From Grass to Gardens: How to Reap Bounty from a Small Yard

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Globe Pequot Press, 2006 - Gardening - 221 pages
"Inspires, sustains, surprises, and consoles."--"National Geographic Traveler (for "River Time)
"The good stuff . . . Not only good history, but an engaging intellectual autobiography."--Sue Hubbell, "New York Times Book Review (for "Dangerous Birds)
Janet Lembke loves to garden. But when she moved into her urban home in Virginia, she only had one-eighth of an acre to work with: a small front yard and a small backyard. How she traded a postage-stamp lawn for an edible cornucopia is what this enchanting book is all about.
Lembke joyfully guides us on her gardening journey, in chapters called:
"Tomato Haven"
"The Grass Extermination Project"
"Tools of the Trade"
"How a Garden Grows"
"Herbs"
"Flowers"
"Vegetables"
"Outwitting the Gardener"
"Wooing the Green Man, Courting Dame Kind"
and "Garden Dreams"
From Grass to Garden is chock-full of tips and advice for gardeners with tiny plots, including what plants are compatible with others; garden paths and seating; what vegetables and plants work best in front versus backyards; and more. She offers everything a hopeful gardener needs to reap bounty for the kitchen table from what was once a small, pesky lawn.

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About the author (2006)

Janet Lembke is a writer and literary translator. Her books include "The Quality of Life: Living Well," "Dying Well"; "Soup's On! 60 Hearty Soups You Can Stand Your Spoon In"; "Tuscan Trees"; "Despicable Species: On Cowbirds, Kudzu, Hornworms, and Other Scourges"; "Shake Them 'Simmons Down";" Skinny Dipping"; "Dangerous Birds: A Naturalist's Aviary"; "Looking for Eagles: Reflections of a Classical Naturalist," and "River Time: Life on an American Frontier," among others. Her articles have appeared in "Audubon," "The New York Times," "Raleigh News & Observer," "Bird Watcher's Digest," "North American Review," "Oxford American," and "Sierra," among other publications. She lives in Staunton, Virginia.

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