Lois de Vries' Garden Views

Sustainable Gardening Library Human survival depends on the health of our planet. Public gardens and arboreta, colleges and universities, and government agencies are doing impressive, far-sighted research, demonstration gardens and projects, and educational programs that show how we can do a better job of stewardship via small- and large-scale gardening and farming. It’s one of the best-kept secrets in America. But the word isn’t getting out. Not the way it could be. There are many reasons why that information isn’t reaching the people who want, need, and would use it. We all have the same four problems in distributing sustainable gardening information: •    Tight budgets, •    Marketing staff stretched too thin, •    Inability to reach across professional or organizational silos, •    Irregular website update or newsletter posting schedule, •    Lack of organized, searchable, curated sources ...

Bioswale at American University What if there were one place people could go to find advice about sustainable gardening and farming best management practices? What if there were one go-to resource where students could find reliable information on sustainable gardening topics for their research papers? What if journalists and media mavens could quickly locate experts to interview about environmentally sound approaches to growing ornamental and food plants? There is: The Sustainable Gardening Library . Join us in sharing your content on our platform. To learn more about us, arrange a demo, or sign up your college, public garden, or government agency, send me an email . Visit the Sustainable Gardening Library Like us on Facebook Follow us on Twitter

Touring UCSC CASFS farm with Trish Hildinger The Sustainable Gardening Library’s newest collaborator is the Center for Agroecology and Sustainable Food Systems (CASFS) at the University of California, Santa Cruz. More than 1,500 students have completed CASFS’s internationally-renowned immersion apprenticeship program, living and working on the Center’s 30 acre farm, attending 300 hours of classroom instruction, and putting in 700 hours of hands-on training in the greenhouses, gardens, orchards, and fields.  In addition to the organically-certified farm, CASFS oversees the work of an on-campus CSA garden, and supports research, education, and community outreach. Their agroecosystem approach, based on ecological principles, is an ongoing quest to develop agricultural practices that can be maintained into the future without damaging surrounding natural landscapes. Why We're Adding CASFS to The Sustainable Gardening Library Over the years since its founding in 1971, the farm has ...

More than 350 Garden Journalists say the most trusted sources of information on gardening sustainably are public gardens and arboreta, colleges and universities, and government agencies. If you work for a public garden, arboretum, horticulture education nonprofit, college, university, or government agency that wants to get the word out about your sustainable gardening and farming projects, demonstration gardens, and educational programs, we want your content. Right now, there is no single resource for science-based, authoritative information on sustainable gardening and farming practices. We aim to change that by hosting your expert knowledge in the web-based Sustainable Gardening Library . Look Who's Already on Board   American University Arboretum California Polytechnic State University Phipps Conservatory and Botanic Gardens U. S. National Arboretum United States Botanic Garden UC Santa Cruz Center for Agroecology and Sustainable Food Sy...

Visit our Facebook Page After germinating for nearly three years, the Sustainable Gardening Library has sprouted as THE centralized resource for authoritative, reliable information on how to garden more sustainably. Help us grow. We're ready to accept additional content from expert sources -- public gardens, arboreta, horticulture education nonprofits, colleges, universities, and government agencies who want to spread the word about their sustainable gardening and farming projects, demonstration gardens, and educational programs. Visit the Sustainable Gardening Library Like us on Facebook

A hybrid shovel-spade, the HERS ® is designed by women, for women and comes in three different shaft lengths to accommodate differences in height. I loved the big handle, which allows you to hold it every which way, its light weight, and the oversized gripping tread. Check out the full review of the HERS ® at http://gardeningproductsreview.com/hershovel-review/ and see why I gave it a 4.5 shovel rating.

From Wreckage To Wood Sculpture Join woodworker and artist Dan Freed Saturday, September 27th at the Sussex-Wantage Library, 69 Rt. 639, in Wantage, NJ for a fun and educational peek behind the scenes of how he made his award-winning Hurricane Sandy Birdhouse Sculpture. Hear where the idea came from and what it symbolizes, touch samples of the wood, and find out what woodworking tools and techniques went into creating it.  Like many of us Freed was hit hard by Hurricane Sandy. But unlike most of us, he used that devastation as inspiration to create Hurricane Sandy Brought to Justice in Sussex County, crafted from broken trees left behind by the storm. The event is suitable for all ages and Freed encourages parents to let their aspiring young artists tag along, since many of the materials he used are touchable by little hands. Hurricane Sandy Brought to Justice in Sussex County will be on display through October 31st. Registration via the Library’s website http://bit.ly/1rtxj...