Showing posts with label permaculture. Show all posts
Showing posts with label permaculture. Show all posts

Monday, March 22, 2010

Farmers of Forty Centuries


This is a book that I just recently read and want to recommend to my followers here. It is a wonderful and enlightening book written around a hundred years ago by one of the USDA researchers who went on an extended information gathering trip through China, Korea, and Japan to study their agricultural practices. I couldn't put it down and I know you won't be able to either.

Some of the book can be quite dry since it was after all a report for the USDA on how we could utilize the successes of the Asian countries. Of course it was a wasted trip since it was never incorporated here as it is very labor intensive. Such a shame! You as an individual eco-farmer/gardener can and should consider some of their ideas into your plans. I am.

I give this book ***** stars!

Wednesday, March 04, 2009

Square Foot Gardening



I am a huge fan of Square Foot Gardening. It just makes so much sense and is lovely to look at, too!

When Mel Bartholomew first came out with his first printing of this book way back when he had me hooked from the start. He also had a show on Square Foot Gardening on PBS if memory serves. Wish I could get copies of those tapes!

In this day and age when being frugal with all of our resources is more important than ever, his system just makes perfect sense. It saves time, labor, water, and does not have to take any fossil fuels in order to re-till it every year. If you combine Mel's theories with the theories in the Lasagna Gardening book, you have a perfect combination for any and all gardeners. It doesn't matter if you are into doing it with the squares as he suggests or if you garden in containers. It's all the same and it will all work together very well.

I highly suggest picking up a copy of both these books. I can guarantee that you will reach for them time and time again in your gardening daze ahead. Want it now? Just click on the Amazon.com link below and it will take you right to the book section. Be sure and let me know how you enjoyed these books by placing a comment on my blog...later gator!

Tuesday, February 17, 2009

Micro Eco-Farming


I recently purchased the book, Micro Eco-Farming by Barbara Berst Adams. So far I have read it from cover to cover three times. Why, you ask? I guess because it describes my own life. Making a living from my own place by doing what I do best. Soon, my dh will join me here to do what he does best.

Micro Eco-Farming is sustainablly living on your own property, no matter how small, and managing to make a living for yourself and or your family. It is being done all over the country and world but is just now becoming noticed. It is not for everyone, but those who are not afraid of hard work and do not want to have a boss hanging over their shoulder 8-10 hours a day, it is a dream job!

Those who read my posts on a regular basis know that I grow rare plants for plant collectors and bonsai enthusiasts. I also make garden art under the pseudonym, 'Lenora', sell my home baked cookies and other delectable, in a tiny gift/tea cottage next to my greenhouse and love to talk "dirt". I also sell a wonderful plant elixir that I developed myself over the past 40 years that will provoke miracles in sickly plants or new cuttings.

My dh is an auto body shop owner and has built a 30' X 50' shop next to my greenhouse and cottage that resembles a red barn. He is moving here shortly to semi-retire at stb 65 in August. To retire completely is in neither of our vocabularies.

I am not going to give anything away on the above mentioned book, but I highly recommend you read it if you are wanting to "live the good life". You won't be sorry. It will give you the encouragement and ideas you need to step out of the mainstream and step into another realm. Small, interesting, and inexpensive so give it a read.

*I have no connection with the author and am receiving no renumerations for mentioning her book here.