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

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!