The Dirt Doctor's Guide to Organic Gardening (Essays on the Natural Way) [Hardcover]

Howard Garrett (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 1995 | Series: Essays on the Natural Way

Plant growers of all kinds are turning to organic products and procedures for vigorous, healthy plants. Since 1988, J. Howard Garrett has been in the forefront of the organic gardening movement, dispensing well-tested advice through "The Natural Way," his radio program and column in the Dallas Morning News. In this expert guide, he offers a complete program for organic gardening. After an opening chapter on the basics of organics, he covers soil management, fertilization and composting, pest control (even fire ants and mosquitoes), landscaping (including tree care, wildflowers, and lawn care), food crops, and wildlife (attracting helpful animals and repelling harmful ones). With this information, professional and home gardeners alike can learn how to eliminate their chemical dependency and grow plants "the natural way." Let The Dirt Doctor's Guide to Organic Gardening be your one-stop source for cost-effective, earth-friendly, complete, and easy-to-understand gardening information.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

This treatise by Dallas Morning News columnist and fervent advocate of the organic technique leaves no stone unturned on the subject of chemical-free gardening. Garrett offers persuasive arguments in favor of a holistic approach to gardening that considers composting, soil enrichment with natural ingredients, mulching, alternative pest control (using such harmless ingredients as baking soda and vinegar) and so on. Serious in tone, this isn't exactly light reading, but neither is it scholarly or dull. Garrett displays a steady supply of wit and anecdotes to keep the prose flowing at a lively clip; the Texan spin on things (ridding a garden of fire ants and armadillos, for example) is intriguing. This volume serves well as an up-to-the-minute reference, one that gardeners of an organic persuasion will likely consult repeatedly. Rodale Book Club selection.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

Coleman's personable work draws together the experience and wisdom of his 25 years as a vegetable gardener in Maine. It includes nearly all the material in the previous edition (LJ 11/1/89), communicating a respect and feeling for "the land" and its processes. Every page is imbued with the wisdom and careful observations he and his associates have gathered; from soil structure to "mobile greenhouses" that expand the growing season, each method is thought through to its ultimate impact on the earth and on economic survival. Well-presented graphics illustrate methods and techniques. This new edition includes sidebar references and notes, new chapters on creating fertile soil (without importing items such as manure from sources that may not use organic methods), and use of existing information channels to learn of new information. Of interest for even the smallest veggie patch grower. The Dirt Doctor's Guide to Organic Gardening presents many of the same sustainable concepts with the vehemence of its radio talk show host and news columnist author. Garrett gives tips on a broader range of home gardening, including landscaping and wildlife, and spends much effort on the abuses of past and current practice. Basics are presented briefly, with many eco-asides that help break up the dense, information-rich text. Lack of visuals makes the material harder to absorb, yet one is constantly copying out directions as they appear. These tidbits and the coverage of issues concerning Southern gardens make the title of value, though gathering the tips in an appendix or special section would have provided better access. For general collections.?Sue Gardner, Albert Wisner Lib., Warwick,
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 216 pages
• Publisher: Univ of Texas Pr (November 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0292727801
• ISBN-13: 978-0292727809
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 5.8 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,027,956 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The only way to grow!, November 2, 2002

By 

michelle (arlington, tx United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Dirt Doctor's Guide to Organic Gardening: Essays on the Natural Way (Paperback)

This book is extremely informative, both for the beginning gardener as well as the more experienced. Contains basic planting techniques, how to begin gardening the organic way, (not as daunting or expensive as you might think!) and maintaining your new masterpiece. Disease and pest control, (MANY bugs are beneficial!!) building healthy soil, (which in turns builds healthy plants,) soil and water management, etc. Written in clear, easy-to-understand language, this is the first book I would recommend to anyone with an interest in gardening, or someone looking for a better, safer way to care for their corner of the planet. If you have children or pets, and a yard, this book is for you! If you enjoy spending time outside relishing your greenspace, this book is for you!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great information, February 20, 2006

By 

Kimberly Kay Reeves "crazy book lady (librarian)" (Farmington Hills, MI) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Dirt Doctor's Guide to Organic Gardening: Essays on the Natural Way (Paperback)

I am in our state Master Gardener program, and the advice is to go organic. You can read contradictory advice out there on the best way to grow crops, flowers, healthy lawns and trees. So far this is the book I've found that clears up the contradictions I've heard and read about and tells you why.

I'm reading a library copy, but just ordered a copy for personal use. I'm sure it will come in handy.

3.0 out of 5 stars Had to jiggle their shipping memory, February 27, 2011

By 

Rodde "Rodde" (Texas) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Dirt Doctor's Guide to Organic Gardening: Essays on the Natural Way (Paperback)

It took the book 10 days to travel 450 miles. If I hadn't made an inquiry 8 days after it was "supposedly" sent I might never have received it. It was postmarked the day I made an inquiry. I gave them 3 stars because the book was as described.