Jzsnow Posted February 14, 2009 Share Posted February 14, 2009 I am just getting into gardening and canning. What books can you recommend for me? Jessica Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jules Posted February 14, 2009 Share Posted February 14, 2009 I definitely would get The Ball Book: Guide to Home Canning Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Erica in OR Posted February 14, 2009 Share Posted February 14, 2009 It got me excited about gardening when we first started a couple years ago. We now do a combination of the square foot style boxes and a regular garden plot. Erica in OR Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jzsnow Posted February 14, 2009 Author Share Posted February 14, 2009 Erica, does it matter that I am gardening in earth boxes? Will that book still help me? Jessica Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mamaof2andtwins Posted February 14, 2009 Share Posted February 14, 2009 The Vegetable Gardener's Bible by Edward C. Smith Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elise1mds Posted February 15, 2009 Share Posted February 15, 2009 I definitely would get The Ball Book: Guide to Home Canning :iagree: I bought this last year when I decided to make blackberry jam with the wildblackberries we have growing in our pasture, and it's so well-written that I didn't screw up a single jar! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoyfulMama Posted February 15, 2009 Share Posted February 15, 2009 I definitely would get The Ball Book: Guide to Home Canning :iagree: Mel Bartholomew's Square Foot Gardening. It got me excited about gardening when we first started a couple years ago. We now do a combination of the square foot style boxes and a regular garden plot. Erica in OR :iagree: These are our two most used books. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
datmama4 Posted February 15, 2009 Share Posted February 15, 2009 I have a book called Stocking Up that I bought about 15 years ago which is very helpful. I like the other recommendations, too -- you can't go wrong with the Ball book OR the square foot gardening! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MomsintheGarden Posted February 15, 2009 Share Posted February 15, 2009 Collecting gardening books is one of my hobbies! Here's a link to my ramblings about my favorite gardening books: http://www.welltrainedmind.com/forums/showthread.php?p=724440#post724440 Best wishes gardening! GardenMom Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jzsnow Posted February 15, 2009 Author Share Posted February 15, 2009 Thank you! I will check them out! Anyone have experience with the earth box? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jane Elliot Posted February 15, 2009 Share Posted February 15, 2009 I second the other recommendations, especially The Vegetable Gardener's Bible (of which we have two copies because too many people want their hands on it!) and The Ball Book. I also like The Busy Person's Guide to Preserving Food. It has a lot of out-of-the-box thinking/ideas for putting up food and rates each method for each fruit or vegetable. I use this guide for preservation more than any other. I don't know what an earth box is. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jane Elliot Posted February 15, 2009 Share Posted February 15, 2009 Collecting gardening books is one of my hobbies! Here's a link to my ramblings about my favorite gardening books: http://www.welltrainedmind.com/forums/showthread.php?p=724440#post724440 Best wishes gardening! GardenMom That's a great post! Thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Liz CA Posted February 15, 2009 Share Posted February 15, 2009 Thank you! I will check them out! Anyone have experience with the earth box? When you write "Earth Box", do you mean a planter box? Is there a bottom in the box or is the bottom open so plants can grow deep roots. I have boxes like this which just keep things slightly elevated, about 2 feet down there is a netting that is supposed to keep the gophers from digging up every last veggie but deep rooting plants can reach down through the netting. Given the soil condition on my area, I do avoid things like long carrots that need layers of soft soil. As far as books go, I like the "Square Foot Garden" book - same one Erica recommended above. I found the book written in a common sense style and with emphasis on simplicity. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JeenneNY Posted February 15, 2009 Share Posted February 15, 2009 We, my husband and I, searched for a good gardening book a few years ago and kept running into this person, which we bought and really-really like: http://www.amazon.com/Joy-Gardening-Garden-Way-Book/dp/0882663194/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1234708464&sr=8-1 Dick Raymon, apparently he used to have a show on tv, from what one older lady told me. Raymond is definitely from the generation before me and his passion for gardening and harvesting his crops (canning and keeping) really comes through in his books. He's somewhat motivating. Another spot to buy seeds (I already have mine in hand, early for a change), is Tiny Seeds: http://www.tinyseeds.com/ Tiny Seeds tries to steer clear of genetically modified seeds, and the prices are good. I found the link to Tiny Seeds from a blog I read ran by a Nutritionist/Cancer Survivor (who's most fav green is kale, a new one for my garden this year). Now, if only I can find some good organic fertilizer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snickerdoodle Posted February 15, 2009 Share Posted February 15, 2009 Can ya'll provide a link for the Ball canning book? Because by title search on amazon brings up out of print books. Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MamaT Posted February 15, 2009 Share Posted February 15, 2009 This book has chapters on gardening, canning, making every dressing and condiment you can think of from scratch, and even caring for chickens, goats, etc. It also has great recipes. Lots of info in this book. TARR, YVONNE YOUNG The Wholesome Home Book of Recipes and Household Formulas Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jzsnow Posted February 15, 2009 Author Share Posted February 15, 2009 I am not completely sure about the earth box, as I just ordered it, but basically its a box that you garden out of. You put soil in it, and it has a tube that you add water to. You can never add too much or too little water cause of the tube. Then you put a cover of it. www.earthbox.com They came highly recommended by many gardeners. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T Baer Posted February 15, 2009 Share Posted February 15, 2009 It got me excited about gardening when we first started a couple years ago. We now do a combination of the square foot style boxes and a regular garden plot. Erica in OR This has worked for us, esp being new to gardening. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jules Posted February 16, 2009 Share Posted February 16, 2009 Here is the Ball Blue Book: http://www.freshpreserving.com/products/ball_blue_book_guide_to_preserving/2.php I hope that will work, cause I'm not computer savy. Let me know, though, if you have more questions. I'm a big canner, myself, and do use other sources. This is just the one that I think every beginning canner should check out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snickerdoodle Posted February 16, 2009 Share Posted February 16, 2009 Thanks for the link! Here is the Ball Blue Book: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tina Posted February 16, 2009 Share Posted February 16, 2009 My mom, the gardener, introduced my to the books Square Foot Gardening and Lasagna Gardening. The later has you laying newspaper down on your garden area without digging it up, and then layering soil on it. I used this method in my raised square foot garden beds last year; keeps the weeds out! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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