The Wildlife-Friendly Vegetable Gardener: How to Grow Food in Harmony with Nature
Anyone who has ever planted and maintained a backyard vegetable garden understands the struggles of keeping pests at bay, whether they’re tiny and creep on six legs or furry and walk on all fours. The good news, which internationally renowned herbalist and organic gardener Hartung shares in this easy-to-follow guidebook, is that an abundance of time-tested, nontoxic techniques can easily protect your garden without causing undue harm to wildlife. In eight colorfully illustrated chapters, Hartung offers a range of invaluable strategies for designing gardens that keep the critters out without hurting them, such as borders of parsley that rabbits will munch on instead of lettuce, and built-in, bird-friendly habitats that encourage our winged friends to feed on bothersome bugs. Beginning with proper soil preparation, the author also covers such basics as crop rotation, water sources, whether or not to use organic pesticides, and growing “backbone” plants like hedgerows where beneficial creatures can nest. Novice and expert vegetable growers alike will find Hartung’s well-presented advice both revelatory and warmly reassuring. --Carl Hays