In an effort to promote sustainable
lifestyles, LifeGarden maintains a comprehensive, and
still growing, library of books on such topics as horticulture,
ecological landscaping, habitat gardening, organic food,
and much more. Our books and videotapes circulate for
two weeks at a time. They are available on loan free
of charge to our members and to nonmembers for a modest
fee of $2.50 for two weeks. Both members and nonmembers
must pay a $15 security deposit at the time the first
book is checked out.
In addition, we now devote this section
of our website to a listing of resources for sustainabilty.
Included will be businesses selling sustainable projects
and/or services, useful magazines and more - a "Green
Pages" of sorts. We do not intend to recommend
any particular company, but rather to make you aware
of exciting new opportunities available to help us all
live more sustainably. We begin with a
list of nurseries selling native plants. Soon to
come will be a listing of landscapers applying more
ecologically based design and maintenance practices
in their work.
To Borrow
a Book:
1. Download the
book list (pdf, 3 pages) from our website
2. Reserve a book by calling us at 925-937-3044 or emailing
us at info@lifegarden.org.
Please leave your name and contact information (email
preferred) on our answering machine if we are out of
the office.
3. We will contact you to arrange for pick-up and return
at the Walnut Creek Farmers' Market Education Area or
other mutually agreeable location
Proceeds from this program will be used to purchase
additional materials for the library.
A copy of the Library Booklist will be available at
the Walnut Creek Farmers' Market.
We welcome your comments on books and suggestions for
other purchases.
Book
Reviews
Not new but, perhaps, timeless in its impact is Stephen Harrod
Buhner's Lost Language of Plants.
Touted as the Silent Spring of pharmaceuticals,
Buhner's book is at once a lyrical piece on ecology
and the role of plants in our lives and a well-researched
exploration of the 'scientific' use of plants. It is
a must read for those of us who believe that the study
of ecology should be a required subject for all ages
and direct guided experiences with the natural world
an important component of that study! (Chelsea Green,
2002)
Designing California Native Gardens: The Plant Community Approach
to Artful, Ecological Gardens by Dr. Glenn Keator and Alrie Middlebrook
is truly new both in terms of its publishing date and its scope. Keator, a LifeGarden
advisor, is a plant specialist and author of numerous books on California's native
flora. Middlebrook is the founder of a design company that specializes in native
gardens. Together they examine California's plant communities and apply the knowledge
of these natural functioning ecosystems to the creation of ecologically sound,
aesthetically appealing and practical gardens that incorporate native plants.
The beautifully illustrated book is well-organized and inclusive. There are sample
plans, plant lists, and suggestions for success with particular species. Designing
California Native Gardens is published by University
of California Press. LifeGarden is planning a book-signing and accompanying
tour this fall as part of its "Learning to Live in California" series.
Judy Adler
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