Growing food in the southwest mountains: A permaculture approach to home gardening above 6,500 feet in Arizona, New Mexico, southern Colorado and southern Utah [Paperback]

Lisa Rayner (Author), Zack Zdinack (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 1, 2002

Whether you are a weekend gardener who has never heard of permaculture, or an avid gardener using the permaculture approach, this book will help you grow food under the most challenging of circumstances. This book will teach you how to deal with dry weather, high winds, intense sunlight, cold nights, insect pests, and other challenges of gardening in the southwest mountains. Includes beautiful illustrations by Zackery Zdinak as well as a planting timetable, glossary of lesser known food crops, and an extensive list of resources for gardeners. Growing Food in the Southwest Mountains will help you deal with local gardening challenges: Clay, sand and volcanic cinder soils that are very low in organic matter. A yearly average precipitation range of 18 to 25 inches  (or less in drought years!).Our high altitude provides us with strong sunlight, cold winters and large day-night temperature swings.Windy weather, especially during our spring and fall dry seasons.A number of local "pest" animals, birds and insects. "If every region in North America had a  handbook like this, we would be seven leagues ahead of where we now are in Permaculture education. The author and publishers are to be commended for creating a first-class resource." - Cathy Holt The Permaculture Activist magazine, Winter 2002/2003 "Lisa Rayner's new edition of this little masterpiece provides you with principles for living and eating in harmony with northern Arizona's natural habitats. It is a primer on how to change our food production and consumption strategies to sustain the natural and cultural heritage of our region." - Dr. Gary Paul Nabhan,  Author of Coming Home to Eat: The Pleasures and Politics of Local Foods. from the preface

Product Details

• Paperback: 128 pages
• Publisher: Lifeweaver; 3rd edition (May 1, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0971956502
• ISBN-13: 978-0971956506
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.1 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #582,884 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Resource for the arid, high elevation southwest, February 1, 2009

By 

Sunwing (New Mexico) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Growing food in the southwest mountains: A permaculture approach to home gardening above 6,500 feet in Arizona, New Mexico, southern Colorado and southern Utah (Paperback)

This book is a great reference and introduction to the ways to work with the natural challenges of growing food in the high-elevation southwest. I am in Santa Fe, NM and have found many of these techniques and plant list suggestions invaluable. Many other gardening books are based on experience in more temperate, moist climates with totally different soil conditions. This book fits those of us without the benefit of regular rainfall and decent soil. Small format book, decent illustrations and planting suggestions.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Author and gardening expert Lisa Rayner provides expert commentary on issues and challenges gardeners can face, June 7, 2009

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Growing food in the southwest mountains: A permaculture approach to home gardening above 6,500 feet in Arizona, New Mexico, southern Colorado and southern Utah (Paperback)

The agricultural concept of permaculture is what enables gardeners to grow food crops under almost all environmental circumstances including areas affected by high winds, intense sunlight, cold nights, insect infestations, water restrictions, and many other agriculturally relevant conditions. In "Growing Food In The Southwest Mountains", author and gardening expert Lisa Rayner provides expert commentary on issues and challenges gardeners can face with respect to soil conditions low in organic matter due to compositions of clay, sand, and volcanic cinder; precipitation ranges of 18 to 25 inches annual (or less under conditions of drought as now afflicts the southwestern United States); high altitudes and large day-night temperature swings; windy weather commonly encountered in spring and fall dry seasons; as well as 'pest' animals, birds and insects. Focusing on home gardening conditions common to altitudes above 6,500 feet in Arizona, New Mexico, Southern Colorado, and Southern Utah, "Growing Food In The Southwest Mountains" is an essential and very highly recommended instructional introduction to successful gardening throughout this region -- as well as invaluable for gardening efforts under similar conditions elsewhere throughout the country.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A must-have!, September 14, 2009

By 

L. Einer (New Mexico) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Growing food in the southwest mountains: A permaculture approach to home gardening above 6,500 feet in Arizona, New Mexico, southern Colorado and southern Utah (Paperback)

If you live in the mountains of the Southwestern USA, from Flagstaff to Southern Colorado, this book is a must-have. It is packed with strategies and tips specific to the unique challenges that face gardeners in this area.

Not to say that it is the ONLY book you need. But it is an indispensible companion for more general, non region-specific works like Gaia's Garden.