by Tina Velgos | by Tina Velgos |
Extreme Gardening: How To Grow Organic In The Hostile Deserts |
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Extremely practical guide to growing stuff in the desert!
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| We all need a Garden Guy! Dave Owens, an Arizona landscaping pro, is a genius when it
comes to growing organic plants in the desert. Whether you live in LA or Phoenix and you're clueless when it comes to planting stuff or you really dig gardening in Las Vegas or Scottsdale, this book is the best $15 you can sink into your garden! Owens proves that a little common sense goes a long way. He takes it a step farther in his book, Extreme Gardening: How To Grow Organic In The Hostile Deserts, sharing important tips on companion plants to home brewed compost. For instance, if there's a pest that's bothering you and your plants, this book will give you helpful natural options to pesky pest control. In other words, put down the chemicals and read the book, stupid! Whoa, sounds like I graduated from the Judge Judy school! (Note: this is a joke..there is no Judge Judy school that I'm aware of). A big green thumb's up to The Garden Guy's environmentally friendly advice. I've recommended this book to several folks (including neighbors) who freak out when it comes to pest control. So, if you live in the desert and you garden (or would like to start a garden), read this book and pass along the word! Eliminating chemicals in our environment is essential. It can start with you and your yard, and evolve into your own neighborhood! The book is organized in four sections: 1. Concepts - fundamental garden design and the skinny on Southwest desert soils, compost, companion plants and "alternative gardens" 2. Garden Goodies -a hefty section on veggies (if you don't like broccoli, skip it!), fruit and nuts, flowers, herbs, and grass and lawn. 3. Controlling "Extreme" Pests - a nice in-depth on organic pest control, including insect identification, damage assessment, and helpful plants. 4. Looking Ahead - The Garden Guy's earth-friendly vision for the future. The text is set in an easy-to-read font and includes a few handy diagrams -- perfect for patio reading. If you're looking for a pretty coffee-table book, keep looking! This book is a functional tool and it makes you think about what YOU can do to improve your garden without employing a landscaping crew. So, get out the old-fashioned shovels and rakes and help clean up our air pollution from those ugly gas-powered blowers which all of the gardening crews seem to attack gardens with! Bottom line: The Garden Guy could be a stand-up comedian. He's a guru when it comes to desert gardening and the book is well-written and fun to read. For me, the temptation was great to start a whole 'nother garden after reading this book! |
