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Looking for book recommendations - garden, landscaping

14 years ago

Hi all. My wife and I purchased a farmhouse on a 3/4 acre lot a year ago. The yard is a mess - we had weeds eight feet tall in parts of the back yard last summer (we were concentrating on major rehab on the inside). I want to start getting the yard in shape - I have a location roughed out for a vegetable garden and have started the 'lasagna' method to be ready for spring. We also plan to build a small movable chicken coop for a few chickens. I'd like to know if you have book recommendations for ways to logically plan the various spaces as well as start landscaping the front yard, etc. My library has a lot of books, but I'd love to start with books that I know you guys would recommend. If you have suggestions, please post them and thanks!

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Comments (2)

beth_b_kodiak
13 years ago
Ben, we moved into an old "abandoned" farmstead years ago and gradually built and reclaimed the area.
try to find old issues of Mother Earth News. It has tons of ideas and great info.
Also a regional garden guide for your area will help.
Try to make friends with your County Extension agent.
I plagued mine with tons of questions as the new place was 2 zones warmer than I was used too. Get Id's on plants you don't recognize and recommendations on veggie varieties that do well in your area.
Go slow with clearing cleaning and tearing up as you may discover some terrific old plants, Rhubarb, daffodils, Mock orange, forsythia etc. It is an adventure to be cherished and enjoyed.
I like the book Gardening with Heirloom plants and, another, Heirloom Herbs.
You should be able to find used copies pretty cheap.
Have fun!!!!
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petunia56
12 years ago
My gardening bible is "The Greenthumb Garden Handbook" by Doc and Katy Abraham. They used to have a gardening show on PBS years ago, back in Roch, NY. They lived in the Finger Lakes region of New York State. We moved to CO 12 years ago, and it is still relevant to our area. They offer organic as well as chemical solutions for all kinds of gardening, from landscaping to container gardening, vegetables, flowers; easy to follow instructions, seed starting, culture, Etc; indoor and outdoor plants. They also wrote several other, more specific books on gardening. You should be able to find used copies at great prices. I suggest www.betterworldbooks.com, as they donate a portion of all sales to world literacy programs.
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