Synopses & Reviews
In his influential
A Sand County Almanac, published at the beginning of the environmental movement in 1949, Aldo Leopold proposed a new ecological ethic to guide our stewardship of the planet. In this inspiring book, Sarah Hayden Reichard tells how we can bring Leopoldand#8217;s far-reaching vision to our gardens to make them more sustainable, lively, and healthy places. Today, gardening practices too often damage the environment: we deplete resources in our own soil while mining for soil amendments in far away places, or use water and pesticides in ways that can pollute lakes and rivers. Drawing from cutting edge research on urban horticulture, Reichard explores the many benefits of sustainable gardening and gives straightforward, practical advice on topics such as pest control, water conservation, living with native animals, mulching, and invasive species.
The book includes a scorecard that allows readers to quickly evaluate the sustainability of their current practices, as well as an extensive list of garden plants that are invasive, what they do, and where they should be avoided.
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and#8220;A modest and unassuming but powerful book. . . (Argues) that gardeners should be on the front line when it comes to recognizing the interconnection of mankind and nature.and#8221;
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and#8220;Her search for a garden ethic based on both science and a love of the land can serve as a model for gardeners everywhere.and#8221;
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“Now is the time for a book like Reichards.” Seattle Times
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and#8220;Succinct guidelines and extensive plant lists transform Reichardand#8217;s cogent and considered ecological discourse into a practical and illuminating handbook for concerned and responsible gardeners.and#8221;
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Sustainable gardening and landscaping is a hot topic these days, and Reichardand#8217;s book is a useful contribution in this area.and#8221;
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and#8220;This book is even keeled, well-researched and has a positive vibe.and#8221;
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and#8220;Now is the time for a book like Reichardand#8217;s.and#8221;
About the Author
Sarah Hayden Reichard is Professor of Conservation Biology and Adjunct Professor of Landscape Architecture at the University of Washington. She is also Curator of the Hyde Herbarium at the University of Washington and heads the Rare Plant Care and Conservation Program, both at the University of Washington Botanic Gardens. She is coeditor of Invasive Species in the Pacific Northwest.
Table of Contents
Foreword, by Peter Raven
Introduction: The Land Ethic
1. The Skin of the Earth
2. Water, Our Most Precious Resource
3. Should You Go Native?
4. Aliens among Us
5. The Wild Kingdom
6. Preventing and Managing Pests
7. Confronting Climate Change
8. Recycle, Reduce, Reuse, Repurpose
Epilogue: Toward a Garden Ethic
Acknowledgments
Appendix: Global List of Invasive Garden Plants
Glossary
Resources
Index