Provides urbanites and suburbanites with a way to design and maintain an eco-yard, detailing soil science, the best way to grow vegetables; making one's yard water-wise; and replacing one's lawn with trees, shrubs, flower beds and hardy, low-maintenance grass. Original.

“A gentle, practical and inspiring guide to help you transform your yard into a diverse, healthy and sustainable landscape.”—Myrna Pearman, coauthor of NatureScape Alberta Many urban yards are essentially unproductive patches of grass, requiring constant attention for no return. Through sustainable, organic landscaping, these small or large plots of land can become part of the solution to today’s environmental challenges. Eco-yards supports the vision of a healthy, abundant planet in which beautiful, richly varied urban yards contribute to restoring the natural ecosystem. This inspiring and practical, well-illustrated manual includes clear, easy-to-follow instructions for: Designing and maintaining an eco-yard Making your yard water-wise Understanding basic soil science Replacing your lawn with tree, shrub and flower beds or hardy, low-maintenance grass Growing vegetables in the eco-yard Visionary, hopeful and encouraging, Eco-yards is a must-read for anyone who wants to use environmentally sound practices when they garden, whether in a residential yard or on the balcony of a condo or high-rise apartment. If you’re sick of the backyard battle, this book will show you how to work with nature instead of fighting it, using simple steps that apply practically anywhere to turn your yard into an eco-friendly sanctuary. “A rich compost of the practical and scientific . . . this is a book for every gardener concerned for the health of the environment.”—Roberta Rees, author of Long After Fathers “Rama is a hands-on gardener who explains—in great detail—everything from building soil to creating sustainable landscapes. Read about it here and then get out and practice what Rama preaches.”—Donna Balzer, BScA, horticulturist and co-host of the internationally broadcast television show Bugs & Blooms

With Beautiful No-Mow Yards, you can transform your lawn into a livable garden and bring nature's beauty into your life! What has your perfect green lawn done for you lately? Is it really worth the time, effort, and resources you lavish on it? Armed with encouragement, inspiration, and cutting-edge advice from award-winning author Evelyn Hadden, you can liberate yourself at last! In this ultimate guide to rethinking your yard, Hadden showcases dozens of inspiring, eco-friendly alternatives to that demanding (and dare we say boring?) green turf. Trade your lawn for a lively prairie or replace it with a runoff-reducing rain garden. Swap it for an interactive adventure garden or convert it to a low-maintenance living carpet.

Chronicle of the unmaking of a gardener with explorations into the ecology of backyard gardens.

A practical palette for visualizing, designing, and building innovative green schoolyard environments.

Your Eco-Friendly Yard shows you how to plan and create a personalized ecosystem in your own yard. You’ll discover 20 projects, such as selecting appropriate native plants for your region, practicing water efficiency and conservation, and proper placement of trees and vegetation, plus tips and expert advice for saving the earth, as well as time and money.

In this eloquent plea for compassion and respect for all species, journalist and gardener Nancy Lawson describes why and how to welcome wildlife to our backyards. Through engaging anecdotes and inspired advice, profiles of home gardeners throughout the country, and interviews with scientists and horticulturalists, Lawson applies the broader lessons of ecology to our own outdoor spaces. Detailed chapters address planting for wildlife by choosing native species; providing habitats that shelter baby animals, as well as birds, bees, and butterflies; creating safe zones in the garden; cohabiting with creatures often regarded as pests; letting nature be your garden designer; and encouraging natural processes and evolution in the garden. The Humane Gardener fills a unique niche in describing simple principles for both attracting wildlife and peacefully resolving conflicts with all the creatures that share our world.