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Blog Post

Yes we can!

by DavidQ

I have decided that my summer project will be canning and drying: preserving as much food from the farmers' market and garden so that I might eat local throughout the year. Books like The Omnivore's Dilemma and Animal, Vegetable, Miracle have inspired me to try to reduce the amount of food that I eat that comes from far away.

I figured that I could allay my fear of food poisoning by finding the right books and just diving in. A farmer friend recommended Putting Food By: a classic which I am glad to say was also suggested in Preserving Time in a Bottle (or a Jar), a recent New York Times article. The Times talked to Eugenia Bone about her new book: Well-Preserved (there are many holds on it which proves how many AADL patrons read the Times).

While scanning the shelf for Putting Food By, I came upon The Joy of Pickling and Keeping the Harvest which I think will also give me some good ideas. I'll blog again at the end of the summer about what I've discovered. In the meantime, see you at the market!

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Blog Post

The Westside Farmers' Market Is Back In Action

by manz

Due to zoning restrictions the status of the 2009 season for the Westside Farmers’ Market was in limbo. The City of Ann Arbor has resolved the issue and the Market will run from June 18th – Sept 24th in the Zingerman’s Roadhouse parking lot each Thursday from 3-7pm. For an inside scoop of the larger Kerrytown market, check out Ann Arbor Fresh: recipes and stories from the Ann Arbor Farmer's Market and the Kerrytown Historic District. Hooray for local produce!

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Blog Post

Flower Gardening with Master Gardener Carol Brodbeck

by shannon riffe

On Thursday, May 21, 7pm at the Pittsfield Branch, learn valuable flower gardening tips from Master Gardener Carol Brodbeck, member of the American Horticulture Society.

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Blog Post

Public Gardens of Michigan

by quaking aspen

Are you a gardening buff? Check out our fabulous book Public Gardens of Michigan. This is a detailed book exploring the public gardens located here in our home state. If you want to plan day trips, and love looking at gardens, this book would be the perfect book for you.

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Blog Post

Making Dirt

by pkooger

When I grew up, my family had a vegetable garden behind our house and we kept a compost bin for all of our food trash. After I got my own place, I felt guilty for throwing food into the trash, but the bins that I saw in stores were kind of pricey. So, when this past weekend turned out to be so warm and sunny, I went into the backyard and dug a pit for a compost heap. There are lots of variations on the compost bin, and all of them are very easy to do. Whether you are a gardener or just want to cut down on your trash output, here are some books to check out.
The Compost Heap
Backyard Composting
The Complete Compost Gardening Guide

But be sure to remember one thing that I forgot; if you dig a hole near a tree, you’re going to run into roots. Oops.

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Blog Post

Start a New Hobby

by quaking aspen

It is that time of year again! Want to start a garden, and don't know where to begin? Well don't brush the idea aside, check out one or both of these books to get you started in gardening. 1001 hints and tips for your garden, and The American Horticultural Society Encyclopedia of Gardening. Take that first step, and you might find you have a new hobby for life!

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Blog Post

How do you grow hope?

by Maxine

To find out, head over to Ypsilanti and the Growing Hope community garden project. Growing Hope is a grass roots organization that helps people in Washtenaw County help themselves by educating them on the fundamentals of organic gardening and access to healthy food. The Growing Hope Center on West Michigan Ave. is establishing a demonstration and training site for urban farming, sustainable gardening, and green building. Growing Hope also provides support to neighborhood gardens, several of which are going strong in Ypsilanti. They also work with schools on greenhouse and garden projects as well as encouraging young, potential "entrepreneurs," who learn about marketing the fruits of their labor. They work closely with the Ypsilanti's Farmer's Market in providing fresh food to the community. Check out their blog, the latest entry describing a workshop in Milan on "square foot gardening."

The Library has a wealth of vegetable gardening books to help both budding and experienced gardeners who want to get their hands dirty.

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Blog Post

Pulp

by Stewart

Horticulture April 2009

Page 22 Mixed-Up Magic
Pick up some great ideas on how to mix spring bulbs and a perennial garden.

Page 36 Veg Out
Only have a small wedge of space in which to grow your veggies this summer? If you think you have to have lots of sun and a southern exposure to grow good veggies, you're wrong. All you need is at least 3 hours of sun a day for a great container vegetable garden.

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Blog Post

An Introduction to Vegetable Gardening

by shannon riffe

Spring is here, it's time to garden! Learn the basics of growing your own food at the Traverwood branch this Thursday, March 26, 7 to 8:30pm when Melissa Kesterson from Project Grow visits the library to share her knowledge on topics such as learning how to identify the proper site for a garden, preparing the soil, laying out the garden space and planning your garden for the season.

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Blog Post

Compost Extravaganza Sale

by Debbie G.

Prices so low you won't believe your eyes! The City of Ann Arbor has slashed prices on bulk compost 50 to 75 percent from last year. That's right folks, they've got to clear out the Compost Center for the 2009 growing season. Your gardens and lawns are crying out for nutrients so head on over to the Wheeler Service Center and get going on a great deal.