Brooklyn Botanic Garden

This is a very good intro book to the subject. it doesn't overwhelm with technicalities and other specifics. Besides giving some basic background, it features 13 NewYorkCity projects, giving each a four page spread, with one large photo, several smaller photos, some basic data, such as cost per foot, size, contributors, etc., a two page blurb and "lessons learned." This is a good book to begin the thought processes. It also features both professional and do-it-yourself projects and a variety show more of methods and goals. A modular bag system was sucessfully moved and returned in order to make repairs to the roof. Another shows full scall veggie gardening. Another adds a backyard garden feel (complete with added kitchen and covered porch) to a six story older building, by vaccuuming the soil media up to the roof. There is a non-intimidating section that introduces methods and materia. Excellent!! show less

This is a short book, probably not intended to be read cover to cover, though I did. The longest section is on the pests, about one page each in alphabetical order, with descriptions of lifecycle, symptoms, controls, and an illustration of the pest in its pesty stage; this section might benefit from illustrations of the entire life cycle for recognition and context. Other sections are on cultural controls (e.g. crop rotation), beneficial insects (e.g. ladybugs), natural pesticides (e.g. show more alcohol). This is basic information, helpful if you’re starting from scratch, as I am. I’d expect more detailed books to exist, but this one is good enough as a first pass.

(read 8 Oct 2013) show less

I really liked the discussion of tree canopy, and how to think about woodland gardens vertically. Unfortunately when listing possible woodlands plants, they include almost half non-native species.

Borrowed from library. Very useful!
See also: How to Compost (Earth Machine): http://www.earthmachine.com/how_to_compost.html
See also: US Composting Council fact sheet: http://arlingtonma.gov/home/showdocument?id=22663

Notes:

List of common compostables (dry, carbon-rich browns and wet, nitrogen-rich greens), p.34-35

Composting techniques: pit composting, trench composting, digester composting, sheet composting, p. 42-43

Make sure your bin is "rodent resistant," p. 58

A good fork for turning your show more compost is probably the first tool you should buy - and could be the last. p. 59

Tip for composting in the north & central states with long cold winters: shred dry leaves in the fall and keep them on hand to add to the pile throughout the winter (to mix in with kitchen scraps). p. 69

Micro-composting: use a pot or planter (or use two, for different stages of composting). Make sure there are drainage holes in the bottom and a cover on top. Use old soil, newspaper, other absorbent materials on the bottom to get started. p. 81

Other micro-compost options: window boxes, compost towers, garbage cans, laundry hampers, commercial bins and tumblers, worm bins, p. 83 show less