Eco-Yards: Simple Steps to Earth-Friendly Landscapes

by Laureen Rama

"A gentle, practical and inspiring guide to help you transform your yard into a diverse, healthy and sustainable landscape."--Myrna Pearman, coauthor of NatureScape AlbertaMany urban yards are essentially unproductive patches of grass, requiring constant attention for no return. Through sustainable, organic landscaping, these small or large plots of land can become part of the solution to today's environmental challenges. Eco-yards supports the vision of a healthy, abundant planet in which beautiful, richly varied urban yards contribute to restoring the natural ecosystem. This inspiring and practical, well-illustrated manual includes clear, easy-to-follow instructions and maintaining an eco-yardMaking your yard water-wiseUnderstanding basic soil scienceReplacing your lawn with tree, shrub and flower beds or hardy, low-maintenance grassGrowing vegetables in the eco-yard Visionary, hopeful and encouraging, Eco-yards is a must-read for anyone who wants to use environmentally sound practices when they garden, whether in a residential yard or on the balcony of a condo or high-rise apartment. If you're sick of the backyard battle, this book will show you how to work with nature instead of fighting it, using simple steps that apply practically anywhere to turn your yard into an eco-friendly sanctuary."A rich compost of the practical and scientific . . . this is a book for every gardener concerned for the health of the environment."--Roberta Rees, author of Long After Fathers"Rama is a hands-on gardener who explains--in great detail--everything from building soil to creating sustainable landscapes. Read about it here and then get out and practice what Rama preaches."--Donna Balzer, BScA, horticulturist and co-host of the internationally broadcast television show Bugs & Blooms

Genres: Gardening, Nonfiction

249 pages, ebook

First published January 1, 2009

Reviews

[Alisa Kester · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Eco-yards gardening is not simply about replacing chemical weapons with organic weapons in a war against pests. Eco-yards gardening is about replacing the common view of gardening as a war to control our little plots of land with a different view - that of gardening as a way to work in harmony with other beings in nature to revitalize the land we steward so it is shining with health."

[Logan E · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've been trying to grow a vegetable garden this spring, and I happened to find this book on my Mom's shelf. I found it very informative and motivational, especially because the author is local and has been doing all that amazing work in the same climate I'm working with. I will definitely think back to this book when I have my own yard someday.

[Christine Sopko · Rating 3 out of 5]

Reading about the author helps to understand the approach. Bite size info. The notes are at the end of the chapter. I love not flipping back! Dandelion tonic...may try. Plant egos and talking to them to see who will grow the most. Cottonwood fluff as female not causing allergies but the male pollen does. Weeds bring minerals up into the soil.

[Charlie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book to help shift your focus from grass lawns to sustainable yards! This book helped me to set a long term goal of reducing my grass lawn size. It is an accessible book that will give you visions of what your yard could be! Check it out!

[Bill Leach · Rating 4 out of 5]

- Author describes how she feels that a gardener should work with nature, rather than battling to control nature
- an eco-yard should support a full, rich diversity - should require less maintenance than a typical yard
- micro-organisms are essential to a full, rich ecosystem - bacteria, fungi, protozoa
- chapter on why eco-yards - restore the soil, restore water resources, protect human health, protect pets, insects and wildlife
- using compost to top-dress lawns and flower beds
- weeds: plant all bare areas or cover with mulch - minimize grass - accept some weeds - use of corn gluten to suppress the sprouting of weeds - digging out weeds
- the importance of insects - accept some insect activity - use of soap to control insects
- bluegrass lawns are not sustainable as they require much water, fertilizer and probably insecticide to thrive
- alternate grasses are a better choice - sheep fescue is described in particular - over-seeding - avoid killing old grass with Roundup (probably harms other things)
- maintaining lawn - overseed, mow high, leave clippings on lawn, apply compost and compost tea, water wisely, aerate, if needed
- replace lawn with beds - cover over method - digging out sod - use mulch - avoid landscape fabric
- soil: microbes protect plants - detail on bacteria, mycorrhizal fungi, protozoa and nematodes - impart of fertilizers and pesticides on microbes - amending soil chemistry
- how to compost - worm composting - making compost tea - spraying compost tea
- designing your eco-yard
- water-wise designing
- growing vegetables - raised beds - lasagna gardening (layered)

[Diana Par-due · Rating 4 out of 5]

I actually didn't much enjoy reading this book all the way straight through but found the idea incredibly inspiring. I'm looking at my front yard very differently now and instead of repairing the grass there I'm not planning a whole different landscape involving pollinators, perennial edibles, native berry bushes and more.

[William · Rating 5 out of 5]

I particularly enjoyed the chapters on soil, compost, and water-wise design.

This book encourages me, as did my neighbor Eva, to keep doing what I am doing.

I read the library copy but this book is worth buying.

And worth reading more than once.

[Lea · Rating 4 out of 5]

John bought me the equipment to make compost tea, which I was able make and spray about 3 times before winter set in. I can't wait to start again this spring and see how it affects our garden/lawn.

[Mckinley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Part good - working with nature, but really "embodying the Gardener archetype"?
Lots of footnotes and research. Very helpful - one to own and refer back to.

[Deb · Rating 4 out of 5]

Suprising reminder of the millions of living organisms in soil, and letting nature be nature.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

For anyone interested in trading in grass for more flowers, native plants and vegetable gardening, this is the book to read.

[R · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really got me energized about continuing yard conversion and getting rid of lawn.