Earth Day Reading Project

As gardeners working the land, whether for food or for flowers, we know that our actions can either hurt or help the soil, the plants, and the many animals that come into our gardens.

Christine at The Gardening Blog has invited me to participate in The Sage Butterfly's Reading Project for Earth Day.   I love to read, and am constantly reading a garden book.  But, not all qualify as something inspiring for Earth Day.  However, these three jump out at me as perfectly fitting and worth recommending:

1) All New Square Foot Gardening by Mel Bartholomew
Are you new at vegetable gardening?  Do you want to get started but are unsure how?  Do you have just a small space for a vegetable garden?  Do you want a simple, almost weed-free, pretty vegetable bed?  Well, this is the book for you!  This books makes vegetable gardening easy!  After reading this book, having a vegetable garden seemed so doable, so attainable, and so simple that I just had to try!  And, besides, I love the organized look of vegetables in raised beds.  Growing vegetables in this way has been fun and rewarding.  It's also space saving and efficient.  Try it!

2) Farm City: The Education of an Urban Farmer  by Novella Carpenter
Have you ever thought of becoming self-sufficient?  Do you wonder what it's like to really live on only what you can grow?  Do you ponder thoughts of having animals that you may eventually have to kill and eat? Then this book is for you.  Learning to farm in the middle of a city takes determination.  In this book, not only does she plant a garden, she raises animals.  She shows, first hand, that self-sufficiency is possible.  Never having raised farm animals myself, I loved learning about chickens, rabbits, and ducks from her.  But mostly, I loved this book because she showed such respect in the value of life and the sacrifice that was made just so she could eat.  She went to greater lengths than I would be prepared to do, and I don't recommend all methods employed, but still, I definitely recommend reading this entertaining book.

3) Not a book, but a website - Urban Homestead (Path to Freedom) (urbanhomestead.org)
Want to take self-sufficiency a step farther?  Then this family will show you the way!  Although living in a city, this family still decided to become self-sufficient.  It took several years, but they didn't stop at that!  They also sell a portion of their harvests to restaurants as income.  Their harvest numbers are amazing and really demonstrate the bounty of nature. Not only do they grow their own food, they also use bio-diesel for their vehicle, use water and electricity frugally, and are working to be self-sufficient in every aspect of their lives.  Worth a look.

I have also invited :

Marcia at Birds Blooms Books etc,

Lisa at A Walk in Our Garden 

and Cynthia at On a Hays County Hill

to join me in naming some garden books for this Earth Day Reading Project.  Check them out - I'm certain they will have wonderful recommendations!