Category: [04-Plants]

Perennial and annual wonders that are all around us

  • Barakah Heritage Farm garden adventures 2020 – planning for seed saving

    Barakah Heritage Farm garden adventures 2020 – planning for seed saving

    Well, it’s garden planning time.

    For me (the wifey half of our farming duo) I find garden planning a mixture of fun and daunting details.

    This year, with the current world events, we decided to triple our main garden, in addition to the two additional gardens already under construction over the winter.  (More on beds and bed planning in another post.)  We sat down, made our seed list, checked our inventory and went seed shopping.  After seeing the prices per packet, and watching events unfolding, it is seeming wise to get more serious about seed saving this year.

    The beautiful chaos of garden construction

    I’ll back up a few steps and explain why we haven’t bothered with much seed saving in previous years.  To make any farm profitable, you have to include your labor (time x hourly rate) in the calculations.  Frankly, the cost of the labor to save seeds was not profitable, not when others are doing a more efficient and professional job of producing seeds that we can easily order or buy in the store.   This year, for the first time, the global uncertainties are making us take a second look at that labor – if you cannot find seeds at all then the labor cost becomes irrelevant.  We hope to at least save some core basics, God willing, and still support heirloom seed businesses for the rest of our seed needs.

    So, from my previous dabblings in seed saving, and I truly  mean dabbling, as most success was with lettuce and marigolds (I challenge you to fail at marigolds), I do remember that in order to save seeds in the fall, you need to plan before you ever plant.

    Here are my top tips for planning, and some great websites with more details:

    Tip 1:  Only plant open-pollinated varieties.  Seeds from hybrids (labeled F1) will not breed true.  Seeds from GMO seeds are illegal to save and most likely won’t sprout or breed true.

    Tip 2:  Plants will cross pollinate if they belong to the same family.  Squashes are notorious for this.  If you want to save seeds from more than one variety in a family, for example, summer squash and pitty pat squash, you can select varieties that bloom at different times, or you can space your garden beds out to separate the plants and minimize cross pollination.

    Tip 3:  Plant enough plants to meet your needs plus some extra to allow to mature for seed collection.

    Tip 4:  If this is your first time gardening, consider planning different types and locations of beds, and trying different plant varieties, to see what best suits your land.  You may need extra seed, to allow for experiments and for failed crops.

    Here are some great websites to get you started:

    https://extension.umn.edu/planting-and-growing-guides/saving-vegetable-seeds

    https://www.seedsavers.org/how-to-save-seeds

    https://www.motherearthnews.com/organic-gardening/save-vegetable-seeds-backyard-zmaz77zsch

    https://www.almanac.com/content/start-saving-those-vegetable-seeds

    https://modernfarmer.com/2018/07/seed-saving-101-10-things-to-know-if-you-want-to-start-saving-seeds/

    Happy planning!

  • The Permaculture Transition Manual: A Comprehensive Guide to Resilient Living

    The Permaculture Transition Manual: A Comprehensive Guide to Resilient Living

    This entry is part 1 of 7 in the series Best Suburban Growing Books

    Caught between climate change and a fossil fuel-driven economy that demands ever more growth, the world faces a great transition—by design or disaster—away from fossil fuels to a less energy intensive future.But what proven tools are available to aid in making a successful, deliberate transition to a resilient, sustainable future?For the first time, the power…;



    New Society PublishersPrice: $34.95 $23.76 Free Shipping



    Caught between climate change and a fossil fuel-driven economy that demands ever more growth, the world faces a great transition—by design or disaster—away from fossil fuels to a less energy intensive future.

    But what proven tools are available to aid in making a successful, deliberate transition to a resilient, sustainable future?

    For the first time, the power of permaculture design has been brought to bear on the great transition problem. In the process, acclaimed permaculture teacher and designer Ross Mars has distilled his considerable knowledge into the ultimate resource for resilient living.

    The Permaculture Transition Manual is packed with information on permaculture design principles, soil building, nutrient-dense food growing, including top plant and tree selections for all climatic zones. Coverage extends to rainwater harvesting and irrigation, human waste management, and strategies for rural properties plus a unique focus on applying permaculture to small urban spaces for decluttering and efficient food growing. Also covered are hand tools, food preservation, energy production, and low-carbon housing and a plethora of nearly forgotten skills such as soap making, basket weaving, seed saving, and rope and candle making, and more.

    On the desert island of a world in decline this is the one-stop guide to vibrant, resilient living you’ll want to take with you.

    Ross Mars is a scientist with a PhD in Environmental Science, entrepreneur and highly-regarded permaculture teacher and designer. Author of The Basics of Permaculture Design, he manages Candlelight Farm, a permaculture demonstration site and training center in Western Australia.



    Full Customer Reviews:


  • Home Farming Revolution for Drylands – Black and White

    Home Farming Revolution for Drylands – Black and White


    Developed out of Zoe Wilcox and Melanie Rubin’s workshops at Mother Nature Gardens and Sacred Heart Backyard Farm, “The Home Farming Revolution for Drylands” is a step-by step guide to help you convert any plot of land into a micro-farm. Although the book focuses on techniques for the desert Southwest of the United States, the…;



    Home Farming Revolution PressPrice: $24.95 $24.91 Free Shipping



    Developed out of Zoe Wilcox and Melanie Rubin’s workshops at Mother Nature Gardens and Sacred Heart Backyard Farm, “The Home Farming Revolution for Drylands” is a step-by step guide to help you convert any plot of land into a micro-farm. Although the book focuses on techniques for the desert Southwest of the United States, the main concepts and principles are applicable anywhere. The benefits of creating home farms in our towns and cities are as plentiful as the bounty they produce. We need healthy food in order to be healthy. The United States faces a growing number of health concerns that may be catalyzed or exaggerated by poor nutrition in this, the “wealthiest nation in the world.” Wilcox and Rubin believe a person shouldn’t have to be wealthy to eat healthy! Home farming provides healthy, organic food at peak freshness to all people despite economic status or location.Used Book in Good Condition



    Full Customer Reviews:


  • The Permaculture Orchard : Beyond Organic (DVD – English)

    The Permaculture Orchard : Beyond Organic (DVD – English)

    This entry is in the series Best Fruit & Orchard Books

    “The ultimate beauty of The Permaculture Orchard: Beyond Organic […] is that Asselin and Sobkowiak have made a visually appealing film that delivers at both the environmental and economic level, while setting the stage for a new modern standard for commercial fruit production. […] Hopefully, this film will become the educational keystone for future orchardists……;





    “The ultimate beauty of The Permaculture Orchard: Beyond Organic […] is that Asselin and Sobkowiak have made a visually appealing film that delivers at both the environmental and economic level, while setting the stage for a new modern standard for commercial fruit production. […] Hopefully, this film will become the educational keystone for future orchardists… or the guy with a few fruit trees in the back yard.” -Jenn Jennings, Examiner.com

    “Beautiful, full of hard-won information, humble, practical. Great work!” -Eric Toensmeier, co-author, Edible Forest Gardens

    “Good information, well-resourced, and clearly presented in the unabashed context of permaculture. Shows the viewer that ecological design, practical management, and commercial success can come very happily together.” -Permaculture Activist magazine

    The Permaculture Orchard : Beyond Organic is a feature-length educational film that will teach you how to set up your own permaculture orchard at any scale. We recognize the limitations of the organic model as a substitute to conventional fruit growing, and want to propose a more holistic, regenerative approach based on permaculture principles. Based on 20 years of applied theory and trial and error, biologist and educator Stefan Sobkowiak shares his experience transforming a conventional apple orchard into an abundance of biodiversity that virtually takes care of itself. The concepts, techniques and tips presented in this film will help you with your own project, whether it is just a few fruit trees in your urban backyard, or a full-scale multi-acre commercial orchard.

    Trained as a biologist and landscape architect, Sobkowiak has taught fruit production, landscape plants and design, and natural history of vertebrates at Montreal’s McGill University. He’s been teaching permaculture since 1995.Subtitles: Chinese (simplified), Dutch, English, German, Greek, Italian, Japanese, Portuguese, Romanian, Spanish



    Full Customer Reviews:


  • Adding an income garden at Barakah Heritage Farm

    No, we aren’t planting money trees, or even money plants.

    What we ARE doing is looking at ways to earn some side income from small gardens.

    Barakah Heritage Farm hosts a fair number of visitors each year via our horse programs, the campsites and glamping loft and the goat experience.  As the area in front of the main barn is just a big plain yard, we were looking for something to add some curb appeal and possibly trigger some impulse buys to add to the farm income.  In previous seasons, guests have admired the vegetable garden, and we often gifted folks with some excess produce to take home.  So we thought perhaps some type of garden product could dress up the yard and generate some income.

     

    We looked at 3 main options:  vegetables, flowers, and herbs.  The first step was to do online research and find out which of these are most popular in farm markets and roadside stands and grocery stores.  Here are 3 favorite resources:

    Ten Most Profitable Herbs To Grow

    Ten Most Profitable Cut Flowers For Small Growers

    Our Farmer’s Market Best Sellers

    Generally, our criteria were:  inexpensive to plant,  annuals or easily-transplanted perennials (all our business models are designed to be portable), minimal care to thrive,  tolerate our climate, be visually appealing, and mesh with our mission of heirloom plants.  Beyond that, the plant had to be well-ranked for popularity with a good history of selling at farm markets.  Finally, they had to be plants that would be popular with our demographic (hikers/campers, horsewomen, animal lovers).

    Here is our list, by category:

    Herbs:  basil, chives, cilantro, parsley, catnip (many folks have pet cats), sage, dill.

    Edible flowers:  viola, nasturtium, calendula

    Cut flowers:  zinnia, astor, clary sage, sunflower, carnation, delphinium, heather, baby’s breath 

    Vegetables:  tomatoes, cucumber, possible swiss chard and/or kale

    We will  narrow this down further closer to planting time.  In general, we will choose heirloom varieties that are unusual and colorful, such as purple tomatoes and lemon cucumbers.

    We have started the garden beds, one pictured here and another around the side of the barn.

  • Year-Round Indoor Salad Gardening: How to Grow Nutrient-Dense, Soil-Sprouted Greens in Less Than 10 days

    Year-Round Indoor Salad Gardening: How to Grow Nutrient-Dense, Soil-Sprouted Greens in Less Than 10 days

    This entry is in the series Best Niche Gardening Books

    The Low-Tech, No-Grow-Lights Approach to Abundant Harvest Year-Round Indoor Salad Gardening offers good news: with nothing more than a cupboard and a windowsill, you can grow all the fresh salad greens you need for the winter months (or throughout the entire year) with no lights, no pumps, and no greenhouse. Longtime gardener Peter Burke was…;



    Chelsea Green PublishingPrice: $29.95 $21.27 Free Shipping



    The Low-Tech, No-Grow-Lights Approach to Abundant Harvest

    Year-Round Indoor Salad Gardening offers good news: with nothing more than a cupboard and a windowsill, you can grow all the fresh salad greens you need for the winter months (or throughout the entire year) with no lights, no pumps, and no greenhouse.

    Longtime gardener Peter Burke was tired of the growing season ending with the first frost, but due to his busy work schedule and family life, didn’t have the time or interest in high-input grow lights or greenhouses. Most techniques for growing what are commonly referred to as “microgreens” left him feeling overwhelmed and uninterested. There had to be a simpler way to grow greens for his family indoors. After some research and diligent experimenting, Burke discovered he was right―there was a way! And it was even easier than he ever could have hoped, and the greens more nutrient packed. He didn’t even need a south-facing window, and he already had most of the needed supplies just sitting in his pantry. The result: healthy, homegrown salad greens at a fraction of the cost of buying them at the market. The secret: start them in the dark.

    Growing “Soil Sprouts”―Burke’s own descriptive term for sprouted seeds grown in soil as opposed to in jars―employs a method that encourages a long stem without expansive roots, and provides delicious salad greens in just seven to ten days, way earlier than any other method, with much less work. Indeed, of all the ways to grow immature greens, this is the easiest and most productive technique. Forget about grow lights and heat lamps! This book is a revolutionary and inviting guide for both first-time and experienced gardeners in rural or urban environments. All you need is a windowsill or two. In fact, Burke has grown up to six pounds of greens per day using just the windowsills in his kitchen! Year-Round Indoor Salad Gardening offers detailed step-by-step instructions to mastering this method (hint: it’s impossible not to succeed, it’s so easy!), tools and accessories to have on hand, seeds and greens varieties, soil and compost, trays and planters, shelving, harvest and storage, recipes, scaling up to serve local markets, and much more.

    Ships from Vermont



    Full Customer Reviews:


  • How To Grow Vegetables Without Losing Your Mind

    How To Grow Vegetables Without Losing Your Mind


    Want to grow your own food, but think you don’t have enough time, energy or space? How To Grow Vegetables Without Losing Your Mind (Formerly titled Weird Gardening): will bust the myths that vegetable gardening requires tons of space, time and labor. This book, written by an experienced urban gardener, shows you step by step…;





    Want to grow your own food, but think you don’t have enough time, energy or space? How To Grow Vegetables Without Losing Your Mind (Formerly titled Weird Gardening): will bust the myths that vegetable gardening requires tons of space, time and labor. This book, written by an experienced urban gardener, shows you step by step how to start a vegetable garden, from building rich beds to preserving your harvest. In it, you will learn: how to build a new, nutrient-rich bed from scratch at zero cost; the most effective non-chemical methods for dealing with pests; the best way to start your plants from seed; and how to use every square foot of your yard or patio to its full advantage. There is even a chapter on container gardening for readers who do not have a yard. How would you like a garden that requires little weeding, little watering, and little to no commercial fertilizer? How To Grow Vegetables Without Losing Your Mind shows you how to do all that, and much more. If you are ready to save money on groceries, get more nutrients into your diet, or simply learn to be more self-sufficient – without spending all of your precious free time on a frustrating, high-maintenance hobby – you don’t want to miss what this book has for you!



    Full Customer Reviews:


  • Fruit, Berry and Nut Inventory, 4th edition: An Inventory of Nursery Catalogs and Websites Listing Fruit, Berry and Nut Varieties by Mail Order in the United States

    Fruit, Berry and Nut Inventory, 4th edition: An Inventory of Nursery Catalogs and Websites Listing Fruit, Berry and Nut Varieties by Mail Order in the United States

    This entry is in the series Best Fruit & Orchard Books

    Fruit, Berry and Nut Inventory is a must-have reference for all backyard fruit growers and commercial orchardists who care about the rich diversity of fruit, berry, and nut varieties offered by mail order nurseries in the United States. This comprehensive “catalog of catalogs” is now available in its newly updated fourth edition, which lists 280…;





    Fruit, Berry and Nut Inventory is a must-have reference for all backyard fruit growers and commercial orchardists who care about the rich diversity of fruit, berry, and nut varieties offered by mail order nurseries in the United States. This comprehensive “catalog of catalogs” is now available in its newly updated fourth edition, which lists 280 nurseries offering nearly 6,000 varieties of fruits, berries, and nuts—everything from apples and bananas to tangerines and buartnuts.

    The information presented in this book is so unique and invaluable that fruit growers everywhere will turn to it again and again, looking for sources that offer rare nineteenth-century apples, or for descriptions of newly bred grapes, or even for unusual varieties of tropical fruits. Where else could you find sources for Maiden Blush apple (1817), African Rhino Horn banana, Leningrad Giant currant, Adriatic fig, Pineapple grape, Dr. Beaumont macadamia, Choctaw pecan, or Yellow Egg plum?

    Backyard and commercial growers concerned with the loss of biodiversity will deeply appreciate Fruit, Berry and Nut Inventory. Fruit breeders, plant collectors, and amateur growers can tell quickly which varieties are being offered by only one or two companies and need to be purchased while sources still exist and permanently maintained to prevent being lost forever. Everything commercially available can be scanned to find varieties perfect for specific climates or resistant to local diseases and pests. Northern and high-altitude growers can use the book to find exceptionally hardy, short-season varieties that will survive and mature in their locations. Orchards, nurseries, and botanical gardens can use it to find sources for unique plant material.

    The fruits, berries, and nuts available today are the result of centuries of collection and amateur development, further refined by the world’s finest breeding programs. Growers and breeders have developed regionally adapted varieties with superior taste, disease resistance, and countless other virtues. Fruit, Berry and Nut Inventory opens the orchard’s gate and invites us to discover them.

    Used Book in Good Condition



    Full Customer Reviews:


  • Companion Planting for the Kitchen Gardener: Tips, Advice, and Garden Plans for a Healthy Organic Garden

    Companion Planting for the Kitchen Gardener: Tips, Advice, and Garden Plans for a Healthy Organic Garden


    Companion planting techniques have been used for centuries to facilitate better, more nutritious, and more abundant crops. Did you know that carrots will grow better if surrounded by lettuce, onions and beets, but beans should not be planted near onions?  Your tomatoes will be happier if they’re far away from potatoes, but peppers and marigolds…;



    Skyhorse PublishingPrice: $14.95 $13.69 Free Shipping



    Companion planting techniques have been used for centuries to facilitate better, more nutritious, and more abundant crops. Did you know that carrots will grow better if surrounded by lettuce, onions and beets, but beans should not be planted near onions?  Your tomatoes will be happier if they’re far away from potatoes, but peppers and marigolds make a terrific garden pair. Aromatic herbs help protect some vegetables from pests, and many flowers – including calendula, zinnias and yarrow – will attract beneficial insects to your garden beds.  It’s a lot to think about, but there’s no reason to feel overwhelmed. With Companion Planting for the Kitchen Gardener, you’ll have all the information you need in clear, concise terms and with charts and garden plans you can copy or modify to suit your family’s needs.

    Starting with the basics of organic gardening, such as how to prepare quality soil and the importance of cover crops and organic fertilizer, author Allison Greer explain the principles of companion planting, how plants interact, and how you can use that information to your garden’s benefit. There is an entire chapter devoted to many of the most popular vegetables, with charts, diagrams, and descriptions of each–a treasure for gardeners with busy lives who want an easy reference guide for planning their ideal kitchen garden. Full of gorgeous, full-color photographs and easy-to-follow diagrams, this is a beautiful, useful guide for the home organic gardener.



    Full Customer Reviews:


  • Edible Forest Gardens, Vol. 2: Ecological Design And Practice For Temperate-Climate Permaculture

    Edible Forest Gardens, Vol. 2: Ecological Design And Practice For Temperate-Climate Permaculture

    This entry is in the series Best Food Forest Books

    Edible Forest Gardens is a groundbreaking two-volume work that spells out and explores the key concepts of forest ecology and applies them to the needs of natural gardeners in temperate climates. Volume I lays out the vision of the forest garden and explains the basic ecological principles that make it work. In Volume II, Dave…;



    Chelsea Green PublishingPrice: $75.00 $53.67 Free Shipping



    Edible Forest Gardens is a groundbreaking two-volume work that spells out and explores the key concepts of forest ecology and applies them to the needs of natural gardeners in temperate climates. Volume I lays out the vision of the forest garden and explains the basic ecological principles that make it work. In Volume II, Dave Jacke and Eric Toensmeier move on to practical considerations: concrete ways to design, establish, and maintain your own forest garden. Along the way they present case studies and examples, as well as tables, illustrations, and a uniquely valuable “plant matrix” that lists hundreds of the best edible and useful species.

    Taken together, the two volumes of Edible Forest Gardens offer an advanced course in ecological gardening–one that will forever change the way you look at plants and your environment.

    Ships from Vermont



    Full Customer Reviews:


  • Reap, Sow, Grow: I reap what I sow and grow in the process.

    Reap, Sow, Grow: I reap what I sow and grow in the process.


    New to traveling distant lands, Déva writes about his journey around the globe. As a conscious lyricist, yoga teacher and permaculture designer, he explores his outer limits while expanding his inner world. Déva ventures out to perform at festivals, host yoga retreats, teach permaculture workshops, and visit ecovillages. What he discovers will enlighten that discovery…;



    CreateSpace Independent Publishing PlatformPrice: $11.11 Free Shipping



    New to traveling distant lands, Déva writes about his journey around the globe. As a conscious lyricist, yoga teacher and permaculture designer, he explores his outer limits while expanding his inner world. Déva ventures out to perform at festivals, host yoga retreats, teach permaculture workshops, and visit ecovillages. What he discovers will enlighten that discovery in you. Peek inside the mind of a young, vivacious spiritual warrior. He shares his bold truth and envisions a new earth. The journey begins in Japan and expands through five continents: Asia, Australia, Europe, and the Americas. Experience the passion, pain, pleasure and poetry of Déva Presence inscribed and in song. Excerpt from the intro: New Age books about setting intentions and putting them into action, revealed themselves as sources of inspiration. The inspiration guided me to facilitate book circles, become a yoga teacher, and move to an urban farm in Miami to teach others and myself permaculture. I began to break away from the warm south, and wanderlust to different parts of the Americas – in search of communities, land, and love. The intention was to sow the seeds for my highest creation: to build a greater community where we could reap the rewards of living in abundance with like-minded human beings. It is a vision where all participants would be channeling their efforts toward the same goal: living in harmony. What I found were thousands of seeds, sprouting all around this western hemisphere, already working towards that vision. They were growing to help reconnect our fallen forest of humanity. Most of my travel was beautifully blessed with hook-ups on rides, food, staying in people’s homes and developing divine connections. I relied heavily on the Universe to manifest exactly what I needed to make my dreams a reality. A good example happened upon return from my first six-month trip. I was preparing to teach a PDC and my bank account showed an abundant wealth of negative three hundred dollars. Regardless, I was still making plans for the following year’s trip. In that moment, I was filled with gratitude for the power of divine manifestation in the face of adversity. My world journey was destined to happen, no matter what obstacles presumed to exist. I reaped the fruits of intentionally planted seeds and, as you will read, watched myself grow through hardships and happiness. The courage to get out and explore the world has moved me across continents by train, plane, and automobile. It brought me to overcome the various inhibitions limiting my mind, in turn expanding my consciousness through the unexpected experiences that arose. Performing at festivals was also a sought out affair. The momentary weekend collections, of living in artful dream worlds, showered my passionate perspective of what this life could be like. Having so many opportunities to express myself musically in front of large, lively crowds fueled me to create a music album. The writings in this book are inspired and infused with the lyrics. I love to express myself through song and poetically portray what I perceive. It is with this foundation that this Memoir evolved. In the pages that follow, you will find many deep personal insights about the meaning of life, Tantra, and my connection to nature, people and the earth. All of these are matters for consideration when developing a permanent, sustainable future. It is a delight to have you join me on this journey. Together we will experience the world at large with the influence of a permaculture and spiritual perspective. My wish for you is to reap insights from these writings and sow the seeds you choose to grow in your future.



    Full Customer Reviews:


  • Gardening: Urban Gardening: Growing Vegetables and Fruit in Heavily Populated Areas (gardening, home garden, horticulture, garden, landscape, plants, raised garden)

    Gardening: Urban Gardening: Growing Vegetables and Fruit in Heavily Populated Areas (gardening, home garden, horticulture, garden, landscape, plants, raised garden)


    Start Growing Your City Garden, Today!***Read this book for FREE on Kindle Unlimited – Download Now!***Can you grow organic herbs and veggies in an urban setting? Is it really difficult? How much space do you need?When you download Urban Gardening: Farming and Food Production in Heavily Populated Areas, you’ll find out how to set up…;





    Start Growing Your City Garden, Today!

    ***Read this book for FREE on Kindle Unlimited – Download Now!***

    Can you grow organic herbs and veggies in an urban setting? Is it really difficult? How much space do you need?

    When you download Urban Gardening: Farming and Food Production in Heavily Populated Areas, you’ll find out how to set up a food production system in urban areas where there are large populations. This book covers the advantages and benefits of urban farming.!

    How do you get started? What equipment do you need? Is it difficult? What if you don’t have a green thumb?

    Urban Gardening explains the pros and cons of outdoor vegetable cultivation. It also describes various types of soil management and crop diversity. You’ll also learn ways to deal with weeds and pests.

    When you download this book, you’ll also learn about the equipment, seeds, and soil you need to get your garden started.

    Download Urban Gardening now, and start gardening today!

    Scroll to the top and select the “BUY” button for instant download.



    Full Customer Reviews:


  • The Overstory Book: Cultivating Connections with Trees, 2nd Edition

    The Overstory Book: Cultivating Connections with Trees, 2nd Edition

    This entry is in the series Best Food Forest Books

    Whether in a small backyard or a larger farm or forest, trees are vital to the web of life. Protecting and planting trees can restore wildlife habitat, heal degraded land, conserve soil, protect watersheds, diversify farm or garden products, beautify landscapes, and enhance the economic and ecological viability of land use systems. Careful planning and…;



    Permanent Agriculture ResourcesPrice: $29.95 Free Shipping



    Whether in a small backyard or a larger farm or forest, trees are vital to the web of life. Protecting and planting trees can restore wildlife habitat, heal degraded land, conserve soil, protect watersheds, diversify farm or garden products, beautify landscapes, and enhance the economic and ecological viability of land use systems. Careful planning and sound information is needed to reach these goals. The Overstory Book distills essential information about working with trees into 134 short, easy-to-read, single-subject chapters. Each chapter shares key concepts and useful information, so readers can get back to planting and protecting more trees, gardens, and forests, more effectively. * Discover time-tested agricultural and conservation techniques from indigenous and traditional peoples * Work with beneficial microorganisms, from mycorrhizal fungi to nitrogen-fixing bacteria and more * Create abundance with fruit trees, timber trees, vine crops, vegetables, mushrooms, and more * Form alliances with animals, from wildlife, birds, and insects to integrated, free-range livestock * Design effective tree-based windbreaks, noise barriers, live fences, and erosion buffers * Understand how to grow or obtain the highest quality seeds, seedlings, and plant materials * Restore fertility, productivity, and biodiversity with trees * Work with multipurpose plants including trees, palms, bamboos, and more * Market products effectively to improve economic returns sustainably * Locate helpful internet sites, organizations, people, and publications * And much more!The Overstory Book Cultivating Connections with Trees 2nd Edition



    Full Customer Reviews:


  • Mighty Oaks From Little Acorns: the complete guide to growing oak trees from seed

    Mighty Oaks From Little Acorns: the complete guide to growing oak trees from seed


    Learn To Grow Oak Seedlings From Acorns With This Complete Guide! Have you ever wanted to grow an oak from an acorn? If so, ”Mighty Oaks From Little Acorns” by Catherine Copp, PhD is the best book for you! The author is a former reforestation tree-planter, tree seed collector, and tree nursery owner with experience…;



    CreateSpace Independent Publishing PlatformPrice: $9.99 Free Shipping



    Learn To Grow Oak Seedlings From Acorns With This Complete Guide!

    Have you ever wanted to grow an oak from an acorn?

    If so, ”Mighty Oaks From Little Acorns” by Catherine Copp, PhD is the best book for you!

    The author is a former reforestation tree-planter, tree seed collector, and tree nursery owner with experience growing oaks and many other species of native trees and shrubs. Her easy-to-understand guide will lead you through all the steps to growing oak seedlings from acorns. It covers all the major oak species in North America – both Canada and the USA. This book is a great resource for all landowners, and can be a fun and educational family project with your children! You will learn not only what to do with acorns, but the reasons behind the steps. This will give you a deeper understanding and appreciation of native oak trees and their place in the natural landscape. Anyone can grow oaks from acorns and it’s fun!

    Includes a handy chart showing the pre-treatment requirements for acorns of all the North American oaks!

    You Will Learn The Following:

    • Tips to identify the oak species
    • How to forecast oak crops
    • How to determine acorn maturity
    • How to get acorns to germinate
    • How to grow and transplant your oak seedlings

    Get this complete guide today and head for the trees before the squirrels get there first!



    Full Customer Reviews:


  • Vertical Gardening! A Beginner’s Guide: Growing Vegetables in Less Space and Time (Vertical Gardening Book Book 1)

    Vertical Gardening! A Beginner’s Guide: Growing Vegetables in Less Space and Time (Vertical Gardening Book Book 1)


    Claim Your FREE Bonus Inside The Book!!Get this kindle book for $2.99 only! Regular Price $4.99Read on your Mac, Pc, Tablet, Smart Phone or Kindle Device.This book truly does an exceptional job of outlining the fundamentals of growing your own vertical vegetable garden. It begins by clearly explaining just what is intended by a vertical…;





    Claim Your FREE Bonus Inside The Book!!

    Get this kindle book for $2.99 only! Regular Price $4.99
    Read on your Mac, Pc, Tablet, Smart Phone or Kindle Device.

    This book truly does an exceptional job of outlining the fundamentals of growing your own vertical vegetable garden. It begins by clearly explaining just what is intended by a vertical vegetable garden. In essence, ‘vertical gardening’ represents a novel approach to the art of gardening. It is an approach that is efficient—in terms of both time and space used—and which proves highly fruitful.

    The book does a very concise job of outlining the different ways in which you might create your own vertical vegetable garden. Perhaps you want to build a vegetable wall whose frame can be saved and used for multiple seasons. If so, this book provides clear instructions for how you might go about building this structure. Surprisingly, what might initially seem like a daunting task proves to be more achievable than you would have otherwise thought. The text goes on to discuss how you can approach vertical vegetable gardening on a smaller scale. Indeed, smaller-scaled herb palettes allow you to grow your family’s favorite herbs and spices within your small outdoor space. This palette can be repositioned periodically to better soak in the sun’s rays, or shade other areas of your garden.

    Even when the reader believes that vertical vegetable gardening could do no more, to improve their lives, this book proves him or her wrong. Indeed, it illustrates how vertical vegetable gardening can easily be transplanted indoors. Accordingly, gardeners everywhere can continue to grow some of their very favorite vegetables and herbs even during the cold winter months. And finally, the book outlines how to best maintain your vertical vegetable garden. After all, getting your garden up and running is only half the battle.

    This book proves, through and through, how vertical vegetable gardening can profoundly improve your life. Not only will you reap the nutritional rewards of a traditional vegetable garden, but will do so efficiently within your tiny outdoor space.

    Here’s What You Will Learn Inside The Book:

    * The Bountiful Benefits of Vertical Gardening
    * Building A Well-Rounded Vertical Vegetable Wall
    * Different Approaches to Vertically-Mounting Your Vegetables
    * Vertical Herb Garden
    * Indoor Vertical Gardening Made Easy
    * Maintaining Your Vertical Garden

    Would You Like To Know All That And Much More??

    Invest in yourself and take action today by downloading this book for $2.99 only!
    Scroll up and download now!

    Tags: vertical gardening, vertical gardening for beginners, square foot gardening, straw bale gardening, hydroponics for beginners, permaculture for beginners, square foot gardening book, Straw bale gardening, Straw bale gardening for beginners, Straw bale gardens, square foot gardening, vertical gardening, permaculture for beginners, hydroponics for beginners, square foot gardening, square foot gardening book, square foot gardening for beginners, square foot gardening kindle, square foot gardening guide, square foot garden, hydroponics for beginners, Hydroponics, hydroponics for beginners, hydroponics for dummies, Aquaponics, Aquaponics for beginners, aquaponics at home, hydroponic gardening, Permaculture, Permaculture for beginners, permaculture design, permaculture gardening



    Full Customer Reviews:


  • Growing Vegetables with a Smile (Gardening with a Smile, Book 1)

    Growing Vegetables with a Smile (Gardening with a Smile, Book 1)


    MANIFEST YOUR PERSONAL GROWTH IN YOUR GARDEN! “Growing Vegetables with a Smile” takes you to where no other book ever has – cultivating your happiness one garden bed at a time! Unlock your creative abilities by understanding plants and the soil, and use your garden as a model for achieving success in life. “GIVE ME…;





    MANIFEST YOUR PERSONAL GROWTH IN YOUR GARDEN! “Growing Vegetables with a Smile” takes you to where no other book ever has – cultivating your happiness one garden bed at a time! Unlock your creative abilities by understanding plants and the soil, and use your garden as a model for achieving success in life. “GIVE ME SOME DIRT TO PLANT A PARADISE GARDEN!” This book has already sold over one million copies in other languages. It touches your heart and wows your mind. Author’s humor and positive attitude are contagious. Even if you never gardened before, you will feel like running into your backyard, sticking seeds into the soil, and then… growing WITH your plants! ADVANCING HUMANITY ONE GARDEN AT A TIME. Packed with practical advice on all aspects of natural growing, this uplifting volume makes the joy of a bountiful harvest accessible to all. It invites you to become a co-creator with your land, showing that gardening is as much about you as it is about cucumbers and tomatoes. A global transformation begins with your smile and your backyard! THE ULTIMATE INFORMATION-WRAPPING EXPERIENCE. A renowned educator, Nikolay Kurdyumov makes extensive use of advanced information-wrapping techniques, infusing each sentence with information and emotion. You will feel like you’ve just received a PhD in Organic Agriculture! Full-color photos and over 100 funny illustrations make for an amazing “reading & growing” experience. “LIKE AN IGNITION SPARK” – READERS’ REVIEWS. “Kurdyumov is Russia’s best gardening author. He has a unique gift to make us aware of what we’ve always seen but never paid any attention to – the keys to our own happiness as revealed by our garden plants. He explains it all in such an accessible manner. Pure genius!” – Konstantin. “I now get an emotional uplift every time I work in the garden! I’ve arranged it all following the advice in this book. It’s immensely enjoyable, easy, and everything grows so well.” – NatalieUsed Book in Good Condition



    Full Customer Reviews:


  • The Unconventional Edible Garden: Growing Food in Texas and Other Hard and Difficult Places

    The Unconventional Edible Garden: Growing Food in Texas and Other Hard and Difficult Places

    This entry is in the series Best Niche Gardening Books

    The Unconventional Edible Garden is an 8×10″, softcover, 140-page month-by-month growing guide with concise monthly to-do lists, planting instructions, permaculture musings, and personal memoirs. There are no other books on the market for our climate like this and it will be a treasure for so many gardeners!;





    The Unconventional Edible Garden is an 8×10″, softcover, 140-page month-by-month growing guide with concise monthly to-do lists, planting instructions, permaculture musings, and personal memoirs. There are no other books on the market for our climate like this and it will be a treasure for so many gardeners!



    Full Customer Reviews:


  • Alternative Crops for Drylands: Proactively Adapting to Climate Change and Water Shortages

    Alternative Crops for Drylands: Proactively Adapting to Climate Change and Water Shortages

    This entry is in the series Best Climate Regional Specific Books

    www.cropsfordrylands.com Alternative Crops for Drylands: Proactively Adapting to Climate Change and Water Shortages is a new book that delves into the earth’s smorgasbord of underappreciated edible plants native to the often waterless corners of the world. Research and development should be poured into these plants now, before climate change contributes further to the worldwide spread…;





    www.cropsfordrylands.com Alternative Crops for Drylands: Proactively Adapting to Climate Change and Water Shortages is a new book that delves into the earth’s smorgasbord of underappreciated edible plants native to the often waterless corners of the world. Research and development should be poured into these plants now, before climate change contributes further to the worldwide spread of deserts. The growing global water crisis has contributed to the depletion of ancient water reserves known as aquifers, dried up rivers and lakes, and to 1.1 billion people not having access to safe drinking water. Worldwide, irrigation accounts for about 70% of freshwater usage. In order to drastically reduce water consumption, the global food supply will need to become much more waterwise. Improved cultivation techniques and technologies are central to this end. Yet, the development of new crop species taken from the wild is equally as important. Certain wild plants such as the South African Marula tree, for example, may yield multiple tons of a nut crop and fruit crop from the same tree in a single year, while requiring no irrigation. The purpose of Alternative Crops for Drylands is to provide a botanical arsenal for combating deforestation & desertification, healing parched landscapes, and simultaneously creating fecund, edible oases in place of today’s degraded landscapes. As such, the book highlights about 70 useful plant species, and discusses their cultural & climatic requirements, native habitats, uses, nutrition, and even propagation requirements. At 324 pages in length, Alternative Crops for Drylands is a unique and useful reference book presented with over 80 full color photographs illustrating the book’s featured plants. The book is technical enough to interest professionals, yet is not too complex for the amateur grower. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6dmrrcbNSxo



    Full Customer Reviews:


  • The Woodland House

    The Woodland House


    Designed as a dual-purpose book, The Woodland House is both a volume for the armchair enthusiast and an inspirational guide for those wishing to build a similar structure. Beautifully illustrated with more than 100 color photos, this step-by-step guide shows how Ben built his home, hewn from his own woodland, for under $45,000. It covers…;





    Designed as a dual-purpose book, The Woodland House is both a volume for the armchair enthusiast and an inspirational guide for those wishing to build a similar structure. Beautifully illustrated with more than 100 color photos, this step-by-step guide shows how Ben built his home, hewn from his own woodland, for under $45,000. It covers the basics of self-building and gives full details of the evolving design process, the identifying of materials, costs, project management, and the actual building stages, from foundations and frames, through to interior features. Includes a seven-year update detailing the extension of the house, natural insulation trials, and round-wood engineering calculations.

    The building of Ben’s house was filmed for the Grand Design television series and has proved to be the most popular program of the series. He has also been featured on the Discovery Channel and Home & Garden Network’s The World’s Most Extreme Homes.

    Permanent Publications



    Full Customer Reviews:


  • Edible Trees: A practical and inspirational guide from Plants For A Future on how to grow and harvest trees with edible and other useful produce.

    Edible Trees: A practical and inspirational guide from Plants For A Future on how to grow and harvest trees with edible and other useful produce.

    This entry is in the series Best Food Forest Books

    When we think of edible trees we tend to focus on a few common varieties that give us fruit. However, many excellent less well-known trees can produce edible flowers, oil, seed, nuts, leaves, sap and bark as well as fruit. Many also have important medicinal applications. We also identify other uses of products derived from…;



    CreateSpace Independent Publishing PlatformPrice: $24.99 Free Shipping



    When we think of edible trees we tend to focus on a few common varieties that give us fruit. However, many excellent less well-known trees can produce edible flowers, oil, seed, nuts, leaves, sap and bark as well as fruit. Many also have important medicinal applications. We also identify other uses of products derived from these trees, including fibres for clothes, rope and paper, oils for lubricants, fuels, water proofing and wood preservatives, dyes, construction materials, and more. In this book we describe 50 of our favourite edible trees, each one illustrated and arranged alphabetically by common name. Complementing the images is a physical description of each species, and information on their origin, growth-habit, preferred hardiness zone, edible and medicinal ratings, known hazards, weed potential, propagation, care and cultivation. This book describes and provides advice on growing Plants For A Future’s favourite edible trees.



    Full Customer Reviews:


Malcare WordPress Security