GREEN LIVING with Jessica The Intelligent Gardener: Growing Nutrient Dense Food by Steve Soloman
available now, paperback, New Society
Drawing on personal experience and years of gardening expertise and experimentation, Soloman explains why just eating homegrown produce is not enough to lead a healthier life. The key is the underlying health and nutrient profile of the soils. Soloman presents a step-bystep method of improving that baseline and your health in the process, all in an easy-to-read and understand style that isn’t bogged down in jargon. —Jessica
The Vegetable Gardener’s Guide to Permaculture: Creating an Edible Ecosystem by Christopher Shein
available now, paperback, Timber Press
Permaculture is a growing gardening movement that is steadily gaining strength in the USA after its birth in Australia. This is a good introduction to the concepts and practices involved in permaculture with a focus on small food gardens. Short, digestible sections are interspersed with project ideas and inspiring photographs, a wonderful way to start this year's garden. —Jessica
Paradise Lot: Two Plant Geeks, One-Tenth of an Acre, and the Making of an Edible Garden Oasis in the City by Eric Toensmeier
available now, paperback, Chelsea Green
An incredible journey 12 years in the making, Paradise Lot is part memoir and part how-to as two friends attempt to turn a barren urban lot into a permaculture paradise. The story follows their dream from conception to implementation with plenty of humor in the form of experimental vegetables, runaway livestock and budding plant-geek romance. A wonderfully inspirational book that really shows what you can do with dedication, good humor and a lot of creative gardening. —Jessica
360-671-2626 • 800-392-BOOK • www.villagebooks.com
Top-Bar Beekeeping: Organic Practices for Honeybee Health
by Les Crowder and Heather Harrell available now, paperback, Chelsea Green , Finally a book detailing Top - Bar beekeeping, a method that is more natural for the bees, and more economical for the beekeeper. The authors have a very reader-friendly style that explains everything from the basics of keeping a hive to the intricacies of management for health and production. I was most impressed with the discussion of selecting queens for disease resistance without resorting to chemicals. If you’re considering bees this spring, consider this book! —Jessica
Farms with a Future: Creating and Growing a Sustainable Farm Business by Rebecca Thistlethwaite
available now, paperback, Chelsea Green
This book is not for romantics—you won’t find glossy pictures of perfectly ripe produce or frolicking livestock. You WILL find solid, practical advice and case studies from the new generation of farmers. Each chapter opens with some poignant, relevant advice, moves on to a brief case-study and closes with ‘takehome messages.’ The case studies come from across the US, and Thistlethwaite covers topics like finding land, soil and water conservation, and regulations. If you dream of farming, this is a must read. —Jessica
Rebuilding the Foodshed: How to Create Local, Sustainable, and Secure Food Systems by Philip Ackerman-Leist
available now, paperback, Chelsea Green
Ackerman-Leist has put together a critical look at not only what is wrong with our industrial food system, but more importantly how a local food system would serve us better. His discussions on the challenges of local food systems, the benefits of the same and finally a solid look at developing and successful trends around the country are eye-opening. Overall a fantastic handbook for implementing real and lasting change to our broken food system. —Jessica
Spring 2013
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