We got it used from Amazon.com, but we also found one a year ago at a thrift store. That book, Back to Basics, was my son's school curriculum - he has learned a lot from it and it has also been a good 'springboard' for further learning.
My mom bought the Back to Basics book years ago...it was great fun to read and dream when I was a kid; a great book.
Was there something specific about the Square Foot Gardening book you didn't like? I tried this type of gardening once, but it did not seem to work in my situation. Perhaps I did something wrong.
There were several things Corban did not appreciate about the SFG system ... I asked him for more specifics and he said it would be hard to give very many specifics without reading through the book again and highlighting what he did not like :) One thing that really stood out to him though was the soil. It seems 'we' are always looking for shortcuts and this system is no exception. Instead of working with the soil you already have, the SFG system has you bringing in soil (either purchased from him or you can go out, find all the components and mix it yourself). Not only is this expensive but it's just simply impractical.
Why not start with what you have, put a little bit if elbow grease into it (we all need a little more exercise and time out-of-doors, right?) and improve the soil yourself? Taking care of what you already have will have lasting positive effects and, I believe, help you to become a better gardener.
Another thing he did not like (a bit less specific I guess and kind-of ties in to the first point) is the man seems to throw a lot of 'tried and true' methods or conventional wisdom out the door.
Ok, and one more ... it is an impractical system for large-scale gardening.
Great, where did you get the one Back to basics?
ReplyDeleteWe got it used from Amazon.com, but we also found one a year ago at a thrift store. That book, Back to Basics, was my son's school curriculum - he has learned a lot from it and it has also been a good 'springboard' for further learning.
Deletecool, gonna check it out
ReplyDeleteMy mom bought the Back to Basics book years ago...it was great fun to read and dream when I was a kid; a great book.
ReplyDeleteWas there something specific about the Square Foot Gardening book you didn't like? I tried this type of gardening once, but it did not seem to work in my situation. Perhaps I did something wrong.
There were several things Corban did not appreciate about the SFG system ... I asked him for more specifics and he said it would be hard to give very many specifics without reading through the book again and highlighting what he did not like :) One thing that really stood out to him though was the soil. It seems 'we' are always looking for shortcuts and this system is no exception. Instead of working with the soil you already have, the SFG system has you bringing in soil (either purchased from him or you can go out, find all the components and mix it yourself). Not only is this expensive but it's just simply impractical.
ReplyDeleteWhy not start with what you have, put a little bit if elbow grease into it (we all need a little more exercise and time out-of-doors, right?) and improve the soil yourself? Taking care of what you already have will have lasting positive effects and, I believe, help you to become a better gardener.
Another thing he did not like (a bit less specific I guess and kind-of ties in to the first point) is the man seems to throw a lot of 'tried and true' methods or conventional wisdom out the door.
Ok, and one more ... it is an impractical system for large-scale gardening.
So much for a book review without words! ;)