Seed Library Reading Recommendations

Our library contains a plethora of books about gardening. The following list contains some of our favorite titles. Search our catalog to discover even more titles to help you start your garden.

Updated April 26, 2024
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1

Apartment gardening : plants, projects, and recipes for growing food in your urban home
Pennington, Amy
Forget the 100-mile eat-local diet; try the 300-square-foot-diet -- grow squash on the windowsill, flowers in the planter box, or corn in a parking strip. Apartment Gardening details how to start a garden in the heart of the city. From building a window box to planting seeds in jars on the counter,...

2

Bringing nature home : how native plants sustain wildlife in our gardens
Tallamy, Douglas W.
As development and subsequent habitat destruction accelerate, there are increasing pressures on wildlife populations. But there is an important and simple step toward reversing this alarming trend: Everyone with access to a patch of earth can make a significant contribution toward sustaining...

3

The comic book guide to growing food : step-by-step vegetable gardening for everyone
Tychonievich, Joseph
The first graphic novel guide to growing a successful raised bed vegetable garden, from planning, prepping, and planting, to troubleshooting, care, and harvesting. "A fun read packed with practical advice, it's the perfect resource for new gardeners, guiding you through every...

4

The complete guide to saving seeds : 322 vegetables, herbs, flowers, fruits, trees, and shrubs
Gough, Robert E.
Enjoy your favorite varieties of garden plants year after year with this comprehensive guide to gathering, preparing, and planting seeds. Authors Robert Gough and Cheryl Moore-Gough provide simple instructions that clearly explain the whole process, from basic plant biology to proper seed storage...

5

Gardening projects for kids : 101 ways to get kids outside, dirty, and having fun
Cohen, Whitney.
"What better way to begin to explore the natural world than to experience the magic and beauty of a family garden." --Arden Bucklin-Sporer, author of How to Grow a School Garden Many gardeners find that once they have children gardening goes the way of late...

6

Heirloom vegetable gardening : a master gardener's guide to planting, growing, seed saving, and cultural history
Weaver, William Woys
"This book is sure to be a modern classic and is one of the most important books on gardening in the current century." --Jere Gettle, founder, Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds Heirloom Vegetable Gardening has always been a book for gardeners and...

7

Iwígara : American Indian ethnobotanical traditions and science
Salmón, Enrique
"A beautiful catalogue of 80 plants, revered by indigenous people for their nourishing, healing, and symbolic properties." --Gardens Illustrated The belief that all life-forms are interconnected and share the same breath--known in the Rarámuri tribe...

8

Mini farming : self sufficiency on a 1/4 acre
Markham, Brett L.
Go back to basics--compost, raising chickens, water and irrigation, dealing with pests, and much more--with this unique, full color bestseller (over 400,000 sold). Mini Farming describes a holistic approach to small-area farming that will show you how to produce 85 percent...

9

Raised-bed vegetable gardening made simple : the three-module home vegetable garden
Nones, Raymond.
Having a backyard garden just got a lot easier!Framed raised beds and a modular approachto growing vegetables means more productionin less space and with less work. Whether youlive on a small city lot or a multi-acre countryestate, this book has something for you.Nones shows you how to set up the...

10

Seed sowing and saving : step-by-step techniques for collecting--
Turner, Carole B.
Carole Turner shows you everything you need to know to harvest, dry, store, and sow seeds from more than 100 common garden plants so you can use them again next year. She provides information on appropriately preparing your soil, testing seeds for viability, tending your seedlings, and much...

11

The ultimate guide to growing your own food : save money, live better, and enjoy life with food from your own garden
Burch, Monte.
Growing your own food is a hot topic today because of the high cost of transporting food long distances, the heightened problem of diseases caused by commercially grown foods, and concerns of the overuse of chemicals in mass food production. Many people--from White House executives to inner-city...

12

A way to garden : a hands-on primer for every season
Roach, Margaret
"A Way to Garden prods us toward that ineffable place where we feel we belong; it's a guide to living both in and out of the garden." --The New York Times Book Review For Margaret Roach, gardening is more than a hobby, it's a calling. Her...

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