Culture and Horticulture

Culture and Horticulture

Author: Wolf D. Storl

Publisher: North Atlantic Books

Published: 2013-02-19

Total Pages: 417

ISBN-13: 1583945687

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Various studies have shown time and again that small organic farms and home gardens are capable of producing more food per acre with less fossil energy than large-scale commercial agricultural installations dependent on machines and toxic chemical fertilizers and pesticides. This classic book by Wolf D. Storl, a respected elder in the practice of permaculture, details how food is grown holistically and beautifully by traditional communities around the world, and shows how to apply their ancient wisdom to our own gardens. With interest in natural, sustainable, organic and local food at an all-time high, people are looking beyond their farmers markets and CSA cooperatives to hyperlocal ways of growing healthy, delicious produce in urban gardens and their own backyards. Culture and Horticulture details time-tested methods that are as effective today as they were hundreds of years ago. On the practical front, the book works as a manual for creating and maintaining a bountiful harvest. It explains how to build the soil to maintain fertility; how to produce compost; how to plant, sow, and tend the various fruit and vegetable plants; how to rotate crops and practice companion planting; how to set up a favorable microclimate; how to deal with so-called weeds and pests; how to harvest at the right time; and finally how to store vegetables and herbs. Special emphasis is given to the art and science of composting, the compost being the "heart" of any self-sufficient garden and a model for the cycle of life, death, and rebirth. At the same time the reader is introduced to the wider aspects of horticulture, to its historical, philosophical, and cosmological contexts and social relevance. Gardening is a cultural activity, shaped by peoples' thoughts, wishes, and needs as well as by their cultural traditions. The author, an anthropologist by profession who has investigated the gardening practices of indigenous people throughout the world and worked for many years on biodynamic farms and in his own food garden, will introduce the reader to Rudolf Steiner's vision of the garden as an organic unit, embedded in the context of terrestrial and cosmic forces. Storl explains the importance of cosmic rhythms (solar, lunar, and planetary), the role of biodynamic herbal preparations as "medicines" for the garden organism, and the so-called "etheric" and "astral" forces. The book presents a vision of the garden as seen through the eyes of "Goethean science," a magical place where alchemical transformations of material substances take place.


Byzantine Garden Culture

Byzantine Garden Culture

Author: Antony Robert Littlewood

Publisher: Dumbarton Oaks

Published: 2002

Total Pages: 286

ISBN-13: 9780884022800

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Individual essays discuss Byzantine conceptions of paradise, the textual evidence for monastic horticulture, animal and game parks, herbs in medicinal pharmacy, and the famous illustrated copy of Dioskorides's herbal manual in Vienna. An opening chapter explores questions and observations from the point of view of a non-Byzantine garden historian, and the closing chapter suggests possible directions for future scholarship in the field.


Herbaceous Perennial Plants

Herbaceous Perennial Plants

Author: Allan M. Armitage

Publisher: Quarto Publishing Group USA

Published: 2008-05-01

Total Pages: 1480

ISBN-13: 1610583809

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The third edition of the comprehensive—and entertaining—gardening reference by the master horticulturalist. This is the long-awaited third edition of Allan Armitage’s masterpiece on garden perennials. Armitage’s extensive traveling, teaching, and trialing experiences provide a depth of understanding of the best ornamental perennials for North American gardens unparalleled by any other garden writer. One of the most definitive and conclusive books written about perennials, the first edition was designated as one of the best seventy-five books written in the last seventy-five years by the American Horticulture Society. Now the third edition of “The Big Perennial Book” (as it is fondly referred to by many practitioners) describes 3,600 species in 1224 pages. More than three hundred color photos complement detailed text filled with the author’s pointed observations of plant performance, cultivar selection, and current taxonomy. In addition, his trademark wit and passion are both in abundance, making reading as pleasurable as it is informative.


Advances in Horticultural Soilless Culture

Advances in Horticultural Soilless Culture

Author: Nazim S. Gruda

Publisher: Burleigh Dodds Agricultural Sc

Published: 2021-02-23

Total Pages: 360

ISBN-13: 9781786764355

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This collection reviews current research on optimising substrates for soilless cultivation and assesses recent advances in technologies, such as fertigation systems and process control. Case studies on a range of horticultural crops feature throughout as a means of depicting examples of practical application.


Botanical Progress, Horticultural Innovation and Cultural Changes

Botanical Progress, Horticultural Innovation and Cultural Changes

Author: Michel Conan

Publisher: Dumbarton Oaks

Published: 2007

Total Pages: 300

ISBN-13: 9780884023272

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This book highlights religious, artistic, political, and economic consequences of horticultural pursuits, exploring the roles of peasants, botanists, horticulturists, nurserymen, and gentlemen collectors in these developments, and offering a reflection on horticulture's future in the context of environmental devastation and ecological uncertainty.


Tissue Culture Techniques for Horticultural Crops

Tissue Culture Techniques for Horticultural Crops

Author: Kenneth C. Torres

Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media

Published: 2012-12-06

Total Pages: 282

ISBN-13: 1461597560

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This book was written for those individuals who are concerned about the techniques and practices of plant cell cultures for horticultural crops. It was designed to serve as a text and reference for students and professionals in ornamental horticulture, fruit and vegetable crop pro duction, botany, forestry, and other areas of plant science. Research during the last twenty-five years in the area of plant tissue culture has led to many developments and changes in this field. Al though the techniques involved in the manipulation of plant tissue culture are now relatively straightforward, the presentation of these techniques in a short volume for the beginner in the field is generally unavailable. In addition to describing the techniques for establishment and manipulation of specific species, several chapters in this book also provide a brief, general review of important cultural parameters. Spe cific protocols and laboratory procedures may also be found in the appendix. I hope that this presentation of information will be helpful to those individuals wanting to apply plant tissue culture techniques for horticultural crops.


A New Garden Ethic

A New Garden Ethic

Author: Benjamin Vogt

Publisher: New Society Publishers

Published: 2017-09-01

Total Pages: 217

ISBN-13: 1771422459

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In a time of climate change and mass extinction, how we garden matters more than ever: “An outstanding and deeply passionate book.” —Marc Bekoff, author of The Emotional Lives of Animals Plenty of books tell home gardeners and professional landscape designers how to garden sustainably, what plants to use, and what resources to explore. Yet few examine why our urban wildlife gardens matter so much—not just for ourselves, but for the larger human and animal communities. Our landscapes push aside wildlife and in turn diminish our genetically programmed love for wildness. How can we get ourselves back into balance through gardens, to speak life's language and learn from other species? Benjamin Vogt addresses why we need a new garden ethic, and why we urgently need wildness in our daily lives—lives sequestered in buildings surrounded by monocultures of lawn and concrete that significantly harm our physical and mental health. He examines the psychological issues around climate change and mass extinction as a way to understand how we are short-circuiting our response to global crises, especially by not growing native plants in our gardens. Simply put, environmentalism is not political; it's social justice for all species marginalized today and for those facing extinction tomorrow. By thinking deeply and honestly about our built landscapes, we can create a compassionate activism that connects us more profoundly to nature and to one another.


Soilless Culture: Theory and Practice

Soilless Culture: Theory and Practice

Author: Michael Raviv

Publisher: Elsevier

Published: 2007-12-27

Total Pages: 625

ISBN-13: 0080556426

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Plant production in hydroponics and soilless culture is rapidly expanding throughout the world, raising a great interest in the scientific community. For the first time in an authoritative reference book, authors cover both theoretical and practical aspects of hydroponics (growing plants without the use of soil). This reference book covers the state-of-the-art in this area, while offering a clear view of supplying plants with nutrients other than soil. Soilless Culture provides the reader with an understanding of the properties of the various soiless media and how these properties affect plant performance in relation to basic horticultural operations, such as irrigation and fertilization. This book is ideal for agronomists, horticulturalists, greenhouse and nursery managers, extension specialists, and people involved with the production of plants.* Comprehensive discussion of hydroponic systems, irrigation, and control measures allows readers to achieve optimal performance* State-of-the-art book on all theoretical aspects of hydroponics and soilless culture including a thorough description of the root system, its functions and limitation posed by restricted root volume* Critical and updated reviews of current analytical methods and how to translate their results to irrigation and fertilization practices * Definitive chapters on recycled, no-discharge systems including salinity and nutrition management and pathogen eradication * Up-to-date description of all important types of growing media


Advanced Greenhouse Horticulture

Advanced Greenhouse Horticulture

Author: Athanasios Koukounaras

Publisher: MDPI

Published: 2021-03-19

Total Pages: 200

ISBN-13: 3036503501

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Greenhouse horticulture is one of the most intensive agricultural systems, focusing on the production of high-value products. This book presents current research findings that cover a wide range of new technologies and novel agricultural practices, which are preconditions for successful production in a very competitive global environment.