Plant Seed, Pull Weed: Nurturing the Garden of Your Life

by Geri Larkin

Gardens have often been used as metaphors for spiritual nurturing and growth. Zen rock gardens, monastery rose gardens, even your grandmother's vegetable garden all have been described as places of refuge and reflection. Drawing on her experience working at Seattle's premier gardening center, Zen teacher Geri Larkin shows how the act of gardening can help you uncover your inner creativity, enthusiasm, vigilance, and joy. As your garden grows, so will your spirit. Larkin takes you through the steps of planning, planting, nurturing, and maintaining a garden while offering funny stories and inspiring lessons on what plants can teach us about our lives. As soothing as a bowl of homemade vegetable soup, Plant Seed, Pull Weed will entertain, charm, and inspire you to get your hands dirty and dig deep to cultivate your inner self.

Genres: Gardening, Nonfiction, Buddhism, Spirituality, Self Help

208 pages, Hardcover

First published May 6, 2008

Reviews

[Dakota D · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very lovely and enjoyable! This inspired me to pay more attention to my garden, the plants I pass by every day, and start to explore Buddhism!

[Joy · Rating 2 out of 5]

I think I just rail against modern-day west coast Buddhist culture a bit. I found the book hard to get through and I think the major problem is that I just don't identify much with the author. She puts out a lot of great concepts and has been doing what seem to be good things, but I can't relate, somehow. When I think about applying these concepts in my life, I realize I do strive for many of the same ideals - but when the advice comes from monks who don't have the kinds of responsibilities I've taken on I just don't want to hear it.

[Ilene · Rating 4 out of 5]

Refreshing! Gardeners love to share and this author surely does!

[Cherie · Rating 4 out of 5]

As someone who just recently got her own real garden for the first time (my fire escape garden wasn't the same...), this book had lots of insights and gardening metaphors, but also with a Buddhist slant. Why do I love Larkin so much? Her humor. Her humility. Her real-ness. Love her work.

[Lorraine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Probably 4.5

[Lori · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 1/2 stars

[Allison · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the concept of this book and the writing was fine, but it didn't totally come together for me--it felt more like semi-random streams of consciousness loosely filtered into chapters.

[Isaac · Rating 4 out of 5]

cute

[Nagaraj · Rating 5 out of 5]

I like this book because author mixes real life stories from her life with teachings. Geri talks about her own life examples (about gardening, travelling, living, thinking, etc) and then switch to one or two teachings. With this approach, it is much easier or correlate the principle with real life. She also introduce principles from Shantideva (The Way of Boddisatwa) and other Buddhist/Zen teachers. Overall, easy read and useful book. However, there is no bibliography or references at the end of the book.

[Babs · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm currently reading Plant Seed, Pull Weed: Nurturing the Garden of Your Life I enjoy this book since it gives insight into how to put a "practice" into daily activity. Afterall that's why it's called a practice. Too often people who profess to adhere to a religion or a philosophy fail to put all those good ideas into their daily interaction with others.

[Shelly · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am surprised at how much I liked this book, given my usual lack of patience with most things spiritual that aren't also very simple.

Plus: The chapter on weeding might have been life changing for me.

Minus: When you mention, even offhand, that you believe in homeopathy, I get really annoyed with you. Being religious doesn't mean you can't also be a critical thinker.

[Shannan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very enjoyable read. The author uses gardening and Zen Buddhism to illustrate ways of good living. The part about pruning out "mind weeds" was particularly good advice.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I actually liked this book - my mom recommended I read it - taking place in the PNW was a plus - it was well written and a fun quick read - now I want to get out in the garden.

[Camellia · Rating 5 out of 5]

If I had to pick a favorite book by Geri Larkin (and that's very hard to do!) it would have to be this one!

[Megan Zehnder · Rating 3 out of 5]

Inspired me to finally start a garden :)