For "amending soil for vegetable gardening and the no-till method of gardening," my top recommendation is Ed Smith, The Vegetable Gardener's Bible (Storey, 2000, 309p, $25). I found his book (in a used book store!!) after I was already using his basic method (wide rows, organic methods, raised beds, deep soil), and I have enjoyed using it as a reference for specific vegetables. It's also nice to have it all laid out in one place, including weeds, pests, watering, composting, and letting the worms do the work. It's a useful and beautiful book, and I can't imagine why it's not more well known. I also like the Rodale book on composting and Ruth Stout's entertaining books (and Lowenfels is on my wish list), but as far as practical info for getting started and growing vegetables, I haven't seen a better book than Smith. A good supplement would be a local/regional guide to food gardening, if one exists for your area, or at least a local "when to plant what" and "best varieties" guide (ag extension offices sometimes have this).

When you are looking for books keep in the back of your mind that often times books will make you think the plants/shrubs and trees are native when they are not. Often times they are listed for hardiness zones. For instance, one of the books I have is called "Trees and shrubs of Central Ontario". This book contains every tree and shrub that "will grow" in central Ontario, not trees and shrubs "native" to Central Ontario. If you do some homework and find out what is native to your region and local area it will help you immensely to figure out what is "native" rather than what grows well in your area. Have fun. My husband and I are restoring our woodlot backyard and enjoying looking for plants, shrubs, ferns, trees and mosses that are native to our specific city. Barb

I have been buying magazines these past weeks to find inspiration & direction. A lot of what is in the magazines doesn't seem practical and affordable. I know you are JUST supposed to get ideas, BUT ...... It's tough--on several websites there are assessments to determine your style. According to thisI am eclectic style preferance--that is really tough. I may check out this book.

Netla, the first book that came to mind, though an old classic was Mary Barton: A Tale of Manchester Life by Mrs Gaskell, written in the time of those 'dark satanic mills'. Modern writers from that area include Val McDermid, popular crime writer and Jeanette Winterson Oranges are Not the Only Fruit; she has become an increasing angry lesbian so don't know about her other work. ;-( You will love both Durham and York, both small enough to easily walk around and with beautiful church and other buildings. There is The Story of Durham by Douglas Pocock which looks interesting (though pricey). The site below gives some eg's of books set in/about York. Loads of history . . . Roman, Viking, railways, chocolate-making etc. Whitby is also interesting. Look out for anything from Saint Hilda to Captain Cook . .. and Dracula! Hope this helps a bit. Here is a link that might be useful: Books Set in York