Other Book Reviews:

Weeds and What They Tell
Ehrenfried E. Pfeiffer,
Bio-Dynamic Farming and Gardening Association
(available from Peaceful Valley Farm Supply (888)784-1722)

Ralph Waldo Emerson once said, "What is a weed? A plant whose virtues have not yet been discovered. That is the premise of this odd, old-fashioned, but really fascinating booklet. Weeds can actually help in the garden by revealing soil secrets and providing mineral-rich material for compost piles. Weeds can tell you about the acidity, drainage, texture, organic matter and nutrient deficiencies in garden soil. Some weeds even imporve your garden. For example, dandelions attract pollinators and earthworms, and their deep roots (which don't compete with grass) bring minerals up to the top layers of the soil. You will find a wealth of information here on the historical uses and origins of weeds along with guidelines for listening to the stories that weeds tell us.

Living with Plants
Schumann, Ehrle & Pipper

This book, a gift from Diablo Foothills District, is a gardeners guide to practical botany. It covers the composition of plants their relations to the soil, seeds, propagation, enemies of plants and their control, pruning and grafting. Special chapters cover indoor gardening, hanging baskets and terrariums and outdoor gardening. The last section deals with landscape planning. There are illustrations and diagrams throughout the book amplifying the text.

Weedless Gardening
Lee Reich
Workman Publising, 2001

Eighteenth century farmers believed that they needed to pulverize their soil so that plants could "eat" the soil particles. But author Reich believes that cultivating and tilling garden soil actually causes more problems by exposing weed seeds to the air and light they need to germinate. This book suggests that gardeners can work less and have fewer weed problems by using mulch, drip irrigation and distrubing the top layer of soil as litle as possible. This method helps to feed plants, discourage weeds and encourage important soil critters.

Great tips on composting, watering and planting are all included in this low-impact approach to gardening.