31/07: Root Cellaring How-To
Category: Book Reviews
Posted by: Mother
(originally posted on 7/20/08)
Here is another book from my wish list. It's called Root Cellaring. Just imagine what goodies can be kept in a root cellar. I read all of the reviews and am very encouraged. With this book I should be prepared to make my own cold storage area and know what to put in it and how to keep it for the winter.... and no need for a box freezer and high energy bills. Wow!
Just think, everyone used to know this stuff. Thankfully we can still access the information from a book. Aren’t books great!
(updated on 7/31/08)
Hubby just surprised me with this one. (He is good at that.) I am so impressed with this book. I had expected to find out about how to store veggies but I was never expecting the information that I now have, thanks to this book.
I applaud the authors in their diligence to include EVERYTHING that you will need to know to save your harvest. They include:
Here is another book from my wish list. It's called Root Cellaring. Just imagine what goodies can be kept in a root cellar. I read all of the reviews and am very encouraged. With this book I should be prepared to make my own cold storage area and know what to put in it and how to keep it for the winter.... and no need for a box freezer and high energy bills. Wow!
Just think, everyone used to know this stuff. Thankfully we can still access the information from a book. Aren’t books great!
(updated on 7/31/08)
Hubby just surprised me with this one. (He is good at that.) I am so impressed with this book. I had expected to find out about how to store veggies but I was never expecting the information that I now have, thanks to this book.
I applaud the authors in their diligence to include EVERYTHING that you will need to know to save your harvest. They include:
11/07: I'm All Set To Save Seeds!
Category: Book Reviews
Posted by: Mother
My dear husband surprised me. For no special occasion he purchased one of the books on my wish list. Ok, it's more than that, he purchased the number one book on the list. The book is called Seed To Seed.
I am so excited! Honestly, I have already read the book from cover to cover and it's not an easy read that way. It is a “how to start and save vegetable garden seeds” manual. I am more ready now to prepare and save seeds from next years garden.
I love the book and am very encouraged except that most of the veggies that I want to save seed for don't produce seed until their second year.... like carrots. But now that I know what I am supposed to do, planning will be much easier.
The book is very thorough in that it gives regional advice and direction. It covers each vegetable family group and them breaks it down farther. For example: potatoes, tomatoes, peppers and eggplants are all in the same family so the book discussed them as a group and them talks about each one specifically.
It also explains required separations to ensure no crossing with wild varieties and lets you know what they might be. For example the carrots are cousins to Queen Ann’s Lace, a very common weed in my area. The carrots would have to be caged to keep from cross pollinating with their wild cousins. I would never have known that!
This is another perfect book for an avid vegetable gardener, especially a do-it-yourselfer like me who has a bend for regional heirlooms. Now all I have to do is find seed for that translucent skinned cherry tomato that tastes like sugar.
I am so excited! Honestly, I have already read the book from cover to cover and it's not an easy read that way. It is a “how to start and save vegetable garden seeds” manual. I am more ready now to prepare and save seeds from next years garden.
I love the book and am very encouraged except that most of the veggies that I want to save seed for don't produce seed until their second year.... like carrots. But now that I know what I am supposed to do, planning will be much easier.
The book is very thorough in that it gives regional advice and direction. It covers each vegetable family group and them breaks it down farther. For example: potatoes, tomatoes, peppers and eggplants are all in the same family so the book discussed them as a group and them talks about each one specifically.
It also explains required separations to ensure no crossing with wild varieties and lets you know what they might be. For example the carrots are cousins to Queen Ann’s Lace, a very common weed in my area. The carrots would have to be caged to keep from cross pollinating with their wild cousins. I would never have known that!
This is another perfect book for an avid vegetable gardener, especially a do-it-yourselfer like me who has a bend for regional heirlooms. Now all I have to do is find seed for that translucent skinned cherry tomato that tastes like sugar.