Customer Reviews

Grow Organic: Over 250 Tips and Ideas for Growing Flowers, Veggies, Lawns and More

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Okay, I have to say I have read at LEAST 200 Organic Gardening books and this one will remain on my shelf as a keeper. This book offers such a fresh and welcoming approach to pesticide free growing.

The common sense approach and easy reading make this a practical, educational tool for any skill set. I can see myself picking this up at the beginning of each growing season as a refresher as well as idea generator for my next garden plans.

Not only does this offer great hints and tips but it encourages folks to live a chemical free life. It shows how easy and sensible natural living can be and I have learned so much.

Bravo to the authors on their contribution to natural growing, living and believing!

My wife and I listen to Doug and Jessica's program on Sirius and, when we heard about their book, we knew it would be a good resource to have on hand. I enjoyed the conversational tone of the book-- it's kind of like listening to them on the air and makes it easy to absorb the knowledge they present.

While we have gardened organically for years, we've learned that it is both a science and an art. Like any art, there is much to be learned from those with with experience-- those who have made the mistakes you want to avoid. This is the first book I've read where the authors actually admit they've made mistakes and they don't make you feel guilty about having made any of your own.

The chapter with the step-by-step guide to organic pest control is great. Nothing makes you want to reach for the quick fix in a can like seeing your hard work invaded, but the steps given here (and the gentle reminders to be patient in letting nature achieve her balance) help maintain a little sanity while reminding you that an intelligent, methodical approach can help you keep the upper hand.

The other important point to make about any reference is that the index is effective.

I'd recommend this book to anyone who wants to start getting the chemicals out of their gardens but don't know where begin. For those who have been doing this for a while but can still benefit from good advice, the writing style is light and terse making it easy to skim over the bits you already know.

I've been growing organically for many years, but never paid much attention to my lawn. I've already been employoing several of their tips, but never did anything about the weeds or grubs, because I don't want children playing on a treated lawn, or to have the chemicals leach into the groundwater.

Chapter 8 of this book tells us how to have a rich, country-club lawn, without applying toxic chemicals, and without spending countless, fruitless hours hand-digging the plantains and dandelions. If your lawn is already treated with chemicals, they'll teach you how to transition your yard to organic, yet still maintain a perfect golf-club-green lawn. I'm looking forward to employing their techniques, so that I can say "good-bye forever" to dandelions, crabgrass, and grubs!

Being new to the world of gardening, especially organic gardening, this book has made my new hobby very enjoyable. The authors give easy to follow steps on how to make your garden and lawn beautiful while keeing your family (and the environment) safe. Whether you are new to organic gardening or a seasoned professional, everyone can take something away from reading this book.

So, you want to know everything about organic gardening but don't know what to ask? No problem. Just pick up a copy of the new book Grow Organic by Doug Oster and Jessica Walliser. The book has "over 250 Tips, and Ideas for Growing Flowers, Veggies, Lawns, and More," which means you won't have to ask any questions to get a good handle on understanding the ins and outs of organic gardening.

The authors say they will "arm you with all the know-how you'll need to garden organically." And that they will "be with you every step of the way." One of the first steps taken is to explain the term "organic." Eaters everywhere are ever more concerned about the ingredients in processed foods. Doug and Jessica want gardeners to return to the old ways of gardening, pre WWII, when "our great-grandparents gardened." That was before the introduction of hamful chemicals now used in many gardens and on many more farms.

Using "scare tactics" in a friendly manner, Jessica and Doug list nine pieces of "information" about why you should switch to organic gardening. Information such as: "Kids who grow up around conventional lawn and garden chemicals are 6½ times more likely to get leukemia than kids who grow up in an untreated environment," and the "67 million pounds of chemicals applied to residential lawns each year." (The authors add: "These are scary facts, and there are lots more where they came from." I do not doubt the words of the authors, however, a list of sources for the facts would have been appropriate.)

In Chapter 2, "Taking The Leap," Doug and Jessica explain the necessary steps needed to wean a garden off the " 'steroids' of chemical fertilizers" and convert it to "natural care." For the beginning organic gardener, this Chapter is most helpful. Jessica and Doug lay out a six-step process that is clear and understandable.

At the end of each Chapter, Doug and Jessica share their organic gardening knowledge with readers in their "Tells All" section. This is a personal touch I found very warm and informative - a lot like talking across the garden gate with your next-door neighbor. The authors also include end of chapter tips, tricks, and useful anecdotes on many aspects of organic gardening.

No gardening book would be complete without a chapter on the health of soil and Jessica and Doug have done an exceptional job with their Chapter "The Real
Dirt - Organic Soil Management" in Grow Organic. This Chapter stands out as one of the most important keys in our understanding as gardeners of the health of the soil in our gardens and its relationship to the plants, flowers, and vegetables we grow.

Doug Oster and Jessica Walliser have given gardeners an impressive tool to use to help them become not only better gardeners, but also better stewards of the land. Grow Organic should be on every gardener's book shelf, within easy reach.

I have read hundreds of pages of organic information and this book puts the information in one volume. I think what I enjoyed most about this book was that the organic personalities of the authors shines through. They live organic lives through their gardens and they are joyfully transmitting their love to all of us in Grow Organic. The stories make the tips reality. Even though I have been gardening organically for many years, I learned new little tidbits that I hadn't realized. This book will be at the ready to help me through this gardening season. Doug and Jess make it simple for you to Grow Organic.

If you have comtemplated changing your gardening protocol to a more earth friendly method, but have always thought it too confusing, than this is the book for you. Doug and Jess have taken an often confusing subject and simplified it for the beginner as well as the experienced gardener. It is packed full of practical and easy to follow procedures that will allow you to garden in a safer way. Their personal tips and experiences make you feel like they are right there with you each step of the way. They have provided lots of valuable information about soil, lawns, veggies, pests and beneficial insects. And what I like best, is that they give you their own tried and true resources to help you find many of the products that they have discussed in the book and use in their own gardens.

I have been using organic garden practices for years, but I found this book to be extremely refreshing and a good one to grab for a quick reference. I can say that it is one that I have been reaching for when I want to confirm something or look up information concernng a new problem that I might be experiencing.

As a master gardener, I can say that this book is not one that will sit on my shelf and collect dust, but will be one that I use for seasons to come. Thanks Doug and Jess for sharing your experiences and helping us realize that going organic does not mean sacrificing our beautiful and bountiful gardens.

I'm not a gardener, but a homeowner who was very impressed with Doug's appearance on a local Pittsburgh newsmagazine (OnQ). I got the book, and immediately liked it, particularly the section on composting and organic lawn care (which I cared most about).

The only reason it doesn't get 5 stars is because it seemed like just a collection of tips and tricks, without out enough structured how-tos. Maybe I just need it spelled out, or maybe I'm not hard-core enough of a gardener, but I can't give it the oh-my-god-this-is-the-best review. Though I still recommend it to anyone interested in gardening.

I love this book because it makes organic gardening seem so normal and accessible. Which, in fact, it is, but you'd never know that from some of the references out there. Do you chop up your orange peel before you put it in the compost? Me neither. This is the book for us.

Gardening "green" sounds like an oxymoron - and it is. What is called "organic" gardening today is what everyone was doing before the Industrial Revolution. Now-a-days, only about half of homes have plants in them. Most you can't even eat.

Time to Grow Organic! A new book by Pittsburg greenies Doug Oster and Jessica Walliser. Not only about gardening, Grow Organic helps with flowers, lawns and more. For "first-timers and old-timers alike," those without a naturally green thumb are saved. Color pictures, graphs, step-by-step instructions - it's all here.

Live in the city? Grow Organic's info applies to your small space too. Don't let a lack of "real" land stop you grow the joy of truly fresh food and flowers. Container gardens are even easier to maintain than lawn spaces, so grab a trowel and get growing!

My favorite section of Grow Organic is chapter 6 - all about veggies! When I have a house, I'll grow fruit trees too. Until then, its spinach, herbs, and other edibles. My apartment building's fire escape offers enough extra space to cultivate more than expected.

Space? Time? Skill? You don't need any of these to grow! It's a simple, quick and space-conscious hobby. Grab a copy of Grow Organic by Doug Oster and Jessica Walliser. You'll see what I mean in no time. Well, it may take a few weeks for the seeds to sprout. Then, you'll see.