Starting From Seed (Brooklyn Botanic Garden All-Region Guide) [Paperback]

Brooklyn Botanic Garden (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

The latest installment in the Brooklyn Botanic Garden's 21st Century Gardening series assembles an impressive group of botanists, horticulturists, seed merchants and other experts who not only explain the specifics of propagating plants from seed but also make a compelling case for the importance of seed preservation and genetic diversity. Geared for the natural gardener, the book takes an organic approach and includes essays by contributors such as Shepherd Ogden, founder of the well-known seed company The Cook's Garden, and MacArthur fellowship grantee Kent Whealy, each of whom tackles a different aspect of the topic, from the how-tos of planting to specific information on edibles and heirloom flowers. Splendidly designed and visually enlivened by full-color photos and illustrations, sidebars and an eye-pleasing sprinkling of topical quotes from such diverse sources as Persian poetry, Arthur Miller and the Bible, this handbook is packed with information, including a list of seed sources. By selecting writers passionate about their subject, the editors ensure both a literate format and a lively read (Peter Loewer's thumbnail overview in the chapter entitled "Seed Specifics," for instance, will snare the interest of even the botanically impaired). This eminently useful book is a steal and should be snapped up by every gardener, serious or novice.

Copyright 1998 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Paperback: 112 pages
• Publisher: Brooklyn Botanic Garden (December 31, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1889538094
• ISBN-13: 978-1889538099
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.2 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,625,842 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #26 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Home & Garden > Gardening & Horticulture > Reference

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Seed is Something Special Indeed, March 11, 2002

By 

Ken Scheffler (Canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Starting From Seed (Brooklyn Botanic Garden All-Region Guide) (Paperback)

Over the years, the diversity of seeds available to the gardener has decreased considerably. For vegetables, for instance, the number of non-hybrid varieties offered by seed companies is approximately 5,000 between 1984 and 1994, according to one of the authors in this fine book. Not only is this a matter of concern in terms of the stability of our food supply--lack of genetic diversity makes the few remaining species that are widely used much more vulnerable to unforseen problems--it means that many gardeners are being denied the opportunity to grow vegetables that are widely held to be better tasting. One solution is to grow heirlooms and save the seeds year after year, and Starting From Seed is a concise and readable introduction to the vital process of starting and collecting seeds. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and recommend it to other beginner organic gardeners.

2.0 out of 5 stars Beginners guide at best, February 27, 2011

By 

pinoak (cntrl,il) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Starting From Seed (Brooklyn Botanic Garden All-Region Guide) (Paperback)

I"m dissapointed!!! this book doesn't have nearly any new or good info.I was looking for a more scientific book.There is some info but nothing I didn't already know.Skip this one unless it's used,cheap or free.I think this book is outdated, and I don't live in Brooklyn either.