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Garden Gate:  new to gardening - any books I should get?  |
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HeatherAnn
True Blue Farmgirl
187 Posts
Heather
Rancho Cucamonga
CA
USA
187 Posts |
 Posted - Jun 30 2010 : 11:08:14 AM
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Hi there,
So I'll be setting up a garden in my backyard in a few months, although I don't expect to start planting until early spring, we going to get the soil tilled and the borders established and the water set up. We also live in southern california, near the mountains so it's quite dry. Just down the street are orange groves so I'm hopeful that the soil will be fertile.
All this being said, I have never, EVER done this before! And I was looking at books, but I don't even know where I should start with those! We are going to buy heirloom seeds for maybe 5 vegetables our first year and then some more.
I don't even know how to get a seed to sprout. I succesfully sprouted some Forget-Me-Nots this spring, but that was the first ever!
So girls, where should I start?
Heather Ann
Apartment Farmgirl
"You got to look at all the good on one side and all the bad on the other and say 'Well, alright then.'" - Aunt Eller, Oklahoma
www.plumblossomknits.etsy.com |
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1badmamawolf
True Blue Farmgirl
2199 Posts
Teresa
"Bent Fence Farms"
Ca
USA
2199 Posts |
Posted - Jun 30 2010 : 2:17:46 PM
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One of the best gardening books for living in the western U.S. and So. Cal. is put out by Sunset magazine, called "Sunset Gardening". Anything put out by "Rodales", or by "Jerry Baker", and of course "Storey Publishing". They all have web sites, and can usually be found on "Amazon.com" used books.
I live in So. Cal., in the high desert, if you have questions, feel free to ask me or e-mail me.
"Treat the earth well, it was not given to you by your parents, it was loaned to you by your children" |
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knead2garden
True Blue Farmgirl
359 Posts
Ashley
Spring City
TN
USA
359 Posts |
Posted - Jun 30 2010 : 3:41:02 PM
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I agree 100% with Teresa. You can't go wrong with Rodales or Jerry Baker. I'd add "Good Bug Bad Bug" to that collection, too. Mine has saved me from feeding a few "good bugs" to my chickens! Best of luck to you. It is such fun to have a garden:)
~Ashley
#1677
"In the end we will conserve only what we love; we will love only what we understand; and we will understand only what we have been taught." -Baba Dioum |
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graciegreeneyes
True Blue Farmgirl
3107 Posts
Amy Grace
Rosalia
WA
USA
3107 Posts |
Posted - Jun 30 2010 : 5:33:39 PM
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"Let's Get Growing" by Crow Miller is awesome - it's organic in focus, and has really clear information. It is definitely my go-to book for just about everything in the veggie garden.
Amy Grace
Farmgirl #224
"use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without"
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HeatherAnn
True Blue Farmgirl
187 Posts
Heather
Rancho Cucamonga
CA
USA
187 Posts |
Posted - Jun 30 2010 : 8:03:45 PM
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this is great, thank you! I'm writing all these titles down so I can search for some used copies later.
Anyone else have anything I should add to my vegetable gardening library?
Heather Ann
Apartment Farmgirl
"You got to look at all the good on one side and all the bad on the other and say 'Well, alright then.'" - Aunt Eller, Oklahoma
www.plumblossomknits.etsy.com |
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1badmamawolf
True Blue Farmgirl
2199 Posts
Teresa
"Bent Fence Farms"
Ca
USA
2199 Posts |
Posted - Jun 30 2010 : 8:10:52 PM
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Heather, start a garden journel, with drawings of your layouts and what is planted where each year, make notes during the growing season about what did well and what did'nt. Make sure you list the exact names, so you can get more, or never plant that again. Talk to neighbors who have gardens, find out what they know about your growing conditions in your neighborhood, maybe even start a co-op, you grow certain veggys and your neighbors grow differant, and at harvest time split the bounty up. Gardening is a crap shoot sometimes, because of weather conditions (too dry, too wet, etc), but don't get disapointed, theres always next year.
"Treat the earth well, it was not given to you by your parents, it was loaned to you by your children" |
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HeatherAnn
True Blue Farmgirl
187 Posts
Heather
Rancho Cucamonga
CA
USA
187 Posts |
Posted - Jun 30 2010 : 8:19:22 PM
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Thank you Teresa! I wrote all that down in my landscaping planning book, which will soon give birth to a large gardening section! And I'll be asking your advice as I get my garden set up :)
Heather Ann
Apartment Farmgirl
"You got to look at all the good on one side and all the bad on the other and say 'Well, alright then.'" - Aunt Eller, Oklahoma
www.plumblossomknits.etsy.com |
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sherrye
True Blue Farmgirl
3775 Posts
sherry
bend in the high desert
oregon
USA
3775 Posts |
Posted - Jul 01 2010 : 07:13:56 AM
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hello heather, i would like to add to your list. the organic gardening encyclopedia from rodale. it is not there new one they put out it is the one written in the 1959. they have it in stock at rodale but you have to request this dated one specifically. it has soo many ideas to simplify gardens and farming. the new one is not as informative in my opinion. hope this helps happy days sherrye
the learn as we go silk purse farm
farm girl #1014
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natesgirl
True Blue Farmgirl
1735 Posts
angela
martinsville
indiana
USA
1735 Posts |
Posted - Jul 01 2010 : 11:14:12 AM
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I would like to suggest 'Carrots Love Tomatoes' it's my favorite. Also 'Square Foot Gardening', especially for people with small spaces.
Farmgirl Sister #1438
God - Gardening - Family - Is anything else important? |
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Pamela Joy
True Blue Farmgirl
89 Posts
Pamela
Hesperus
CO
USA
89 Posts |
Posted - Jul 01 2010 : 1:03:50 PM
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I have and love and reference often, several of the books already mentioned. Another that I love for the drawings, anectodes and recipes, etc... is Lasagna Gardening by Patricia Lanza. Each of the books has a different slant, and some work much better in a different climate/zone than yours. But take what you need from each book and do what feels right to you. And yes, garden journal is essential! Add every detail you can think of, because you really won't remember from year to year what you planted, where you planted, how you cared for and what the results were.
Have fun!
Peace, Love, and Joy |
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MrsRooster
True Blue Farmgirl
1168 Posts
Amy
Seabrook
TX
USA
1168 Posts |
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njaw09
True Blue Farmgirl
397 Posts
Annie
NJ
USA
397 Posts |
Posted - Jul 04 2010 : 8:27:34 PM
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I have alot of gardening books...too many to list. I have 3 to recommend though.
1-square foot gardening: a new way to garden in less space with less work by mel bartholomew
2-the complete vegetable and herb garderner by burpee
3-the organice gardener's handbook of natural insect and disease control by barbara w. ellis and fern marshall bradley
I agree with Teresa create a garden journal. I usually attach the seeds packet to the journal or take picture and blog about it.
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Garden Gate: new to gardening - any books I should get? |
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new to gardening - any books I should get?
