When Bel at Green out Every Window invited me to participate in the Earth Day Reading Project, I loved the idea immediately. Share three books that have most inspired you to choose to live more sustainably. Fiction, nonfiction, graphic novel....it's all about what has made motivated you to turn ideas into actions. Full rules and a great list of gardening blogs can be found here at The Sage Butterfly.
Animal, Vegetable, Miracle
by Barbara Kingsolver inspired me to action almost immediately. We had begun to garden and had a compost bin. We were buying less "processed crap" with all the coloring, additives and packaging, but weren't quite sure what else we really could do. After all, we live in the suburbs...it's not like we can feed ourselves from this tiny bit of earth, right? Within a year of reading this book, I realized the power that comes from reconnecting with our food sources. I love Kingsolver's fiction, but her sharing of her family's commitment to eat only locally for an entire year (no bananas!) changed how I think about food.
by Barbara Kingsolver inspired me to action almost immediately. We had begun to garden and had a compost bin. We were buying less "processed crap" with all the coloring, additives and packaging, but weren't quite sure what else we really could do. After all, we live in the suburbs...it's not like we can feed ourselves from this tiny bit of earth, right? Within a year of reading this book, I realized the power that comes from reconnecting with our food sources. I love Kingsolver's fiction, but her sharing of her family's commitment to eat only locally for an entire year (no bananas!) changed how I think about food.
I picked up a copy of the Kitchen Garden Planner at a bookstore's going out of business sale. We lived down in Florida and had asked (and received) permission to plant a small garden plot in the back yard of our rental. I dreamed of what I might do with a home and yard and garden of my own. As it turns out, I plant squash in the flowerbeds. All of my planted space is a kitchen garden, each year more beautiful and each year more edible.
I know, I know. Insert joke about garden gnomes here. But the interior of this book
is filled with amazing illustrations detailing the many ways sentient being might live in harmony with nature, might balance needs of self with needs of the system of which we are all part. When I was a child, I discovered this book next to a rocking chair in my grandmother's guest room. She had placed it there purposely so a little girl weary of grownup conversation might find some magic with which to amuse herself. Whenever I harvest herbs, I think of the gnomes in this book. If I ever make my own dandelion root tea (not unlikely, these days), I will credit this book for the inspiration.
is filled with amazing illustrations detailing the many ways sentient being might live in harmony with nature, might balance needs of self with needs of the system of which we are all part. When I was a child, I discovered this book next to a rocking chair in my grandmother's guest room. She had placed it there purposely so a little girl weary of grownup conversation might find some magic with which to amuse herself. Whenever I harvest herbs, I think of the gnomes in this book. If I ever make my own dandelion root tea (not unlikely, these days), I will credit this book for the inspiration. So that's three. I considered including Bill McKibben's Eaarth
, for its influence on my planning and thinking, but there is no action yet I can directly attribute to reading the book. Square Foot Gardening
was also a strong contender for the Top Three, because he makes it easy to get started with gardening no matter where you live. I appreciate that he thinks growing things should be mostly fun.
, for its influence on my planning and thinking, but there is no action yet I can directly attribute to reading the book. Square Foot Gardening was also a strong contender for the Top Three, because he makes it easy to get started with gardening no matter where you live. I appreciate that he thinks growing things should be mostly fun.
Becky, I found your blog through Bel at Green Out Every Window. I thought about putting Animal, Vegetable, Miracle on my list too; it's such an inspiring book. I got the garden gnomes book as a Christmas gift and haven't really looked at it yet; thanks for the push. -Jean
ReplyDeleteWow,these look like great books. I am especially intrigued by Animal, Vegetable, Mineral. And though I just bought my first book on vegetable gardening (this will be my first year to really give it a go) your Kitchen Garden Planner sounds even better. And the gnomes book looks fascinating. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteI am constantly amazed at what people select for this project. I simply love the idea of including the Gnomes book. We are all inspired in so many different ways, and there does not have to be a direct route. And I want to read Kitchen Garden Planner...it sounds as if it is filled with some great ideas. Thank you for participating in The Earth Day Reading Project and Happy Earth Day.
ReplyDeleteI managed to pull it off! Though I definitely broke the "book" part of the rule...thanks for the push to post again. I've been needing to start posting again (took a break thanks to morning sickness), so hopefully this will get the ball rolling--slowly, but rolling. :)
ReplyDeleteBecky, I have a book and two PEOPLE to credit (hey, if you can credit gnomes, I can credit real people, right?).
ReplyDeleteThe last super-inspiring book I read was "Green Chic: Saving the Earth in Style." This was a fantastic book about how to be greener in your everyday living. It covers everything from makeup to laundry soap to vehicle emissions to food. The author is never preachy and reminds us all that even if we are able only to take small steps to change, it's still a step in the right direction. A short read but with an amazing array of information and suggestions.
Here's a list of new things this book has inspired me to do:
Use much less paper toweling, opting to cut up a few old t-shirts instead;
Sworn off paper napkins and using cloth ones;
Made "Becky's All-Purpose Household Cleaner" for myself and as a housewarming gift for a friend, plus shared the recipe with at least a dozen other friends;
Re-use envelopes for my grocery lists;
Washing (all but my bed sheets) in cold water;
Switched to organic fair-trade coffee (searching for shade grown, as well, but finding it difficult to source in a small country...);
I'm sure there's more but my post is already getting looooong!
OK, now I'm reminded of a second book after thinking fashion + sustainability. Second Time Cool: The Art of Chopping Up a Sweater. This book is so much fun and perfect for anyone who, like me, finds themselves unable to part with a favorite sweater that has ended up in the back of the closet because it no longer fits, it's getting a bit stretched out, or it's just not quite in style anymore. Give it a new life, a new purpose!! It's the ultimate in recycling and provides some fun and funky inspiration from the three cool chicks who wrote the book. They even teach you how to felt wool pieces, and show you how to add decorative elements such as blanket stitching around edges, adding applique, and more.
This book has inspired me to re-design and re-purpose my better sweaters, and
wash my wool sweaters in hot water to shrink them for felting projects.
Lastly, the two women that inspired me were my mother and her mother, although it happened rather latently! When I was growing up, during the summer school breaks, my brother and I were required to walk to Grandma's house about a mile away every day and help her in the garden. She had an amazing green thumb and a prolific garden of flowers and edibles to show for it.
I didn't especially enjoy the work, nor did I feel inspired to start my own garden. Mum also had a garden at home, much smaller in size, thankfully, so I was required to help out there on the weekends, too.
Ironically, many years later I worked as an editor for a gardening magazine and became so inspired by what I was reading that I started my own potted garden on the deck outside my apartment. At one stage I had more than 100 terra cotta pots overflowing with all sorts of pretties and some edibles, too. My upstairs neighbor said she loved looking down on my colorful garden (she had a direct view as she no deck) and feeling like she was in another world, not the urban jungle we lived in.
Now, so many years later, I appreciate anything that's homegrown or homemade! It's therapeutic, it's heart-felt and good for the soul, if it's edible it's much more delicious and nutritious, and it's great for the planet.
Sorry for the book...