Are You a Backyard Farmer?

About the Book:  Urban Homesteading Just Got Easier with a New Book of Projects that Will Turn Any Backyard into a Food-Producing Oasis. (LANCASTER, PA) An urban homesteading movement is upon us, and it has even city-dwellers looking to turn their backyards into a place where they can grow food, raise animals, and lead a more eco-friendly, sustainable lifestyle. This "living off the land" mindset can provide an organic harvest year-round, a decreased dependence on the Earth’s renewable resources, and what many strive for when forging ahead to create their own small farm - a simpler life. With just a small amount of space, anyone can convert their property into a micro-farm with a new book of do-it-yourself projects:

Building Projects for Backyard Farmer and Home Gardeners (Fox Chapel Publishing, April 1, 2012). It provides readers with the inspiration and instruction for transforming a typical backyard into a lush food-producing patch. Step-by-step instructions and detailed plans, from a professional builder and experienced homesteader are included for more than 20 projects. The easy-to-follow guide also includes a photo gallery of real backyard farms and interviews with a variety of experienced homesteaders. Readers will learn what motivates them, lessons they have learned the hard way, and hear funny anecdotes about their experiences. With the projects and guidance inside Building Projects for Backyard Farmers and Home Gardeners anyone  can learn how to set up and equip their space to reap the benefits of a self-sufficient homestead.

About the Author:  Chris Gleason grew up on a dairy farm in upstate New York and is the author of several successful books for do-it-yourselfer’s including, Art of the Chicken Coop, Built-In Furniture for the Home, Kitchen Makeovers for Any Budget, Complete Custom Closet, Old- School Woodshop Accessories, and Building Real Furniture for Everyday Life. He currently builds and sells chicken coops and has owned Gleason Woodworking Studio for more than 13 years. He teaches chicken coop workshops and enjoys keeping his own backyard flock with his wife and young daughter.

My Thoughts About the Book:  This book is a great source book for those who want to do some urban gardening.  Gleason gives a thorough step-by-step description of each project he offers in the book.  The directions are clear and concise and very helpful.  This book is a great must have for those who are interested in going green.

Disclaimer:  This book was given to me by Net Galley and Fox Chapel Publishing for review purposes only.  I was not paid to give a review and the thoughts given are 100% my own.

The Lavender Lover's Handbook

About The Book:  With its intoxicating scent, gorgeous wands of purple flowers, and silvery foliage, lavender is one of the most sought-after plants. But the horticultural reasons for choosing lavender go far beyond its beauty. Lavender attracts beneficial insects, requires little water once established, and is deer resistant. In The Lavender Lover's Handbook, lavender grower Sarah Bader teaches gardeners how they can successfully grow this beloved plant. Featuring the 100 easiest, most stunning lavenders available today, this beginner's guide provides a complete checklist of the color, fragrance, size, and foliage of each plant, in addition to basic pruning, spacing, and planting requirements. The text is rounded out with tips on how to harvest, cook, and craft with this wonderful herb. Its abundant variety, hardiness, fragrance, and culinary uses make lavender one of the most popular and versatile plants. And now, with this practical and accessible guide in hand, it's easier than ever to grow at home.

About The Author:  Sarah Berringer Bader has always been drawn to lavender.  In 2000 she purchased a five-acre farm south of Portland, Oregon, and wafter visiting the Sequim Lavender Festival in Washingon and seeing rows and rows of this wonderous herb, decided to create a test plot of 365 plants despite knowing nothbingn about planting lavender.  She learned through trial and error, helped by a little-known society of lavender pioneers who had dedicated their careers to cultivating, growing, and preserving the true species of lavender.  Soon she purchased many varieties of lavender from a seasoned grower in Oregon who had propagated starts from his own extensive collection acquired over a twenty-year span.  In 2005 she planted almost 5000 lavender plants with more than ninety cultivars and began propagating her own starts from cuttings.  She opened her farm to the public and began holding the classes that inspired this book.  Sarah and her farm, Lavender at Stonegate, have been featured in Grower Talks and Country Gardens magazines.
My Thoughts:  Lavender has intoxicated me for years.  The heady smell of it as a potpourri, the pungent taste of it in recipes, the beauty of it in decoration has always brought me a great deal of pleasure.  The photography in the book, by Janet Loughrey was amazing.  The book is filled with glorious pictures, tasteful recipes, fabulous crafts, and a wonderful education on growing lavender.  This book is a must read for anyone who has a draw to lavender.
Disclaimer:  This book was sent to me by Net Galley Publishing Group as part of their blogger review program.  The opinion stated within the review is 100% my own.