Garden Books
I have published five garden books, all of which are available online. The two Step-by-Step books are in the process of being converted to web content (see the online writing section of this site) though the process is slow as it must be fit in amongst my other obligations. It is online, but not yet searchable as I have a lot of gaps to fill in.
Current book ideas in development are:
"The Soul of Organic," which would be a sort of oral history of the organic movement over the past 40 years, not so much from the perspective of the growers (which has been well done by Leslie Duram and others) but from the perspective of the "thought leaders" and activists. The conversion of organic farming from a niche to an industry has been accompanied by a divergence of opinion about what organic really means. This is apparent in both the newly ignited controversy about the relative values of "local" and "organic" and the controversy over whether it will ever be possible for organic to be truly mainstream without becoming industrial in nature...and whether that industrialism will be an organic death knell rather than a breakthrough.
The second is tentatively titled "Zen and the Art of Organic Vegetable Gardening." I have spent many years teaching and lecturing on the topic, as well as running customer service for a seed company and as "subject matter experty" contributing editor for magazines. The biggest issue for most people who want to start gardening -- and has been on the upswing for a number of years now -- is that they don't think they know how, and they are intimidated. This book will convince them that their "brown thumb" is an illusion, and if they just understood the basic biological principles behind plants and plant communities (i.e., gardens) they would trust themselves more, and succeed. It is about getting in the zone, trusting oneself, and paying close attention...this has worked many times in lectures, but I have not previously been able to get a book published that cuts to this core understanding. The "tips and tricks" are important, but without the core concepts, simply stated, you don't get all the way.
I am also planning a number of organic "course packs" developed from the material in these books and the college courses I have taught over the years.
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Straight Ahead Organic
Chelsea Green Publishing 1999
This book is in many ways an update of the earlier volume Step by Step Organic Vegetable Gardening, and it includes the same comprehensive discussion of soil building, crop rotations, composting and such, but also has information about the larger context within which we grow vegetables, i.e., the structure of the food system, biotechnology, and the core deficiencies of an industrial and operative view of nature. While I don't have any copies for sale, they are available on the internet.
The New American Kitchen Garden
North American Outdoor Club 1997
I wrote this book to help the North American Outdoor Club launch a continuity series of gardening books for its members in 1997. It is a basic primer on designing and planting a kitchen garden. In many ways it is an extension of The Cook's Garden because of the emphasis on growing vegetables for the kitchen and how your growing techniques affect the culinary quality of the harvest. While I don't have any copies for sale, they are available on the Internet.
Step by Step Organic Flower Gardening
Harper Collins Publishers 1995
The companion volume to Step by Step Organic Vegetable Gardening; taken together, the two volumes provide a complete garden guide. Where SxS Veggies covers such topics as composting and crop rotations, Step by Step Organic Flower Gardening goes into much more detail on the starting and propagation of plants as well as the botany behind many horticultural techniques. I am currently combining this volume with the vegetable volume to create a comprehensive garden web resource and course pack which will be located at my GardenSmarts.com site. While I don't have any copies for sale, they are available on the internet.
Step by Step Organic Vegetable Gardening
Harper Collins Publishers 1992
While focused on home scale plots, this book deals broadly enough with the principles of organic agriculture that it is has been used as a textbook for college sustainable agriculture classes, where the focus is on market gardening and truck farming. I am currently combining this volume with the flower volume to create a comprehensive garden web resource and course pack which will be located at my GardenSmarts.com site. While I don't have any copies for sale, they are available on the internet.
The Cook's Garden
Rodale Press 1989
My first book, this volume is about how to grow the best tasting vegetables. As such, it combines varietal comparisons as well a cultural tips that can maximize the flavor and kitchen utility of all kinds of vegetables. Most of the material in this book will also end up in the web compilation and course packs. Also included are a number of recipes developed by my ex-wife to use the produce of the garden. While I do not have any copies for sale it is available on the internet.