How to Grow More Vegetables Than You Ever Thought Possible on Less Land Than You Can Imagine: A Primer on the Life-Giving Biodynamic/French Intensiv

How to Grow More Vegetables Than You Ever Thought Possible on Less Land Than You Can Imagine: A Primer on the Life-Giving Biodynamic/French Intensiv
Average customer rating:

A good book with surplus pages

It's not easy, but it's brilliant and could save the world

Are you into numbers?

This is a great book

California Vegetarians

How to Grow More Vegetables Than You Ever Thought Possible on Less Land Than You Can Imagine: A Primer on the Life-Giving Biodynamic/French Intensiv
John Jeavons
Manufacturer: Ten Speed Pr
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Gardening & Horticulture | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

The Sustainable Vegetable Garden: A Backyard Guide to Healthy Soil and Higher Yields

Four-Season Harvest: Organic Vegetables from Your Home Garden All Year Long

Root Cellaring: Natural Cold Storage of Fruits & Vegetables

Seed to Seed: Seed Saving and Growing Techniques for Vegetable Gardeners

The New Organic Grower: A Master's Manual of Tools and Techniques for the Home and Market Gardener (A Gardener's Supply Book)

ASIN: 0898154154

Book Description

A classic in the field of sustainable gardening, HOW TO GROW MORE VEGETABLES shows how to produce a beautiful organic garden with minimal watering and care, whether it's just a few tomatoes in a tiny backyard or enough food to feed a family of four on less than half an acre. Updated with the latest biointensive tips and techniques, this is an essential reference for gardeners of all skill levels seeking to grow some or all of their own food.

Customer Reviews:

A good book with surplus pages.......2007-08-16

This is a definitive guide to the Bio- Intensive method of growing vegetables. It is well written, and you can see that a lot of time and effort are behind the concepts presented here.
Two things bother me; There`s an almost 100- page bibliography included in the book!? Couldn`t it have been put up on a website or something, instead of just making the book (look) bigger and thicker? The second issue is that I find it always a bit irritating when a lot of equipment or systems get mentioned in a book, but to get their specifics or plans you must buy another book. Maybe the plans for the U- bar or for the mini- greenhouse could have fitted on those bibliography pages?
Anyways, the four stars is for the part where the actual system gets described.

It's not easy, but it's brilliant and could save the world.......2007-05-22

I am impressed at how many people misunderstand the purpose of this book. It's not just a gardening book. It lays out a comprehensive guide to growing the most food you can on the least amount of land in the most sustainable way -- meaning the way that is, on an ongoing basis into perpetuity, most healthy both for your family, your land, and the wider world. All those things are connected, and maintaining the connection is part of what the book and authors are all about.

The title means what it says, and they tell you exactly how to do it, basing their recommendations on the work of the organization that publishes the book, Ecology Action. They have been growing experimental gardens and conducting detailed research over the past 35 years. In succeeding editions of "How to Grow More Vegetables" they summarize their continuing research for those interested in personally benefiting from their methods and discoveries.

Some may object to the excruciatingly detailed charts and plans. Some of us find them a godsend. Regardless of what we think of them, they are the outgrowth of years of research and are intended to help, not just backyard gardeners in the US, but people in Kenya, India, Russia, Mexico, and other places around the world, whose lives and livelihoods, not to mention the health of their environment, may depend on maximizing their yields while minimizing their purchased inputs and water usage.

The central fact underlying this method is this: the only way to achieve the highest sustainable yields is to build and feed your soil, and the only way to build your soil without taking away fertility from someone else's soil (through purchased inputs such as compost, fertilizer, etc.) is to make and use your own compost. This book explains why, and shows you how. It works.

Though we are still shielded from it in the US, the world is facing a potentially devastating loss of agricultural fertility due to a combination of squandered topsoil (lost through both development and abuse by chemicals and poor tillage practices), water shortages, and soaring prices and reduced availability of fossil fuels (which power the farm equipment, get it to market, and form the basis of most chemical fertilizers). Years ago, Ecology Action set out to discover in a rational and scientific way, just how much land and labor it would take to grow the amount of food, properly balanced for calories and nutrition, required by one person for one year. Could a family of four truly feed itself from a 1200 square foot garden if it had to, or wanted to? How much work and water would it take? How much fertilizer would they have to buy? Could they grow their own fertilizer? What tools would they need? What about fiber for clothing? Building materials? Animal feed?

The "How to Grow More Vegetables" books answer those questions, and much, much more. As the years go by, (and with each succeeding food contamination scandal) more of us, even in the US, are realizing just how important those questions are. You may not need or want all the information in this book. But it is all there, and nowhere else that I am aware of, for those who do want it.

This book could save the world, if only the world would pay attention. But it will also show you how to grow fabulous, tasty vegetables with less water, less work, less weeding, less money.

Are you into numbers?.......2007-05-12

I like John Jeavons and his book is very useful. However, I'm not into calculating and figuring every square inch in the garden with tables/charts. I enjoy growing for the freedom of spirit it provides. This book although very useful, feels very constrictive. Not to mention EVERY page has at least 5 mentions of "Grow Biointensive". I felt like a was reading a long drawn out advertisement. Enough John, say it in the intro and then leave us alone to enjoy the book. If we weren't interested in your method we wouldn't be reading your book.

This is a great book.......2007-05-04

I had an earlier edition of this book that I used as an introduction to high intensity gardening. I love the book because gives technical information on such things as soil pH, soil preparation, plant spacing, and crop yields. It probably is not a book for people that do not enjoy the technical aspects of gardening; those wanting only a quick fix approach. I have ordered the 7th edition.

California Vegetarians .......2007-03-05

I have gardened organically for over 30 years, and always love to read good gardening books hoping to learn more. Unfortunately this book is so very focused on being totally vegetarian that they do not even recommend animal manures to be used in compost. I feel that they have totally ignored the natural cycles of birth - death - decomposition - and rebirth. A quote that says it all is, "Everything that eats is in turn eaten". That includes plants that feed on the remains of other plants, insects, or algae and bacteria. The author overlooks the fact that there are no total vegetarians in nature. Even grazers, gorillas, and great whales ingest insects or micro-fauna along with their grass, leaves, and plankton.

How to Grow Fresh Air: 50 House Plants that Purify Your Home or Office

Average customer rating:

Fresh Air
plants with oxygen
I'm growing fresh air!
Why buy an airpurifier when you can buy plants!
A really great book.

How to Grow Fresh Air: 50 House Plants that Purify Your Home or Office
B. C. Wolverton
Manufacturer: Penguin (Non-Classics)
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Gardening & Horticulture | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books

House Plants | Gardening & Horticulture | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books

General | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books

The Naturally Clean Home: 100 Safe and Easy Herbal Formulas for Non-Toxic Cleansers
Better Basics for the Home: Simple Solutions for Less Toxic Living
Baking Soda: Over 500 Fabulous, Fun, and Frugal Uses You've Probably Never Thought Of (Lansky, Vicki)
Vinegar: Over 400 Various, Versatile, and Very Good Uses You've Probably Never Thought Of
Clean House Clean Planet

ASIN: 0140262431

Customer Reviews:

Fresh Air.......2007-09-27

This book was interesting. It was very easy to obtain the information I wanted to haelp with air problems. I enjoyed it and would recomend it.

plants with oxygen.......2007-09-06

Love the fact that this book has nice big pictures and explains
everything about the plant.
Have many plant books (from different states lived in) and this one is
very easy to read and understand and I love the pictures.

I'm growing fresh air!.......2007-07-11

Love this book. Exactly what I needed to help me decide which houseplants to buy. This book has plants for different temps, situations, needs, etc. I'm buying a copy for several of my family members. Beautiful on the coffee table too!

Why buy an airpurifier when you can buy plants!.......2007-07-03

Research based information about the value of plants in our homes. Certain plants absorb toxic gases from our carpets, furniture, and other items that can make the air in our homes as bad or worse than outdoors.

A really great book........2007-06-17

The photos are simple, beautiful, and informative. The information for each plant is really helpful, and it's nice to have a chart of which toxins come from which sources. I really enjoyed seeing the different plants and picking a good one for our house (although it was hard for me to track one down and I actually ended up buying seeds for it--I hope they'll grow!). The book is organized pretty intuitively, although navigation might take a little longer if you want to find a particular plant (since they're in order of overall rating rather than alphabetical order, you'd have to either use the index or flip for a while).
The only reason I didn't give the book five stars is that I would make an addition to each individual page with a plant on it: I'd list information about whether the plant is poisonous to humans and their pets. For people who have young children, cats, dogs, and/or other animals in the house (or the clinic, or wherever the plants will be placed), this is an important consideration.

Grow Organic: Over 250 Tips and Ideas for Growing Flowers, Veggies, Lawns and More

Average customer rating:

Good book, but something felt missing
Love the book
Well written and accessable
Organic gardening need not be a daunting task
A GREAT introduction into Organic gardening!

Grow Organic: Over 250 Tips and Ideas for Growing Flowers, Veggies, Lawns and More
Doug Oster , and Jessica Walliser
Manufacturer: St. Lynns Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Gardening & Horticulture | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books

Compost: The Gardener's Essential Compost and Recycling Bible
Rodale's Vegetable Garden Problem Solver
The Organic Lawn Care Manual
The Organic Gardener's Handbook of Natural Insect and Disease Control: A Complete Problem-Solving Guide to Keeping Your Garden and Yard Healthy Without Chemicals
Crops in Pots

ASIN: 0976763168
Release Date: 2007-04-02

Product Description

Millions of people now are gardening in America today. And the good news is that the "tipping point" for organic gardening is here to stay. Green is the new black. Grow Organic is an easy-to-read book that includes eight chapters on everything from soil management, to companion planting, to beneficial bugs for flowers and veggies. Each chapter contains quick tips for beginning gardeners and advanced quick tips in every chapter for experienced gardeners more than 250 in all. Co-authors Doug Oster and Jessica Walliser have nearly 50 years of gardening experience between them. Each chapter also includes "Tell-All" sections that share special methods they ve learned in their own gardens 'been there, done that' lessons.

Customer Reviews:

Good book, but something felt missing.......2007-06-13

I'm not a gardener, but a homeowner who was very impressed with Doug's appearance on a local Pittsburgh newsmagazine (OnQ). I got the book, and immediately liked it, particularly the section on composting and organic lawn care (which I cared most about).

The only reason it doesn't get 5 stars is because it seemed like just a collection of tips and tricks, without out enough structured how-tos. Maybe I just need it spelled out, or maybe I'm not hard-core enough of a gardener, but I can't give it the oh-my-god-this-is-the-best review. Though I still recommend it to anyone interested in gardening.

Love the book.......2007-05-16

In the past, we have used all of the typical lawn and garden chemicals. We want to go organic to be safe with animals and the environment. This book is the answer. We also love the radio show on Sunday mornings. Jessica and Doug are very informative and friendly to the callers.

Well written and accessable.......2007-05-06

My wife and I listen to Doug and Jessica's program on Sirius and, when we heard about their book, we knew it would be a good resource to have on hand. I enjoyed the conversational tone of the book-- it's kind of like listening to them on the air and makes it easy to absorb the knowledge they present.

While we have gardened organically for years, we've learned that it is both a science and an art. Like any art, there is much to be learned from those with with experience-- those who have made the mistakes you want to avoid. This is the first book I've read where the authors actually admit they've made mistakes and they don't make you feel guilty about having made any of your own.

The chapter with the step-by-step guide to organic pest control is great. Nothing makes you want to reach for the quick fix in a can like seeing your hard work invaded, but the steps given here (and the gentle reminders to be patient in letting nature achieve her balance) help maintain a little sanity while reminding you that an intelligent, methodical approach can help you keep the upper hand.

The other important point to make about any reference is that the index is effective.

I'd recommend this book to anyone who wants to start getting the chemicals out of their gardens but don't know where begin. For those who have been doing this for a while but can still benefit from good advice, the writing style is light and terse making it easy to skim over the bits you already know.

Organic gardening need not be a daunting task.......2007-04-28

So, you want to know everything about organic gardening but don't know what to ask? No problem. Just pick up a copy of the new book Grow Organic by Doug Oster and Jessica Walliser. The book has "over 250 Tips, and Ideas for Growing Flowers, Veggies, Lawns, and More," which means you won't have to ask any questions to get a good handle on understanding the ins and outs of organic gardening.

The authors say they will "arm you with all the know-how you'll need to garden organically." And that they will "be with you every step of the way." One of the first steps taken is to explain the term "organic." Eaters everywhere are ever more concerned about the ingredients in processed foods. Doug and Jessica want gardeners to return to the old ways of gardening, pre WWII, when "our great-grandparents gardened." That was before the introduction of hamful chemicals now used in many gardens and on many more farms.

Using "scare tactics" in a friendly manner, Jessica and Doug list nine pieces of "information" about why you should switch to organic gardening. Information such as: "Kids who grow up around conventional lawn and garden chemicals are 6½ times more likely to get leukemia than kids who grow up in an untreated environment," and the "67 million pounds of chemicals applied to residential lawns each year." (The authors add: "These are scary facts, and there are lots more where they came from." I do not doubt the words of the authors, however, a list of sources for the facts would have been appropriate.)

In Chapter 2, "Taking The Leap," Doug and Jessica explain the necessary steps needed to wean a garden off the " 'steroids' of chemical fertilizers" and convert it to "natural care." For the beginning organic gardener, this Chapter is most helpful. Jessica and Doug lay out a six-step process that is clear and understandable.

At the end of each Chapter, Doug and Jessica share their organic gardening knowledge with readers in their "Tells All" section. This is a personal touch I found very warm and informative - a lot like talking across the garden gate with your next-door neighbor. The authors also include end of chapter tips, tricks, and useful anecdotes on many aspects of organic gardening.

No gardening book would be complete without a chapter on the health of soil and Jessica and Doug have done an exceptional job with their Chapter "The Real
Dirt - Organic Soil Management" in Grow Organic. This Chapter stands out as one of the most important keys in our understanding as gardeners of the health of the soil in our gardens and its relationship to the plants, flowers, and vegetables we grow.

Doug Oster and Jessica Walliser have given gardeners an impressive tool to use to help them become not only better gardeners, but also better stewards of the land. Grow Organic should be on every gardener's book shelf, within easy reach.

A GREAT introduction into Organic gardening!.......2007-04-23

Being new to the world of gardening, especially organic gardening, this book has made my new hobby very enjoyable. The authors give easy to follow steps on how to make your garden and lawn beautiful while keeing your family (and the environment) safe. Whether you are new to organic gardening or a seasoned professional, everyone can take something away from reading this book.

Ultimate Homebased Business Handbook: How to Start,Run and Grow Your Own Profitable Business

Average customer rating:

Quite Thorough
Excellent Book
Working from home made easy
Excellent Value

Ultimate Homebased Business Handbook: How to Start,Run and Grow Your Own Profitable Business
James Stephenson
Manufacturer: Entrepreneur Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

General | Small Business & Entrepreneurship | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

Home Based | Small Business & Entrepreneurship | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
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202 Services You Can Sell For Big Profits (202 Services You Can Sell for Big Profits)
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202 Things You Can Buy and Sell For Big Profits! (202 Things You Can Buy & Sell for Big Profits)
202 Things You Can Make and Sell for Big Profits (202 Things You Can Make & Sell for Big Profits)
Tutoring as a Successful Business - An Expert Tutor Shows You How

ASIN: 1932531025

Book Description

Here's the proven road map to move from start-up to profitability fast, regardless of prior business experience or education. Comprehensive, detailed information for every stage, combined with step-by-step how to, plus tips, ideas, tools, and resources make this the required one-stop guide.

Customer Reviews:

Quite Thorough.......2007-02-14

Mr. Stephenson covers pretty much everything related to starting your home-based business. I don't know that there is another book on the market with even a fraction of the useful worksheets and resources he includes. I highly recommend this book for anyone contemplating a step-by-step guide to starting a business.

Excellent Book.......2006-11-03

This book covers just about everything from organizing your desk to creating and implementing your business. The only downfall I saw that it did not cover bookkeeping of your business. It talked about finding capital and payment options but no accounting.

Working from home made easy.......2005-10-05

Even though I've operated my business from home for over 3 years, I found this book very helpful and it provided lots of valuable money saving tips, as well as lots of ideas for how I can expand my business using easy promotional ideas. I especially liked the information provided on home/business security, and plan to implement many of these into my own home and business. It doesn't matter if you're new to business, or already running a home based business-this book will help you run a better and more profitable business.

Excellent Value.......2004-11-24

Buying this book would be wise for anyone starting or operating a business, but especially those that want to start a home business. It is well written and easy to understand, and covers all aspects of starting and running a home based business, from A to Z-research, planning, setting up an office, advertising, sales and marketing, customer services, and lots of business ideas for people who have yet not determined the type of business they want to run. A no hype, tell it the way it is home based business book full of lots of information to keep business startup costs low, packed with useful contact information and resources, and a very helpful guide for new entrepreneurs.

Taylor's Guide to Annuals: How to Select and Grow more than 400 Annuals, Biennials, and Tender Perennials- Flexible Binding (Taylor's Gardening Guides)

Average customer rating:

Annuals, tender perennials, and tropicals are all there
Attractive, concise and informative
Taylor's Guide to Perennials

Taylor's Guide to Annuals: How to Select and Grow more than 400 Annuals, Biennials, and Tender Perennials- Flexible Binding (Taylor's Gardening Guides)
Barbara Ellis
Manufacturer: Houghton Mifflin
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Gardening & Horticulture | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books

All Deals | Blowout Books | Stores | Books

Home & Garden | Blowout Books | Stores | Books
Similar Items:

Taylor's Guide to Perennials
Taylor's Guide to Shrubs: How to Select and Grow More than 500 Ornamental and Useful Shrubs for Privacy, Ground Covers, and Specimen Plantings
Taylor's Guides to Bulbs: How to Select and Grow More Than 400 Summer-Hardy and Tender Bulbs
Taylor's Guide to Ground Covers: More than 400 Flowering and Foliage Ground Covers for Every Garden Situation - Flexible Binding (Taylor's Gardening Guides)
Taylor's Guide to Ornamental Grasses: More Than 165 of These Versatile, Low-Maintenance Plants, Pictured in Color with Full Descriptions of How to Use Them (Taylor's Gardening Guides)

ASIN: 0395943523

Book Description

Several concurrent trends have created the need for a new book on annual plants. One is the increasing popularity of container gardening, for which these plants are particularly suited. Another is the hottest trend in landscaping -- creating a bold, even jungly look through the use of tropical plants and other dramatic specimens, most grown as annuals in temperate zones. To meet the demand, growers have developed hundreds of new plants and improved cultivars of old favorites. In this Taylor's Guide, buyers will find more than five hundred of the latest, trendiest plants and the best cultivars of the beloved old standbys.

Customer Reviews:

Annuals, tender perennials, and tropicals are all there.......2001-03-24

The Taylor's Guides are known for their great pictures and good cultural information. This book lists annuals as "cool weather, "warm weather" and "tender perennial."

I have often told customers that tender perennial means it is perennial somewhere, but certainly not here. That may not be the case for everyone reading this book. You have to look in the encyclopedia area to see what zone the plant is hardy in. Some tender perennials may be perennial in your climate or only some winters in your climate.

The problem with any book on annuals that includes tender perennials and tropicals is availability. For other categories in the Taylor's Guide, like perennials, shrubs, etc. most of the plants are available from good nurseries.

Annuals is a different story. The best sellers are available. Some of the tropicals are available depending on where you go. The rare or unpopular annuals to only be grown from seed are available from seed vendors and garden centers who sell a variety of seeds. For the tropical combination plants, which are the most interesting listed, you have to go to the better nurseries or mail order sources.

What I am getting at here is how to use this book. Don't have your heart set on a picture in this book. The plant may be only available by seed, and perhaps that does not suit your lifestyle. Regarding the ideas decide if you want to grow from seed or not. With the tender perennials, after you have read about them, decide what you want to try.

This is a great book on annuals. Anyone interested in plnats should buy it. When combining with tropicals and plants from seed, use your common sense.

Attractive, concise and informative.......2000-10-27

The Taylor's series of gardening books have a admirable reputation and it is easy to see why. This update of "Annuals" is in a slightly larger format but still contains the excellent information as the previous edition. A 30 page introduction discusses growing techniques and care throughout the season as well as an insect identification guide. This is followed by the "Gallery of Plants", a 200 glossy section of beautiful photographs of annuals arranged by their Latin name (an index of common names is provided in the back). Each photo is accompanied by a brief description statement and a page number reference to the plant's entry in the "Plant Encyclopedia" section in the last part of the book. Here you will find a detailed description and cultural instructions on how to grow the plant. The book is also an excellent tool for helping you identify unknown plants.

Taylor's Guide to Perennials.......2000-05-04

The colored pictures in order are extremely helpful in identifying plants. There are sun/shade and water information for each plant. Sometimes the common names aren't given and I don't know all of the Latin names for plants.

Dutiful Daughters: Caring for Our Parents As They Grow Old

Average customer rating:

Dutiful Daughters: Caring for Our Parents As They Grow Old

Manufacturer: Seal Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books

General | Social Sciences | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

Aging | Aging Parents | Parenting & Families | Subjects | Books

Eldercare | Aging Parents | Parenting & Families | Subjects | Books

General | Aging Parents | Parenting & Families | Subjects | Books

Family Health | Parenting & Families | Subjects | Books

Parent & Adult Child | Family Relationships | Parenting & Families | Subjects | Books

Home & Community Care | Nursing | Medicine | Subjects | Books

Caregiving | Physician & Patient | Medicine | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

Coping With Your Difficult Older Parent : A Guide for Stressed-Out Children
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Taking Care of Parents Who Didn't Take Care of You: Making Peace with Aging Parents
Caring for Yourself While Caring for Your Aging Parents: How to Help, How to Survive

Accessories:

Philips HeartStart Home Defibrillator (AED)
Health o Meter HDC100-01 "Grow with Me" Teddy Bear Scale for Babies and Toddlers
RESPeRATE Blood Pressure Lowering Device

ASIN: 1580050263

Book Description

These first-person accounts portray, with thoughtfulness and clarity, a wide range of caregiver experiences: the possibility of deepening relationships; the opportunity for forgiveness; the ability to reach out and to look within to find strength; the sorrow of watching a parent grow old; and the chance to say goodbye.

Coming Home to Self: The Adopted Child Grows Up

Average customer rating:

Should Be Read by Every Mental Health Care Provider
Wince!!
Totally awesome
Families Today Not Coerced?
A must-read for all adoptee's

Coming Home to Self: The Adopted Child Grows Up
Nancy Newton Verrier
Manufacturer: Nancy Verrier
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Adolescent Psychology | Psychology & Counseling | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books

Adoption | Parenting & Families | Subjects | Books

General | Parenting | Parenting & Families | Subjects | Books

General | Parenting & Families | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

The Primal Wound: Understanding the Adopted Child
Twenty Life Transforming Choices Adoptees Need to Make
Adoption Healing ...a path to recovery
Being Adopted: The Lifelong Search for Self
Journey of the Adopted Self: A Quest for Wholeness

Accessories:

Health o Meter HDC100-01 "Grow with Me" Teddy Bear Scale for Babies and Toddlers

ASIN: 0963648012

Customer Reviews:

Should Be Read by Every Mental Health Care Provider.......2007-05-01

"Coming Home to Self" is an excellent follow-up to "Primal Wound" for those who want to know, "Where to from here?" It's heavier reading, to be sure, and should be approached studiously. In doing so, however, one finishes with a wealth of information on what happened to us when we were separated from our mothers, how it has impacted our lives, and how we can stop surviving and start living.

There's so much here that it's impossible to summarize. Suffice to say I was both abandoned as a baby and then adopted children, and certainly wish I had read Verrier's books before doing the latter. It would have made the experience far easier and, hopefully, helped avoid many of the traps she writes about--and that I experienced. This, and "Primal Wound," should be read by every mental health care professional.

Wince!!.......2006-11-02

There's a lot of harsh reality in this book that I recognized as true but had to take my own sweet time to come to grips with. Adoption did shape my personality, and the hard fact is that nobody is ever going to be able to change that but me (and whatever professional I trust to help me). I saw a lot of myself in this book--I am hypervigilant, sad, angry, burdened by shame, etc. Coming Home to Self is invaluable in bringing such things to light.

But "EMDR"? This therapy method has been, to my mind and via my research, thoroughly debunked. Knowing this makes me mistrust every other scientific study or psychological "fact" Verrier cites. Can I trust her to tell me about the effect of a pregnant woman's emotions on her fetus? About the limbic system? About how adoptees can heal? Verrier cites several such therapies (and they all have trendy acronyms) essentially as quick fixes. The idea that bilateral eye movements or their aural equivalent can magically "cure" me feels very much like a belittling of the pain she spends so much time telling me it's OK to feel. It also feels like a Band-Aid slapped onto what Verrier knows damned well is wrong with the adoption industry as it exists today: Your child may grow up confused and self-loathing under the closed records system, but a little hocus-pocus will make it all OK once s/he's grown.

These gripes address a very small part of a very thick book that was helpful overall. I'd still recommend adoptees read the works of Betty Jean Lifton before this.

Totally awesome.......2006-06-26

This book is perfect for anyone in the triad. It speaks honestly about how the birth mother and adopted child are effected by adoption. It blames no one - instead it speaks honsestly about how everyone is effected. The adoptive parents are not left out of the equation either. I learned alot about myself and how adoption continues to effect my life today. It gave practical solutions to some of the challenges I still face today. I would recommend this book highly to anyone.

Families Today Not Coerced?.......2006-03-17

This book is good in many ways, but it has some serious flaws.

Verrier says "in the past" parents were coerced into surrendering their tiny relatives for adoption. Does she really believe that there is no coercion today? With all the adoption businesses, the "Dear Birthmother" solicitation, the federally-funded Infant Adoption Awareness Training and related advertising to get more babies for adoption customers? Are the moms and dads and grandparents today required to be advised of the emotional risks of separating infants from their mothers (which is what Verrier writes about) before surrendering their relative?

Verrier herself is coercive: She refers to true relatives as "birth" relatives. Euphamisms like "birth" mother, "birth" child, "sperm donors", "egg donors", "traditional surrogate" help to hide the reality - that these are actual relatives - mothers, fathers, sons and daughters. Hiding the reality helps when adoption and infertility businesses are intent on getting more babies - and the raw materials to make babies - for their clients.

Another troubling issue with this book is the way Verrier tells mothers to "forgive" others for pressuring them into adoption. It makes sense to forgive those who were/are naive and had no idea of the serious impacts of separating true family members. But it is frustrating for a mother or father whose child has been used for infant adoption to be advised to "forgive" the entities that STILL promote family separation. Those entities (in many cases) were well aware of the problems with separating mothers and babies - even as far back as the 1960s. And yet so many of them still are working to destroy families that are not of the "family-unit" family type or else they are simply focused on getting babies for customers.

A must-read for all adoptee's.......2006-01-23

I have found Coming Home to Self to be the perfect follow-up to Primal Wound. Whilst Primal Wound acknowledges and unfolds the affect of adoption on the triad members: Coming Home to Self provides members of the triad with the necessary skills to move forward. It provides extensive and perceptive coverage of the issues surrounding adoption and has become my close companion. It can easily be dipped into according to the need of the moment and provides sound advice to the reader. I find Nancy's voice throughout to be at once professional and warm and often find myself smiling at the encouraging, sometimes challenging comments interspersed which second guess what the reader may be thinking, they so often catch me out! This book is the kind of book which takes brokeness, acknowledges it with great empathy and then goes the next step: it provides the guidelines for putting that brokeness back together.

How Does Your Garden Grow?: Great Gardening For Green-Fingered Kids (Hamlyn Gardening)

Average customer rating:

How Does Your Garden Grow?: Great Gardening For Green-Fingered Kids (Hamlyn Gardening)
Clare Matthews
Manufacturer: Hamlyn
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Gardening & Horticulture | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books

Reference | Gardening & Horticulture | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books

Family Activities | Parenting & Families | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

Roots, Shoots, Buckets & Boots: Gardening Together with Children
Kids Container Gardening : Year-Round Projects for Inside and Out
The Gardening Book
Gardening with Children
Dig, Plant, Grow : A Kid's Guide to Gardening

Accessories:

Braun IRT 4020 ThermoScan Ear Thermometer

ASIN: 0600611418

Book Description

Help children cultivate their gardens--and grow beautifully along with them. These 40 rewarding projects take youngsters away from the TV and out into the fresh air, to channel youthful energies in exciting new ways. And parents share in the fun, too--whether it's helping to grow an herb garden in a box or making a mosaic sundial. Introduce budding gardeners to the satisfaction of planting and harvesting their own vegetables and flowers, the creative challenge of carving gourds, and the scientific experience of building a weather station, as well as the opportunity to explore the wonders of nature, right in their own backyards.

New Junior Garden Book: Cool projects for kids to make and grow (Better Homes and Gardens)

Average customer rating:

Great Projects; Great Book!
Comprehensize Gardening Fun for Kids

New Junior Garden Book: Cool projects for kids to make and grow (Better Homes and Gardens)
Better Homes and Gardens Books , and Felder Rushing
Manufacturer: Better Homes and Gardens
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Spiral-bound

General | Ages 9-12 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
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Roots, Shoots, Buckets & Boots: Gardening Together with Children
Gardening Wizardry for Kids
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ASIN: 0696208490

Book Description

Unlike other children's books, this one talks to kids, not their parents. Vibrant copy and zany illustrations will excite them about digging in the dirt, planting, making special projects, and loving nature.

38 kid-tested and kid-approved projects for young gardeners ages 6-14.

More than 50 illustrations energize the book.

Every page piques kids' curiosity about plants and sparks their creativity.

Primer on tools, identification of plant parts, and simple vocabulary.

Easy-to-follow format makes gardening doable.

All projects include materials that can easily be found around the house.

Teaches how to create garden spaces from a recycled pop bottle planter to a raised garden bed.

Long-term projects are paired with short-term crafts.

Step-by-step instructions and illustrations, plus color photographs of finished projects.

Features children's gardens from the American Horticultural Society and Garden Clubs of America.

Customer Reviews:

Great Projects; Great Book!.......2000-09-15

Great book and projects for kids! I bought one to do projects with my Brownie troop -- then went back and bought two for my kids' teachers! Very kid friendly, uses materials that are common and great illustrations!

Comprehensize Gardening Fun for Kids.......2000-04-08

The book has it all covered. From the basics and safety to creating flower or vegetable projects. Each project has a list of items you need and step-by-step instructions. In some cases you'll also see a piece on what to expect next. Projects are environmentally friendly due to the recycling of items that are typically thrown away. Plant zones and what grows best in a zone will help the young gardener.

The colorful illustrations as well as pictures add to the overall appeal to kids. Each project is also identified with a skill scale so they (you) can easily tell when they may need adult help or supervision.

Solviva: How to grow $500,000 on one acre, and Peace on Earth
Average customer rating:

Viva Solviva

Lots of practical ideas, even if you have only a small yard

How to grow $5,000 on one acre

Don't waste your money

Tarnished Hopes

Solviva: How to grow $500,000 on one acre, and Peace on Earth

Manufacturer: Chelsea Green Publishing Company
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Architecture | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books
Sustainable Agriculture | Agricultural Sciences | Professional Science | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books
General | Gardening & Horticulture | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
Greenhouses | Gardening & Horticulture | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
Organic | Techniques | Gardening & Horticulture | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
Sustainable Agriculture | Agricultural Sciences | Science | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

Micro Eco-Farming: Prospering from Backyard to Small Acreage in Partnership with the Earth

Backyard Market Gardening: The Entrepreneur's Guide to Selling What You Grow (Good Earth)

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Making Your Small Farm Profitable: Apply 25 Guiding Principles/Develop New Crops & New Markets/Maximize Net Profits Per Acre

Gaia's Garden: A Guide to Home-Scale Permaculture

ASIN: 0966234901

Book Description

This book is about one woman's vision and commitment to learning to live sustainably and in harmony with life on Earth. Since 1976 Anna Edey has made one astonishing discovery after another, developing methods of sustainable living under the name Solviva Solar-Dynamic, Bio-Benign Design. The results of her experiments and methods have again and again exceeded highest hopes and expectations. Solviva describes the exciting trials and triumphs of her journey and offers convincing proof that we can, with today's technology and knowledge, live in ways that reduce pollution and depletion of resources by 80 percent or more, and at the same time reduce the cost of living and improve the quality of life in urban and rural locations. Solviva contains 155 color illustrations and detailed instructions and recommendations to help others along their own journeys toward living sustainably.

Customer Reviews:

Viva Solviva.......2006-06-23

Solviva is a fresh and brillant exploration of the complexities involved in constructing a solar home. Anna Edey is beautifully human as she describes her real life adversity in bringing such a complex project into fruition.

Edey is an honest and telling author. She articulates her emotion involved in creating the energy necessary to endeavor so seemingly innocent and simplistic a notion as a house that you sustain and that sustains you as you sustain the Earth.

She vividly describes having to consider the marketing and distribution not to mention profit margins of raising organic restaurant quality garden vegetables and greens within the confines of her modest solar home.

With candor she conveys how interesting ones life becomes while taking on rabbits, chickens, and goats as a part of ones daily life, and indeed, in fact, as co habitants in as much as they too survived within the small solar house and that their presence yielded a profit.

Edey humbly describes discovering each vegetable and green with such surprise and satisfaction and that her vegetables were in fact prize winning and well sought after.

Because of the biproducts of such an efficently contained microecosystem Edey is able to support herself and her lifestyle comfortably within a selfsustaining home. Not without the residual income of the modern associate but with the profit yielded from her ingenius business and gardening method.

Ultimately the complexity of the solar structure itself combined with Edey's originality and genius in housing and growing botanicals within the solar home, in addition to the interactivity of the animals at the house, combine to make a kind of EARTHSHIP that does inevitably produce a profit.

Lots of practical ideas, even if you have only a small yard.......2006-05-19

This book reads much like a diary, rather than a how-to book. However, if you are mechanically inclined (or have access to someone who is), you can fairly easily glean the instructions for building most of her projects from her book. The sections on her wastewater disposal system are great. The author's website is also very informative, detailing her experience with a Solviva biocarbon wastewater system installed at the Black Dog Tavern in Vinyard Haven, MA.

Reason for only 4 stars: I feel she overestimates how much you can make from her operation. You might be able to do it if you have a family partnership going, as opposed to hiring employees. The right crops are also important (when she started, there were no bagged gourmet lettuce salads in the stores as there are now), as is your location--she's in Massachusetts, where there are plenty of people wealthy enough and willing enough to pay for chi-chi food. California is another place where this kind of niche farming works.

Bottom line: She definitely makes a case that a family could easily supplement their food supply and reduce their energy consumption, as well as creatively recycling waste products. The book is worth buying for that alone.

How to grow $5,000 on one acre.......2006-01-22

I am unable to figure out why Anna Edey came up with the title that she did for this book, but it certainly is a "hook". She may even be a bit eccentric or even quirky, with a second subtitle of "Revealing the Truth About How We Can Provide Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Transportation, Food, Solid Waste and Wastewater Management in Ways that Reduce Pollution and Depletion of Resources by 80 percent or more, and that At The Same Time Reduce Cost of Living and Improve Quality of Life". Whew!

The fact is that this individual has successfully developed her farm at Martha's Vineyard since 1977 into a working solar dynamic, bio-benign environmental system as a result of her experiments and research with greener cultural practices. Her book relates her success story. It begins with an ample section of color illustrations of her farm, outbuildings, and waste management system. She provides details of constructing them and their maintenance. She shares the secrets of her year-round kitchen garden that supplies salad greens and tomatoes. And she shares her experiences with greenhouse gardening where she harvested 1600 servings a day of her organic salad mix without an artificial heat source (did she sell this at $30 a bag?).

In addition to sharing her farming and gardening experiences, she wants to save our planet and bring peace on earth. In Edey's "Call to Action", she envision her solar dynamic, bio-benign environmental system as being transferable to schools, businesses, and even the White House. Her robust optimism gives the reader a good feeling knowing that there are people voicing environmental convictions that actually practice what they preach! I am glad I had the opportunity to acquaint myself with this author's visions for peace on this planet.

Don't waste your money.......2005-09-09

This book doesn't tell you anything about making money from growing food. The author's only statement about the $500,000 amount is found on page 219 in the "Addendum for 2nd Printing" which states "Based on my experience, I still believe that it is possible to generate a gross income of $500,000 on one acre, IF it is done with great efficiency, steadily rollling full production, consistently hightest quality and totally reliable delivery."

Tarnished Hopes.......2005-06-07

I purchased this book a year ago and found many of its ideas quite provocative. Also I am in the planning stages of developing a farmstead home for which I want an attached solar greenhouse. My home plans encompass crushed volcanic rock, earthbaggs, roundwood, a northside earth bearm and a southside solar green house.

Within the last 10 days I sent Anna Edey two emails with links to my home plan and have made one phone call to her answering machine. Thus far our heroine of a greener world has ignored me. I expressed an intention to purchase a $250 set of her drawings and also a $50 drawing on her suspended grow tubes. I had hoped to find a way to adopt the solviva concept to my home plan. It seems that green angel Anna has no regard whatsoever toward guiding me, thus my Solviva dream is rapidly evaporating.

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