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Books > Gardening > Specialized gardening methods
The Little Book of Crops in Small Spots introduces newbie gardeners
to the art of growing successfully. Particularly focused on small
space gardening, this book is the ideal modern guide for those with
a compact urban gardens, courtyard, patio or even just a balcony.
Including a handy directory of the best 40 fruit and vegetables to
grow no matter how small your space, Jane will show you how to get
started with her expert tips and indispensable gardening advice to
becoming more self-sufficient. Discover how to maximise your
growing power and enjoy getting stuck in as you produce crops to
harvest all year round.
Gardening for Everyone is a sustainable guide to growing vegetables
in five simple steps: planning, building, planting, tending and
harvesting. With the same wisdom and stunning aesthetic as Simply
Living Well, Julia's beautiful new book is a guide to creating and
growing a garden simply and sustainably with profiles of essential
vegetables and herbs, ecological tips, and fun and creative
projects. Growing food in your backyard (or even on a porch or
windowsill!) is one of the simplest and most rewarding ways to
nourish yourself, be self-sufficient and connect with nature in a
hands-on way. Here sustainability expert Julia Watkins shares
everything you need to know to grow your own vegetables, fruits and
herbs, as well as wildflowers and other beneficial companion
plants. The book covers all the nuts and bolts of creating and
caring for your garden - planning, building, planting, tending and
harvesting - followed by a deeper dive into the plants themselves:
demystifying annuals vs. perennials, cold-weather vs. warm-weather
veggies, and profiles of favorite crops. Throughout, Julia offers
tips for creating an eco-friendly and sustainable garden (such as
vermicomposting, no-till 'lasagna' gardening, and attracting
pollinators), plus some fun and unexpected hands-on projects like
how to build a bean teepee, make wildflower seed paper, and enjoy
refreshing herbal lemonade ice pops.
The beauty and evolution of an intriguing art form.The Montreal
Botanical Garden's collections of bonsai and penjing are among the
best in North America, including more than 350 trees, some dating
from the 17th century. For the first time, these stylized
horticultural creations have been brought together in a single
volume, illuminating the evolution of the aesthetic tradition of
this Asian art form.Featuring beautifully rendered photographs of
many of the miniature trees in the collection, Bonsai | Penjing:
The Collections of the Montreal Botanical Garden offers an up-close
view of these extraordinary specimens. Miniaturized reflections of
their natural environment, these works of horticultural art
translate the world views of bonsai and penjing masters from
different philosophical traditions. In a few instances, they
integrate contemporary North American vision of the ancient Asian
traditions.Author Danielle Ouellet interviewed many of the artists
who created these works, in some instances travelling to Asia to
meet with some of the contemporary masters of this art form. As a
result, she brings to life an historical portrait of Bonsai and
Penjing, their underlying aesthetic principles, and an
understanding of how to view and interpret the captivating living
culptures of these traditions.
Fruit trees, shrubs, and vines are true two-for-one plants. Many
varieties are strikingly beautiful - well suited to doing double
duty as delicious sources of sweet, organic fruit and as ornamental
additions to the home landscape. Backyard fruit plants also tie in
perfectly with the growing locavore movement. It's difficult to
find food that's more local than one's own backyard!
"Luscious landscaping," as author Lee Reich calls it, takes
fruit-bearing plants off the commercial farm and replants the
prettiest and tastiest specimens in suburban and rural yards.
Spring blossoms, summer and fall fruit, and the year-round presence
of the plants themselves bring a special magic to the home
landscape. Pillowy pink blossoms on peach branches or the bright
orange fruit of persimmon trees perk up their surroundings with
color and drama.
Beautiful plants, yes, but these landscaping additions also
provide sweet, nutritious fruit. Homegrown, organic varieties bear
almost no resemblance to commercially produced fruits, which are
bred and selected to withstand shipping and refrigerated storage
conditions. It's hard to believe that Alpine strawberries and those
grown in California and shipped across the country are even
related!
Fruitscaping is a complete, no-nonsense guide to growing
temperate-zone fruit, with information on everything from planting
and pruning to pest control and harvesting. Readers will find all
the basics of landscaping with fruit - site analysis, climate
assessment, understanding soil and sun, plant selection, and
optimizing growing conditions. An encyclopedia of 38 plants
includes information for each entry on hardiness, size, potential
pests, special care andpruning, harvesting, and visual appeal.
In this beautifully illustrated guide, best-selling author Sally
Coulthard demonstrates how to transform your living and working
spaces into places that put you in touch with nature. Eight
inspiring chapters cover key elements for the 'biophilic home',
including materials, views, colour and natural light. Each section
explores the links between home, health and happiness, drawing on
environmental research and neuroscience while making practical
suggestions for bringing the natural world into your home. Bring
nature indoors with flowers and plants, rediscover the innate
pleasure of real fires and fresh air, and learn how to improve your
mood and sleep patterns with dynamic light. Create a space filled
with natural elements, patterns, nature's colours, fabrics and
textures that lift your mood; find out why natural sounds and water
are soothing; and learn how to make small changes that will
inspire, invigorate and enrich your relationship with the natural
world. 'As best-selling author and designer, Sally Coulthard,
reveals in this guide, creating a 'biophilic home' can have a huge
impact on your wellbeing; improving your mood and encouraging
healthier sleep patterns...Be it plants, materials, colour or
light, it's enlightening to see how small changes can make a big
difference, while deepening your respect and correlation to the
natural world.' FORBES Magazine 'How to embrace the natural world
by transforming your interior spaces with specific materials,
colours, views and sounds.' Gardens Illustrated 'Humans are
mammals, programmed over millennia to respond to the natural world.
We may be able to live and work in man-made environments most of
the time. But according to a new movement of "biophilic" designers
and enthusiasts, we are not thriving...writer Sally Coulthard
likens it to the practice of keeping animals in captivity, in
surroundings ill-suited to their needs. "We live in a world that is
fundamentally mismatched to our evolutionary adaptation - we don't
see, hear and feel the things that we are programmed to respond
to," she writes.' Financial Times 'In this beautifully illustrated
hardback, Coulthard explores the many benefits of biophilic design,
drawing on environmental and neuroscientific research to uncover
the links between home, health and happiness. A fascinating and
uplifting read that looks at the science behind feel good
furnishings.' The Independent 'Never before has the need been
greater for being more connected with the natural world, as more
and more of us spend longer periods in our own homes. Divided into
eight chapters covering key elements for the 'biophilic home',
including materials, views, colour and natural light, the book
explores the links between home, health and happiness. Drawing on
environmental research and neuroscience, Sally makes practical
suggestions for bringing the natural world into our homes,
positively impacting cognitive function, psychological health and
general well-being.' The Lifestyle Editor '...bestselling author
Sally Coulthard picks out...the easiest ways we can bring nature
indoors' Town and Country House magazine '[Sally] recounts how
biophilia, the idea that humans are viscerally wired to feel a
communion with the natural world, has shifted from a hypothesis
espoused by the biologist Edward O. Wilson and others to the
emergence of urban beekeeping, increasingly diverse city gardens
and wild ideas for residences and workplaces.' New York Times 'an
excellent book' 50 Plus Magazine 'Sally Coulthard's new book
'Biophilia', explains how important the colours of the natural
world are for decorating' Esquire Magazine 'Biophilia, a new book
by Yorkshire author Sally Coulthard, reveals how staying close to
nature will make you healthier and happier.' Yorkshire Post
'Coulthard explores ways to harmonize home and the natural word.
She covers proper lighting, temperature, and airflow; decorating
with natural materials; beneficial colors and patterns, and more.'
Publishers Weekly 'Probably the most beautifully produced book I've
read for many a year, with such fabulously written text, I have to
say it is such a delight to read, you feel like you are holding
nature in your hands. Each page brings with it something inspiring,
from colour, to light, to sound, to choosing materials,
temperature, views, spaces, water and more.' Argenta Wellness 'Our
senses are wired to seek out the natural world. In author and
designer Sally Coulthard's exploration of organic and natural
design, she breaks down how homes can be designed to tap into our
fundamental attraction to the outdoors. In addition to techniques
that can improve our wellness, Coulthard's advice can also make
interiors feel more like home even as they bring nature inside.' LX
Collection 'A beautifully illustrated book packed with ideas for
bringing the outside inside to your home or workplace.'
Spirituality and Practice 'North Yorkshire writer Sally Coulthard
is your guide to green living in her new book' Great British Life
Any gardener who already works with biodynamics will tell you the
difference it has made to his or her garden. From crispier lettuce
to more intensely-flavoured onions, biodynamics is a great way to
get your garden to produce tasty, nutrient-packed fruit and
vegetables. The ideas behind biodynamics can sometimes be difficult
to explain, however, and appear rather strange to those who are new
to the technique. Hilary Wright, an experienced and passionate
biodynamic gardener, guides the novice through the key points,
whilst never losing sight of the ultimate goal: a healthy, abundant
garden. Easy-to-follow step-by-step illustrations, explanatory
diagrams and colour photographs show how biodynamic techniques can
work for any gardener.
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