The City Homesteader- A Book Review

“The City Homesteader -Self Sufficiency On Any Square footage” By Scott Meyer

I got this book from the public library. I very easy reading book, I am guessing I will download to my kindle soon.

What Scott Meyer has written is an easy to follow instruction book, with no-nonesense illustrations that explain how to build/bake/grow various things in making your own Urban Homestead. The information is basically everything I read in blogs, but it is nice to have a “reference book” to look at from time to time.No need to be a gentleman farmer to use this book. Easily read and comprehend, I give it 3 green thumbs up!

The $64 Tomato

The $64 Tomato by William Alexander



I don't remember where or when I first heard about this book. All I know is I am glad I did!
This book is about the trials of William Alexander, his wife Anne, A physician and their triumphs and failures at gardening or rather homesteading their ancient victorian home on 3 acres. It made me chuckle (a good sign with a book for me) as he describes in great detail how they designed and built their garden, started a small orchard and the crazy folks I who came in their circle. Very well written, not a "green garden book" per say, but very funny and a very fast read. Anyone who has ever wanted to do a homestead on their own should read this book. And it is a must read for all of us would be farmers who struggle to grow the perfect vegetable or fruit.I give it three green thumbs up

Mr. Willowby's Christmas Tree

For some folks it's the Night Before Christmas,

others A Christmas Carol by Dickens,

But as for me...

It is just not Christmas until

I read Mr. Willowby's Christmas Tree

Mr. Willowby's Christmas Tree By Robert Barry

I first read this book in I suppose 1964 or 1965- Of course i didn't realize it then, as it is one of the first books I read- at the time I suppose I thought it was a book on the importance of sharing. But today it is a book not only on sharing what you have, but a book about community, recycling, reusing and yes making do as well.

Oh No! The Tree is too tall!!!

You see Mr Willowby orders a tree, by special delivery, and it turns out it is too tall. So, he gets the butler to chop off the top, who in turn gives it the top to Miss Adelaide, the upstairs Maid, who in turn has to lop off the top, and discards it. Then the Gardener finds it, dumpster dives and takes the remaining top home. And you got it- it's too tall! The cut off the top and the bears find it and then the foxes and so on and so on.

The Barnaby Bear Family Celebrates with their piece of tree

This is a perfect book on teaching kids about recycling and re-using. Everyone gets a piece of Mr. Willowby's tree, down to the lowly mice.

The illustrations are good, and the book is it's self attractive. A good read for kids and adults alike. The amazing thing is it was written in 1963. I still read it every year. I want to thank my mom for giving me this book and encouraging me to read!

More about Allie Larkin and "Stay"

Allie Larkin and Argo

Allie Larkin is a writer. And she asked me if I would host a stop on her "Stay" Blog Book Tour. She even sent me a copy of her book "Stay".
She said Stay wasn't particularily a enviromental book. I told her, that the book is about a girl and her dog... it has to be an enviromental book, anyway I read the book- just finished it - started it last night at 10pm; made it through the day and work... so the whole book in a 24 hour period. That to me is a sign of a good book (I can't put it down until done).

"Stay" is a great book. It features characters that you want to get to know. The main character, Van (short for Savannah) is like most of my female friends. Get her dander up, and a few drinks and she will cuss you a new one. The fact that someone would order a dog, let alone a German Shepard, over the internet is an amusing premise. But Van is lonely, mourning her mother, and Peter, the love of her life who just married her best friend. So Enter Joe, big beautiful german shepard from Slovakia, and her new relationship with Alex Brendt, veterinarian. The fact that Joe would and could become a major part of her is reality gone great. The characters in "Stay" are real enough that you can get angry with them, sad with them, laugh with them. I am wondering who is going to play Van in the movie?
Really, I am looking forward to Allie's next novel. I predict she will be our next great fiction talent. Especially with a debut like "Stay"

Thanks Allie for making Rob's World a stop on your "Stay" Blog tour. Can't wait to meet you at your book signing on the 17th.

Stay Reading and signing
When: Thursday, June 17 at 7:00 pm
Where: Third Place Books - Lake Forest Park Store
17171 Bothell Way NE, Lake Forest Park, WA

REVIEW: NO IMPACT MAN

I have been holding off doing this review, as I am afraid of what some people would think- oh great another review about No Impact Man.
First, I am not a fan of Colin Beavan AKA No Impact Man. In fact, I always thought the No Impact project kind of presumptuous- you know- in a "I am better than you" kind of way.


Then I read this book, and found out he actually felt the same way, but that wasn't the point of the project. To be honest I would never sign on to this type of lifestyle. But that all being said, I am glad Colin did do the project and I am gladder he wrote about it. The book shows a sense of self deprecating humor that I previously did not associate with No Impact Man, the blog.


Me not being a fan of non fiction doesn't help, but Beavan does manage to engage the reader when discussing shopping at Farmer's Market, his wife's hatred of bicycles, and her inability to kick caffeine (Right on Sista), he manages to keep one riveted to his little experiment.


All in all I would say "No Impact Man" makes a big impact with those who read it.

I give it 3 green thumbs up!

BOOK REVIEW: Edible Schoolyard by Alice Waters

When I heard Alice Waters had written a book about her edible schoolyard project in Berkley, CA, I was thrilled. Finally a tell all book on how to make a garden program. When I first saw the book in library, where it was held for me... I did a personal groan. The book is no bigger than a Cat in the Hat book. I don't want to read a child's book. Boy did I get it wrong!
I wouldn't exactly call this a childs book. Just a simply written adventure story about starting a garden in a busy full, underfunded middle school. Ms. Waters writes about the history of their garden, problems starting it, and the beautiful people who helped get it off the ground. Very uplifting for such a small book! Great pictures, towards the back even the visit by Prince Charles and Camilla, My favorite quote from this book is:

"Right there, in the middle of every school day. lies time and energy already devoted to the feeding of children. We have the power to turn that daily school lunch from an afterthought into a joyous education, a way of caring for our health. our enviorment and our community."

This definitely is a capital book if you or someone you know has ever wanted to go into a school and start a garden program. I give it four big green thumbs up!

PS- I did a post on Alice Waters and the Edible School yard, with a video clip, before this book review after on of my readers, Frustrated Farmer Rick of Caerwyn Farm And Spirits Blog directed me to her activities!

Book Review: Incredible Vegetables from Self watering Containers and Ed Begley giveaway winner!

Incredible Vegetables from Self Watering Containers By Edward C. Smith

Fall is here… now I will start spending my evenings reading gardening books. Happens every year. I came across this book from my library. What I expected was a book on how to make self watering planters. While it does cover that in no great detail, it is a great book on container gardening. Very precise instructions on how to grow container gardens. Especially nice is Ed’s details on a wide variety of plants. He lets you know the right size of pot, How many of each variety to grow in the pot, What pests to watch for, and how to eat what you grow. I am sure there are glitzier books on container gardening, but I have found none that give such good instruction.
I am putting this on my Christmas list this year!
And now the winner of Ed Begley's Guide To Sustainable Living (didn't have to wake Mr. Integer Generator) was the only person who apparently wanted the book- Veronica! Congratulations! Remember to send me your snail mail info to: robj98168@yahoo.com

Ed Begley Jr's Guide to Sustainable Living Review and Giveaway

REVIEW "Ed Begley Jr’s. Guide to Sustainable Living" and Giveaway!

I really really wanted to love this book. I loved Ed’s book Living like Ed, and hoped this book would get into more tips of “harvesting the low hanging fruit” as Ed puts it.
However this book unlike "Living Like Ed" is a long drawn out text book style book. No humor or interpersonal stories in this one. Just a straight up “How To” book on everything form solar panels to higher efficiency heaters and hot water tanks. Great for a technical geek like Cheap Veggie Gardener, not so great on the easily distracted like me. Anyway, I rate this book 2 CFL’s out of five, and hope Mr. Begley understands- it’s not him or the message but the delivery.
Now don't take that to mean this isn't a good book- If you are interested in lowering your carbon footprint this is a great book to learn from; clear precise intstruction on how to do things like add solar, or make your home a more effecient ship on earth.
On the bright side, It is Giveaway time- One gently used copy of Ed Begley Jr’s. “Guide to Sustainable Living" for one lucky reader out there. Rules are simple- just post a comment and You are entered. And hopefully you can leave an email or your comment has the obligatory Blogger info so I can get back to the winner-
Winner will be picked by the Random Number Integer art at random .org. Good Luck! Contest runs until October 2 at midnight, PST.

BOOK REVIEW: Farewell, my subaru

Book Review

FAREWELL, MY SUBARU

By DOUG FINE

I like a book that I get for a reason only to find out it is a Humorous book, the kind were you can imagine the events and the people in it like you are there. That is this book!

I borrowed this book (Okay honestly- I borrowed this book on CD)from the library, as I am thinking about getting rid of one of my vehicles and purchasing an NEV (Neighborhood Electric Vehicle). What I found was a humorous book about Doug Fine, a reporter that wanted to live a carbon neutral life so he bought a ranch in rural New Mexico, an proceeded to raise goats, chickens and his own veggies. Oh yeah- and quit driving his dependable Subaru, opting instead for a monster of a Ford pickup, that he converts to run on used Veggie Oil.

I chuckled through the chapters on how Doug describes his goats, Natalie and Melissa, and the trials and tribulations of keeping them out of his beloved roses. And of "Dick Cheney", the coyote who attacks his hens.

Mr. Fine is a very gifted writer with a gift of properly using the simile to describe his animals, neighbors and the very landscape of the area he lives in.

A great book if you ever thought of moving out into the nether regions and living on a farm, which convinced me I don't have the cajoles to do it. I think after reading the book, I will stay here and opt for a Dervae's lifestyle instead. But as I say, Mr. Fine is a gifted writer, with a superb use of language that makes this book never boring, and keeps the reader's (or listener's) attention. I don't want to say too much about the stories in the book for fear I give something away. But this book is well worth walking to the library and checking it out. I am so glad I did. As for me... Hmm... Sayonara My Suzuki or Ta Ta My Toyota???

Enjoy Farewell My Subaru... The Video

BOOK REVIEW: SLEEPING NAKED IS GREEN

"Sleeping Naked Is Green: How an Eco-Cynic Unplugged Her Fridge, Sold Her Car, and Found Love in 366 Days" By Vanessa Farquharson

I picked up on Vanessa Farquharson's book When Crunchy, the School marm gave us an assignment to read it for her book club. I had read Vanessa's Blog "Green as a Thistle" a few times. But had I known what a sense of humor she has, would have read it more frequently. I chuckled out loud as I read about her antics in trying one new green change in her life for a year, Especially at her sister's attitude with her new green lifestyle. It sounds like Vanessa and I have a lot in common, with her Dr. Mother, (My mom is a RN), snotty little sister (I have many snotty cousins). I even got interested in her love life. Silly, I know, but I really got into this book. Especially funny is her fascination with Compostable Toilets, mentioned a few times throughout the book.
Honestly when I got the book I was afraid it was another "how to be green" book, (Like the Green Book) and prepared myself for a barrage of tutorials on using canvas bags and CFL lights. But there weren't any. But Vanessa really writes well and keeps you hooked on the subject. Well written and hard to put down I strongly recommend "Sleeping Naked Is Green". I am now waiting for the movie starring Amy Adams. UPDATE:For clarification- there isn't a movie coming out but if there was I bet it would star Amy Adams!

You can find Vanessa's book at Amazon and at Powells

BOOK REVIEW: Edible Estates: Attack on The Front Lawn

"People say I'm a dreamer, but I'm not the only one!"

-John Lennon

I first got introduced to Fritz Haeg when I saw a report on him on a "CBS News" video and posted the video.
It always does my heart good when I find there are like minded people on this planet. Especially folks like Fritz Haeg. He has designed four projects, turning front yards into gardens or "Edible Estates". What we have here is a great book on the subject of ripping out your front yard and putting a garden of edible delights, and aesthetic beauty in it's place. While being a cross between a story of Haeg's Edible Estates project and an intelligent coffee table book, It is filled with stories and journals of all the homeowners involved from Salinas Kansas to Lakewood (Los Angeles) California; Maplewood New Jersey to London, England. You get an Idea what went through each homeowners minds when given the opportunity to replace the lawn with a veggie garden.What will the neighbors think? Can it be aesthetically pleasing? Included in the book is Fritz's design plan for each project.
Also included in the book is some Stories written buy folks who know this stuff, Like Michael Pollan, who wrote about his fathers dispute with the "community" on not mowing his yard, which made me laugh and think of my own father's hate for the front yard. Of course Dad wanted to rip out the grass and pave the yard, which thankfully for my mother he never did, but still, I'd like to think he would have been very interested in my thoughts on removing grass and growing veggies and fruits instead.
Haeg also goes into slight detail on why it is better to have a garden than a front yard- the dreaded mowing, no fertilizer, pesticides, watering is cheaper (takes less to water plants than grass)
So in Short what we have here is a great book on a great subject, one that will help quell the fear of ripping out your front yard and laying your cards carrots on the table! A must read for anyone who hates lawns as much as I do. And note: for those who are watching to see if I bought this book during Crunchy's Buy Nothing Challenge- Please note: I bought this book from an Amazon Seller, before August first, and it is a used book. So :p!

Bookworm Review- Fresh Food From Small Spaces

This here is my book report for The Blogging Bookworm:
Fresh Food from Small Spaces: The Square-Inch Gardener's Guide to Year-Round Growing, Fermenting, and Sprouting by R.J. Rupenthal

I won this book on a giveaway at the Crunchy Chicken blog.
A first glance my thoughts were “Jeeze- another end of the world scare book”. I was soooo wrong. This is just a delightful easy to read book that shows how everyone- Apartment dwellers with no outside space to folks who have room for gardens can grow food. This book rekindled my love of sprouting! In particular interest to me, was the section on making your own SWP (Self Watering Planters) Very similar to making an earth tainer, except he shows how to make one with using only one roughneck style container instead of two. One of those moments you slap your head and shout "why didn't I think of that? Another thought he has that I can whole heartedly agree with is if you have no outside space you can grow sprouts. He writes a very good section on sprouting, very concise and very easy to read. Let’s face it- sprouting is hardly an interesting topic, except to people like me who haven’t let go of their hippie ways. I usually yawn my way through garden books, but for some reason I could not put this one down- Mr. Rupenthal makes you want to get out and start growing! And he has a writing style that keeps your interest.

This is not a garden book with pretty pictures of unattainable garden ideas- this is a no nonsense book on using your space to grow things!


All in all- this book is very good to read, an easy read, and it makes you want to get out and grow something! I give it two green thumbs up! I was very glad to win this on Crunchy’s blog, but am afraid I will have to order another copy as I promised to Gift this one on!

BOOKWORM BOOK REVIEW

Mr. Willowby's Christmas Tree By Robert Barry

It has been a while since I posted a book review, but I just ran across my copy of this book at my mom's and I thought it was a great book to review, especially since kids could and would enjoy it as well.

I first read this book in I suppose 1964 or 1965- Of course i didn't realize it then, as it is one of the first books I read- at the time I suppose I thought it was a book on the importance of sharing. But today it is a book not only on sharing what you have, but a book about community, recycling, reusing and yes making do as well.

Oh No! The Tree is too tall!!!

You see Mr Willowby orders a tree, by special delivery, and it turns out it is too tall. So, he gets the butler to chop off the top, who in turn gives it the top to Miss Adelaide, the upstairs Maid, who in turn has to lop off the top, and discards it. Then the Gardener finds it, dumpster dives and takes the remaining top home. And you got it- it's too tall! The cut off the top and the bears find it and then the foxes and so on and so on.

The Barnaby Bear Family Celebrates with their piece of tree

This is a perfect book on teaching kids about recycling and re-using. Everyone gets a piece of Mr. Willowby's tree, down to the lowly mice.

The illustrations are good, and the book is it's self attractive. A good read for kids and adults alike. The amazing thing is it was written in 1963. I still read it every year. I want to thank my mom for giving me this book and encouraging me to read!

The Green Book: The Everyday Guide to Saving the Planet One Simple Step at a Time by Elizabeth Rogers and Thomas M. Kostigen

I started the green book with many great expectations. Was this going to be the tell all book on how to solve the worlds problems? Would I suddenly have all the answers to all the questions? Instead it turned out to be another book on what lower your carbon footprint. With celebrity interjections. I now know how Jennifer Aniston takes a shower, or how Will Ferrell likes driving a hybrid. I have trouble with folks like Justin Timberlake telling me how to live, when truthfully, I feel you need to show a bit of example first. Maybe I am compairng everyone to Ed Begley Jr. The Book itself is full of good information, again a lot I didn't know. But "Living like ED" had the same information and I feel I would look to that book for reference first. Do not get me wrong-"The Green Book" is a great book for reference. But it comes up short on experiences. The one Thing I appreciate is giving an example of what would happen if everyone did something,which makes this a bit less preachy For example:

"Get a voice-mail service for your home phone. If all answering machines in U.S. homeswere replaced by voice-mail services,the annual energy savings would total nearly two billion kilowatt hours. The resulting reduction in air pollution would be equivalent to removing 250,000 cars from the road for a year!" or

"Don’t ask for ATM receipts. If everyone in the United States refused their receipts, it would save a roll of paper more than two billion feet long, or enough to circle the equator fifteen times! It strives to give examples of what the total sum would be to every solution. There are 50 pages of web-site references, indexed by product and there is an index for quick reference.Overall I would call this a great "tip book" or cheat sheet for those whom are striving to live a greener life!

BOOK REVIEW: Living Like Ed!

You will forgive me if I gush on Ed Begley. He is one of those awesome celebrities that people are more interested in his lifestyle than his work. In my fantasy world He is my neighbor. The kind of neighbor that is interesting, that you like having over for a steak at a barbecue. Or what ever it is that vegans eat at barbecues. Besides the beans.
This book is probably best listed as a “green reference book” for us all to use in living a greener life.
This book was easy for me to read since I am one of Ed Begley’s biggest fans. But this book helped me grow a better appreciation for Rachelle Carson-Begley. It must be hard for her having to live with Ed- she automatically has to adapt to his lifestyle. And his solar ovens. And his rain barrels. His lifestyle is basically- as he puts it isn’t so “much activist as it is he is simply cheap. And as he put’s it Living green is easy- just start out collecting the low hanging fruit. Start with the simple changes. And I like that throughout the book he has little tags in it like “Clean the refrigerator Coils- COST: Free!” Another impressive thing about Begley is that he does most of these things by himself- no spoiled son of an Academy Award winning actor here! He washes his own solar panels, grows his own food.
Ed also gets into is how to recycle everything- it is all recyclable, even if something has to be “free-cycled”. Easy changes. An interesting thing Ed does in this book is small section throughout the book called Ed’s Green Friends that are written by folks that Ed deals with or has dealt with in the past promoting environmentally friendly products and/or services. Some of these are long and some of these are way too short. But All in all makes for good reading. Really interesting is Ed's take on alternative power- He has had his own Solar Panels for years. And he talks on how accessible it is. At the end of the book are worksheets that basically you can use to chart your own progress.
In short, this book is an extension of “The Living with Ed” TV Show; and most of the information is old to us who have followed this greener lifestyle for any amount of time but it is mostly up to date; a lot of the same information, but it is still interesting reading. But I may be biased, being one of his biggest fans!