised last year using much of the advice from this book.
   
   BOOK REVIEW: Chris Bird believes it's easier to grow a garden in raised beds, and in this book, he shows you how. Bird details the fundamentals of cubed foot gardening (how to build the boxes, space considerations, etc) and gives a brief introduction to the most popular vegetables grown in the US. He includes a useful season planting guide, which should be used instead of everyone's grandparents' methods like "plant corn two Mondays after the first dogwood bloom."
   
   The most appealing aspect of the book is the personal voice of the author. More than a how-to guide, this is one man's story about his successes and failures. He even admits when his method may not be the best or points out his many setbacks in his life of gardening.
   
   I was given this book one year after I started gardening in raised beds and have spent the last year correcting many of the mistakes I made on my own. Along with the seasonal planting guide and suggestions on which crops to plant, I learned creative designs for trellises and innovative planting techniques, including a brilliant "salt shaker" method of scattering small seeds evenly over an area.



3. Why go the expensive chemical route? It is safer, cheaper and better tasting to go organic-new scientific testing has proven what we already knew! So skip this book and get Square Foot Gardening instead.
   JMSWilson



4. Enjoyed this presentation. Can't really see difference between cubed foot gardening and square foot gardening.



5. This book is a poor imitation of "All New Square Foot Gardening". I totally disagree with much of the opinion and information offered as facts.

5 comments about The New Self-Sufficient Gardener.

1. Do yourself a major favor and disregard the shameful "Redundant" review. Instead, look up, "The Self-Sufficient Gardener" ( not this New one) here and see that this is HIGHLY regarded. I've had the old one for years, will buy this new updated one as well since I've worn out the former one. Many gardening books nowaday seem more akin to compilations of snippets from classics, but this one IS a classic written by a master gardener who truly "talked the talk and walked the walk". In addition, it's a beautiful book with loads of colored line drawings of plants and gardens. The author, John Seymour, is a "demigod" in the organic gardening world for good reason. Read it and gain major gardening wisdom and understand how to fit each concept together to form a seemless ecosystem in your own garden.



2. All of John Seymour's books are wonderful! This book is beautifully illustrated and a must for any gardener. It's adaptable to any size garden.



3. I bought this new edition because, like the other reviewer, I simply wore out my old copy reading it over and over again. I think all of his books are wonderful, but this one is my favorite.
   
   The information is presented in a clear simple manner, that will benefit anyone from the first time gardener to a seasoned expert. The illustrations are superb. It is so much more than a run of the mill gardening book.
   
   If you are looking for a single book to help you grow more and better food for your table, you can't go wrong with this one.



4. the fact that oil prices and food prices have been soaring exorbitantly should by itself be enough to make the everyday person want to consider self-sufficiency. I've been contemplating it recently because I've always loved to play in the dirt. Previously, I have been a 'tomato plants and maybe some herbs' kind of gardener. This year my garden crops have doubled and I have become more and more interested in different types of crops and self-sufficiency ideas. This books is chock-full of ideas and suggestions for just that outlook. Some self-sufficiency guides are nothing more than expensive wishful thinking. Not everyone can afford to put up a $12,500 wind turbine in their backyard. We can't all install geo-thermal heating systems in our houses. Some of us live in the CITY and cannot get away from city zoning laws. John Seymour's book is extremely practical in explanation and suggestion about simply learning how to garden for your own food needs. I learned some brand new techniques for growing potatoes and other root vegetables, and also learned how to get my own fertilizer without having to build compost bins which will probably offend the neighbors. I'm so pleased with this book and so glad that I spent the cash to get it.



5. I am an avid reader, and avid gardener. I have bought thousands of dollars of books and this is the first book I have ever felt I NEEDED to write a review for.
   
   This is a wonderful book for the experienced gardener and new alike. The suggestions are practical, inexpensive, and can be applied in any garden. He covers soil, pests, different crops, spacing, garden layout, composting, and more. I checked this book out of the library, but am here today to buy it. It may be the only gardening book you will need (although if you are like me you will add others!).
   
   I love his down to earth way of writing, and practical, useful information.

5 comments about The Compleat Squash: A Passionate Grower's Guide to Pumpkins, Squashes, and Gourds.

1. This book is beautiful to look at, has a great deal of interesting history, useful gardening information, and some good recipes. Also it is inspirational, makes you want to source the rarer seeds and get out there with the spade. I don't know how much of this information is readily available in America, but here in Britain, where growing squash still mostly means butternut or Jack o' Lantern, the book is a revelation.
   
   Highly recommended



2. This is a very visually attractive book, with superb photographs, but this is not just for the coffee table. For the devotee who grows pumpkins, all the information needed is there, down to conditions and seed sources for an amazing selection of varieties. For the cook, there are some unusual recipes, but also the eating quality of each type of pumpkin. Essential,this. Some are delicious, others vile. Lots of historical and other info & stories too. Pumpkins are my passion. I grew them, I eat them and now I paint them. It was great to get this book and know there are other squash nutters out there.



3. At this time, this is the most comprehensive volume on the Cucurbita genus. A good personal narrative, coupled with sublime photography. My only quibbles are that none of the images show cut open fruit, to give a view of the flesh and cavity. Secondly, that quite a number of internationally known cultivars are not mentioned. Nevertheless, an absolute "must have" for pumpkin and squash devotee.



4. The Compleat Squash: A Passionate Grower's Guide to Pumpkins, Squashes, and Gourds What a great book. Good information about the squash family and recipes that are to die for. She will introduce you to a new world of a great vegetable. This book will become a family heirloom.



5. I love this book -- sometimes I think it spends more time off the bookshelf being thumbed through than resting on it. Here you have practically everything you need to grow squashes - what the squashes are best used for, some history of the various varieties, selecting seeds, growing and harvesting tips, and (extremely useful!)commercial sources of most of the seeds(many of which you can find easily online), all nicely organized by which Cucurbita species they belong to. (The growing guide to gourds is for C. pepo gourds, not Lagenaria species, and so the title is certainly appropriate growing C. pepo gourds, of which there are many) And recipes too -- so useful! Goldman is extremely helpful in pointing out the virtues and flaws of each variety for eating (though she tries some I wouldn't dare -- brave woman). The photographs are so beautiful as to be absolutely seductive -- watch out, you too will be saying to yourself 'I must grow that pumpkin/squash/gourd/whatever'. Then you too will be seeking out the seed suppliers, tenderly planting your new seeds and now in late summer, seeing them beginning to mature, turning into the fruit promised in the gorgeous photographs, murmur to yourself 'You are so beautiful, Sucrine du Berry. And Winter Luxury, you are the most elegantly lovely pumpkin I have ever seen..."

5 comments about Smith & Hawken: 100 Heirloom Tomatoes for the American Garden.

1. Enjoyed the book enough to buy another to give to my tomato-growing son. Also hooked me to the point of buying three other tomato books from Amazon. The author posts regularly on various tomato websites. Great photographs. For the price that Amazon sells this book - you cannot go wrong.



2. Wonderful book written by Dr Carolyn Male. If you don't own or have not read this book, then you really are found lacking in life!



3. I received this book as a gift, after my small 4-plant tomato plot fared disastrously last summer. 1 of the 4 plants produced decent tomatoes, while the rest died unceremoniously. This year, following the recommendations in this book, my 4 plants are all doing great, and I already have little tomatoes-to-be on 3 of the 4. For that reason alone I would recommend this book. I wish some of the planting and tending suggestions were a little clearer; you have to piece some of them together for yourself. Nevertheless, just two of the express recommendations on their own have made a world of difference for me.
   
   The photographs and descriptions of the different heirloom varieties are fantastic, and will inspire you to pick out some different and unusual tomatoes for your garden. You don't have to be a tomato fanatic to enjoy and learn from this book.



4. I love thumbing through this book. I buy most of my seeds from Seed Savers Exchange so it is especially fun because several of the varieties I was already growing, are featured in this book. Plus I have been inspired to try a few more. Well laid out. Beautiful book.



5. I have a small greenhouse and sell organic heirloom tomato plants. This book is my tomato bible! I am growing many of the plants she lists. Some I already knew about, some will be new this year, based on the information in this book. In addition, this book contains the simplest and clearest instructions I have found for saving seeds.
   
   Her pictures - well, they are REAL! What a concept! Instead of pictures of these pristine tomatoes that were probably airbrushed, the pictures of her cherry tomatoes show a little crack here and there, and she unabashedly shows scarring and other blemishes. She shows top views, bottom views, and each picture shows a cut tomato so one can see the flesh. For a tomato grower like me, this is great information.
   
   Her descriptions are frank, and since I was already growing some of these tomatoes myself, I know they are honest. You ever notice how the descriptions of the tomatoes in the catalogs imply that EVERY tomato is the BEST tomato? Dr. Male tells it like it is! In fact, she describes some of them having some faults, but has listed them for other reasons. (We agree - Amish Paste? Ho-hum. But historically significant and in spite of its faults, a very popular tomato.)
   
   If you are a tomato aficionado, then you must add this book to your library! I will have a copy at my booth at the farmers market - and I bet it will be dog-eared by the end of the tomato season! I may have to buy another!

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 Mushroom Cultivator: A Practical Guide to Growing Mushrooms at Home.

1. I was very pleased with the prompt service and timely delivery. I received the book ahead of time to present as a gift. Thank you



2. Wow... I Am Very Impressed By The Content Of This Book... Very Comprehensive... Everything You Need To Know About Mushroom Cultivation Is There; Home Or Commercial... It's No Wonder Why They Call It "The Bible."



3. Im very new to cultivating mushrooms at home. I tried many different approaches and information found on the web about the subject, but had many dissapointments. After I read this book I am now aware of the many bad turns you can take that will drive you mad. Now I am very happy, everything is going onroad, thanks to Paul Stamets and his knowledge. This book is a MUST buy for anyone interested in growing mushrooms in small or big scale.



4. This book does give you a lot of basic information. However, "Growing Gourmet and Medicinal Mushrooms" would probably be a better choice if you intend on trying to grow mushrooms.



5. Being my first book on mushroom cultivation (not to mention the mushroom industry), this book was really awesome. The book is quite technical yet easy to understand. The amount of information is just right for a beginner like me, to have an indepth understanding of mushrooms. It is a MUST read for all mushrooms enthusiast!

5 comments about Burpee : The Complete Vegetable & Herb Gardener : A Guide to Growing Your Garden Organically.

1. I am a new gardener and this book has helped so much! I look everything up in it. RIght down to problems with plant to how much water each plant gets. It has a guide to all plants and great pictures. Also has tips for gardening.



2. I am so impressed with this big, beautiful book! The photos are inspiring, and the technical aspects are thoroughly covered. I love the historic background of each vegetable and herb.
   I think there is literally everything I ever needed to know about vegetable gardening from seed germination, through care and feeding, to harvest. Detailed charts outline fertilizer, pests, water, soil conditions, and planting and harvest times.
   
   I keep it on my coffee table and flip through it daily just to enjoy the photos and learn some new fact.
   
   You will not be disappointed with this book!



3. This book is great if you're a beginner gardener, and want just one book to sit down and read that covers all aspects of gardening. You'll want to go on an buy other books that go into more detail on specific topics, but this is a great place to start, and one to keep on the shelf.
   It is presented as a gardening book should be - a large hardcover with lots of glossy colour photographs.
   Chapters are:
   1) Growing you own
   2) Getting Started
   3) Garden Tools & Equipment
   4) Improving the soil
   5) Laying out the Garden
   6) Planting the Garden
   7) Caring for the Garden
   8) Coping with Garden Problems



4. This book is ideal for someone starting their first garden who wants to use all organic methods. It goes through setting up your garden beds, making your own compost, and in the back it goes over every kind of vegetable and herb you could possibly want! The burpees seeds and plants are excellent too! I bought some Burpees seeds from Lowes and they were growing after only 5 days!



5. I absolutely love this book. I first found it at the local library and Had to Have It! I find two drawbacks and they are that the 'pests' and diseases aren't defined enough for the novice gardener. The 'pests' are pictured in black and white while the diseases are written only. This is a great gift for a new gardener.

5 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. I have learned so much from this book. I am new to vegetable gardening and have found this book so rich with information, including fertilizing, watering, year round gardining, raised beds, pest management, cold frames, tunnels, planning, varieties, priorities, soil types & preparation, composting, pros/cons of high-density gardening vs traditional gardening, and so much more - and all of this specific to the maritime northwest. I cannot praise this book enough.