|
REVIEWS:
From DragonFly Review July 2005. Includes: The WholeLife Times Magazine in Los Angeles, Common Ground in San Francisco,
ConsciousChoice in Chicago, SharedVision in Vancouver, and Evergreen Monthly in Seattle.
THE YEAR I ATE MY YARD, by Tony Kienitz. (Vegetare, $15.)
Even fast-food junkies may feel the urge to putter in a garden or munch a lettuce leaf after reading this book. Kienitz'
quick wit and amusing anecdotes careen haphazardly off of every page as readers go on a whirlwind ride about, of all things,
vegetables. His reflections on the magic of plant growth and the "mystery" of composting goes far beyond a simple
how-to book, and each chapter rolls seamlessly into the next with a self-deprecating chuckle and a snippet of wisdom.
Kienitz is a self-described "Master Vegetablarian," and although the exact meaning of the term is ambiguous,
there is no doubt that this man is passionate about growing and eating his greens. He is frequently invited to universities,
local garden clubs, and even elementary schools, and his writing feels more like a lively conversation than an instruction
manual. In fact, Kienitz leaves the distinct impression that, without editors, he could talk about gardening forever.
Peppered with delightful humor and tales of personal mishaps and plant misadventures, Kienitz offers practical advice
on how to grow vegetables without artificial fertilizers, pesticides and other poisons. His theory of allowing gardens to
grow on natural systems is refreshing and surprisingly sensible, pointing out that backyard gardens can be wild and need not
have the discipline of a military march.
Be warned: The processed food lining your cupboards will quickly lose its appeal after opening this book. ( Rachel Schmidt
)
From Sunset Magazine June 2005:
THE YEAR I ATE MY YARD: ESSAYS FOR THE VEGETABLE GARDENER, by Tony Kienitz. (Vegetare 2005; $15)
The author designs ornamental edible gardens for a living, so he has lots of practical tips to share. My favorites include
using chilled mint tea to deter ants. But, as the word essays in the subtitle suggests, Kienitz has bigger issues on his mind.
He is convinced that growing edibles observantly will improve our souls, and his preferred way of delivering this message
is via parables. So before getting to the point of a particular essay, he writes about his high school pal Jimmy setting his
hair on fire at a dinner party, or the Dalai Lama's appearance with Goldie Hawn. Don't let this scare you off. The tips alone
are worth the price - Sharon Cohoon
|
