This Organic Life: Confessions of a Suburban Homesteader

This Organic Life : Confessions of a Suburban Homesteader
by Joan Dye Gussow
Hardcover - 240 pages (June 2001)
Chelsea Green Pub Co
ISBN: 1890132942

Check price @ amazon.com , amazon.ca , amazon.co.uk

From Library Journal
Two decades ago, when nutritionist Gussow was giving fiery speeches about the importance of eating locally and seasonally, she realized that it was time to put her convictions into practice. In this combination memoir, polemic, and gardening manual, she discusses the joys and challenges of growing organic produce in her own New York garden.

Initially, Gussow had planned to write about her misadventures in buying a 150-year-old house on a Hudson River floodplain. That story was incorporated into this book, but many of the boring remodeling details should have been omitted. Interesting points include a description of establishing her new garden, tips on making compost and on growing fruits and vegetables successfully in a northern climate, and various recipes using the garden bounty. Throughout, Gussow stresses the need to live responsibly "in a society where thoughtless consumption is the norm." Her constant reminders that industrial agriculture produces tasteless, environmentally destructive food well intentioned though they may be start sounding like a litany after a while. Yet, despite its flaws and self-righteous tone, this work offers encouragement to urban and suburban gardeners who want to grow at least some of their own produce.

A suitable addition to gardening collections in public libraries. Ilse Heidmann, San Marcos, TX

Other Organic Gardening Related Books

The Origins of Fruit & Vegetables
by Jonathan Roberts
ISBN: 0789306565

The Organic Manual: Natural Gardening for the 21st Century
by Howard Garrett, Malcolm Beck
ISBN: 1930819161

Organic Gardening for Dummies (For Dummies)
by Ann Whitman
ISBN: 0764553208

Rodale Organic Gardening Solutions : Over 500 Answers to Real Life Questions from Backyard Gardeners
by Cheryl Long, Organic Gardening Magazine (Editor)
ISBN: 087596852X

Ann Lovejoy's Organic Garden Design School : A Guide to Creating Your Own Beautiful, Easy-Care Garden (Rodale Organic Gardening Book)
by Ann Lovejoy
ISBN: 0875968368

Burpee : The Complete Vegetable & Herb Gardener : A Guide to Growing Your Garden Organically
by Karan Davis Cutler (Editor), Cavagnarok David (Photographer), Barbara W. Ellis (Editor), David Cavagnaro (Photographer)
ISBN: 0028620054

Extreme Gardening : How to Grow Organic in the Hostile Deserts
by David Owens
ISBN: 0970501609

Four-Season Harvest : Organic Vegetables from Your Home Garden All Year Long
by Eliot Coleman, Kathy Bray (Illustrator), Barbara Damrosch
ISBN: 1890132276

Maria Rodale's Organic Gardening (Your Seasonal Companion to Creating a Beautiful and Delicious Organic Garden)
by Maria Rodale
ISBN: 087596799X

The Flower Farmer : An Organic Grower's Guide to Raising and Selling Cut Flowers (Gardener's Supply Books)
by Lynn Byczynski, Robin Wimbiscus (Illustrator), Lynn Bycznski
ISBN: 0930031946

This Organic Life : Confessions of a Suburban Homesteader
by Joan Dye Gussow
ISBN: 1890132942