Actually, here in Texas, I’m already behind the curve. But I’m just itching to get out there and start digging and planting. So, since I got to go to the library by myself today, I browsed through the gardening books. It’s looking like this will be a “me, myself, and I” project – well, me & the kid – so I felt I needed some help. I’ve never done the from scratch part. Right now, where the garden will be, is lawn, grass. Yeah, I don’t know what to do with that. My husband always does that part. But, since he’s completely consumed with work and March is over this week, I have to get in there and figure out how to get started. I found a nice stack of books that look like they will be helpful.
The one I started looking at this evening is absolutely hilarious. I am literally laughing out loud while I read. It’s The 20 Minute Vegetable Gardener (Gourmet Gardening for the Rest of Us) by Tom Christopher & Marty Asher. Check out the “Pledge of Allegiance” (minus the explanations):
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The 20-minute gardener makes every minute count by growing high-impact crops.
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The 20-minute fruit and vegetable gardener gauges success not by the size of the crop but by the amount of pleasure it delivers.
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The 20-minute fruit or vegetable must offer a significant improvement over the store-bought alternative.
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Twenty-minute gardeners don’t fight Nature (they know who will win that battle).
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Twenty-minute gardeners plant in rows only when planning to harvest by tractor.
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Twenty-minute gardeners nurture their dirt.
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Twenty-minute gardeners don’t weed. . . they never let weeds into their gardens.
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The 20-minute gardener never applies anything to his garden that he would be afraid to get on his hands.
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The 20-minute gardener can do this because she rarely has to confront bugs.
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The 20-minute gardener recognizes that the hose is his most important gardening tool, and so wields it with the care it deserves.
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Mellow gardeners grow better-tasting vegetables.
I can’t wait (rubbing hands together in anticipation).
Here’s a list of the other books I checked out that look helpful, but I haven’t begun to read yet:
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Dirt Cheap Gardening – Hundreds of Ways to Save Money in Your Gardenby Rhonda Massingham Hart
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Texas Gardening – Vegetablesby Dr. Sam Cotner
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Gardening with Children by Beth Richardson
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The Budget Gardener – Twice the Garden for Half the Priceby Maureen Gilmer
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An Illustrated Guide to Organic Gardening – How to Garden in Harmony with Nature by the Editors of Sunset Books
One should be able to find similar books in the local library, if not these. Definately look for the 20-minute gardener. That looks to be a fun read, and tremendously helpful to little ‘ol me. While I’m on the subject, I picked up another wonderful book from Paperback Swap on Herb Gardening: Herbal Remedy Gardens – 38 Plans for Your Health & Well-Being by Dorie Byers. So many ideas and so little time (not to mention budget). None-the-less, I hope to be able to report some progress this time next week. Happy digging in your little plot of the world!
