Rodale's Illustrated Encyclopedia of Organic Gardening: The Complete Guide to Natural and Chemical-Free Gardening

by Anna Kruger, Pauline Pears (Foreword), Anna Kruger

This gorgeously illustrated guide to gardening contains the tips and techniques needed to produce beautiful flowers, top-quality herbs, and appetizing, wholesome fruits and vegetables. Explore the latest methods for cultivation without chemicals, discover the benefits of composting, and learn how to maintain an organic garden year-round. Packed with stunning photography throughout, you’ll be see why the organic gardening movement can create beautiful results equal to, and more often superior than, gardening with pesticides.

The Rodale Illustrated Encyclopedia of Organic Gardening is the complete, comprehensive guide to a natural and chemical-free garden. Whether you’re an experienced gardener looking to go organic, or a beginner wanting to create a healthy, natural garden, this guide has all the advice you need to turn your garden into thing of natural beauty, safe for kids, pets, and wildlife. The Rodale Illustrated Encyclopedia of Organic Gardening is your invitation to organic gardening for spectacular, all-natural results.

Genres: Gardening, Reference, Nonfiction, Nature

416 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2002

Reviews

[Cheryl Gatling]

This is a reference book. You will want to read it straight through (and I did read it straight through) because of the gorgeous, inviting photographs, but there is probably more information in here than anyone needs at one time: making your own potting mix, propagating plants from cuttings, growing plants in containers, growing plants in greenhouses, making compost, planning a garden, planning fences and walls and benches, pruning fruit trees, storing vegetables over the winter, maintaining a lawn, and the special needs of a long list of fruits and vegetables. The details are something one will likely come back to later as the need arises, but the principles of organic gardening are reinforced over and over again, so whether you read a little of this book or a lot, you will "get it." Don't use chemical pesticides or fertilizers on plants. Plants that are healthy will be less susceptible to pests and disease. Plant will be healthy if they are well-suited to the climate and site and soil where they are planted. Enrich the soil with organic matter. Compost, compost, compost. Create a healthy community of living things in the soil. Plant flowers to attract natural predators. Examine your plants to see what is eating them. Pick the specific control that is needed. Practice companion planting. Practice crop rotation. And so on.

[Tom Cooney · Rating 4 out of 5]

excellent general reference. However, you may need more detail in certain areas but, in fairness, it would be impossible to write a book that covers every little detail - that's what the internet is for!!!!

[Sandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good overall basic guide that I often refer to. Not a lot of depth if you're wanting to learn about a specific technique, but a great starting point. Beautiful pictures!

[Simone Vd stadt beaney · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very informative on how to create your own garden, grow your own as well as an index on problems.
I was missing a section on how best to deal with pests with organic solutions though.

[Catherine · Rating 5 out of 5]

So, I'm cheating a little because I didn't read every single thing in this book, but I LOVED, LOVED, LOVED the layout. So pretty to look at and very useful info.

[Jake B-Y · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dated but comprehensive! I especially liked the introduction to the principles of organic gardening. My main critique of the book is that the A-Z of vegetables is somewhat limited.

[Leah Waggoner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Helpful section on composting. I want to start. Grass clippings, organic kitchen waste and browns from forest. Weeds not good unless stored for a year. I won’t add weeds now.

[Reeve · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really like this book - it's so!! useful for organic gardening. Great illustrations and very comprehensive. I checked it out of the library three times in a row before I finally went ahead and bought it. The only drawback is that it's not regionally oriented - you'll have a different resource for that information, according to where you live.

[Andrew · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is more of a reference, but it is engaging enough that I can enjoy flipping through and reading parts of it. It is a pretty book and has great information.

I like it! Well... Actually I'm just so frickin stoked about gardening right now that I could read anything about it. But this is good. Really.

[Mira · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have read much of this book but not all. I found it very useful, although it was not organized in the best way for my brain. A little overwhelming. But it extensively covers all aspects of organic gardening. We might as well all grow food everywhere since things are going to only get more expensive and more localized.

[Joe · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent reference

[2curlydogs · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a must-own for anyone wanting to improve their lawn and garden.

[Catherine · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a must-own for anyone wanting to improve their lawn and garden.

[Are · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great tips if you want to try some organic gardening.

[Heidi · Rating 5 out of 5]

so much useful information! Its a great one to have in my collection!!!

[Haley · Rating 3 out of 5]

lots of good info

[Cristi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautifully illustrated.

[Jan · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a good reference book.

[Justin · Rating 3 out of 5]

There are some good tips but they are buried under things I don't care for like landscaping design

[Tracey]

The most comprehensive encyclopedia of organic gardening I have come across absolutely invaluable.