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Re-Organizing My Gardening Library

Re-Organizing My Gardening Library

So I have a lot of books. Before we moved to Washington state in 2016 from Alabama, I had even more but I got rid of most of my library with the exception of my gardening books. I also have quite a number of film history and biographies which you cannot see in the photo. The main unit, front and center, is the bulk of my gardening library, which consists of around 325 titles. To the left is my collection of “The Secret Garden” editions and a half-hearted collection of Ruth Rendell & PD James novels. And the books along the top are miscellaneous titles and ones that I’m in the process of reading.
Earlier this week, we had a cold, windy and rainy day, the perfect day for an overdue project – organizing and recording the library. Before this, I had the books arranged by subject matter, but this was not working for me. It seemed that every time I needed to find a particular book, it took me a while to locate it. I decided to organize the books by author. I usually remember the authors in my head but sometimes that doesn’t always work. So, for good measure, I made a spreadsheet on my computer and recorded each one. (I have all the plants in the garden on a spreadsheet too). So now, there is order and if I can’t remember who the author is, I should be able to find it quickly on the spreadsheet with a keywork search.
Since moving, I had added many titles because gardening books are easier to find here and I’m always coming across interesting titles. Our local library has a nice used book section that you can browse and pay on the honor system. Sometimes I find fascinating books there (but most often not). HPSO (Hardy Plant Society of Oregon) has occasional book sales and they are an excellent source for older gardening titles.
Recently, I was thrilled to find a wonderful used bookstore here in Vancouver called Vintage Books. It is a cozy little place, packed with books and there are even two resident cats (one whose name is Oliver!). They have a decent-sized gardening section as well a great mystery section.
I have a growing “to read” list. I come across many titles while reading other books that reference them. I also come across titles that interest me by watching people who review books on YouTube. When seeking out the books, I can then usually find them on Amazon or E-bay for little of nothing. However, when a local shop, like Vintage Books has them, I will buy them there. 
As I was organizing, dusting, recording, etc., I realized that I have a lot of books that I have not yet read. I also found duplicate copies of books that I didn’t even know I had. I also noted that quite a number of books were signed, some directly to me but many others not. This happens when you pick up books at sales and don’t look too closely at them. I was thrilled to find that I have a signed book by Graham Stuart Thomas. That was exciting!

Text and photos by Phillip Oliver, Dirt Therapy

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The Regeneration International Standard

The Regeneration International Standard

Agriculture must change from chemically intensive degenerative industrial systems to regenerative, biological, biodiverse, nature-based ones to regenerate our ecosystems, climate, health, and communities. Such systems improve resources, reduce, and ultimately avoid synthetic chemicals. It is not based on animal or plant cruelty. Instead, its foundations are biodiversity, plant biology, living soil science, and humane livestock systems.

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Anyone have cuttings or starts they would want to trade for family heirloom seeds?

Anyone have cuttings or starts they would want to trade for family heirloom seeds?

I have heirloom white half-runner beans, tomatoes, and heirloom okra. My great-grandmother’s aunt gave them to her in the 1930s and they have been passed down ever since. They are the only beans my great-grandmother or grandmother ever grew. She always planted them on Good Friday and they would take about 7 weeks from seed to harvest. We are in Zone 8A/7B in North Georgia. We are able to get 2 and many times 3 crops of them throughout the summer. The heirloom okra has been in my dad’s family for generations. It isn’t clemson spineless, it’s a fatter, stockier kind. I also have walking onions. they haven’t been in my family for generations but were in a friend’s family forever. After this summer, I’ll have a salad tomato seeds. An old preacher gave them to my grandmother. In our climate, they will bear fruit until about November when we get our first hard frost. Super meaty and are a great salad tomato or small sauce tomato. He called them a Russell tomato but I have yet to find a variety online with that name that fits this tomato. Closest thing it resembles is a Thai egg tomato but it’s meatier for sure.

I also have lots of other things I can share as well. Here is I’m looking for whether it’s cuttings, rooted cuttings, starts, etc:

Hardy Kiwi (male and female)

Snow Bank (white) Blackberry (yes it’s a thing!)

Honeyberry/Haskap

Raspberries of most any color

Dwarf sunchokes/sunroot (less invasive)

Salmonberry

Thimbleberry

Tayberry

Gooseberry

Currants (Black or white)

American hazelnut

Bing cherry/Benton cherry (or a variety that would be viable in our climate zone)

good permaculture fruits or veggies of most any kind really

I’m glad to also make a label and email to send out to cut out the work! Anyway, just thought I’d throw it out there! We just moved into our new home and I’m limited on funds but would like to get a good garden going and I’m glad to barter or pay shipping or what have you!

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Come help in a Hawaiian fruit forest

Come help in a Hawaiian fruit forest

Aloha all- I’m looking for traveling volunteers to give our family a hand. We have 24 acres, some of which is cliff ocean front. Mature gorgeous fruit trees like durian, mango, longon etc. we have tent camping with really comfy clean cot set ups, and newly purchased tents. We provide all meals (with the actual good food I feed my family- you won’t be living off lentils like some places do it!) and also fruit and cold drinking coconuts at our fruit stand.
We ask for 20 hours a week, as 4 five hour days a week. We give rides and take your guys to beaches at least 1-2 days a week.
We have a couple fun people in their 20s currently.
Let me know here or @lilinoefruitstand on instagram

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Using Science to Inform Gardening Decisions

Using Science to Inform Gardening Decisions

Gardening has long been an activity where science has informed its practitioners. Consider the decisions about what plant might thrive in a particular place, or how to manage a particular pest in as benign a way as possible. Using science at some level, whether observational or through experimental findings, (hopefully) has helped you to be […]

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Event Recap: A Celebration of Culture, Community, and Inclusivity at the Lunar New Year Market 2025

Event Recap: A Celebration of Culture, Community, and Inclusivity at the Lunar New Year Market 2025

With crisp and sunny weather on our side, UBC Botanical Garden hosted its third annual Lunar New Year Market on January 25 and 26 2025, marking the Year of the Wood Snake in a bigger, and brighter way. The event successfully brought together visitors, vendors, and performers from all backgrounds to celebrate this important tradition, […]

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