Request for book recommendations

[mousme]

I need a gardening icon...

Anyway, since I am feeling a wee bit overwhelmed by the plethora of books out there on gardening/homesteading/living more ecologically, I am turning to my very well-educated flist for advice.

Please recommend good books to me on these subjects. I would prefer books geared toward beginners/people who are otherwise ignorant of these things, but if a book is considered a "bible" on a topic, even if it's a little advanced, that's fine. Likewise for other advanced books, if they're written clearly and relatively simply, and maybe provide a glossary for their terms. ;)

Also, are there any good gardening communities out there on LJ?

Comments

Garden community/book rec

[urban-homestead.livejournal.com]

garden_hoes!

Gaia's Garden - an intro to home-scale permaculture.
The New Northern Gardener - a great reference all Canadian gardeners would benefit from
The Organic Home Garden: How to Grow Fruits and Vegetables Naturally - more inspirational than how-to, but totally recommended, a great book.
Square Foot Gardening - if you're working with space constraints at all. If you have more than enough space, then the New Northern Gardener provides enough information.

Re: Garden community/book rec

[urban-homestead.livejournal.com]

Oh, and, if you're going to be storing your harvest and/or other local/seasonal produce, Stocking Up is a must-have.

Re: Garden community/book rec

[mousme.livejournal.com]

Many thanks! Have I ever mentioned how much I admire everything you do? Career, marriage, two kids, *and* your own little homestead? I think it's absolutely fantastic. :)

/admiration society

Re: Garden community/book rec

[urban-homestead.livejournal.com]

What a kind thing to say! It really is a very little homestead, though... and these days, a fairly little career too. :)

[chasingthenuns.livejournal.com]

I just got this book that I love. It has lots of tips and ideas on how to use herbs. It seems more like a reference than a read straight through book.

The Curious Gardener's Almanac: Centuries of Practical Garden Wisdom by Niall Edworthy

I also love this site and the forums on there are wonderful as well. I know it's not lj, but I thought it was worth mentioning.

[wolflady26.livejournal.com]

I know that About.com has an organic gardening section: http://organicgardening.about.com There's probably a lot of nifty information there.

They also have an herb gardening section: http://herbgardens.about.com/