Unforgettable Books

Is Your Backyard Garden Just Not Working For You? Are your plants taking too long to grow? Is your garden in a mess? Are you lacking space for your new crops? Let's face the fact here, traditional soil gardening can be UNTIDY AND UNREWARDING at times. There are simply too many factors that are affecting your beloved crops. Why not...Discover Hydroponics? The world is changing quickly, and vast expanses of grass that waste water are a thing of the past. We need to take care of our planet and ourselves. What better way to do so than to plant food in our yards instead of grass. This way we can control the chemicals and pesticides put on our foods and know that we are nourishing our bodies with the healthiest food possible. Plus, it is a great way to save money. Organic produce can be expensive. When you invest a little money in building a sustainable hydroponic system, it will definitely pay off in the long run.Inside this book you will discover: -How to build a proper hydro garden bed-Different water drip systems-Suitable nutrients for various plants-Great hydroponic resources Attention! Hydroponics is NOT for everyone! This book is not for people: -Who doesn't want to their own awesome hydroponic garden-Who are not obsessed with plants-Who isn't inspired to have a self-sustainable green food source

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A complex look at California Native ecological practices as a model for environmental sustainability and conservation. John Muir was an early proponent of a view we still hold today--that much of California was pristine, untouched wilderness before the arrival of Europeans. But as this groundbreaking book demonstrates, what Muir was really seeing when he admired the grand vistas of Yosemite and the gold and purple flowers carpeting the Central Valley were the fertile gardens of the Sierra Miwok and Valley Yokuts Indians, modified and made productive by centuries of harvesting, tilling, sowing, pruning, and burning. Marvelously detailed and beautifully written, Tending the Wild is an unparalleled examination of Native American knowledge and uses of California's natural resources that reshapes our understanding of native cultures and shows how we might begin to use their knowledge in our own conservation efforts. M. Kat Anderson presents a wealth of information on native land management practices gleaned in part from interviews and correspondence with Native Americans who recall what their grandparents told them about how and when areas were burned, which plants were eaten and which were used for basketry, and how plants were tended. The complex picture that emerges from this and other historical source material dispels the hunter-gatherer stereotype long perpetuated in anthropological and historical literature. We come to see California's indigenous people as active agents of environmental change and stewardship. Tending the Wild persuasively argues that this traditional ecological knowledge is essential if we are to successfully meet the challenge of living sustainably.

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Concrete Botany is a gritty, kick-in-the-guts look at the ecological disturbance humans have caused and the resilience of the plants living amongst it. Delivered in his raw and unapologetic yet botanically accurate tone, Joey Santore--the unforgettable host of Crime Pays but Botany Doesn't--offers an often unsettling view of human-caused ecological destruction and its impact on the natural ecosystems our very lives depend on. The choices of modern civilization have led to a f***ed-up planet, scraped bare and covered in concrete and invasive species. We've wiped out entire ecosystems, moved invasive plants to new continents where they don't belong, and, in a few hundred years, we've managed to muck up the intricate balance of a planet that has been evolving for eons. The consequences of our actions are now at our doorstep, ready to strike a match. But not all is lost. In this groundbreaking examination of plants and their role in the Anthropocene (the age of human disturbance), we see light through the cracks in the concrete and learn that humanity's course correction starts with an understanding of plant ecology. With this knowledge comes the realization that the lives of humans and plants are interconnected in ways humans cannot live without. Plants are the base of every terrestrial ecosystem on the planet, and their presence can heal the damage humanity has caused. Our willingness to restore native plant communities and the biodiversity they support (starting in our immediate surroundings) is an essential first step in the right direction. While returning every abandoned brownfield and old rail corridor into a native plant-filled, fully restored ecosystem may be out of reach for the average citizen, fostering the native ecology and biodiversity of our own backyards is not. Concrete Botany is ultimately about how the choices we make as individuals can help ensure humanity's survival on a very disturbed and rapidly changing planet.

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Learn how to use ecology to turn your backyard into a thriving haven for pollinators, birds, and other wildlife with this engaging, marvelously illustrated guide Native plants are essential for healthy ecosystems that support insects and animals, but vegetation alone does not provide the necessary resources for most creatures or their life cycles. This book breaks down ecological processes that regulate habitats and explains how to recreate vibrant, gorgeous, natural habitats in your own backyard--ones that attract pollinating insects, birds, and other suburban wildlife while appealing to neighbors and friends. It focuses on how to rebuild broken processes and covers a wealth of topics, such as the importance for gardens that support wildlife to include shelter, nest sites, hydration areas, and places to overwinter. Written by a leading expert, Natural Habitats and Wildlife Gardening is an easy-to-understand primer on ecology and ecological processes that explains innovative conservation and ecological ideas for small and large garden designs. This book will interest gardeners, land managers, natural science majors, and urban planners. Shares design tips for creating robust garden habitats for insects and animals, giving step-by-step instructions that are easy to follow Draws inspiration from wild habitats and their ecosystems, showing readers how to cultivate aesthetically beautiful home gardens that replicate healthy natural landscapes Provides a deep understanding of natural processes and systems in simple terms Includes detailed species profiles for common insects (including bees), amphibians, birds, and reptiles, with an emphasis on key resources to include in your landscape designs Explains how to replicate roles of absent animals including bison, wolves, and beavers and processes like floods, fires, and ecological succession, which naturally regulate and create habitats Discusses the specific requirements of ecosystems across North America Features hundreds of stunning color photos

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