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Click on any book cover for information on purchasing the book; please note that the book links open a new browser window to Amazon.com.
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FOREST GARDENING: Cultivating an Edible Landscape
by Robert A. De J. Hart
A holistic approach encompassing health issues, spirituality, and environmental concerns governs Hart's philosophy of "forest gardening" --akin to multistory gardens maintained by certain indigenous societies. Hart and a partner have implemented just such a garden on a small farm in Shropshire, England, and Hart's ardent treatise champions a union of modern technological methods and machines with ecologically sound practices. Interplanting edible crops is utmost: herbs and fruiting shrubs, "fodder-bearing" trees, and a variety of perennial plants. Highlights include mention of other communities that have achieved great degrees of self-sufficiency, where a sacred view of man's connectedness to nature appears inextricably linked to low-maintenance symbiotic plantings, appreciation of handcrafted objects, a vegan diet, and independent lifestyle. (Alice Joyce)
The author believes harmony (peace) on this planet is highly correlated with an approach to gardening that recognizes the value of plants and all living things. He blends history, philosophy, and anthropology together as he talks about plants, vegetables, herbs, nuts, animals, and trees. He offers practical ways in dealing with "natural" problems associated with farming. Best part of the book is his appendixes where he lists drought resistant plants, wetland plants, sun loving herbs, shade loving herbs, etc. He provides an excellent bibliography. The author loves this planet. This is a thoughtful essay on the proper relationship of human beings to animals and plants on this planet. (maslow3@earthlink.net, Seattle, WA)
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FOUR SEASON HARVEST: Organic Vegetables from Your Home Garden All Year Long
by Eliot Coleman, Kathy Bray (Illustrator), Barbara Damrosch
Everyone who grows vegetables must know Coleman. He's the organic methods expert--the one who knows how to maximize both garden yield and gardening pleasure, year round. (Book News, Inc. Portland, Or.)
Shows home gardeners how to grow and harvest up to forty different vegetables in season all year round by using cold frames, mobile greenhouses, high-quality compost, and other simple and inexpensive tools and techniques. (Ingram)
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GARDENING for the FUTURE of the EARTH
by Howard-Yana Shapiro, Ph.D., John Harrisson
This inspirational collaboration between Shapiro and Harrisson puts forth principles of organic gardening techniques for gardeners to capitalize on at home. Valuable advice focuses on saving seed and preserving plant diversity, as well as methods for soil building, reusing water, preparing biointensive raised beds, and designing a plot for maximum productivity. The book contains profiles of individuals who have achieved sustainable gardening practices; the ideas of Bill Mollison, John Jeavons, and Carol Deppe figure prominently among the group of visionaries. With instruction on how to carefully assess site conditions while observing the patterns in nature that lead to the most efficient use of space, there is much to be learned about cultivating fruitful gardens and at the same time protecting the planet's flora and other resources. (Alice Joyce)
About the Authors
Howard-Yana Shapiro, Ph.D., is vice president of agriculture for Seeds of Change, the largest certified organic seed company in the United States. A two-time Ford Foundation Fellow, a Fulbright Scholar, and a National Endowment for the Arts Award recipient, he is a former university professor and a respected expert in world sustainable agricultural systems.
Shapiro began his work in Europe more than twenty-five years ago and later moved to Latin America, particularly the Oaxaca Valley of Mexico, the highlands of Guatemala, and the altiplano of the Andes. In the United States, his work has been centered in northern New Mexico, where he lives with his wife, Nancy, on the banks of the Rio Grande on land that has been farmed continuously for more than 3,000 years.
He has been widely quoted in print and broadcast media, including Organic Gardening, Sunset, Los Angeles Times, The Washington Post, Chicago Sun-Times, The Guardian, Australian Broadcast Corporation, CBS, and National Public Radio. He has also addressed agricultural/economics meetings in the United States, Latin America, Australia, and Asia.
John Harrisson is a freelance writer with more than fourteen books on Southwestern and Hawaiian foods and cooking to his credit. |
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GROWING GREAT GARLIC: The Definitive Guide for Organic Gardeners and Small Farmers
by Ron L. Engelland, Ron L. Engeland, Mary Rabchuk (Illustrator), Jim Anderson (Illustrator)
Ron L. Engeland has made his living as an organic garlic grower in Washington State for nearly two decades. He has cultivated more than 450 strains from all over the world. If you want to grow incredible garlic for yourself, he's the man to listen to. (Amazon.com)
Garlic is not just what you find in the supermarket. And once you begin to realize the enormous variety available, you, too, will want to have that sensational patch in your back yard. This book is the "how to and what is" bible for garlic growers everywhere. Even we were able to grow good garlic thanks to all of the guidance from Filaree Farm. Get this book now. You have until fall 1999 to prepare your garden for growing garlic. And while you are doing all of the planning, be sure to place your order with Filaree for garlic "seed" they will be harvesting late this summer. Just remember, though---the lusty, mouthwatering descriptions prove to be irresistable. Just because Filaree offers more than 450 varieties does not mean that you have to plant all of them, even though you will want too. Be prudent! And, if you love garlic the way we love garlic, you will also want to order a dozen or so varieties just for eating! Start with Chesnok Red,a purple stripe hardneck garlic that is absolutely sensational when it is roasted. (Linda & Fred Griffith, authors of "Garlic, Garlic, Garlic") |
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The NEW ORGANIC GROWER: A Master's Manual of Tools and Techniques for the Home and Market Gardener
by Eliot Coleman, Sheri Amsel (Illustrator), Molly Cook Field (Illustrator)
This expansion of a now-classic guide originally published in 1989 is intended for the serious gardener or small-scale market farmer. It describes practical and sustainable ways of growing superb organic vegetables, with detailed coverage of scale and capital, marketing, livestock, the winter garden, soil fertility, weeds, and many other topics. (Book News, Inc., Portland, Or.)
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The ORGANIC GARDENER'S HANDBOOK of NATURAL INSECT and DISEASE CONTROL: A Complete Problem-Solving Guide to Keeping Your Garden & Yard Healthy Without Chemicals
by Barbara W. Ellis (Editor), Fern Marshall Bradley (Contributor), Helen Atthowe
Entries on vegetables, fruits, herbs, annuals, perennials, bulbs, trees, shrubs, vines and lawns feature information on preventing problems along with symptoms of and solutions for major pests and disease. Detailed illustrations of major vegetables, fruits and ornamental plants show just how to diagnose problems. 350+ color photos. (Ingram)
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SECRETS TO A SUCCESSFUL GREENHOUSE AND BUSINESS: A Complete Guide to Starting and Operating A High-Profit Organic or Hydroponic Business That Benefits the Environment
by Ted M. Taylor
This book saved me ten years!
If you want the best info on greenhouses that was written in this country and is very up to date, this book is for you. Info on hydroponic tomatoes was the latest available (very important). The info on getting customers is the best that I have read. Real good ideas on building a greenhouse and the many extras you can get for this wonderful business. Suggestions on what to grow first for new growers and how many. Even what to say to prospect buyers. A buyers list that has real buyers! Just a great book and will save you many years. (Anonymous, Melbourne, FL)
The Answer To A Lifetime Dream!
If you want to know everything from the "how come?", to the "how to?", to the "how much?" of the greenhouse business then you want to order, "Secrets To A Successful Greenhouse and Business" by Ted M. Taylor. I always wanted to own a nursery or be in the greenhouse business but had convinced my self I couldn't afford the investment or the risk. I discovered a link to this book one night while searching for information on Hibiscus. I ordered one copy and then ordered another copy for a friend before the first one arrived. I read the book and can tell you first hand that you will learn everthing from the importance of developing a plan, to how to build an affordable greenhouse, to what plants to grow, to how to grow them, to how to market them plus a long list of references, buyers, workshops and seminars. Although the dates of the conferences will be different depending on the issue of the book, it is comforting to know these events are held each year and I feel sure it will be very easy to find the current year schedule.
In this day of technology, it is refreshing to find an author who writes with such understandable basics. It's obvious he has been a huge sucess in the greenhouse business. In a telephone conversation with Mr. Taylor, he assured me that the toughest part of the business is the decision to get started. That's the part I've had the biggest trouble with but will build my first greenhouse this year. The book showed me not only that the business is affordable but also can be profitable very early. (Dave Huffman, Palm Coast, FL)
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SUCCESSFUL SMALL-SCALE FARMING: An Organic Approach
by Karl Schwenke, Ben Watson (Editor)
This inspiring handbook contains everything small-farm owners need to know, from buying land to organic growing methods and selling cash crops.
From the Back Cover:
"When I first wrote Successful Small-Scale Farming eleven years ago," writes Karl Schwenke in the preface to this new edition, "an 'organic farmer' was synonymous with a 'lonely hippie troublemaker.' Today he is classed somewhere between a high-priced elitist and an opportunistic liar."
So begins this classic guide to organic small-scale agriculture, fully updated and revised for the 1990s -- for a new generation of readers who would like to live closer to the earth.
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