Rainy Side Gardeners' Featured Books of the Past
Talking Dirt: The Dirt Diva's Down-to-Earth Guide to Organic Gardening
by Annie Spiegelman
Paperback: 304 pages
The problem with most gardening books is that they're sooooo serious, with all the "do this" and "for heaven's sake, don't do that" rules. Who said they can't be funny, too? Not Spiegelman, that's for sure. While offering plenty of sound and sensible organic gardening advice, Spiegelman lightens the load (much the way prescribed soil amendments do) with quippy asides and pithy observations that make the experience feel more like a casual conversation with a good, green-thumbed friend than a lecture from a stuffy horticulturist. All joking aside, it's evident Spiegelman knows whereof she speaks. A transplanted Manhattanite who found herself gardening in California, Spiegelman wisely enrolled in master gardener classes before she killed so many plants she'd qualify for a "most wanted" poster at the local nursery. She shares her hard-won knowledge glibly but with a great deal of gravity, too. Gardens are fun, yes, but the benefits they provide, from the aesthetic to the ecological, should be taken seriously. —Carol Haggas
Reviews
"It's hard to resist a gardening book that's both chock-full of information and fun to read. It doesn't matter if you are a novice gardener or more experienced, Annie shows the way to growing and enjoying a natural, sustainable, organic garden."
—Nell Newman, cofounder and president of Newman's Own Organics
"Annie Spiegelman (aka the Dirt Diva) understands what gardening is really about: having fun . . . even when you aren't having fun! This book is laugh-out-loud useful and smart. Frankly, it's the best book on organic gardening that I've seen in 11 years (since mine came out). The Dirt Diva Royal Horticultural Society is the only gardening club I really want to be a member of."
—Maria Rodale, CEO of Rodale Inc., MariasFarmCountryKitchen.com
"Talking Dirt is wonderful-even for those who don't have a garden . . .yet."
—Christiane Northrup, MD, author of the New York Times bestsellers Women's Bodies, Women's Wisdom and The Wisdom of Menopause
"Fun, factual, and filled with ideas. What sets Talking Dirt apart from all other organic gardening how-to guides is Anne Spiegelman. Her writing has an easy style, is easy to understand, and makes organic gardening easy to put into practice. The information is presented with personality and wit, making this book a must-have resource for the aspiring organic gardener."
—Michael C. Metallo, president of the National Gardening Association
"What Skinny Bitch did for vegetarianism Talking Dirt may do for organic gardening. Annie Spiegelman's book is the perfect primer for a generation raised on supermarket food and flowers but who are searching for something fresher and more satisfying. As comfortable among the cabbages as she is in a fashion boutique, Spiegelman succeeds in making the intricacies of gardening without toxic chemicals exciting and rewarding. With a light, swift tone and ample instruction, this is the organic gardening book for busy people."
—Brian Clark Howard, environmental journalist and web editor for The Daily Green
"Beautifully combining passion, humor, and a deep-rooted care for the planet, Spiegelman is the organic femme fatale. She understands the importance of our own backyards to build a better future, one shovelful of compost at a time. What a fantastic book."
—Helge Hellberg, executive director of Marin Organic and host of An Organic Conversation Radio Show
"Spiegelman's tone is reminiscent of the 'Samurai Shopper' column in the New York Times... entertaining and effective."
—Brian Halweil, author of Eat Here and senior researcher for World Watch Institute
"Spiegelman tells the lighthearted story of her own transformation from weekend gardener to a 'Dirt Diva.' Talking Dirt is full of tips all gardeners should take to heart to make their plot organic and nurture their plants the way nature intended."
—Tom Szaky, CEO and founder of TerraCycle Inc.
View previous featured book, or the entire index.
Gardening for the Homebrewer: Grow and Process Plants for Making Beer, Wine, Gruit, Cider, Perry, and More
By co-authors Debbie Teashon (Rainy Side Gardeners) and Wendy Tweton