From Grass to Gardens: How to Reap Bounty from a Small Yard

by Janet Lembke

Janet Lembke loves to garden. But when she moved into her urban home in Virginia, she only had one-eighth of an acre to work with: a small front yard and a small backyard. How she traded a... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1592287468
• ISBN13: 9781592287468
• Release Date: January 2006
• Publisher: Lyons Press
• Length: 221 Pages
• Weight: 0.85 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 6.9" x 9.0"

Customer Reviews

Weird and wonderful weeds

Reviewed by Olivera Baumgartner-Jackson for Reader Views (2/07) Winter is the time when most gardeners cannot do much actual work in their garden, so that's the time when we tend to gather a bunch of gardening catalogs to marvel over and plan our new gardening exploits. Reading about new plants and making lists is a fun way to spend those waiting months, but I've discovered an even more fun thing to do if you are an avid gardener with a vision. Get yourself a copy of Janet Lembke's "From Grass to Gardens: How to Reap Bounty from a Small Yard," and I can guarantee you will be enchanted. Ms. Lembke's book on gardening in a small space is part memoir, part handbook, part cookbook and all of it is great reading. Her way with words is magical - you can nearly see, smell and taste what she is writing about. The writing is fluid and never sounds conceited or artificial. The practical advice within the pages is great - I found myself making notes often as I was reading. There is also an excellent list of resources for gardeners included at the end of the book - everything from seeds and plants to tools and books. The Bibliography section is over six-pages long and I added a good few of the titles from it to my reading list. Then there are Ms. Lembke's precepts, interspersed throughout the book and clearly distinguishable by the bold print and the pretty leaf decoration. It would be worth getting the book just for those. Let me quote a few of my favorite ones here: "Know thine enemy. Become acquainted with the plants that you don't like - dandelions, thistles, plantains, pokeweed, and all the rest that invade your garden like a Mongol horde. All have histories, and many have served human uses. Then, if you still don't like them, root them out." "Place a birdhouse near the vegetable patch. There shall be music as you pick your beans and harvest the tomatoes." "Let things grow and discover what they are." Ms. Lembke's no-nonsense, but sensitive approach to gardening really made me re-think some of my approaches and I am certain my new garden will be a batter one thanks to it. As for the book, I started reading it again already. Spring is nearly here, so I have to make sure that I get everything right. I would recommend "From Grass to Gardens" to gardeners, nature lovers and just anybody who loves great writing and sensible approach to life. It is one of those books that one should savor, read it slowly and re-read it often.