Talking Dirt, by Annie Spiegelman, the Dirt Diva
About.com Rating
The Bottom Line
Reading Annie Spiegelman is like having a friend helping you in the garden. "Talking Dirt" reads like a chat with the author and the pleasure she finds in gardening is highly contagious. Spiegelman blends the common sense and science of organic gardening into a deceptively easy read. You'll never suspect how much you've learned, until you're out in your garden, putting it into practice.
If your eyes glaze over at lists and charts and you just want a simple answer from someone who's done it before, this book is what you’re looking for.
Pros
Cons
Description
Guide Review - Talking Dirt, by Annie Spiegelman, the Dirt Diva
It's clear from the beginning of this book that Ms. Spiegelman truly enjoys gardening. While there is a lot of research based knowledge sprinkled throughout her writing, she is never dry and pedantic about it. Spiegelman is a city girl turned "compost groupie", soaking up everything she could find about how to have "a sensational, sustainable garden" and she can't wait to share ti with you. Who wouldn't want to talk dirt with the "Dirt Diva"?
"Talking Dirt" takes a broad view: from Latin lingo to killer tomatoes, from companion planting to "Going Compostal", from lawn alternatives to mixing up a snack for your plants. Part history lesson (How we lost our way with synthetic fertilizer.) and part common sense (No one has time to clean their tools every day.), "Talking Dirt" covers all the questions a novice gardener might have and then some. When a topic requires more in depth discussion, Spiegelman provides some excellent recommendations for further reading.
The tone is very conversational and Spiegelman is open and willing to share where she went wrong, when first starting out. Short, easily digested lists and sidebars bring the theoretical down to the practical;. "Don’t Be a Chump Warning", "Tools You May Need", "10 Easy Plants to Divide". The author’s sense of humor is a constant reminder that gardening is supposed to be fun - Companion planting boils down to keeping your friends close and dysfunctional relatives apart.
One of the nicest features is ending each chapter with a plant recommendation from The Dirt Dive Royal Horticultural Society. I’ve always felt that the best way to get to know plants is one at a time and I’m impressed that Spiegelman could single out one plant to feature in each chapter. I wish there were photos of the plants, but we do get Whaa-Whaa ratings, a measure of "...their practical botanical merit and their level of whining." Good things to know.
Disclosure: A review copy was provided by the publisher. For more information, please see our Ethics Policy.
The Bottom Line
Reading Annie Spiegelman is like having a friend helping you in the garden. "Talking Dirt" reads like a chat with the author and the pleasure she finds in gardening is highly contagious. Spiegelman blends the common sense and science of organic gardening into a deceptively easy read. You'll never suspect how much you've learned, until you're out in your garden, putting it into practice.
If your eyes glaze over at lists and charts and you just want a simple answer from someone who's done it before, this book is what you’re looking for.
Pros
- Conversational, yet slyly informative.
- Explains organic gardening from the ground up.
- Great sense of humor. Nothing stuffy here.
- Dirt Diva Royal Horticultural Society Plant Recommendations
Cons
- Some photos would have been nice.
- It can be hard to find what you’re looking for, if using it as a reference.
Description
- Starts by sneaking in the basics: choosing the right plants, “Snooty Botanical Names”, the dirt on dirt, water and pests.
- Approaches organic gardening as simple, common sense. Healthy soil, happy plants and some understanding of how nature works.
- Each chapter ends with A Plant Recommendation form the Dirt Diva Royal Horticultural Society.
- Flower Power covers the bases: seeds, bulbs, perennials, roses - recommendations, safe pest control and home-spun wisdom.
- Edible Gardening eases into intimidating topics like cover crops and the myriad of diseases affecting tomatoes and fruits.
- The final section is a seasonal walk though the garden; getting started in spring, what to keep on top of in the summer...
- Although the illustrations are lovely, it would have been nice to see photos of the plants being discussed.
Guide Review - Talking Dirt, by Annie Spiegelman, the Dirt Diva
It's clear from the beginning of this book that Ms. Spiegelman truly enjoys gardening. While there is a lot of research based knowledge sprinkled throughout her writing, she is never dry and pedantic about it. Spiegelman is a city girl turned "compost groupie", soaking up everything she could find about how to have "a sensational, sustainable garden" and she can't wait to share ti with you. Who wouldn't want to talk dirt with the "Dirt Diva"?
"Talking Dirt" takes a broad view: from Latin lingo to killer tomatoes, from companion planting to "Going Compostal", from lawn alternatives to mixing up a snack for your plants. Part history lesson (How we lost our way with synthetic fertilizer.) and part common sense (No one has time to clean their tools every day.), "Talking Dirt" covers all the questions a novice gardener might have and then some. When a topic requires more in depth discussion, Spiegelman provides some excellent recommendations for further reading.
The tone is very conversational and Spiegelman is open and willing to share where she went wrong, when first starting out. Short, easily digested lists and sidebars bring the theoretical down to the practical;. "Don’t Be a Chump Warning", "Tools You May Need", "10 Easy Plants to Divide". The author’s sense of humor is a constant reminder that gardening is supposed to be fun - Companion planting boils down to keeping your friends close and dysfunctional relatives apart.
One of the nicest features is ending each chapter with a plant recommendation from The Dirt Dive Royal Horticultural Society. I’ve always felt that the best way to get to know plants is one at a time and I’m impressed that Spiegelman could single out one plant to feature in each chapter. I wish there were photos of the plants, but we do get Whaa-Whaa ratings, a measure of "...their practical botanical merit and their level of whining." Good things to know.
Disclosure: A review copy was provided by the publisher. For more information, please see our Ethics Policy.
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