Grace Gershuny

Joseph Smillie

Soil is the basis not only for all gardening, but for all terrestrial life. No aspect of agriculture is more fundamental and important, yet we have been losing vast quantities of our finite soil resources to erosion, pollution, and development. This book provides essential information about one of the most significant challenges for those attempting to grow delicious organic vegetables: the creation and maintenance of healthy soil. In chapter two, the authors give a clear explanation of the subjects, soil life and nutrient cycles. The book provides coherent descriptions of key concepts including cation exchange capacity and chelation. In a concise presentation, the authors give readers important information, including technical essentials and useful tables that list specific compost materials, green manures, and other resources that allow growers to translate into action the more general information provided by the book. The soil-building techniques featured include: Organic matter management ; Building and maintaining humus ; On-site composting ; Green manures and rotations ; Cultivation and weed control ; Nutrient balances and soil testing ; Using mineral fertilizers ; Planning for organic certification. All of us involved in the cultivation of plants, from the backyard gardener to the largest farmer, need to help regenerate a "living soil," for only in the diversity of the soil and its creatures can we ensure the long-term health of ourselves and our environment. This book offers everyone a basic understanding of what soil is and what we can do to improve our own patch of it.

A Soil-building Guide for Master Gardeners and Farmers

The Soul of Soil

Stephen Page

The goal of The Orchard Almanac is to tell the home or small scale orchardist what to do, and when. Drawing from folklore and personal experience, they give both the why and how-to of growing fruit trees.Useful appendices provide access to suppliers, insectaries, related organizations, and periodicals. Tables provide spray schedules, fungicide rates, and a sample scab worksheet. The Orchard Almanac is the book that Organic Gardening magazine called A landmark in the effort to produce apples organically.... the single best book to put on your shelf.

Joseph Smillie

Books

Your next favorite book is out there