Down & Dirty: 43 Fun & Funky First-time Projects & Activities to Get You Gardening

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It may seem like gardeners belong to a super-secret, esoteric club, made up of members who know all about Latin plant names and mysterious methods familiar only to the serious few. Not true, says Ellen Zachos. She is here to reassure the uninitiated that anyone can have fun in the dirt. As proof she points out the millions who have actually planted something and succeeded in making it grow without a degree in horticulture or vast experience in design and color theory. Anyone can...
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1/3/2007 Hardcover New 1580176429 New hardcover-Not avalable for international mail-No remainder marks-100% guarantee-No Marks-no rips-No highlighting-clean-tight-e-mail ... confirmation of order-Same or next day mailing. Read more Show Less

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NEW - This fun and engaging book helps everyone garden wherever you have dirt. Be it your yard, an urban balcony or anywhere else, you can discover the pleasure of getting down ... and dirty. Ellen Zachos' 43 no-experience-required projects inspire you to dig in, have fun, and help things grow. Isn't it about time to think about bringing a little more green into your world? And we don't mean recycling! 248 pages, beautifully illustrated in full color, this book includes not only many ideas for container gardening, baskets, cold frames, garden spots, and bird gardens, but it also includes recipes and a special section for kids and families. 9 1/4" x 10 1/4 Read more Show Less

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More About This Book

Overview

It may seem like gardeners belong to a super-secret, esoteric club, made up of members who know all about Latin plant names and mysterious methods familiar only to the serious few. Not true, says Ellen Zachos. She is here to reassure the uninitiated that anyone can have fun in the dirt. As proof she points out the millions who have actually planted something and succeeded in making it grow without a degree in horticulture or vast experience in design and color theory. Anyone can be a gardener.

The secret, Zachos believes, is to start with one small project, make it work (that’s where her expertise comes in!), learn by doing, and move on to another. Easy! It couldn’t be simpler or more fun, and the satisfaction that comes with helping things grow is unbeatable.

Zachos’s broad range of creative projects encourages would-be gardeners to discover the joys of getting down and dirty. There’s something for every taste, from planting a tree to designing a small stonescape to starting a strawberry bed. The projects teach fundamental skills and give beginners the confidence to keep learning. Taken together, they are the building blocks of a beginner’s course in planting, designing, and creating. Gardening is really as easy as that. Spend a few weekends on fun projects that brighten up the home and backyard and learn basic gardening skills in the process. Proficiency in Latin is another matter.

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Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

“Zachos offers more than 40 fun and funky projects for kids, novice gardeners and the young at heart.”

The Detroit News

“Ellen Zachos’ new book for beginning gardeners showcases this expert at her irreverent best…She’s both garden guru and cheerleader for novices, but her projects work for more experienced gardeners as well… Fun for all!”

Container Gardens, 2007

“A gentle introduction to gardening and related pleasures…Down & Dirty takes a fun approach, and offers ideas and instructions suitable for all ages and interest levels.”

Michigan Gardener

“This is a fun, easy-to-read book…. It’s a very practical approach to all kinds of backyard or terrace projects, including outdoor firepits, window-box herb gardens, raised beds, dividing perennials, forcing bulbs, growing blueberries and strawberries and drawing hummingbirds and other wildlife to your garden.”

The Journal News (Westchester County, N.Y.)

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Product Details

  • ISBN-13: 9781580176422
  • Publisher: Storey Books
  • Publication date: 1/3/2007
  • Pages: 256
  • Product dimensions: 9.42 (w) x 10.32 (h) x 0.87 (d)

Meet the Author

Ellen Zachos leads foraging walks and currently teaches at the New York Botanical Garden, where she received her certification in Commercial Horticulture and Ethnobotany. She writes two blogs, which can be found at downanddirtygardening.com and gardenbytes.com and has written numerous gardening books and contributed to publications including Horticulture and Better Homes & Gardens.

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Table of Contents


Down & Dirty Basics: Discover techniques how to make your thumb greener
Plant a Seed, Grow a Garden     8
Cold Frames: Extending the Growing Season     22
Choose the Perfect Garden Spot     25
Raised-Bed Gardens     34
Cool Tools     39
How to Be Water-Wise     67
Plant a Special Bird Garden     72
Funky, Recycled Container Gardens     90
Stylish Stakes for Garden Plants     111
Irrigation Systems 101     121
Coexisting with Bambi     146
Knowing the Good Bugs from the Bad Bugs     164
Multiply Your Plants by Dividing     185
Grow-Lights for Indoor Gardens     199
It Ain't Just Dirt: Improve Your Garden Soil     216
Winterize!     222
Down & Dirty Adventures: Explore the world of nature just for the fun of it
Homemade Elderflower Champagne     106
Fabulous Garden Photographs     125
Community Begins with a Community Garden     140
Buy Local: Join a CSA     210
Creating a Garden Refuge     232
Down & Dirty Projects: Accent your outdoor space and try out your new skills
Forcing Spring Bulbs     2
Hanging Baskets: Costume Jewelry of the Garden World     28
Plant a Container Tree     44
Grow-Bags: Easy, Instant Gardens     56
An Herb Garden in a Window Box     60
Build a Backyard Fire Pit     79
A Container Water Garden     82
Not-So-Scary Scarecrows     116
Container Gardening au Naturel     130
Stone Accents for Your Garden     160
Winter Window Boxes     228
Down & Dirty Plants: Find out how cool plants really are
Invite Hummingbirds to Your Garden     16
Grow Strawberries...and Eat Them!     50
A Dinosaur Garden for Kids of All Ages     94
Vines for Your Garden     100
A Garden to Delight Your Senses     136
Growing (and Eating!) Blueberries     154
A Cutting Garden for All Seasons     172
Tropical Plants for a Temperate Clime     178
An Evening Garden that Glows in the Dark     190
Safe and Easy Wild Foods     196
A Garden for Feline Friends     204
Looking for More Fun Ideas?
Recipes: Liven up your menu with foods from your garden...and beyond
Strawberry Sorbet     55
Strawberry Ice Cream     55
Mojitos     66
Elderflower Champagne     109
Blueberry Smoothie      159
Blueberry Sauce     159
Apple-Chipotle Chutney     215
Tzatziki     215
Ratatouille (aka Summer in a Jar)     215
Container Gardens: Discover the art of gardening in small spaces
Forcing Spring Bulbs     2
Hanging Baskets: Costume Jewelry of the Garden World     28
Raised Bed Gardens     34
Plant a Container Tree     44
Grow-Bags: Easy, Instant Gardens     56
A Container Water Garden     82
Funky, Recycled Container Gardens     90
Container Gardening au Naturel     130
Kids and Families: It's never too early to begin
Grow Strawberries...and Eat Them!     50
Build a Backyard Firepit     79
A Dinosaur Garden for Kids of All Ages     94
Not-So-Scarey Scarecrows     116
A Garden to Delight Your Senses     136
A Garden for Feline Friends     204
Buy Local: Join a CSA     210
Creating a Garden Refuge     232
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