For the gardeners

[dancerjodi]

Hey peeps!

A co-worker of mine is closing on a house this week. Its the home she grew up in, and her Mom is transferring ownership over to her. She's from a traditional Italian family and as such, doesn't really know how to do anything around the house since her Mom has done it all. We're getting her a new homeowner care package including stuff on cooking, tool kits, cleaning and gardening (they have a vast vegetable garden, grape trellis' and all that good Italian stuff that you'd expect from a home in Revere with a lot of wrought iron).

I'm covering the gardening section (though, someone found some cute gloves that will go with the gift). I'm going to get her a couple of tools, a watering can and I want to get her a basic, basic how to book. Any suggestions? I actually own gardening for dummies and it was totally overwhelming to me at first read because it was talking about landscaping from scratch - testing soil, designing plant setups, etc. I'm thinking she'd do well with a take it slow, how to maintain kind of book so that she can just get her feet wet. Do you know if anything like this off the top of your head? Otherwise, I'll just be browsing at a store tonight.

Thanks in advance! :)

Comments

[rojagato.livejournal.com]

The Reader's Digest Fic-it-Youself Manual is indispensable. It does pretty much cover everything that would need repair or maintenance, and has very clear instructions and pictures. I also like its guide to basic tools to keep on hand.

[rojagato.livejournal.com]

Sorry! I saw the words "tools", "around the house", and "basic" -- totally blanked on "gardening".

[mbayard.livejournal.com]

Reader's Digest has a similar gardening book (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0762102764/sr=1-6/qid=1153953454/ref=sr_1_6/102-5915355-0928105?ie=UTF8&s=books) which is usually what I turn to first for basic information.

[synaesthesia.livejournal.com]

I sort of like the Better Homes and Gardens "New Complete Guide to Gardening" as it's inexpensive and covers a lot of information and isn't too overwhelming.

It's so awesome that she's inheriting the family garden!

[knome.livejournal.com]

Another really good one for beginning gardeners is
Square Foot Gardening. It makes some things very easy and allows for really dense and simple planting and layout.

[roaming.livejournal.com]

WEll, sorry this won't be any help, but when I need something I find myself going to the 'net for just that thing each time. (This from the woman who has a gazillion garden and cooking books, who doesn't do either.) With the books I've found I have to leaf through lots of things I don't want to find what I do, and then maybe it's not exactly. With the 'net, I search on just that thing, and ALL the references that come up are related. Perhaps one of the reasons the books are not that helpful is I tend to buy them for the inspirational pictures in them -- oooohhh, I want THAT! -- but then they don't tell you that "THAT" took 20 years of professional caretaking to achieve. Not to mention the right lighting for the photo shoot.

Refer her to local nurseries: lots of them have Saturday how-to sessions.

Also, get her some starter herbs that will give her immediate gratification. I.e., all Italians need BASIL for those yummy tomato/basil/mozzarella salads with olive oil. It's a big kick for me to be able to just walk out to my yard and grab all the fresh leaves I need. Basil's really easy to grow, even from seed. That and MINT for mojitos. Now I'm hungry!