Barbara Pleasant

So many gardening authors are from the Northeast and their timetable and challenges are too different from what Southern gardeners face. This early Barbara Pleasant book has turned out to be my favorite practical guide, tuned to conditions here in Georgia. I rely especially on her helps for setting up a schedule for a progressive growing season so I can produce seedlings ready at the right time to set out.

I recently freaked out because I couldn't find my copy. Knowing that it is long out show more of print, I look on the Web for used copies. And, holy smoke, they were $50 and up. Glad I finally found mine because I would have replaced it even at that ridiculous price. show less

Very practical compendium of ideas to help you plan to grow the right amount of food and use it wisely. The author provides a lot of recipes and suggestions for food storage, some rather unusual, but all valid. I'm going to try some of her food drying tips. Candied rhubarb and cinnamon-sugar pumpkin chews sound delicious, and they are new to me. This is a book to read carefully, in detail, more than once, and refer to repeatedly.

Lots of information in one book! I think this book is most helpful for looking up quick care needs of specific plants, so it's good if you know what you have or what you are interested in getting. It also contains a more general section full of good basic tips for various parts of houseplant care. For a total novice though, it might make houseplant care seem a little daunting.
I took it out from the library but I can see it as the kind of thing I might refer to again in the future if I'm show more having specific problems or want to try certain things, such as the different ways of propagating plants it describes. show less

I'm feeling ready to go beyond adding a few vegies to my flower garden. Last year the cucumbers weren't as good as the year prior, but I did forget to mention watering the garden before I went on vacation.... But the beans were a lot of fun to grow. I like the process more than the product, so that is probably why I haven't done too much with vegies. This book is very informative and motivating. I'm going to try the gardening straight out of the soil bags. Much easier than breaking new show more ground. Even got some seeds ordered. Of course, I had to get some flower seeds as well. I'll keep those interested posted! show less