Product Description

Customer Reviews (9)

Kindle Edition Useless
Getting around in the Kindle Edition of this book is next to impossible.I feel that I completely wasted my money.I won't buy another Kindle reference book unless its downloadable in a format, such as PDF, that I can search for material.The purpose of the Kindle purchase was to eliminate the lugging of multiple books out to my garden this spring.Now I find it is best suited for "brain candy" books LOL.If I am doing something wrong, I don't know what it is and would welcome input.

Informative for new gardeners
This book has alot of information for beginning, as well as experienced gardeners. Very informative from pest control to garden and flower beds, to harvesting and planting just about anything. Great resource book.

thorough
I found the earlier edition of this book to be the most thorough of the gardening books I have collected.It goes into greater depth.For example, it was one of the few general gardening books (as opposed to one on just berries) which mentioned the existence of June-bearing and everbearing strawberry plants, and the advantages and disadvantage of each.I look forward to getting this updated edition.

Not encyclopedic, in my opinion
I've enjoyed most of the other books in this series, so perhaps my expectations were high.This book is really just not that helpful.Partly the problem is the "encyclopedic" organization.The book is (obviously) arranged alphabetically.Fine - but then the index and TOC are useless additions of wasted paper that serve no real function, because hey - everything is alphabetical!The index is worthless for cross-referencing.Oddly, some things are alphabetical by scientific name, others by general name, etc. Another reviewer mentioned it was good for general reading.I didn't feel it was readable this way at all, but I wasn't expecting to.It really is organized as an "encyclopedia" and more conducive to looking up specific items. But when you look something up, the information itself is just not that useful. As a beginner to intermediate gardener, I was underwhelmed with the depth of the info - and at 700+ pages, you'd think there would be a lot of information!There are also about a half-dozen small black and white illustrations in the entire book.
Overall - it's okay, but not worth the money or the wasted trees....

A standard for every organic gardener
This is an excellent reference book that I find myself constantly using.Sometimes it is in reference to a specific problem, other times, I just find it interesting to read.Most often, I will pick it up to look something specific up and then realize that 30 minutes has gone by because I have found other interesting things to read.Great, reliable, organized well, and lots of great ideas. ... Read more

Product Description
Organic Gardening For Dummies, 2nd Edition shows readers the way to ensure a healthy harvest from their environmentally friendly garden. It covers information on the newest and safest natural fertilizers and pest control methods, composting, cultivation without chemicals, and how to battle plant diseases. It also has information on updated equipment and resources. It helps readers plant organically year-round, using herbs, fruits, vegetables, lawn care, trees and shrubs, and flowers. The tips and techniques included in Organic Gardening For Dummies, 2nd Edition are intended to reduce a garden's impact on both the environment and the wallet. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (8)

Wonderful Book for the Beginning Organic Gardener
Organic Gardening for Dummies is a wonderful book for those new to organic gardening.The section on common pests and non-toxic means of eradication saved my kale.Of course the book is easy to read and has many interesting little known facts about all-things-gardening.

Good Reference to have on hand.
I was looking for a something to help answer those basic, burning questions about organic gardening.This book does that.Its great to have on hand to refer to from time to time.

Great Intro to Organic Gardening
This book is a great starter book for anyone thinking about having their own little garden. It has great, easy to understand infromation and good charts to guide you.

informative
I bought this book for my son-in-law. He loves it. Is always quoting some bit of info.

Cheap and easy gardening!
This is a straight forward manual on how to maximize your garden's potential without pesticides or store bought fertilizers. Additionally, there are many factoids on the "old fashioned" methods of gardening that were learned by trial and error over the history of humans.
It's a great source for "use what you have" gardening. For some things, like insect control, there can be more than one or two solutions depending on your area and what you're growing.
A handy guide for the beginner or intermediate gardener.
~Kendra Wesner, MLIS / Michigan ... Read more

Product Description
Whether you want to grow better-tasting fruit and vegetables untainted by chemicals, find natural methods of pest and weed control, or create a garden that is safer for your children, pets and wildlife, Organic Gardening is your practical, easy-to-follow guide to gardening with, rather than against, nature. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (12)

Great for Organic Gardeners
Excellent book that covers a wide range of gardening techniques which are better for our environment.You don't have to be a Greenie to appreciate this book.If you are interested in trying your hand at organic gardening then this book is for you.

Easy to follow instructions, clear illustrations and enjoyable reading.

Organic Gardening
It was a great book to use for ideas on how to combat problems, I just hoping it was a bit more detailed/

fantastic book
Knew this book from living in the UK. Fantastic to see a US edition, just what I needed as I start gardening again over here. Geoff Hamilton has done so much to influence UK gardening, I'd forgotten how much. Couldn't recommend this book more. He was so very practical, creative and scientific at the same time, and a genius for finding simple, common sense solutions to complex problems.

Good reference
First I was disappointed due to the lack of detail in this book, however later I found that I kept opening it up to get some advice before I planted something new in my garden. It is tough to cover everything about gardening in a single book, so if you look at it that way he does a great job. You can get the basics with this book, and if you still need further detail get a specific book for that question or look it up online. The pictures are beautiful, so I can see this book as a winter chaser, getting your mind prepared for the spring.

it was what I expected.
I haven't been able to try anything in here since it's too cold to gardern yet, but the book so far seems spot on. ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (5)

Very informative
I found this book very informative with excellent color pictures to help me identify good and bad bugs in my garden, which is why I bought the book.

It also has a ton of information about different diseases of plants. I have grabbed this book several times this summer to figure out what was ailing my plants.

The book is definately one that will get used over and over at my house!

The Organic Gardener's Handbook of Natural Pest and Disease Control
I have been trying my hand at organic gardening for a couple of years now and I am learning, quite quickly, that it is NOT easy!I am so glad that books like The Organic Gardener's Handbook of Natural Pest and Disease Controlare around to help poor souls like me who just don't have much of a green thumb!

There are 4 parts to this book.Part 1 deals with building a healthy garden so that you can grow healthy plants.This section deals with composting, cover crops, and applying healthy supplements such as seaweed spray. (I have never heard of seaweed spray!I am going to do some research on that!)It also covers topics such as choosing resistant strains of plants and planting at the right time of year.Even a week or two change in when you plant can help avoid certain pests. I do wish there was more information on heirloom plant varieties, it seems like the hybrid plants offer more resistance to disease and the fewer diseases, the fewer treatments necessary, however I love heirloom plants for their uniqueness.

The second section deals with Symptoms and Solutions and the third is Identifying Pests and Diseases.Theseare very informative sections that takes each individual plant and describes every possible problem you could have with it.You can search by plant type (begonia, carrots, etc) or disease type (fungal, viral, bug, etc) There are some not so pretty pictures to help you identify your garden pest.I discovered that the spooky looking critter on my grape leaves is a leaf hopper.Now, I just move on to the next section on how to get rid of him!

The last section is an extensive collection of how to get rid of your unwanted pest or disease.It includes biological controls, organic sprays and dusts, making your own homemade solutions, and planting things that repel other insects.This is a very thorough chapter and ends with a resource section that you can use to help find the ingredients that are mentioned in the book.Which is a great thing because none of the stores around here I have looked in carry diatomaceous earth and that seems to be a popular pest control method.

I highly recommend this book to anyone trying to grow an organic garden.It is not easy to do but this book will go a long way in making your garden more productive and help you spot issues early before they get out of control.

Disclaimer: I received one copy of this book in order to write my review.All opinions expressed here are mine and mine alone.

good start
I have been needing a book like this because my yard is filled with all sorts of plants from perennial flowers to fruit trees to annal vegetables to succulents. While i haven't quite formed a total relationship with this book, I am happy with the ability to look things up by plant or by pest. There could be more pest photos, but the ones they do have are very good and in color. I would like to see all stages of life for each pest.

Full of information
I use this book mostly as reference material.When I am curious about something happening involving a particular plant I can just look up the plant and am likely to find a possible diagnosis.It also has nice color pictures and information on insects.

The organic garderner's handbook
I has been a gardener for more than 25 years, and an organic gardener for about 10 years. This is a great book where you can find a lot answers to problems related to the diseases of plants and how to control them using organic methods. Great reference book! ... Read more

Product Description
Whether an experienced gardener is looking to go organic or a beginner wants to create a healthy, eco-friendly garden, the Rodale's Illustrated Encyclopedia of Organic Gardening contains the tips and techniques needed to produce beautiful flowers, top-quality herbs, and appetizing, wholesome fruits and vegetables. Explore the latest methods for cultivation without chemicals, discover the benefits of composting, and learn how to maintain an organic garden year-round. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (15)

Rodale's Illustrate Encyclopedia of Organic Gardening
The book was not what I thought it was going to be - too much information (which I guess is a good thing) but not enough information for what I was looking for.

not useable information
This book deapointed me completly. It has only beautiful ilustrations but not useable information, waste of money...

A Ton of Info for the Serious Gardner
If you really want to be a organic gardner, this is a great book. I, on the other hand, am really only looking into added a few parts of organic gardening to my current gardens. It's a huge book with alot of information in it.

One of My Favorite Organic Gardening Reference Books
When I need information quickly about organic pest control, companion planting, composting and other organic soil amendment strategies, Rodale's Encyclopedia of Organic Gardening is often one of the first places I look (in fact, the book is sitting next to me right now). It's well-organized, easy to read, and packed with lots of useful information - for newbie and veteran organic gardeners alike! This book should be in every gardener's library.

Rodale's Encylopedia of Organic Gardening.
A straight forward approach for the biggner, and good for brushing up on items forgotten. ... Read more

Product Description
This book shows you how to have a healthy soil and recommends environmentally safe products and even some homemade remedies to control pests and disease in your garden. You'll get nuts and bolts information on companion planting and the use of beneficial insects. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (12)

TX organic Gardening
I loved this book.It was very easy to read and organized in a way that was so helpful.I thought it was to late to plant this season but after reading this book I was able to sit down and pick all the fruits and vegetables that would grow well in our area and chosen season and plan a large scale garden.I felt much more prepared!Highly recommend this book for experienced and beginner alike!

All the information I needed compiled into one place I can take to the garden and actually ENJOY reading
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.(yes, I used the word "crop" intentionally.Sorry.)

I had been comparing other organic veggie garden books before I made my decision to finally order this one from Amazon but I never came across another one, locally or on the 'net, that was as highly recommended or had the amount of information I needed compiled into one place so succinctly as this did...and I shopped for awhile before I ordered this one.This is as enjoyable to read as it is informative.

I've become rather fanatic lately about our backyard.I've joined the Ladybird Johnson Wildflower center as a member, attended classes, read voraciously on the subject, and this author is always noted as the guru wherever I seem to go.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.

The book ensures you do EVERYTHING right from the get-go, or are able to correct it now if you didn't.It has everything you'd plant in your bed or container that I can think of (at least everyhthing in my own each season and ensures you do it right every season, from veggies, to fruits, to herbs, to edible plants.It's written clearly and will help even a novice understand every step in beginning or correcting your garden naturally and beating any pests easily the natural way.

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.

The book is full of photos and info on the growth habits of all things veg.

Years ago I ate from a fertilized and chemically treated garden. There is no comparison in how much better organic tastes even if you don't consider the health benefits, if you ask me.(and I do consider those too, personally)

In a nutshell, I consider this my organic veggie garden bible. I have notebooks full of information but I keep turning to this...it's all here.

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.It's my daily "staycation" and it is good advice like this that ensures looking at it doesn't stress me out in the least.It really doesn't...everything is growing and blooming so well and I swear to you I was a total novice who killed everything before I began this journey!My thumb was nowhere close to green!

p.s. It is a huge bonus to me that this focuses on Texas vegetable gardening.Our seasons, soil, and sun are quite different than many other places so its focus is doubly helpful

At last, Gardening Answers
This book has been really helpful as it details a multitude of crops indicating both botanical and common names, when to plant, sun or shade, uses, common pests and how to handle them organically. The book includes soil ammendments including what not to use. It helps you identify what is wrong with your crop and what to do about it. My garden has been far more successful using this information.

A must have
Anyone interested in gardening organically should own this book. Easy to read, great pictures, homemade recipes for natural fertilizers, pest control, etc.

Excellent information
I have referred back to this book several times when getting ready to garden. It makes for excellent info, budgeting practices, and such. Highly recommended. Austin, TX ... Read more

Product Description
End your worries about garden problems with safe, effective solutions from The Organic Gardener's Handbook of Natural Insect and Disease Control!

* Easy-to-use problem-solving encyclopedia covers more than 200 vegetables, fruits, herbs, flowers, trees, and shrubs
* Complete directions on how, when, and where to use preventive methods, insect traps and barriers, biocontrols, homemade remedies, botanical insecticides, and more
* More than 350 color photos for quick identification of insect pests, beneficial insects, and plant diseases

Newly revised with the latest, safest organic controls.

A New York Times Best Gardening Book
... Read more

Customer Reviews (45)

bugs galore and so much more !!!
I love this book....I have already learned so much from it. I am one of those rare women who is not afraid of bugs...as long as they do not bug me by getting inside my clothes-ha !!!Seriously, this is a wonderful publication. My thanks goes to the author.

A Must Have for "Green" Gardeners

For those of us who don't like having chemicals in and around our homes, much less our food, this book is a 'must have.'It helps with identification of what insect or disease is causing plant damage and then gives great advice about what organically combats plant diseases or how to get rid of the bad bugs without also killing the good bugs.

A must have reference!
A must have for your reference library!Easy to use with separate sections for problem identification by plant or by insect with lots of color pictures.Handy to have even if you don't garden organically.

Pest Pest go away, but do it the Natural way!
I really despise the fact that people use harsh chemicals to eradicate pesky insects and other "living" garden problems.I have used many of the solutions to these problems, and I have to say, I don't have aphids anymore, nor do the white flies live in my garden anymore; and all done organically.Get this book if you care about the damage that chemically enhanced gardening can cause.Really easy reading and the solutions have worked for me.

Great Book on Insect Control
I bought this book for my husband, mainly because we tend to have problems with ants where we are living.He was so pleased with it, and says it has so many great ideas for controlling bugs naturally. ... Read more

Product Description
With more than 45,000 sold since 1988, The New Organic Grower has become a modern classic. In this newly revised and expanded edition, master grower Eliot Coleman continues to present the simplest and most sustainable ways of growing top-quality organic vegetables. Coleman updates practical information on marketing the harvest, on small-scale equipment, and on farming and gardening for the long-term health of the soil. The new book is thoroughly updated, and includes all-new chapters such as:*Farm-Generated Fertility-how to meet your soil-fertility needs from the resources of your own land, even if manure is not available.*The Moveable Feast-how to construct home-garden and commercial-scale greenhouses that can be easily moved to benefit plants and avoid insect and disease build-up.*The Winter Garden-how to plant, harvest, and sell hardy salad crops all winter long from unheated or minimally heated greenhouses.*Pests-how to find "plant-positive" rather than "pest-negative" solutions by growing healthy, naturally resistant plants.*The Information Resource-how and where to learn what you need to know to grow delicious organic vegetables, no matter where you live.Written for the serious gardener or small market farmer, The New Organic Grower proves that, in terms of both efficiency and profitability, smaller can be better. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (29)

Micro-Farming in North Climates.
Columbus Rediscovered America. Eliot Coleman rediscovers farming before the advent of poisonous commercial sprays. May the young people sit up and take note of a renaissance in agriculture/horticulture.

A good starter book, but NOT a blueprint for a farm!
This is one of the first books my husband and I read before we got into organic vegetable growing seven years ago. It was a great start to understand the moving parts of a market garden: starting transplants, making soil mix, planting, crop rotations, fertility, etc. In simple, easy to read text (with nice illustrations), it provided us a background knowledge and the language to help us learn more about our future profession. We then worked for two years on an established farm before starting out own operation five years ago.

Looking at this book now, I realize how limited it really is. As I said, it's a great starting point, but I would discourage the reader from thinking of it is a blueprint for a farm. Coleman presents crop rotations and plans in a way that makes it seem as though if you follow his advice, you're bound to succeed! The text is even written in the imperative tense so it sounds like a recipe. Coleman rarely multiple perspectives on each topic, making it sound like the route described is the way to go. But, individual farms and regions differ so much that it is much more important for you to learn about your OWN situation and adapt as is best. The way in the book is very likely not the best way for many farms.

Also, as I've learned about Coleman and his actual farming operation, I've realized that the farm he describes in this book is completely hypothetical -- it is not the way that he actually operates his own farm. So, the descriptions present an illustratively useful little ideal market garden, but that farm is just a model -- not a reality.

I know people who have followed the guides in this book to a 'T' and really struggled to make sense out of them. Eventually they just start thinking for themselves using some of the principles as a base.

Also, conspicuously missing from this book: any information about irrigation for growers in the west!

But I must admit that as established farmers, my husband and I do refer back to this book with some regularity -- especially the appendix with specific vegetable growing information. Not all of it applies to our situation here in Oregon (which is a very different climate that Coleman's in Maine), but it's useful to see what another farmer has to say about cabbage or carrots.

I'd definitely recommend this book to a wanna-be farmer, but with the caveat that it is JUST a starting point and reference guide. It will NOT teach you everything you need to know to start a successful farm. I'm glad it's in our farming library, but I'm also glad we own many other books as well (and have years of experience under our belts, which is the MOST important resource we have).

excellant info on this topic!
I have reached for this book many times to look up information, or answer a question. Has more than the basics, and its tried and true methods that have worked for years.

Good source to findout where to get information
The book has many great aspects to it and is informative to a point. While I'm not saying that Mr. Coleman should be an expert on everything pertaining to organic gardening, you would think he would be a bit more informative with certain aspects of his book, crop rotation being one. I find it very disturbing when authors write a book that constantly refers to other books. I understand one needs to sight sources, but in this manner it portrays an image that the author doesn't have the time or the knowledge about the subject they are talking about. There are times when Mr. Coleman will bring up a topic and then site a book after a few paragraphs that the reader will have to go and find to understand fully what Mr. Coleman was talking about.

I'm a firm believer that if you are going to write a book about a subject, especially a book you are calling a 'Master's Manual', it should have all of the information a person would require to be become a as adept at gardening as the author. I feel I have gained a good bit of knowledge from Mr. Coleman, but I would say this book is more of a 'Master's Manual for Reference to Other Master's Manuals'.

Great Resource for Gardeners
Elliot Coleman is so much more than an organic farmer.His approach to growing things is as a scientist and he's continually researching, testing, and retesting his growing methods and tools.If all farmers were like Coleman we could easily feed the world's growing population in an organic, sustainable way.This man gives me hope for the future of agriculture.This book is a valuable resource for anyone growing food at any level (market farmer to backyard kitchen gardener) and will provide great information, advice and inspiration. ... Read more

Product Description
If you love the joys of eating home-garden vegetables but always thought those joys had to stop at the end of summer, this book is for you. Eliot Coleman introduces the surprising fact that most of the United States has more winter sunshine than the south of France. He shows how North American gardeners can successfully use that sun to raise a wide variety of traditional winter vegetables in backyard cold frames and plastic covered tunnel greenhouses without supplementary heat. Coleman expands upon his own experiences with new ideas learned on a winter-vegetable pilgrimage across the ocean to the acknowledged kingdom of vegetable cuisine, the southern part of France, which lies on the 44th parallel, the same latitude as his farm in Maine.
This story of sunshine, weather patterns, old limitations and expectations, and new realities is delightfully innovative in the best gardening tradition. Four-Season Harvest will have you feasting on fresh produce from your garden all through the winter. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (65)

Awsome service
This company was awsome to deal with.I ordered books last year from Amazon through a different dealer, and waited five weeks for my books to arrive at my home.With this company eventhough I didn't pay for the extra fast shipping the books were at my home in less than a week!Additionally the company sent me a prompt email to make sure that my order was satisfactory.I would order from them again in a heartbeat and encourage others to do so with complete confidence.

Four-season Harvest
I purchased this book because I was interested in learning how to extend the growing season for vegetables.I was not disappointed in my purchase.This book is chock full of tips and ideas.I learned a lot of the "hows" and "whys" of plant growing.This book is well written and easy to understand.

good resource for beginner
Good resource for the beginning gardener.Not advanced enough for my needs, but still enjoyed the book.Great for thejust starting grower.

gardening all year around
The "Four Season Harvest: Organic Vegetables from Your Home Garden All Year Long" book is a great book for people living in the North East who want to garden even in the winter months. Eliot Coleman does a fabulous and inspirational job of showing step-by-step how to. Everything from building cold frames, to compost, to types of lettuces. Very, very good book for all cold-weather living people, who love their own garden food. Eliot Coleman is a genius.

Vegetables all year
This book is just what I was looking for.It has excellent information on extending the growing season with simple directions.It is laid out well and the sharing of personal tidbits on how they started growing all season is interesting and insightful. ... Read more

Product Description
Extreme Gardening is the quintessential gardening guide to organic gardening against all odds.Written by the well-known gardening guru, the "Garden Guy," David Owens shows the experienced and novice gardener how to grow organic foods in hostile climates (all desert climates) and land. Simple to understand with user-friendly spine, the book covers all topics from watering, design, tools, schedules, fertilizing, companion planting, and soils.

The book is easily divided into three main sections-vegetables, fruits and nuts, and controlling extreme pests organically.Each section is full of useful tips such as: each plants nickname; when they are available; how they should be supported; when to plant them; how to properly shade or unshade it; and how to fertilize it, etc.The controlling extreme pests section is broken down into sections by bug name and how to use organic, insect, and sensory-distracting controls.

The author, David Owens is a familiar face on local Phoenix television and radio as one of the foremost experts on organic gardening. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (11)

Have purchased 2 of these books!
Great book.Have purchased another as a gift.Gardening in the desert is not always easy- but with Dave's guide, I have grown watermellons, pumpkins, tomatoes, zuchinni, roses, citrus, cucumbers, cantalope, strawberries, carrots, beans, and so much more.I could not have been as successful without this book.I recommend this book all the time.

Great Help
Living out in the extreme desert, it's a challenge to grow a garden. I have found this book to be a great help in planting, watering properly. It's my Garden Bible :)

Extreme Gardening--you bet!
I'm an organic vegetable gardener who lives in the desert Southwest.I get the extreme hot summers but cooler winters than Tucson or Phoenix.I like this book mostly for plant culture. All the plant culture information most gardeners ever need is on-line, but desert gardening is bit counter-intuitive. It's helpful to have desert specific information. Most folks aren't planting their melons in March, but I am.

For example: Owens'tomato growing information is right on. I know because I do it his way.I raise my tomatoes in the shade. That wouldn't work well way back East where I was raised. Last summer I had a great harvest despite a late visit from grasshoppers. I brought in 45 tomatoes to ripen indoors the day before our first frost of Oct 27.We enjoyed the last tomato of year December 6th---not bad.
I'm talking real tomatoes you can slice and put on your sandwich, not just cherry tomatoes.

I own two other desert gardening books: Mary Irish's Month-by-Month gardening in the Desert Southwest.This one is good for figuring out when to plant everything. And,Desert Gardening Fruits and Vegetables, The Complete Guide by George Brookbank.This book isn't organized as well as the other two books, but it was the first desert specific gardening book I bought.I've read it cover to cover several times and despite the poor black and white photos, it's my favorite of the three. I consider my desert gardening library complete with these three books.

The best gardening book I've had in my hands so far.....
I, too, have had the opportunity to catch Dave on television from time to time here in Arizona.I've been a pretty dedicated ornamental gardener for well over 10 years now.We enlarged our yard by nearly 1000 square feet and I decided to use the space for vegetable gardening.I thought I had met all the pests in my area! NO.That's OK, Dave has nifty organic recipes to help eradicate those who would eat your garden before you can.I love the fact that a ring-bound version is available and have referred to this book at least once a day since I got it.Gardening in such a hot, arid zone is not impossible, you just have to work around it.My garden is flourishing and we eat home-grown, organic produce every day.
THANK YOU DAVE!!

A Must Have For Desert Growing
We are blessed with a long growing season but have difficulties with soil and timing of which plant to grow and when. Worry no longer. This book tells you how to create a good soil. Which companion plants to plant with others to naturally repel bad insects and attract the beneficial insects. An old art that I thought was lost when my grandfather died. Easy to read and understand. A must have in these trying economic times. The biggest threat to Communism is the Farmer.
... Read more

Product Description

Gardeners tend to assume that any organic product is automatically safe for humans and beneficial to the environment—and in most cases this is true. The problem, as Jeff Gillman points out in this fascinating, well-researched book, is that it is not always true, and the exceptions to the rule can pose a significant threat to human health. To cite just one example, animal manures in compost can be a source of harmful E. coli contamination if imporperly treated. Gillman's contention is that all gardening products and practices—organic and synthetic—need to be examined on a case-by-case basis to determine both whether they are safe and whether they accomplish the task for which they are intended.

Ultimately, Gillman concludes, organic methods are preferable in most situations that gardeners are likely to encounter. After reading this eye-opening book, you will understand why, and why knowledge is the gardener's most important tool.

Customer Reviews (11)

Gives "organics" a run for its money
Although Gilman might not have intended it, his book goes a long way toward debunking "organics" as a movement while promoting good methods that the "organics" people have adopted.

It's very even-handed, no fear-mongering, and very easy to read.

If you're buying it to have your ideology verified, you will be disappointed--and not a little ticked off.

If you want to weigh the pros and cons of very specific gardening methods, then this book is for you.

Current information without prejudice
These books (there are 2) give good information on the latest growing techniques and soil improvement. Highly recommended.

Oh Dear! The author picks evidence to support his conclusions!
Well, I came to read this book with an open mind, but a little bit of research shows that Jeff Gillman picked his supporting evidence so that it confirms his beliefs and prejudices. If you want accurate and truthful and impartial information, you'll have to look elsewhere. Too bad. I had hoped to find reliable information.

I DO NOT RECOMMEND THIS BOOK.

Too much fluff, not enough Substance.
This book was not very in depth,and tended to be very annoying.The author felt it necessary, to summarize the pro's and con's of each paragraph.You can read the entire book by just reading these two sentence page summaries.Save your time and money, buy another book.

A lesser book than his first, but still a must-read
Well, organic agriculture is certainly big money these days, isn't it? The problem is that a lot of people think organic is automatically good, just like natural equaled good 20 years ago. Jeff Gillman, author of The Truth About Garden Remedies, returns for another go, this time to debunk the myths of organic agriculture.

The fundamental problem with the wide use of "organic" as a buzzword is that, like many other buzzwords, it becomes a thoughtstopper. Gillman does what a lot of people don't with their food -- he explains the many methods of organic cultivation and pest control (some of which are, for lack of a better term, surprisingly inorganic) and explains their history, how they're used, and the risks and benefits of each. And there's some surprising results -- for example, Gillman points out that many accepted organic methods are poorly tested and not well-understood for environmental impact and toxicity, and lots of popular, seemingly-sensible techniques can actually be damaging to the plants. Favorite organic ingredients turn out to be very dangerous (rotenone) or unavailable (quassia), and seemingly obvious ideas like tobacco sprays turn out to be highly impractical. Gillman does repeat some material from his first book, but a lot of it (particularly the pesticide material) is quite a bit fleshed out.

Perhaps surprisingly, Gillman is guardedly pro-organic, but his message is one of caution -- among other things, he recommends reading other sources with a critical eye to separate good information from woo, and he feels that organic practices are somewhat overrated compared to more scientifically-based approaches such as integrated pest management. He does seem to reject the Rodale doctrine that nutritional quality suffers under conventional agriculture, and generally treats organic agriculture more as a matter of environmental practicality and sustainability than Luddism. I'd mark it as five stars if it a) had some coverage of biodynamics, which to the uninitiated is a Theosophy-influenced blend of organics, homeopathy, and dime-store witchcraft, and b) had included the rating system that Gillman used in his first book. But it's still a worthy companion to the first book and a must-read for anyone who wants to understand what science thinks of organic agriculture. ... Read more

Product Description
Rodale's All-New Encyclopedia of Organic Gardening ... Read more

Customer Reviews (25)

lot of pages little info
this is a big book but the info is as basic as it gets common sence will give you all the knowledge this book has to offer worth $5.00 with shipping. pay any more and it's a rip off

WOW!Great general reference.
For me this is a great general reference book and usually the first one I go to when I have a gardening related question.It has helped me identify common pests and learn to treat them all without yucky pesticides.This has been especially helpful to me since I moved across the country and from USDA zone 9 to zone 4 - the problems and issues are VERY different.

My 10 year old son has also taken an interest in gardening and he will also often get this out so we can get some general info about a specific plant or problem.

Excellent Resource!
Simply put this is an amazing book! The new version (1992) is much better written than the older version I own (1975). Of course having more than one can give you different perspectives.

organic gardening
ALL NEW ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ORGANIC GARDENING- It is precise and detailed in its illustration of soil preparation,tree prunning and prevention of disease. It is a book that provide the method of preparing fertilizer and pesticide in an organic way. It is comprehensive about plant care and maintenance, almost all kind of plants are discused and reviewed thoroughly in its presentation. I will recommend this book to an organic gardener.

very informative whether you have just one potted plant or an acre of garden blooming in your backyard
This is a great book, very informative whether you have just one potted plant or an acre of garden blooming in your backyard. It touches on just about any topic imaginable, including composting, rose care, types of garden pests and how to deter them, and tips on growing flowers, vegetables, and herbs. The information easy to understand and easy to follow. I highly recommend this book, and it would make a great gift for anyone aspiring to have a green thumb. ... Read more

Product Description
Your patio, balcony, rooftop, front stoop, boulevard, windowsill, planter box, or fire escape is a potential fresh food garden waiting to happen. In Grow Great Grub, Gayla Trail, the founder of the leading online gardening community (YouGrowGirl.com), shows you how to grow your own delicious, affordable, organic edibles virtually anywhere.                  
 
Grow Great Grub packs in tips and essential information about:
 
- Choosing a location and making the most of your soil (even if it’s less than perfect)
- Building a raised bed, compost bin, and self-watering container using recycled materials
- Keeping pests and diseases away from your plants—the toxin-free way
- Growing bountiful crops in pots and selecting the best heirloom varieties
- Cultivating hundreds of plants, from blueberries to Thai basil, to the best tomatoes you’ll ever taste
- Canning, and preserving to make the most of your garden’s generosity
- Green-friendly, cost-saving, growing, and building projects that are smart and stylish
- And much more!
 
Whether you’re looking to eat on a budget or simply experience the pleasure of picking tonight’s meal from right outside your door, this is the must-have book for small-space gardeners—no backyard required.
 
GAYLA TRAIL is the creator of the acclaimed top gardening website yougrowgirl.com. Her work as a writer and photographer has appeared in publications including The New York Times, Newsweek, Budget Living, and ReadyMade. A resident of Toronto who has grown a garden on her rooftop for more than 10 years, she is the author of You Grow Girl: The Groundbreaking Guide to Gardening. Amazon.com Review
Recipe from Grow Great Grub: Root Vegetable Fries

Ingredients:
1 large carrot
1 large potato
1 large sweet potato
1 large beet
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 teaspoon chopped fresh thyme
1/2 teaspoon chopped fresh rosemary
Salt and pepper

Roasted potatoes are good and all, but aroasted root vegetable medley is just as easy tomake and a little bit fancy, too. Substitute any rootvegetable, including starchy potatoes, turnip,parsnip, celery root, or rutabaga. While theveggies are roasting, toss a garlic bulb or two intothe pan at about the 30-minute mark--the result:easy, creamy garlic! Yum.

1. Preheat the oven to 400°F. Cut the vegetablesinto 1/2"-wide spears and toss in a roasting panwith olive oil and herbs to coat. Keep the peelson; that’s where the vitamins are.

2. Roast for approximately 40 minutes, turningregularly until all sides have turned a goldenbrown and the fries are cooked straight through.

Serves 2–4

Customer Reviews (19)

Practical and fun!
I love this book and refer back to it often for my apartment veggie gardening. It's my first year growing grub and this book gives me confidence.
Gayla does not over complicate urban farming and adds a ton of humor to her instructions.

Grow Great Grub
Although I haven't been able to follow through on the whole garden thing it's opened my eyes to a new way of approaching gardening.It not only includes gardening how-to's but things to make with your garden.I'm very hopeful that next year it will be a bible to me.If you're looking for great gardening ideas and you have a small space i.e apartment or studio this a great book to get your on your gardening feet.

Beautiful book, fun reading
LOVE this book!It's filled with color photos--pretty much on every page which is wonderful for me as I'm very visual and it really helps to see exactly what she's talking about.It also makes the book more accessible and fun to read.There are chapters on growing, harvesting, preservation and storage.

Trail's tone is conversational and really makes gardening enjoyable as opposed to more of a chore.I've read gardening books that are so technical and advanced that it scared me off.This is the antidote to that.There are recipes and tips such as to how to deal with pests, this book is a feast and packs a lot of information intoits 200 pages.Trail also has a website, You Grow Girl, the namesake of her first book, which I now want to read.

great book
I love this book, if you are new at gardening this is a very good book to get you started. If you are a somewhat experienced gardener this book will remind you of the things that are possible in your garden, i just love all the ideas and recipes!

All the specs that you need
This book is a great help, especially for the container or balcony gardener. For each plant there is a small box that specifies the depth of the container required to grow the particular plant. This is really handy since a lot of seed packets don't have this info (I'm looking at you, Burpee). ... Read more

Product Description
Millions of people now are gardening in America today. And the good news is that the "tipping point" for organic gardening is here to stay. Green is the new black. Grow Organic is an easy-to-read book that includes eight chapters on everything from soil management, to companion planting, to beneficial bugs for flowers and veggies. Each chapter contains quick tips for beginning gardeners and advanced quick tips in every chapter for experienced gardeners more than 250 in all. Co-authors Doug Oster and Jessica Walliser have nearly 50 years of gardening experience between them. Each chapter also includes "Tell-All" sections that share special methods they ve learned in their own gardens 'been there, done that' lessons. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (13)

Lawn care and compost sections were great but the rest was general
Many tips in this book can easily be found on the internet but it is great to have a quick resource at home.I was a little disappointed because it seemed that the book was fairly general but that could be because each region has different gardening issues, such as garden pests and what plants can grow.With that said though, I have found the sections on composting and lawn care to be specific and extremely helpful.I do reference this book and find it useful but I would like to find a more specific book on organic gardening in the south.I have bought this book for myself and for a gift so I would recommend it to others getting started with an organic yard.

Great tips for going organic
I borrowed this book from a friend and was very excited to try some of the useful tips for gardening in here.I truly wish I found this 3 years back when I first starting growing these. The book has a lot of substance to it.

Grow Organic Sprouts Sustainable Wisdom For All
Gardening "green" sounds like an oxymoron - and it is. What is called "organic" gardening today is what everyone was doing before the Industrial Revolution. Now-a-days, only about half of homes have plants in them. Most you can't even eat.

Time to Grow Organic! A new book by Pittsburg greenies Doug Oster and Jessica Walliser. Not only about gardening, Grow Organic helps with flowers, lawns and more. For "first-timers and old-timers alike," those without a naturally green thumb are saved. Color pictures, graphs, step-by-step instructions - it's all here.

Live in the city?Grow Organic's info applies to your small space too. Don't let a lack of "real" land stop you grow the joy of truly fresh food and flowers. Container gardens are even easier to maintain than lawn spaces, so grab a trowel and get growing!

My favorite section of Grow Organic is chapter 6 - all about veggies!When I have a house, I'll grow fruit trees too. Until then, its spinach, herbs, and other edibles. My apartment building's fire escape offers enough extra space to cultivate more than expected.

Space? Time? Skill? You don't need any of these to grow! It's a simple, quick and space-conscious hobby. Grab a copy of Grow Organic by Doug Oster and Jessica Walliser. You'll see what I mean in no time. Well, it may take a few weeks for the seeds to sprout. Then, you'll see.

Easy to use
I love this book because it makes organic gardening seem so normal and accessible.Which, in fact, it is, but you'd never know that from some of the references out there.Do you chop up your orange peel before you put it in the compost?Me neither.This is the book for us.

Organic Gardening Made Simple
If you have comtemplated changing your gardening protocol to a more earth friendly method, but have always thought it too confusing, than this is the book for you. Doug and Jess have taken an often confusing subject and simplified it for the beginner as well as the experienced gardener. It is packed full of practical and easy to follow procedures that will allow you to garden in a safer way. Their personal tips and experiences make you feel like they are right there with you each step of the way. They have provided lots of valuable information about soil, lawns, veggies, pests and beneficial insects. And what I like best, is that they give you their own tried and true resources to help you find many of the products that they have discussed in the book and use in their own gardens.

I have been using organic garden practices for years, but I found this book to be extremely refreshing and a good one to grab for a quick reference. I can say that it is one that I have been reaching for when I want to confirm something or look up information concernng a new problem that I might be experiencing.

As a master gardener, I can say that this book is not one that will sit on my shelf and collect dust, but will be one that I use for seasons to come. Thanks Doug and Jess for sharing your experiences and helping us realize that going organic does not mean sacrificing our beautiful and bountiful gardens. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

My favorite gardening book
This quickly became my most-used gardening book. I love it! If you are growing vegetables in Zone 5 in the Vermont/New Hampshire area, it will be especially relevant.
My favorite sections:
Cover crop advice and chart
Sections with practical details on growing popular vegetables
Composting advice
Rotation and succession plans
Buidance on building your soil

Deserves 10 stars!
At last! An instruction journal for us 'Organic Nerds'! And in plain, understandable terminology. When it is advertised as covering 50 years of gardening (the right way) experience, you can take that to the bank! It was a revelation to read that some of the concepts I had been using for years, actually have merit. I knew they had worked for me, but it is always nice to be validated. If you can only purchase one gardening manual, this is the one to buy. It covers everything and because the methods are tried and true, you can feel confident following Ogdens' suggestions. I can remember when, years ago, neighbors thought me barmy for directly composting kitchen waste(sans meat products). I am vindicated!

gardening in a less-than-perfect world
Shepherd Ogden's Step-by-step guide to growing vegetables is a great companion to the Ogden's other book--The Cook's Garden-- and their catalog by the same name.The Ogden's practice what they preach and it shows in the solid recommendations for planting and preparing freshly harvested greens and veggies.Any gardener understands that the challenges we all face are precisely because we are living and gardening in a less-than-perfect and highly unpredictable world.Shep's suggestions and guidance will definately help even those of us who have been gardening for a lifetime to find greater success.

The world is less than perfect....
In a world of pesticides and GM foods, Mr. Odgen is trying to help us all out. He has wonderful ideas, and is able to convey his message to all readers. Nothing beats the taste of fresh, organically grown food. You will find this book every summer, dog eared and smeared with dirt, just where you left it with your garden tools last fall.

Destined To Be A Classic!
An excellent offering by master organic gardener, forward thinking and practical minded Shepherd Ogden.This book covers all of the basics in an accessable way and would be of value to both new and experienced organic gardeners. More than a how-to book - this is a reference book that will become filled with compost enhanced thumbprints from my frequent use.I rate is 5 stars and a must have for anyone serious about their gardening library. This book is a workhorse for sure. It also would make a wonderful gift to anyone who yearns to go the organic way. ... Read more

Product Description
In this completely revised and updated classic, beloved garden expert Pat Welsh shares how to garden the organic way. This latest edition includes 40 new color photographs; a simple month-by-month format that shows gardeners exactly what to do throughout the year; terrific advice on gardening with drought-tolerant and fire-resistant plants; and plenty of fresh information on organic soils, fertilizers, and pest control. Useful for newbies and seasoned green thumbs alike, Pat Welsh's Southern California Organic Gardening is the indispensable guide for every Southern California gardener. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Finally a book for this area
While the Suset "Western Guidebook" is the quintessential book for all those who garden in the area, it is wonderful to read a book such as this that addresses our area specifically. What is especially helpful is the monthly guide for planting and garden care. With good advice to organic garden care. For anybody who lives in So. Cal., I recommend this book highly.

Pat Welsh's Souther California Organic Gardening
Nice to have in your library, but if you have her previous book it is too much repeat.

Pat Welsh's Southern California Organic Gardening (3rd Edition)
Starting off with a sweet dedication to her late husband, garden editor and TV-Host Pat Welsh launches into a month-by month guide on organic gardening in southern California. Narrowing in on her home regional area and the respective plant life Welsh continues to update her original text. First printed in 1991, Welsh kept adding more to her "handbook" and addressing changing conditions, and thus the third edition of her book presents itself to eager California gardeners.

Welsh first touches on the unique climate facets of Southern California; she addresses the issue of micro-climates within a climate zone and how this affects one's plans and growing techniques. Not just focusing on how one can prune and divide perennials, Welsh covers the five types of soil, soil additives, improving drainage on lots and includes several pages on manure and their varying applications. Having a backyard vegetable garden, I especially appreciated the two homemade organic vegetable fertilizer "recipes" for Western Soil--one all-purpose and one high-nitrogen.In our home, this book will be used frequently in the coming months, and for some years to come.

Reviewed by Meredith Greene ... Read more

Product Description

Container Gardening for Health is your complete guide to growing the twelve fruits and vegetables with the most pesticide residues according to USDA testing. From Apples and Celery to Strawberries and Spinach, pick a few of your favorites from the list. Make a big difference in your family's pesticide exposure with a small organic garden.

"After talking with other parents, I realized we all wanted an inexpensive way to feed our children more foods with less pesticide residue. None of us had time and few of us had the space to grow large gardens. I began researching the problem and soon realized a family's intake of pesticides could be substantially reduced by selecting their favorite foods from the EWG's Dirty Dozen list and growing these in containers or small space gardens." - Barbara Barker, from the first chapter

The Environmental Working Group(EWG) analyzed USDA pesticide residue data and compiled this list of the "top twelve most contaminated fruits and vegetables":
Peaches, Apples, Sweet Bell Peppers, Celery, Nectarines, Strawberries,Cherries, Lettuce, Grapes (imported), Pears, Spinach, and Potatoes.

About The Author
A certified master gardener, Barbara Barker traces her love for gardening back to fifth grade when she started a business rejuvenating her mother's ailing plants and selling them back to her for a small profitBarker expanded her knowledge of plants by working in garden centers in high school and college. After obtaining a BA in English from the University of Florida, she started an internet company selling gourmet varieties of vegetable and herb plants.

Contents
List of Figures - 8
Introduction - 9
1. Chemical Residue on Your Food - 11
2. Peaches and Nectarines - 15
3. The Forbidden Apple - 23
4. Sweet Bell Peppers - 31
5. Celery - 35
6. Strawberries, Mother Nature's Candy - 39
7. Cherries - 47
8. Lettuce - 51
9. Grapes - 55
10. Pears - 61
11. Spinach - 65
12. Potatoes - 71
13. Primary Pesticides Found On the Dirty Dozen - 77
14. Pests and Diseases - 83
Raised Growing Beds - 99
Selected Resources/Bibliography - 100
Glossary - 103
Index - 107

Customer Reviews (4)

Container gardening
This book arrived faster than I thought it would.
It was in great shape.Thank you!

Great book
My wife and I recently built a home in the Sierra Nevada mountains and wanted to grow our own fruit and vegetables organically.However, the climate here is hot in the summer (90's) and very cold (-15 to 0) in the winter.Keeping all that in mind we decided to see if we could not only have an outdoor garden, but an indoor one as well using pots to allow us to have "pesticide free" fresh produce all year round.Master Gardener Barbara Bark goes in to great detail to help you understand pesticides, diseases, nutritional information and so much more.

We are by no means experts in indoor or outdoor gardening and this book really helped to bring us up to speed.I would strongly recommend "Container Gardening for Health by certified master gardener, Barbara Barker for both experienced and novice gardeners indoors or out.I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and will continue to keep it on my bookshelf for future reference.

Pesticide-Free Patio Gardening!
These days, many of us are concerned about pesticide residue on fresh fruits and vegetables, especially the fresh produce that's imported from other countries. We are also wondering if there isn't something we can do to take responsibility for our own food supply in a time when food security may be in question. In Container Gardening for Health, Master Gardener Barbara Barker gives us guidelines for growing the "dirty dozen": those plants that are most contaminated with chemical pesticide residue, according to data compiled by the USDA. Unfortunately, the "dirty dozen" includes peaches, apples bell peppers, celery, nectarines, strawberries, cherries, lettuce, grapes, pears, spinach, and potatoes--tasty, nutritious foods that appear several times a week on the plates of almost every American.

What can you do to ensure your family's food safety? You can start, as Barker suggests, by studying the list and choosing the three items that you consume most often. Learn how to grow these plants in whatever space you have, following the helpful guidelines in this book. It could even be a family project involving kids and seniors--container gardening is an enjoyable activity that can fit the abilities of almost everyone.

I've been a gardener for many years, but I found plenty to learn from Barker's book. Plant by plant, she reviews each of the "dirty dozen," offering general information, reviewing the chemical residue issues, describing varieties (often dwarf) suitable for container gardening, picturing appropriate containers, and giving tips for soil, fertilization, pest management, harvesting, and storage. She has included a comprehensive table of pesticide data (it may just curl your hair to see the kind of chemicals that are turning up in your food), and a helpful chapter on pest identification, prevention, and treatment. This latter is an excellent resource for every gardener. She also offers suggestions for raised-bed construction--a good technique that can turn even the tiniest yard into a productive garden. And there's a first-class resource list, a glossary, and an index: must-haves for gardeners who want to do more research on their own.

There are a number of books on bookstore shelves these days that offer to help us become container gardeners. Barker's book, however, is unique, for she combines the information you need to know about gardening in containers with what you need to know to protect your food supply. Most of us don't have a great deal of extra time on our hands these days, so concentrating our efforts on replacing at least some of the "dirty dozen" with our own pesticide-free fruits and vegetables makes very good sense.

In fact, this whole book makes very good sense. You'll find yourself going back to it over and over again.

by Susan Wittig Albert
for Story Circle Book Reviews
reviewing books by, for, and about women

Well written and informative---Recommend highly
Let me start by saying I have a huge home library, and gardening, homesteading, and other self sufficient topic books make up a huge part of my collection. So when I got this new book Container Gardening For Health-The 12 most important Fruits and Vegetables for your Organic Garden by Barbara Barker I was intrigued but also wondered if this would be a repeat of much of what all the other gardening books had.

So I was surprised and pleased to discover she covers the 'Dirty dozen' so well. Was also pleased that she gives nice clear photos and illustrations like on page 14 where she shows 8 examples of growing containers, rather than the typical pots other books show. Also like how in each section where she discusses the fruit or vegetable she notes the botanical name, pesticide residue ranking, nutritional info,standard and dwarf varieties, yield, fertilizer, pests and diseases, and pruning for the trees. For crops like peppers she notes seed starting, transplanting, soil needs, and harvesting info.

Her chapter 14 beginning on page 83 is about pests and diseases and its a good chapter. And while I knew most of the organic solutions she has, she taught me some new ones as well. On page 100 she has sources for seeds, plants and gardening supplies. Have to admit I was happy to see Bountiful Gardens north of me listed, as well as the Seed Saver Exchange which I belong to.

Again I am an avid organic gardener. Yet even I learned some wonderful new things, and am looking forward to getting a copy of the book as a gift for friends whom I am teaching vegetable gardening to. As well as a copy for my local library. Cannot say enough great things about this book. It is one I will use as a reference tool often.
... Read more

Product Description
Revised and updated, a new edition of the classic illustrated gardening book, written by the original author's grandson, demonstrates how to grow vegetables organically. $25,000 ad/promo. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Great book on exactly what this title says!
I originally found this book a the local library at the beginning of this season and read it cover to cover.I had to buy one here since I wanted to keep it as a reference for the rest of this season and the ones to come.

The writing style is basically the author having a chat with you about his organic garden and covers everything that I could ask for including choosing the location, soil preparation (without chemical fertilizer), annual crop rotation, succession planting, families of veggies that grow well together, maintenance of the garden, trellising, composting, etc.I know that this sounds like a lot, but you can read one chapter or 10 and you will get the whole story on what you wanted to know.I highly recommend this book to be in the library of any gardener, organic or not. ... Read more

Product Description
Here is the only single-volume reference that supplies all the information necessary to plant a successful organic food garden. Before it was a book, THE FACT-HUNGRY ORGANIC GARDENER was organic gardener Tanya L. K. Denckla's private database, the distillation of years of hands-on, real-life, dirt-under-the-fingernails experience in growing her own vegetables, herbs, fruits and nuts. Interest in organic gardening is increasing, and The Fact-Hungry Organic Gardener is the one book that answers all the questions that sprout up among novice, intermediate, and even experienced gardeners.

Plants are arranged in an A-to-Z format that makes it easy to pinpoint the information you need. Each entry provides specific information on planting, watering and fertilizing, when to harvest, how to store the produce - even which plants profit by getting a headstart in a greenhouse.

And fully half of the book is dedicated to organic remedies that can prevent or combat plant diseases and garden pests. Hundreds of common diseases and pests are arranged alphabetically, and each entry explains which plants are likely to be affected and how to recognize the problem, and then offers a variety of well-tested natural remedies.

This is an easy-to-read, authoritative, accessible resource that lets you find answers to questions quickly so you can spend less time skimming gardening books and more time enjoying your garden. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (16)

The Gardener's A-Z Guide to Growing Organic Food
I love this book, lots of info and well worth your time if you want to go organic and grow your own food.

easy to follow
this book is set up very well and makes it easy to quickly find the information that you need.

Good reference book
Comprehensive list of all types of fruits and vegetables.I'm a beginner gardener and I thought it would have more details about growing from seed, transplanting etc but this section is fairly limited.

Lots of Good Information
I like this book a lot.The only problem I had was that it was missing some plants that I wanted to grow.Otherwise, a great resource for even the beginning organic gardener!

A solid resource for any vegetable gardener
Sometimes, it's nice to have that one book that can do it all.That is incredibly rare, so instead you're delighted to have a book that can almost do it all.This book is definitely one that fits the "almost" category for most everyone, and it actually "is" for others.

This book contains a wealth of information on organic gardening, but that exists in so many other places that it may already rest on your bookshelf.But what sets this work above all others is the extensive listing of vegetables, fruits, and herbs that can be grown.The information isn't just the basics of when to plant, but also how many to plant.

All in all, this is a must for any organic gardner, and is probably a must for any non-organic gardner as well! ... Read more

Product Description
Gardening organically outdoors is prevalent in most horticultural circles today, but what about gardening indoors? Indoor Gardening the Organic Way is a definitive guide to growing houseplants organically. From the dirt on mulch to eco-friendly ways to handle plant pests, Davis has provided this essential resource for novice and experienced gardeners alike. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

My Houseplant Bible
After reading the first paragraph of this book I realized Julie Bawden-Davis' passion for organic houseplant gardening. Her explanations of horticulture terms are presented in a manner that's easy to understand, witty, but very concise.She includes info on the basics of organic care (soil content, feeding, etc.) for all plants, while also focusing a section on specific plants and their care.Even if one chooses not to adopt organic practices for houseplants, this is still an excellent reference for how to understand the needs of your plants.

Great reference I use over and over again
I keep going back to this book time and again as a reference for my many questions.It is challenging and informative, but is also written for those of us who have had less experience in organic gardening.This book makes a great gift.I have bought 6 to give as gifts and 1 for myself.What a delightful way to enjoy the art of indoor gardening.

What a great book!!!
What a wonderful organic gardening book for the indoors.My houseplants are thriving, and I love it!I was amazed at how well they have responded without the use of synthetic chemical fertilizers.This book is a must for all houseplant owners.The illustrations are lovely and the content very informative.I highly recommend it for all gardeners.From choosing plants, to watering, and dealing with diseases, this book has it all.

I'm enjoying the book
I'm a professional gardener.Lawnman.I'm enjoying the book.For the beginning gardener this would be an excellent place to study indoor plants and the various needs of all plants. ... Read more