Paradise Lot by Eric Toensmeier

Paradise Lot: Two Plant Geeks, One-Tenth of an Acre and The Making of an Edible Garden Oasis in the City, Eric Toensmeier and with contributions by Jonathan Bates. White River Junction VT.: Chelsea Green Publishing, 2013. e-book, 234 pps.

The city referenced in the sub-title is Holyoke in Massachusetts not to be confused with the college. [The college is Mt. Holyoke and its environs are totally different than the city of Holyoke. Just saying.]. 

Two guys who were friends [not lovers] bought a duplex in the urban sprawl that is Holyoke in Massachusetts. They converted their backyard to a sustainable garden. Each of them found a woman and married her. All of them lived there for a long time.

     Paradise Lot is far more than the summary suggests. The two guys utilized principles of permaculture to create something natural. The plants they planted had to serve as food sources as well as for "pretty." Included in the grand experiment were nitrogen fixers, edibles, and nectar sources. Thus the soil and the humans and the wildlife were happy and flourishing along with the garden.

sapphoq reviews says: This is the practical application of permaculture to an urban garden not located in Australia [from whence the movement originated]. People with gardens and people who like urban stuff, nature, and chickens will enjoy this book. Highly endorsed.

Guerrilla Gardening by David Tracey

Guerrilla Gardening: A Manualfesto, David Tracey.  Gabriola Island BC Canada: New Society Publishers, 2007.  e-book, 226 pps.


Guerrilla Gardening: A Manualfesto is not a new item for me.  I love it and since I've recently re-read it, I thought I would share its goodness with you.  I like gardening.  I like direct action stuff.  I like making a difference.  Guerrilla gardening is a movement to green up the urban sprawl by organizing a community garden, throwing seed bombs into vacant lots, planting a dwarf fruit tree in the park at midnight, and other happy stuff.  The book includes some charming black and white photos from around Vancouver but the information can be and has been applied elsewhere.  

sapphoq reviews says:  If you live within the urban sprawl and long for some community green, Guerrilla Gardening is the book for you.  After all it takes one person to start a revolution; one and a friend to gain momentum.  So yeah, get this book.  And then do it!