You Grow Girl: The Groundbreaking Guide to Gardening (Paperback)

~ (Author) "I first caught the gardening bug at the age of five when I grew my first plant from seed, a tiny parsley in a foam..." (more)
Key Phrases: North America, Ten Speed Press

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

While this book's subtitle may be an overstatement-despite the quirky illustrations and chatty style, there isn't much "groundbreaking" advice here-the book itself is a competent guide to getting a little dirt under your fingernails. Trail, a graphic designer, writer, gardener and creator of www.YouGrowGirl.com, believes gardening, like knitting and crocheting, has become cool again. Her advice to young women who want to take up the hobby is "follow your heart." Gardening doesn't have to be intimidating, she says, and her book certainly proves that. In instructional subdivisions such as "Mulch, Love It or Leave It" and "Not Your Grandmother's Gardening Apron," she coaches readers on basic aspects of gardening, keeping her tone light and her advice simple. Chapters detail planting, growing, collecting bounty (like herbs, fruits and vegetables) and preparing a garden for winter. Each project-from assembling devices to keep pests away to instructions for growing potted tomatoes-is marked to show its difficulty level, and Trail is equally attuned to the needs of both city dwellers and those with more space to develop their green thumb. 100 color photos.
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Product Description

This is not your grandmother's gardening book. You Grow Girl is a hip, humorous how-to for crafty gals everywhere who are discovering a passion for gardening but lack the know-how to turn their dreams of homegrown tomatoes and fresh-cut flowers into a reality.

Gayla Trail, creator of YouGrowGirl.com, provides guidance for both beginning and intermediate gardeners with engaging tips, projects, and recipes -- whether you have access to a small backyard or merely to a fire escape. You Grow Girl eliminates the intimidation factor and reveals how easy and enjoyable it can be to cultivate plants and flowers even when resources and space are limited. Divided into accessible sections like Plan, Plant, and Grow, You Grow Girl takes readers through the entire gardening experience:

• Preparing soil

• Nurturing seedlings

• Fending off critters

• Reaping the bounty

• Readying plants for winter

• Preparing for the seasons ahead

Gayla also includes a wealth of ingenious and creative projects, such as:

• Transforming your garden's harvest into lush bath and beauty products

• Converting household junk into canny containers

• Growing and bagging herbal tea

• Concocting homemade pest repellents

...and much, much more.

Witty, wise, and as practical as it is stylish, You Grow Girl is guaranteed to show you how to get your garden on. All you need is a windowsill and a dream!

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Product Details

• Paperback: 208 pages
• Publisher: Fireside (March 2, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0743270142
• ISBN-13: 978-0743270144
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 8 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (28 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #149,645 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Not just for the new gardener, March 7, 2005

By	mom22cherubs "mom22cherubs" (Sacramento CA) - See all my reviews

This book is fantastic. I have been gardening for 8 years and I wish I had had this book when I started. Even though it's target audience is the young city dweller. I, a suburban housewife and mother of two, find it more useful than all my other gardening books (I love Martha, but I just don't have that kind of time or money!).

All the basics are here, distilled into an easy to read format that is fun to read and ispiring. In addition, the book has lots of fun projects that are affordable and easy.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Brings the fun into gardening...., April 29, 2005

By	C. Tucker "Carrie" (Illinois) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I ran across www.yougrowgirl.com and found this book. It's given me a completely different perspective on gardening....from clueless to hopeful. After reading this book I feel I have the confidence to grow things that don't die after the first week. The book was very easy to read, very colourful and interesting. I highly recommend it to someone who is even just slightly interested in plants.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic!!, March 16, 2005

By	Miriam Rouziek (League City, Texas United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This book is absolutely fantastic. It's really filled in all the information that my mom's gardening books left out. This book is chock full of great information on plant types, garden pests, fertilizing, and how to make your own fertilizers and pest repellants. There are even great craft projects so you can make your own garden apron and seed packets. Best of all, the author's website www.yougrowgirl.com has more information for when you're ready to take it to the next level, or if you just need some extra help.

This has been a great addition to my gardening books!