Synopses & Reviews
Organic gardening means different things to different people. Everybody agrees that it means avoiding synthetic fertilizers and pesticides. For many it’s about having safe food to eat. For others is about non-toxic lawns. But organic gardening is about much more than good eating and nice landscapes. It’s also about making conscious decisions and taking responsibility for actions that affect the world outside your backdoor, beyond the end of your driveway, and outside the boundaries of your hometown. Growing organic food, flowers and landscapes represents a commitment to a sustainable system of living that is in harmony with nature. For many people, organic gardening is a way of life.
Whether you’re cultivating a fruit and vegetable garden, maintaining your lawn, or growing roses, this book shows you how to work with nature, not against it, to create an organic garden your whole family will enjoy. Well known gardening author and journalist, Anne Whitman, with the full support of The National Gardening Association, gets you up and running with what you need to know to:
- Design a resilient garden
- Wipe out weeds without chemical pesticides
- Combat pests with natural insect predators
- Buy or make compost and build healthy soil
- Prevent and control plant diseases naturally
- Find good organic suppliers and information sources
This enjoyable, easy-to-understand guide fills you in on the what, when, where, why, how and who of growing plants but protecting the environment. From composting and mulching to harvesting fresh fruits and vegetables, Organic Gardening For Dummies covers all the bases with clear, step-by-step coverage of:
- The basic concepts, practices and tools of organic gardening
- Building healthy soil and using organic fertilizers
- Keeping plants healthy, including tips on controlling pests safely
- Growing organically in your yard and garden—covers vegetables, herbs, small fruits, large fruits and nuts, flowers, trees and shrubs, and more
- Organic lawn care
- Organic solutions for challenging soils and climates
Organic gardening methods help the planet and yield healthier plants and people. Now Organic Gardening For Dummies makes it easy for you to grow organically.
Synopsis
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.
About the Author
The National Gardening Association is the largestmember-based, nonprofit organization of home gardeners in the United States. Founded in 1972 (as Gardens for All) to spearhead the community gardenmovement, today's NGA is best known for its bimonthly publication, National Gardening magazine. Reporting on all aspects of home gardening, each issue isread by some half-million gardeners worldwide.
Table of Contents
Introduction.
About This Book.
Conventions Used in This Book.
Foolish Assumptions.
How This Book Is Organized.
Part I: Understanding the Basics of Organic Gardening.
Part II: Working with Your Soil.
Part III: Keeping Plants Healthy.
Part IV: Growing Organically in Your Yard and Garden.
Part V: The Part of Tens.
Color photo section.
Icons Used in This Book.
Where to Go from Here.
Part I: Understanding the Basics of Organic Gardening.
Chapter 1: Defining Organic Gardening.
Chapter 2: Organic Gardening 101.
Chapter 3: Designing For Diversity.
Part II: Working with Your Soil.
Chapter 4: Building Healthy Soil.
Chapter 5: Using Organic Fertilizers>
Part III: Keeping Plants Healthy.
Chapter 6: Weed It and Reap!
Chapter 7: Sleuthing Out the Suspects.
Chapter 8: Getting Physical with Pests.
Chapter 9: Controlling Pests Safely.
Chapter 10: Battling Plant Diseases.
Part IV: Growing Organically in Your Yard and Garden.
Chapter 11: Raising Organic Vegetables.
Chapter 12: Herbs for Home and Garden.
Chapter 13: Picking from the Berry Patch.
Chapter 14: Fruits and Nuts for Your Organic Orchard.
Chapter 15: Say it with Flowers.
Chapter 16: Run for the Roses.
Chapter 17: Managing Landscape Trees and Shrubs.
Chapter 18: Caring for Your Organic Lawn.
Part V: The Part of Tens.
Chapter 19: Ten Best Organic Gardening Practices.
Chapter 20: Ten Ways to Be an Eco-Smart Gardener.
Appendix.