Summary: This week, Scott joins me again to discuss KISS Gardening and why more Americans don't garden. Both topics were inspired by things I read this week. 5 Ways You Can Be a Better Vegetable Gardener Without Lifting a Shovel or Spending a Dime. I also ran across a terrific blog post by erica at nwedible.com where she told us 5 ways we can be a better Vegetable Gardener without lifting a Shovel or Spending a cent. I discuss these points in the podcast, and here they are , but you really need to read her blog post to get the full value. Order Seed Catalogs Plan Your Garden with Google Maps Ask Your Family what they like to Eat Toss Your Pesticides! Know Where the Answers Are Gardening Guru/Author Passes Away. Author of one of my favorite garden Books "The Self Sufficient Suburban Garden", Jeff Ball recently passed away. Jeff was quoted once when asked what the future held for garden writers, and replied: "I'm convinced that meeting clueless homeowners where they are and leading them forward into 21st-century 'yard' practices is the way to have the most impact." Book Review - KISS Gardening Grow the Good Life: Why a Vegetable Garden Will Make You Happy, Healthy, Wealthy, and Wise [Hardcover] I recently began reading this book, when the points the author was making hit me right between the eyes - we as gardeners, make this whole process too complicated and scare away other would be gardeners. Her points and methods are similar to those of both Ruth Stout, and Lee Reich, other others I love to read and follow. In the book, she starts out by posing the question "Why Aren't More Americans Gardening". Michell then goes on to explain in what I feel are difficult to argue facts. I found this book very easy reading and full of excellent points. Well worth it. Why Aren't More Americans Gardening? No Older Neighborhood Sages or Experts around to act as role models. People have expansive lawns, but no neighborhood gardens. The terrible way gardening is marketed in the Garden Centers and Big Box Stores. ( They over complicate it) Learning through books is tough. Gardening is a set of "Principles" not laws. Now that the garden is winding down for the season, it's a perfect time to start planning your garden for next year. Read some good Gardening Books, Study your seed catalogs, and most of all, start planning your next years garden. Note: We will be taking next week off to spend time with family as I hope you will also be doing. As a result, we will NOT have a podcast next week. When I return, I'll hopefully be able to share some information on what I am planning for my garden next year, and talk about some upcoming episodes on the road next year as I begin the move to California from Texas.
