Best South Region Gardening
Whether you want to save money, feed your family, start a survival garden, garden year-round, go paleo or build a huge prepper garden, this is the book for you. Through combining Back to Eden gardening, Square Foot Gardening, Biointensive gardening, container gardening and some of the most productive crops on the planet, you WILL succeed! Expert Florida gardener David The Good shares how in Totally Crazy Easy Florida Gardening .
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"A great book for Florida gardening."
"a very handy book for the florida gardener."
"I will be ordering the rest of this good mans books."
"In fact all of his techniques on soil prep and amendment, random planting and pest control can be applied anywhere except maybe Antarctica."
"It is very difficult to garden in Florida and knowing what you can grow and how is very important for success.This book is giving very good information and is inspiring to try the plants and methods you may never heard of."
"Awesome book for the FL gardener!"
When Tim and Liz Young decided to leave their comfortable suburban life and become first-time farmers in rural Georgia, they embarked on a journey that would change their lives. The Accidental Farmers reveals how the couple learned that hamburgers, bacon, and eggs don't come from the supermarket but from real animals that forge emotional bonds with their human caretakers. Seeking a middle path between a meatless lifestyle and the barbarism of factory food, Tim and Liz endeavored to create a sustainable oasis where rare breed animals and humans live together searching for something nearly lost by both humans and the animals...how to live naturally off the land. Tim Young is a farmer, best-selling author and award winning artisanal cheese maker in Georgia. He shredded his business cards and said goodbye to the conveniences of urban life, to become a farmer and homesteader. He lives in Georgia with the most beautiful and caring woman in the world, and a little dog named Alfie that speaks to him in condescending, broken-English.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"It is def not wrong but for people wanting information on homesteading or small scale farming this is great information even though they do a little bit larger scale."
"He shares vividly his experiences, good and bad, of getting the farm going and the struggles he faced trying to raise animals naturally which for generations now have been raised in unnatural settings (for example, pig mothers no longer having the instinct to care for their babies)."
"I already knew a lot of Tim and Liz's story because I listen to the Nature's Harmony Farmcast, but it is my favorite podcast so I knew I'd get "Accidental Farmers" as soon as I heard about it. They have a fun-loving zest for life, but are not afraid to work hard and be tested to achieve their vision of "reconnecting animals with the land and people with their food.""
"Tim does a great job talking about the ups and downs of his experience as his wife, Liz, and he made a transition to farmsteading."
"What I enjoyed most about this book is how I can relate to both Tim and Liz."
"The author brings a new understanding as to the reason organic grown foods are so expensive."
"Along with a delightful story this book has an amazing amount of information to anyone interested in where their food comes from."
3 The Timber Press Guide to Vegetable Gardening in the Southeast (Regional Vegetable Gardening Series)
Growing vegetables requires regionally specific information—what to plant, when to plant it, and when to harvest are based on climate, weather, and first frost. “I’ve taken inspiration (and bought seeds) from the Southern Exposure Seed Exchange catalogue, so when I saw that one of its worker/owners, Ira Wallace, had published The Timber Press Guide to Vegetable Gardening in the Southeast , I spent much of January poring over her friendly, no-nonsense advice.” — The Washington Post. Ira Wallace is a legend among followers of the organic gardening movement and champions of heirloom vegetable preservation.” — Southern Garden Society. “This compilation of tips for our climate, the names of reliable regional varieties, and the encouragement to start in any month and harvest in every month, is valuable beyond price.” — Sustainable Market Farming. Temperate winters and hot summers grant southern gardeners a long growing season capable of yielding an ever-changing menu of seasonal food. And during the mild winter months, how can you make the most of your bountiful harvest? Whether you are just starting your season or looking for ways to extend it, this is your guide to producing a bountiful, year-round harvest in the Southeast.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Its more in depth than a few of the other books I have read on gardening which is great."
"Easily the best guide I have read as I prepare for my first year of planting, including hours watching videos and numerous seed planting guides."
"This book is comprehensive and realistic !"
"I love this book."
"The tabs on the cover are deceiving as there are no tabs for the book."
"This book has been a really big help in understanding my new climate and its gardening strengths and weaknesses."
"I reference this book all the time."
"Transplanted northern gardeners that are reeling from trying to garden in the south's heat and humidity need this book."
Best West Region Gardening
Readers will find inspiration for imaginative and exciting new ways to use succulents in striking garden designs, containers, vertical walls, and indoor arrangements, as well as step-by-step projects, such as living bouquets and terrarium ornaments. Robin Stockwell is the founder of Succulent Gardens in Castroville, CA.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"SUCCULENTS: THE ULTIMATE GUIDE TO CHOOSING, DESIGNING, AND GROWING 200 EASY CARE PLANTS is a typical Sunset book, with the first 125 pages (of 288) devoted to "Inspirations"--photographs of mature succulent gardens located in the U.S. West."
"This book is excellent at describing and showing a plethora succulent species and subspecies, where to plant, and how to care for these awesome plants."
"This was purchased as a Christmas gift but after thumbing through it I'm going to have to get one for myself!"
"Beautiful pictures and very interesting book."
"Good information and very helpful."
"This is beautiful book, but it is only for those wanting to add succulents to their landscape This doesn’t apply to me here in zone 7b."
"My wife liked it so much."
"Wonderful informative book."
Best Southwest Gardening
This book shows you how to have healthy soil and recommends environmentally safe products and even some homemade remedies to control pests and diseases in your garden. This colorful book describes more than 100 food plants and gives specific information on the growth habits, culture, harvest, and storage of each.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Although my gardening has been going on for some time and although I've already been using some of the author's tips I got off the internet with great results on numerous gardening sites, it was time to get more information to help keep things going well and help solve any problems that crop up. The tips and instructions I am using have all resulted in great success both in my vegetable garden and my entire backyard which is chemical-free and growing like crazy in beautiful bloom with low-maintenance from me thanks to good organic gardening to start with. You can look up whatever veggie you have and instantly see a photograph of how it will look grown in the garden, tell you how far to space it, how deep to plant, what problems you might see (pests or growing probs) with it and how to correct them, and it gives you this info for both planting seeds or the plant so you know going in what to expect and do correctly either way. and yes, I really do read it by the garden. That was part of my goal for my landscaping and garden seating...it makes me relax and read every night now after work if I am not working in the garden, which is equally relaxing to me."
"I can not believe all of the information in this book, I have been looking every where for this information and came across this book and to my surprise all of the information that I was seeking is located in this one book! I have other gardening books and have never seen one so well put together and with so much information.... We believe that this book was and is the resource you will need to have good returns on your garden and to continue to educate yourself on the journey of gardening."
"This book has it."
"Sure, you can Google a lot of information about vegetable gardening, but finding information that is applicable for Texas can be tricky to find online."
Best Midwest Region Gardening
Following centuries-old methods, she and the women of her family raised huge crops of corn, squash, beans, and sunflowers on the rich bottomlands of the Missouri River in what is now North Dakota. When she grew older, the families of the three tribes moved to individual allotments on the Fort Berthold Indian Reservation. She describes a year of activities, from preparing and planting the fields through cultivating, harvesting, and storing foods. "Historical photographs and diagrams of farming techniques, along with actual recipes and Hidatsa vegetable varieties, make this gem of a book useful for today'' gardener." "Historical photographs and diagrams of farming techniques, along with actual recipes and Hidatsa vegetable varieties make this gem of a book useful for today's gardener."
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Buffalo Bird Woman's Garden is a unique and amazing book ... the first copy I ever had was given as a gift ... then someone borrowed it and I never got it back ... later when I was talking with some friends, I mentioned how much I missed my copy of the book ... well, the following holiday season, I received a package which said, "Do Not Open Until December 25" ... BAM!"
"Great book on how the Plains Indians lived..."
"She covers the planting, tending, harvesting and use of corn, squash, beans and tobacco, as practiced by herself and the other members of the Hidatsa Indians around the turn of the century."
"In addition, there is good practical advice if you have a bit of land and want to do some pesticide-free gardening."
"Good read about earlier gardening."
"Basically it's the story of pre-white contact Hidatsa agriculture from a Hidatsa woman as told to a fairly enlightened missionary."
"Sound gardening principals, significant historically, and enjoyable to read."
Best New England Gardening
You've probably already considered container gardening - but what about vertical gardening with vining plants that can grow up the wall or using a vertical aeroponics gardening system that can grow 20+ plants in a 4 square foot area? Also included is a list of the 15 best indoor plants for cleaning, purifying and removing toxins from polluted city air. Even in the heart of Manhattan you can breath fresh, pure air thanks to these incredible plants that have been studied by NASA and proven to remove pollutants like benzene, formaldehyde and Volatice Orcanic Compounds (VOCs). In the past, aeroponics and hydroponics systems were only available to the wealthy and those with extensive knowledge of agriculture and hydroponics. Want To Grow An Urban Garden In Your Community? Will Cook is the international bestselling author of Urban Gardening, Indoor Gardening and Container Gardening.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"I love all of the great tips in this book - and highly recommend it to anyone - no matter how green or black a thumb you might have."
"Urban Gardening is an introduction to gardening for those with limited space, but it provides a comprehensive look at the important points to consider including site planning, plant choices (this was important to me since I lack direct sunlight), watering and container options."
"I love in-home gardening and grow food items over a koi tank in our garage throughout the winter. I would like to see more photos in this basic a book to show this working in lots of settings."
"Covers a lot of styles in general terms (i.e. what is a hydroponic system/how does it work)."
"I've been urban gardening for a few years - sort of learning by doing - but figured it would be good to dig in deeper."
"There was plenty of basic information for outside planting, including on a balcony or in a small garden, but what about if you're actually planting indoors?"
Best Pacific Northwest Gardening
This simple revelation about the food web—and it is an intricate web, not a chain—is the driving force in Bringing Nature Home .” — The New York Times As development and subsequent habitat destruction accelerate, there are increasing pressures on wildlife populations. Such an imbalance, Tallamy declares, can lead to a weakened food chain that will no longer be able to support birds and other animal life. With nothing less than the future of North American biodiversity at stake, Tallamy imparts an encouraging message: it's not too late to save the ecosystem-sustaining matrix of insects and animals, and the solution is as easy as replacing alien plants with natives. Haggas, Carol Bringing Nature Home opens our eyes to an environmental problem of staggering proportions. ( Warwick Beacon ). "This book will not only foster a love of the outdoors in all who read it, but also create a deeper understanding and appreciation of the intricate web of wildlife outside your door." "In an area that is as open and wooded as ours, we may not be aware that there is more to the need for natives than concern about invasive species that upset an ecosystem. "Tallamy makes such a compelling case for the importance of insects to birds that I’ve completely changed the way I garden. "Tallamy illustrates well how gardeners have contributed greatly to tipping the environment off balance and how they are equally able to turn the trend … Plants and insects are integrally intertwined.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"This book has made me aware of the decrease in using native plants which results in fewer pollinators in our gardens."
"Just took a class on Prairies in Minnesota and I have a bit of land I am returning to prairie land."
"A good tutorial on why native plants are a better fit for your local environment than the run of the mill nursery or catalog stock."
"this book should be required reading in every school."
"Excellent book,very informative,on why we need to bring natural plants,back to there,natural environment."
"This is the most important book I have read this year."
"This book is packed full to the brim of photographs, information, and reasons why we should be doing these things and how to go about it, and 3 great appendix at the end."
"This book will transform your thinking about nature.....the importance of our understanding of our amazing earth and the plants that bring the sun's energy to earth to sustain all life...including people!."
Best Middle Atlantic Gardening
The author explores topics ranging from labor in the garden, garden pests of the time, and seed saving practices to contemporary African American gardens. (Carol Haggas Booklist ). "Peter Hatch's vibrant and enthusiastic passion for preserving Thomas Jefferson's farming legacy at Monticello reminds us all of the time-tested continuity and historical root of this kind of agriculture. ( Heirloom Adventures Blog ). "Digging deep into our long, illustrious tradition of presidential dirt. A Rich Spot of Earth lovingly describes the 1000-foot terraced vegetable garden that was restored to its 1812 appearance under the author's able direction. (Annual Book Award The Colonial Dames of America 2013-04-10). "...there is much interesting archive material, and pleasing vegetable still-lifes composed with the care of a Dutch master. (Martin Rubin Washington Times ). " A Rich Spot of Earth: Thomas Jefferson's Revolutionary Garden at Monticello presents a rarely seen side of the man. Here is Jefferson with mud-splattered boots laying out garden beds and carefully setting seeds with dirty hands: a Founding Father not on a lofty pedestal, but joyfully competing with neighbors in an annual contest to see who could bring the first spring peas to table. · Open to new ideas from far-flung sources, Thomas Jefferson incorporated gardening traditions from England, France, Spain and the Mediterranean, West Africa, and Creole culture. · Unique among Virginia gardeners of his day, Jefferson introduced a roster of unfamiliar species now taken for granted, including tomatoes, okra, eggplant, lima beans, peanuts, and peppers.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"It would be a shame if it ended up on, well, coffee tables, to eventually be covered with old magazines or used as a handy coaster or, in better circles, to perform a merely decorative "house beautiful" function. The author, Peter Hatch, Director of Grounds and Gardens at Monticello, also pays homage to the African-American slaves whose labor built Jefferson's gardens and whose own garden plots often supplied the big house. The second half is a detailed look at many of the vegetables grown in the gardens, including cultural information. His frustrating experiences with melon growing will be familiar to anyone who has tried."
"Having had the privilege of hearing Mr. Hatch lecture, I had to have his book."
"A well written and researched book by Peter Hatch, Monticello's Director of Grounds for over thirty years."
"Great book for those interested in Thomas Jefferson and his magnificent gardens at Monticello."
"I built an illustrated lecture (PowerPoint) around this valuable resource of historic gardening practices."
"I am going to finally get my garden going next spring with seeds ordered from Baker's Creek."
Best Canadian Gardening & Horticulture
You've probably already considered container gardening - but what about vertical gardening with vining plants that can grow up the wall or using a vertical aeroponics gardening system that can grow 20+ plants in a 4 square foot area? Also included is a list of the 15 best indoor plants for cleaning, purifying and removing toxins from polluted city air. Even in the heart of Manhattan you can breath fresh, pure air thanks to these incredible plants that have been studied by NASA and proven to remove pollutants like benzene, formaldehyde and Volatice Orcanic Compounds (VOCs). In the past, aeroponics and hydroponics systems were only available to the wealthy and those with extensive knowledge of agriculture and hydroponics. Want To Grow An Urban Garden In Your Community? Will Cook is the international bestselling author of Urban Gardening, Indoor Gardening and Container Gardening.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"I love all of the great tips in this book - and highly recommend it to anyone - no matter how green or black a thumb you might have."
"Urban Gardening is an introduction to gardening for those with limited space, but it provides a comprehensive look at the important points to consider including site planning, plant choices (this was important to me since I lack direct sunlight), watering and container options."
"I love in-home gardening and grow food items over a koi tank in our garage throughout the winter. I would like to see more photos in this basic a book to show this working in lots of settings."
"Covers a lot of styles in general terms (i.e. what is a hydroponic system/how does it work)."
"I've been urban gardening for a few years - sort of learning by doing - but figured it would be good to dig in deeper."
"There was plenty of basic information for outside planting, including on a balcony or in a small garden, but what about if you're actually planting indoors?"