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Wednesday, February 9, 2011

Fresh Food From Small Spaces Book Review






















Fresh Food From Small Spaces

The Square Inch Gardener’s Guide to Year-Round Growing, Fermenting, and Sprouting

R.J. Ruppenthal

I just got done reviewing this book from Chelsea Green Publishing Company. It spoke of container gardening and tiered gardening, so my tomatoes could reach for the sun more effectively. Some of the book’s suggestions, such as chicken raising, honeybee keeping, composting using worms, cultivating mushrooms, yogurt making, sprouting and backyard fruit. The book covered not only growing foods in any space available, it encompassed the entire mentality of sustainable food production for anyone.

CHAPTER 1 CREATING A FOOD SYSTEM FOR YOUR SPACE

You will learn some ideas and strategies for making productive use of your available space.

CHAPTER 2 DECIDING WHAT TO GROW IN YOUR GARDEN SPACE

Some crops grow well in your area and others will not. Vegetables for low-light conditions are something to consider. Companion plants, many of which fall in the herb and flower categories, add beauty and diversity to a vegetable garden. Growing in cold climates, controlling pests and diseases.

CHAPTER 3 HOW TO BUY OR BUILD PRODUCTIVE VEGETABLES CONTAINERS

A productive food garden is to provide plants with easy access to each element. The secrets to good organic soil and self –watering planters. You will learn to make your own self-watering growing container with step-by-step instructions and photos. Using vertical space and reflected light.

CHAPTER 5 STARTING TRANSPLANTS AND CYCLING YOUR CROPS

How to start plants from seeds.

CHAPTER 6 GROWING FRUIT AND BERRIES IN YOUR SPACE

Some fruits, that grows well in a range of climates. Container growing for small fruits and berries. Proper pollination, in the mini-orchard with charts. Planting multiple trees in a small spot. Container growing tips. Using neglected ground space, Low light berries. Using trellises, walls, and espaliers to grow fruit. Preserving the bounty of excess fruit and foraging and trading.

CHAPTER 7 SPROUTING GRAINS, BEANS, WHEATGRASS, AND SALAD SPROUTS

You will learn how to sprouts, how long to sprout each seeds and resources for sprouting supplies. Some recipes included showing you ways to use your sprouts.

CHAPTER 8 MAKING YOGURT, KEIFER, AND FERMENTED FOODS

Learn to make yogurt, keifer and sauerkraut with some recipes included.

CHAPTER 9 CULIVATING MUSHROOMS

A good way to use darker spaces, including those in shady yards. There are some mushrooms that will grow indoors.

CHAPTER 10 RAISING CHICKENS AND HONEYBEES IN THE CITY

Important information to learn about raising chickens and keeping honeybees whether you’re in the city or country.

CHAPTER 11 MAKING COMPOST AND PARTERING WITH WORMS

Gives you all the information you need for composting whether with a bin or without. Using worms to eat your garbage but not all there are a few things they don’t like.

CHAPTER 12 SURVIAVAL DURING RESOURCE SHORTAGES

What to expect in the years ahead. How should we prepare. Small-scale off the grid. Heating your home.

CHAPTER 13 HELPING TO BUILD A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE

Pay more for local, organic produce.

R.J. Ruppenthal, an attorney and professor at Evergreen Valley College in San Jose, California, worked on an organic vegetable farm in his youth, but his expertise in urban and indoor gardening has been hard-won through years of trail-and-error experience. In the small city homes where he has lived, Ruppenthal and his family have been able to eat homegrown 365 days per year.

Chelsea Green Publishing Company uses recycled paper and is processed chlorine-free.

1 comments:

Elizabeth said...

Every American needs to learn how to be self sustainable in some way, shape, or form. Every second of everyday we are loosing our freedoms. Soon, if the government gets their way, we may not even be able to buy organic produce.
Very wise to have reviewed this book and posted about it. This is a book that everyone should have in their home library.
Well done!
Peace & Raw Health,
Elizabeth

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