About the book
Forest Gardening:
Cultivating an Edible
Landscape
Robert A. De J. Hart, Robert Hart
From Library Journal
What exactly is a forest garden?
British author and gardener Hart
describes it as a miniature
imitation of a natural forest,
complete with a fruit and nut tree "canopy"
and lower tiers of climbers, bushes,
creepers, and assorted perennial
vegetables and herbs. Such a garden
may occupy half an acre or less and
like the natural forest is largely
self-regulating once established. In
addition to self-sufficiency, it
offers aesthetic rewards and
provides a sanctuary for wildlife.
In this book, originally published
in Britain in 1991 and revised for a
U.S. readership, the author
describes his own forest garden in
affectionate detail, as well as
similar individual and community
projects around the world. Both
philosophical and practical, Hart
discusses gardening, agroforestry,
permaculture, the environment, and
what constitutes a proper diet. At
times he drifts away to romantic
visions of a future postindustrial
Green utopia, but for the most part
his feet remain planted firmly in
his beloved garden. Hart's
personally annotated lists of trees
and perennials include many
varieties known and grown in North
America. Suitable for both public
and academic libraries.?William H.
Wiese, Iowa State Univ. Lib., Ames
Copyright 1996 Reed Business
Information, Inc.
From
Booklist
A holistic approach encompassing
health issues, spirituality, and
environmental concerns governs
Hart's philosophy of "forest
gardening" --akin to multistory
gardens maintained by certain
indigenous societies. Hart and a
partner have implemented just such a
garden on a small farm in Shropshire,
England, and Hart's ardent treatise
champions a union of modern
technological methods and machines
with ecologically sound practices.
Interplanting edible crops is utmost:
herbs and fruiting shrubs, "fodder-bearing"
trees, and a variety of perennial
plants. Highlights include mention
of other communities that have
achieved great degrees of self-sufficiency,
where a sacred view of man's
connectedness to nature appears
inextricably linked to low-maintenance
symbiotic plantings, appreciation of
handcrafted objects, a vegan diet,
and independent lifestyle. Alice
Joyce
Customer Reviews
Number of Reviews: 1 Average Rating: *****
|
4 of 4
people found
the
following
review
helpful:
Inspiring
but not
Practical,
December 24,
2004
Robert
Hart's book
on Forest
Gardening is
very
inspiring,
but more
research is
needed to
start your
garden. The
list of
suppliers in
the Appendix
is very
helpful for
those in
North
America, and
the list of
cultivars
includes
little known
but very
useful
varieties.
Overall, the
book helps
one
understand
the why of
forest
gardening
but not the
how to.
|
|
16 of 17
people found
the
following
review
helpful:
A
panoramic
view of an
ecologically
based farm/food
system.,
June 23,
1998
Reviewer:
A reader
The author
believes
harmony (peace)
on this
planet is
highly
correlated
with an
approach to
gardening
that
recognizes
the value of
plants and
all living
things. He
blends
history,
philosophy,and
anthropology
together as
he talks
about plants,
vegetables,
herbs, nuts,
animals, and
trees. He
offers
practical
ways in
dealing with
"natural"
problems
associated
with farming.
Best part of
the book is
his
Appendixes
where he
lists
drought
resistant
plants,
wetland
plants, sun
loving herbs,
shade loving
herbs, etc.
He provides
an excellent
bibliography.
The author
loves this
planet. This
is a
thoughtful
essay on the
proper
relationship
of human
beings to
animals and
plants on
this planet. |
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More from this author
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Product Details:
ISBN: 0930031849
Format: Paperback, 234pp
Pub. Date: September 1,
1996
Publisher: Chelsea
Green Publishing Company
price: $17.95
Large view : Buy it!
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