Winter is upon us and there is not a lot we gardeners can do outdoors at this time of year. Therefore, I suggest practitioners of our fascinating hobby take the next few weeks to read a good book (or two, or three). There is hardly anything more relaxing (and focused) than spending a couple of quiet hours in an easy chair with a tall mug of hot chocolate and a good book. Here are my suggestions for this winter’s reading.
1) Let it Rot: The Gardener’s Guide to Composting — This book by Stu Campbell has been available for nearly 30 years; so long that it really should be considered a modern classic. It’s great for beginning gardeners and helpful to anyone interested in composting techniques. The latest edition contains updated advice for starting and maintaining a composting system, building bins, and using compost. Make sure you get the Third edition. ISBN: 1-58017-023-4; 160 pages
2) The Winter Harvest Handbook: Year Round Vegetable Production Using Deep Organic Techniques and Unheated Greenhouses — Eliot Coleman is one of my favorite authors. He wrote this book in 2009 with hopes of teaching us all how to push the limits of the harvest season. From carrots to onions, celery to spinach, and almost every vegetable in between, your winter garden will become the envy of the neighborhood. 978-1603580816; 264 pages.
3) The Gardener’s Bug Book: Earth-Safe Insect Control — Author Barbara Pleasant advises gardeners on how to work with nature to reduce the presence of common garden pests. Organic growers, especially, will enjoy this book on how to grow vegetables without chemicals or other synthetic insecticides. ISBN 0-37038-00609-4; 160 pages
4) Deer Proofing Your Yard & Garden — Since it was published in 1997, homeowners and gardeners have responded enthusiastically to this book, which takes a decidedly straightforward approach. Author Rhonda Hart reveals exactly what people want to know: which commercial repellents are effective, how to make homemade deterrents, and how to create a landscape designed to repel deer. In the past few years, the deer problem in many towns and suburbs has gotten worse. The author recently revised her original book, adding more than 60 pages of new material on how anyone can protect their yard and garden from deer. ISBN 1-58017-585-6; 208 pages
