Book Review: Gaia’s Garden
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| Gaia's Garden by Toby Hemenway |
Gaia's Garden: A Guide To Home-Scale Permaculture — Reclaiming Domesticity from a Consumer Culture (2nd edition)
All the old guard are passing away. Ken Kerns. Gene Logsdon. And, alas, Toby Hemenway. Each one of these people instilled in me a yearning to be on the land and provided me with ideas, practical skills, and inspiration over the years. But it was Toby Hemenway that introduced me to permaculture for the every-day person. At the time that I found Gaia’s Garden, I had already heard of Bill Mollison (another giant since passed) and Geoff Lawton — but I was under the impression that one had to have lofty expectations to practice permaculture. At the time, I was just a young woman with a garden, trying to make her tiny “pretend” homestead a little more inviting to nature and the cycles of the seasons. Toby changed all that for me. Permaculture was now accessible — by mere gardening mortals like me.
The book has tables and lists of plants and all the things one might find in an academic book but is written for the life-long learning gardener and homesteader. Down to earth, practical, straight forward. The book is divided into three parts: The Garden as Ecosystem, The Pieces of the Ecological Garden, and Assembling the Ecological Garden. Twelve chapters in all, topped off with an appendix of some useful plants, a glossary, a bibliography and a list of resources. Both a great introductory book and a lifelong guide.
This passage from the preface to the second edition describes the book most aptly: “Although this book is about environmentally friendly landscapes, it is not an eco-fanatic’s manifesto. It’s a book on gardening, full of techniques and garden lore. But between the lines on these pages is a plea for less consumption and more self-reliance.”
“Ecological gardens” — I loved this phrase from the first time I saw it in Toby’s book. His definition in Chapter one is characteristic of his style: “Ecological gardens are filled with beautiful plants that have many uses, providing fruit and vegetables, medicinal and culinary herbs, eye-catching arrays of colorful blossoms, soil-building mulch, protection from pests, and habitat for wildlife.” I can see this garden in my mind and feel it in my soul.
With this book, you can design, plant and care for a garden (or a forest) that will feed you and bring you joy while stepping lightly on the land and inviting nature in. Highly recommended. RIP Toby. Although I’ve only met you on video recordings and through your books, you walk in the garden with me on many occasions.
Author's Note:
Wild Blackberry Apothecary is the dream of a one-woman homesteader in the middle of Middle Tennessee, USA. I currently work full time and homestead part time with 4 dogs, 12-30 chickens, several domestic blackberry and raspberry plants - and thousands of wild blackberry vines that are trying ot take over every inch that they can. My husband of 30+ years does not homestead, but indulges me. As we look towards our retirement years, we hope to further develop our property and perhaps add more rescue dogs, more blackberries and trees, and have me move to homesteading full time.
Disclaimer:
It is the policy of Wild Blackberry Apothecary to not advise or recommend herbs or herbal concoctions for medicinal, nutritional or health user. This information is intended for educational and entertainment purposes only and should not be considered as a recommendation and an endorsement of any particular medical or health treatment. The reader should do their own research and consult with a licensed health care provider concerning their medical, nutritional and health care concerns. In addition, some plants are poisonous or can have serious adverse health effects. It is the responsibility of the reader to conduct their own research and to ensure for themselves the proper identification and use of all plants. Always seek the guidance of your qualified health professional with any questions you may have regarding your health or medical conditions.
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