Customer Reviews

Your Eco-friendly Yard: Sustainable Ideas to Save You Time, Money and the Earth

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I really enjoyed this book. It is one of those unusual books that doubles as a reference book or a fun read. Normally books that are useful as reference books are too dry to just sit down and be an enjoyable read. I learned from this book and had fun reading it. Now that I have had the pleasure of reading it, I will keep it on the book shelf as a definitive reference. Way to go Tom Girolamo!

Eco-friendly. It means different things to different people. Everything from cars to washing detergent to anything in between is being touted these days as Eco-Friendly.

What I think of as Eco-Friendly is a friend of the earth....someone who practices what he preaches....who cares for this place called Earth and shows that in every aspect of his living...who believes wholeheartedly in the truth that we are one people on one planet and we all must do what we can to make ourselves more sustainable while protecting and conserving our natural resources. That person is Tom Girolamo.

I have heard Tom Girolamo speak on numerous occasions. Tom is a perfect blend of entertaining enlightenment. There is one thing that defines who he is: Passion.

Tom is passionate about creating landscapes that suit your lifestyle and are therefore sustainable. There is nothing he likes better than to design a beautiful outdoor space that is inviting and Earth-friendly, or take your existing landscape and re-work it to make it fit your present and future lifestyle. Tom shows his passion for sustainability throughout his book. And he is not into cookie-cutter landscape plans but really wants to tailor a space to be perfect for you.

Tom is a passionate educator. He has a great sense of humor and a warmth that always shines through in his presentations, and this book is no different. Since I have met Tom personally and heard him give educational talks on this very subject, I really enjoyed how his personality shines through in this book. It doesn't read like a textbook, but rather like having a conversation with a trusted friend who happens to know an awful lot of practical advice about landscapes and outdoor spaces.

Tom is a passionate about having fun. I love his ideas on things that are not what I would typically think of when planning a landscape...like the pleasures of outdoor shower rooms and a wood fired brick oven for entertaining. He really takes the time to get to know who his clients are to ensure that their landscape is not just pretty green space that is viewed through their windows, but rather an extension of their living spaces, integrated perfectly into their lives.

If you are looking for a fun, informative and passionate guide to help you create a personalized ecosystem for your green space, then Your Eco-friendly Yard: Sustainable Ideas to Save You Time, Money and the Earth is a great book for you or as a gift for anyone who loves the Earth.

A great book and well worth the money! We are all to conventional in our thinking....just doing what the neighbors are doing. Our neighborhoods and yards become a cookie cutter all closely resembling each other, and each of us as if programmed by design march out of our homes on Saturday mornings to maintain what we have created.

This author utilizes a refreshing style of unconventional thinking for those who wish to create a yard that is out of the norm from every one else. In todays society "time is money" and what better way to capitilize on time than to have a yard that is "self maintaining".

People are are different and so are our needs when it comes to the environment that we live and play in. Not all the ideas in this authors book will work for everyone in every yard setting but, this book will surely give the reader so many ideas to comprehend that I am sure you will find some ideas and projects that will fit your needs and lifestyle.

Your eco-friendly yard is a must for the home owner who is not afraid to step out of the norm and wants to create a environment that is beautiful, self maintaining, and sustainable. Whether your staring out with a new home and landscape or got the itch to redo an existing yard, Don't start until you read this book. (5 stars)

For me this book was not only awesome in terms of how to create a more environmentally friendly yard, but also with awesome ideas on how to have a beautiful landscape with 80% less maintenance costs.

This book offers a framework to shift our paradigm so we can see the limitless possibilities on what our landscapes can bring to us. Unlike other "eco-friendly" how-to books, THIS book gave me permission to find my own solutions that fit MY lifestyle. It is honest in it's approach on what is feasible and what isn't and inspires me to find ways to be more Eco-Friendly that is achievable based on my motivation and ability.

I have used many of the principles in my own very modest yard, from smart mulching, drip irrigation, native plant choice and transforming my lawn into outdoor living space. I am the envy of my neighbours and passerbys. My very modest home is now my palace and my 4 year-old's wonderland as she discovers nature, nourishment's from edible aspects of our landscape and learns the process of living everyday in a manner that is sustainable. We have significantly reduced our waste through composting, eliminated the need for pesticides with appropriate plant choices, and controlled our watering efforts with drip irrigation.

I can't express how completely Tom Girolamo's authentic, current and compelling approach to landscaping has transformed our life. We are grateful for this book and his knowledge.

[...]

This book is a great addition for anyone who wants to better utilize their yard, reap the benefits of what their land has to offer and gain enjoyment from being set free from the prison of traditional landscaping practices. YOU DON'T NEED ACRES to apply the principles of this book into your life.

Your Eco-Friendly Yard is a great gift for anyone in your life who is interested in making a difference in their life, the earth, and ultimately their overall well being.

Congratulations Tom Girolamo on your book, I look forward to many more.

I have been looking for a source to inform and inspire me to take advantage of my landscape without working myself to death. This book did that and much more. Other books seem to "candycoat" the Eco issue, not this book. I get real answers to real questions..no punches pulled. Great book!

Troy Aeby

How refreshing to get a book with VERY useful information. Wish I had it a year ago BEFORE seeding my new drainfield. The author has wonderful ideas for transforming the ordinary into an area of value. Numerous ideas and applications with items that I have in good supply. Nice to see an author thinking out of the box for once. Now I know what to do with the box.

This book is a wonderful edition to any library. My husband and I purchased a home in a standard subdivision with standard grassed lawns. We were very fortunate to be able to apply the principals of this book to our small grassed yard with the help of the author himself. Today our yard is absolutely beautiful and has a blend of trees, shrubs, perrenials, and we have much less lawn to mow. What lawn is left, defines the property and enhances the home. In addition, our yard has now become a safe haven to all kinds of birds and other animals.

If you would like to see before and after pictures, go to facebook.com and look up Chris Colburn. We have posted our pictures of the yard there.

If you are willing to step out of suburban America and try something that will not only make your property a unique and beautiful asset to you and the environment, and provide hours of enjoyment, than buy this book. It's great!

some wonderful thoughts and ideas, no matter what someone's "Style" may be. I appreciated the thoughtful approach, taking time to really consider what was practical and wise. Great projects. Easy to read and follow...I enjoyed his conversational style...am looking forward to creating my out door shower:-) and have passed the book on to my son!

thank you so much!

Not a comprehensive textbook, but an enjoyable, practical quick read. Interesting/idiosyncratic combination of facts, philosophy, and practical tips well documented with great photo illustrations. Even though it doesn't provide a step-by-step approach to transforming your yard, you're guaranteed to learn something new and come away with a few ideas you can incorporate into your project!