From Wasteland to Wonder

by Basil Camu

The way we currently manage the sub/urban landscape is creating a wasteland and harming the well-being of Earth. Fortunately, we have an alternative path: We can work with natural systems instead of fighting against them. By doing so, we can help heal Earth. We also save time and money because we perform fewer tasks and use fewer products. Best of all, these are simple things that anyone can do regardless of their knowledge or experience.

Genres: Nature, Gardening, Nonfiction, Science

224 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2024

Reviews

[Grady J.]

Fantastic book on healing the land the sub/urban landscape. Straightforward and readable. Quite general except for an in-depth section on trees, from which I learned a ton. Excellent introduction for anyone looking to foster life in their back yard!

[Reese]

I ordered this book after hearing the author speak on a podcast and learning that he gives the PDF version away for free and the hardcover (which is beautiful and practical) for the cost of printing and shipping. All as his way of saying “thanks” for being alive.

I’m so glad I read this. It started out as a desire to fill my own knowledge gaps about trees and boy did I learn a lot. But also the entire book is premised on the idea of planting and caring for trees as a way to help heal the earth, with an emphasis on native plants and regenerative practices which I really appreciate.

And, as I note in every. gardening. book I read—there have to be photos, specifically *good* photos. This is because gardening is a skill that is better taught through visuals. This book takes it a step further by providing QR codes to countless videos by Camu and Leaf & Limb, most of which are well scripted, well shot, and short enough to digest. I don’t want to read about how to structurally prune branches I WANT TO SEE IT, PLEASE.

Lastly, and I add this because it took me by surprise, but I teared up reading the acknowledgements at the end. I didn’t expect so much love and care to come from a book about trees but that’s ultimately what resonated with me.

[Tammy]

I've read a lot of books on more ecologically friendly gardening, and felt this one was unique in a few ways:

1) It can be free. The ebook is 100% free and the hardcover is sold at cost, I don't like ebooks so paid for the hardcover, and it's a beautiful book. Definitely as high quality as any book you'd pay normal prices for. Its truly wonderful of the author giving it away for free to get the important message out.

2) Its very concrete and practical. I feel like a lot of the books I read cover a lot of ground, but don't get into the real concrete here are the steps to do this thing. This book has those steps. Its not as broad as other books but if you want a how to guide to planting and caring for some trees/shrubs or starting a meadow from seed this is your go to.

[Stella]

This beautiful hardcover book was written by an arborist specializing in native tree planting and care in Raleigh, NC. I found it for sale at the Homegrown National Park website. Full of color photographs and short, easily read essays, with supplemental QRC links to videos and further information. Topics covered include the benefits of native trees, tips for planting trees and saving existing trees, how to perform structural pruning, and ways to restore soil. Larger projects give instructions for planting meadows and pocket forests, and Project Pando is used as an example of wider community involvement and growing plants from seeds. Not regionally specific, so additional resources to learn your native plants are needed.

[Susan]

This is an outstanding book in so many ways. I will be using this book as an all time, constant reference to the efforts I'm working with in my own small "landscape". I found it an exciting and affirming read with so many references and resources I have yet to tap into. I'm looking forward to the move from dormant to growing to see what manifests in my own garden and just keep learning.

[Catherine]

Great research and background. Great for beginners.
QR codes that are links to 'how-to' information or building plans for planting boxes, etc.
Beautiful pictures as well.

[Kathleen Wisemandle]

Beautifully written and the photography is brilliant. A lovely read of the daily options we have for bettering our environment and its biodiversity

[Patrick Kelly]

I am biased because I know the author, photographer, and read drafts of the book.

I love this book, it is exactly what we need to push things forward and introduce a new paradigm to the tree/landscape/ industry. It also serves as a text book, a personal memoir, poetry to the planet, and an instructional manual. I learned so much from reading it and I read drafts of it, I still was educated by the final version.

On Leaf & Limb’s website you can get a free digital copy or order a hard from for only $10.

I love this book