3 comments about Gardening in Your Greenhouse (Greenhouse Basics , No 2).

1. Most books on Greenhouse Gardening focus on the building of the greenhouse itself and don't spend enough time talking about the gardening process. This is a great book for a person who moves into a new home and already has a greenhouse. This book is an excellent education in greenhouse gardening.



2. I am extremely happy with this book- very informative for a beginner. The book came new & very quick!!



3. Okay, I am new to gardening. If I want to learn about something new, I read a bunch of books on the subject before I begin. So after reading over a dozen books on vegetables, herbs, gardening, seed saving and botany, I got Mark Freeman's "Gardening in your Greenhouse." It answered all the questions that had been on my mind and gave me advice I didn't realize I needed until after I read it. I provided me with the information and confidence I needed to start planting all those seeds I had bought. A great reference for the novice and experienced gardener.

1 comments about Living Systems: Innovative Materials and Technologies for Landscape Architecture.

1. As the former Director of Material Research at Material ConneXion, Liat Margolis combined her many years of experience in innovative multi-industry materials research with the professional design experience of her co-author and fellow Harvard GSD graduate, Alexander Robinson in "Living Systems: Innovative Materials and Technologies for Landscape Architecture."
   
   "Vertical landscapes also represent a conceptual shift toward a synthesis between landscape and architecture; building facades, for example, can be embedded within emergent, active and responsive skins..." Liat Margolis and Alexander Robinson wrote.
   
   They continued to discuss various living systems and applications demonstrated with real examples, including:
   
   Launch (Multi-tiered Vine Park, Misting Vine Pergola, Wind Adapted Road Canopy Structure, Fire-Escape Ecosystem, Parasitic Vegetal Structure)
   
   Stratify (Mechanically Stabilized Landform, Floating Glass Plain, Multi-Operational Modular Surface, Gradient of Resilience, Surface Inversion)
   
   Fluid (Weaving Porous and Non- porous Surfaces, Inflatable Dam System, Stormwater Garden, Drop Structures for Suburban Stormwater System, Networked Sidewalk Stormwater System, Bio-technical Wave and Erosion Control Structures)
   
   Grooming (Tree Crutches Growing Guide, Artificial Winter for a Bamboo Garden, Saltwater Herbicide System, Low-Maintenance Perennial Plantings, Stunted Growth Pattern)
   
   Digestive (Bio-Remediation Park Design, Fluvially Integrated Effluent Wetlands, On-site Sewage Treatment System, Ground Reconstitution Strategy, Strategic Contaminated Soil Placement)
   
   Translate (Pheumatic Body, Power by Wind, the Ground is a Turntable, Weather Informed Park Access System, Fiber Optic Marsh)
   
   Volatile (Responsive Cloud Machine, Computer Animated Rain, Dynamic Thermal Wind Wall, Impression of Rain).
   
   There is a helpful list of products and technologies at the end of the book.
   
   "Living Systems: Innovative Materials and Technologies for Landscape Architecture" has 191 pages and many color interior photos and illustrations. It is a good reference book for both design major students and seasoned professional designers.
   
   Gang Chen, Author of "LEED AP Exam Guide" & "Planting Design Illustrated," LEED AP, AIA

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.

3 comments about Fairy Houses and Beyond! (The Fairy Houses Series) (The Fairy Houses).

1. One doesn't need to visit a crafts store to enjoy all the fun enjoyed in the practice of building what are known as 'Fairy Houses". Co-authored by Barry and Tracky Kane, "Fairy Houses and Beyond!" is a compilation of photographs of various craft projects out in nature created by products found in nature such as the remains of fruits and vegetables, leaves, twigs, and other natural remnants. Aimed to appear as the village of fairies, and highly recommended to the attention of anyone seeking to create this unique structures themselves, "Fairy Houses and Beyond!" is a collection of charming full color photographs showcasing and illustrated what can be done with a little imagination and a lot of enjoyment.



2. I make fairy houses also but not to the extent this book shows. Got so
   many wonderful ideas. Well worth the purchase.



3. Reviewed by Avery McGinn (age 7) for Reader Views (9/08)
   
   "Fairy Houses and Beyond!" by Barry and Tracy Kane is a book mostly made up of fascinating and beautiful pictures of fairy houses and villages. There are a few stories in the book about other people's experiences with building fairy houses. I got a great idea to use dog hair to make a soft floor for the fairies. I can't wait to brush my dogs!
   
   The pictures in this book are fantastic. They gave me lots of ideas for building future fairy houses. I now plan to have a fairy-house-building birthday party. I can look at the pictures and make a list of all the supplies I will need for my party.
   
   "Fairy Houses and Beyond!" by Barry and Tracy Kane is perfect for kids of all ages and even grownups too. My mom really, really loves this book. Your mom (or your kid) will love it too.

5 comments about Green Roof Plants: A Resource and Planting Guide.

1. While I knew from the title of the book that this is a source of information for green roof plants, I still expected to find information on installation techniques, either very specifically or at least with a list of companies or other sources cited where I could find installation techniques. Only a couple of companies are cited, but with no Sources section in the back of the book -- only nurseries. Many subjects directly connected to planting and building a green roof are only generally touched on with broad explanations. The plant selection pages are great, with lots of color photos and good description.



2. This book is the most comprehensive green roof plant resource available; a must-have for anyone specifying, designing, or constructing green roofs.



3. Once you commit to the vegetated roof concept, you are very soon confronted with what will work up there. This book is a great point of departure!



4. I first must confess that have a green roof on my 2 car rear garage here in Washington, DC and worked directly with the author on choosing the proper plants to thrive in our little micro-climate. So I already know the Snodgrass' are the pre-eminent experts in the United States on the types of plants suitable for a given situation.
   
   That being said, this book provides an invaluable resource for those interested in, or who may become interested in, having a green roof for their home. When we installed our roof 4 years ago, had we not met the authors we would have had great difficulty in even knowing where to begin. Now all of us have that starting point: by reading Green Roof Plants.
   
   And don't think you must be an environmentalist to consider installing a green roof - many do so simply for the aesthetics. In fact, as city dwellers with limited space, we chose a green roof to have something beautiful to view from our kitchen. I suspect there are many of you who really never have thought of having a green roof and would be consigned to a lifetime of looking down or up at a plain shingled, painted or tarred roof. Don't be that homeowner! Installation of a green roof adds perhaps 10-20% to the cost of a painted roof, extend the roof's life and provides significant environmental benefits. Go for it, and buy this book first!



5. A great resource for design professionals. I greatly appreciate the honest real world look at vegetated roof planting. Simple plant mixes that have been tested and photographed are really all i need to spec out a system and sound like the genius architect i pretend to be. This little book has already saved me thousands in consultants. Thanks.

5 comments about Edible Wild Plants: A North American Field Guide.

1. This books shows, in an easy to understand format-in my opinion-a person how to identify wild edible plants that they can harvest (some even in their own backyard). It shows photos of the plants, tells you if there is a poisonous look alike plant, how to identify them, common locations of the plants, and how to prepare them for a meal. If someone wants to learn more about eating plants that grow in the wild, this book is the one I think should be in their library.



2. My only regret about this book is that it isn't longer!

   The plants are organized by season, and every plant has a small map to show what regions it grows in. There is a very nice, good sized picture of each plant, and most of them are in color. Information is also provided about harvesting, how to prepare the plant, and poisonous look alikes, if any.

   The plants are listed by their common names, but the latin names are listed as well. Plants can be located by either name in the index.

   If you are interested in edible wild plants, this book is a great value for a reasonable price.




3. This is the best purchase I have made with regards to edible wild plants. It is well organized with keys for quick referencing, details on where in the country to look and at what season merely with a glance at a table so you need not wade through the details to locate specific information on what is available at the time you are planning to search. You'll see all your target plants in a given season and where to locate them. The color photos are all great.



4. This is the best book I have found for identification, uses and preparation of wild edibles. The photos and seasonal guide is very helpful as well as the poisonous look-a-likes list.



5. This book is a good field guide to edible plants in North America, but it has some black and white pictures.
   It tells you how to prepare the plants, but nothing on there medicinal properties. Wich is the reason I bought it so I guess Im out of luck on that one.

5 comments about The Backyard Berry Book: A Hands-On Guide to Growing Berries, Brambles, and Vine Fruit in the Home Garden.

1. I recommend it to anyone interested in growing fruit at home. The information about the different varieties of each type of fruit was very useful.



2. Extremely helpful! Just moved to a new home and wanted to start my plants off right. This book helped me not only in the selection of my plants, but where on my property it is best to plant them, and how to properly plant them. I also learned the correct ways of pruning and fertilizing each plant. I have found this book to be an invaluable tool to a begining backyard gardener.



3. This is a great book that I refer to whenever I have a berry question such as planting or feeding or pruning. A lot of useful information in here. Stella knows her stuff!



4. Someone highly recommended this book to me but I'm really not that impressed. It's got good basic information but some of the info such as on bramble primocanes is confusing and took further research to understand. Stella recommends 3-4 feet between rows of strawberries. Why? Who knows. Maybe she's including a path between rows. I don't know but 3-4 feet between rows of strawberries adds a whole lot of ground to be taken care of and it's absolutely not necessary (unless you're adding 18"-24" for a path)Organization of the book is not very good either. Even though there is a chapter on raspberries, the spacing for raspberries was not found there. It is in the chapter on brambles.



5. Another great book for those who want to grow berries in their own back yard!

5 comments about PERMACULTURE: A Designers' Manual.

1. ...and probably one of the most fun to read. I read the first 8 chapters while working on a permaculture site on Isla Ometepe in Nicaragua, and ordered it immediately upon returning home.
   
   Bill Mollison carefully and beautifully lays out the theory and practice of Permaculture (permanent agriculture). Permaculture is a holistic design system that sustainably envisions, creates, and organizes the spaces that we as humans inhabit on this planet. It takes everything that I feel is good for the world-Green architecture, local food, water conservation, renewable energy, organic agriculture, etc.-and wraps them into one cohesive scheme for planning the spaces and manner in which we live.
   
   For more information, check out the Permaculture Research Institute's page at www.permaculture.org.au, especially the quick video "Greening the Desert", which is an excellent introduction.



2. The information presented in this book is worth a semester of agriculture, chemistry, and geography classes.
   
   I was initially set back when I went looking for a copy of this classic and discovered that there wasn't a recent printing available and all of the ones on the market were over $100 at the time. Still, I wanted to learn about Permaculture and everyone said that this was the place to start.
   
   I am extremely happy with my decision to buck up and fork over my money. This text is the source from which all others on the topic are written and they pale in comparison.
   
   If you are someone who is looking to homestead, or currently doing so, this book will help you plan your own gardens, manage your land as a whole, and be able to assist others in the community.
   
   Lastly, the book is a nice hardcover, the pages are thick for a tome of this size, and the print is nice and dark. The copy in front of me has been well thumbed, tossed around, and shelved on many occassions and is still holding up nicely. Only the corners are dinged up a little.



3. I bought this book many years ago and still find myself going back and re-reading it over and over. If you're new to the Permaculture thought process you will be knocked off your horse with the common-sense, integrated approach to gardening and farming systems. I attribute this book and the thoughts provoked by it as the catalyst in seeking integrations and aggregation on many different fronts. This will always be one of the books I will treasure. I wore off the cover and have punched holes in all the pages and keep it in a three-ring binder.



4. Bill Mollison represents the most successful attempt to mainstream practical home-scale sustainable design principles. I found myself needing to do an enormous amount of supplementary research to actually understand what bill was talking about, but to explain them in depth here would have taken away from the thrust of the book - which is mainly to show you example after example (many on every page) at sustainable principles of design put into practice.
   
   The book remains the best book on sustainability written to date. There are some aspects of his system that are lacking that I will briefly draw attention to. Understand that I deeply appreciate his genius, but I want to just mention that these other things need to be integrated into his system to be fully fully sustainable.
   
   1) He doesn't pay enough attention to seed saving and plant breeding. A loss of seed diversity and a re-invigoration of seed savers is essential to truly sustainable self-sufficient design.
   
   See:
   Seed to Seed - by Suzanne Ashworth and Kent Whealy
   Breed your own Vegetable Varieties - by Carol Deppe
   
   2) He very rarely mentions the role mushrooms and fungi can play in sustainability.
   
   See:
   Mycelium Running: How Mushrooms Can Help Save the World by Paul Stamets
   
   3) He doesn't stress the science behind it enough, which is fine, but leaves you asking sometimes... how do we know this is really ecologically sound? How can I NOT imitate mr. mollison but still create an ecologically sound system? Basically, Mollison's proscriptions are incredibly scientifically informed but not always scientifically explicit.
   
   See:
   Plant Ecophysiological Ecology
   New Dimensions in Agro-Ecology
   Smallholders, Householders: farm families and the ecology of intensive sustainable agriculture - by Rober Netting
   
   4) In relation to the first point, he also doesn't stress the role that evolution plays in sustainability. This is a very complicated problem, see book.
   
   See:
   Evolutionary Conservation Biology.
   
   These are not really criticism so much as signs of slight conceptual anal retentiveness on my part... Also please don't forget mollison's OTHER books which are incredible as well, especially the permaculture book of ferment and human nutrition.



5. Mollison must be credited with promotion of the concept of Permaculture and this book is a world-wide view with enough examples to stimulate the thinking of a designer in any climate. It would be the bible for anyone working as an ecological designer on a worldwide scale. This tome includes not only a wealth of information but Mollison's personal views are given at every opportunity as well. With the breadth of his knowledge it can sometimes be helpful. That said, it is not an easy read. Mollison assumes familiarity with terminology from many disciplines, but with a scientific background it makes it all the more credible.
   
   However, since its publication, there are other books for specific climate types that provide more detail. For those living in temperate climates, particularly the NE US, Dave Jacke/Eric Toensmeier's Edible Forest Gardens is more focused. If you live and plan to practice permaculture in only such climates, it should be sufficient. For the tropics, see [...] for a manual.

5 comments about Roots, Shoots, Buckets & Boots: Gardening Together with Children.

1. All I wanted to say has already been said. I just wanted to add my 5 stars. I got a copy of this book last Spring, and it has been well loved. I was very excited that we were able to dig it out again for this year. To much cool stuff!



2. This is an excellent book for 3-10 year old children who show an interesting in gardening. It will motivate them to explore gardening and to enjoy it!



3. Again a great book for gardening with kids. For example a sunflower house, pizza garden, a garden of giants, and a water garden. The neat thing is that you spend time gardening with your children and the kids get to enjoy playing in what they have grown.



4. This book is easy to follow, has all the info you need and is FULL of creative and fun gardening ideas. My 6 y.o. and I had a blast with this book!



5. This is a book packed with ideas for teaching children to love the garden and nature surrounding it. If you love to garden and would love to share it with the children in your life, this is the book! This book can make a garden come alive for children and the place to be. It has very doable ideas for numerous themed children's gardens. This is a must have book. I am going to buy several more copies to give to my very best gardening friends.

5 comments about Hydroponic Basics.

1. if your starting a hydroponic garden this is one book you must have. It has everything you need to know on how to start your hydroponic journey.



2. This book is very condensed. It is a small book with short concise paragraphs but is very informative. While the information it contains is very broad, it doesn't go into much depth. It even has some basic information on plant anatomy and some functions. The pictures and diagrams are very good and relate to the paragraphs with corresponding numbers which are easy to follow, just don't confuse the numbers for steps in a procedure. Overall I believe this is a great book for someone who is thinking of beginning hydroponics but I don't think it will be your one source if you're wanting to take hydroponics serious. I give it 5 stars because it lives upto its title "Hydroponic Basics" with basic being very true.



3. Book contains interesting and useful information. However, I expected a full size book (by "full size" I mean bigger than my hand) so I was disappointed to discover the book is more like a tiny glossy brochure. It lacks the detail a good manual should have. Overall, if you're looking for a good book on hydroponics, don't buy this one.



4. I found this book to be scary for a beginner. So much equipment and no real overview of the hydroponics concepts. Certainly not for 3rd World or emerging economy countries where most of these items are not available or too expensive. A nice catalogue though of equipment available.



5. This was really just a pamphlet. It had very basic information that can be obtained for free anywhere on the internet. Not worth the money.