By carefully designing a system around functional relationships between plant and animal species you can create a stable 'cultivated ecology' suited to local conditions. The book provides a catalog of 130 trees and plants useful to a permaculture system.

    The how's and why's of solar greenhouse construction and use.

    Most field guides tell the reader what to look for in the landscape; this book also explains how to look, how earth and life forms interact in the ecosystem, and why each species exists where it does.Southern New England comprises several ecological communities, including the oak and mixed mesophytic forests, the old field, sand plain, and stream bank communities. The author identifies the characteristic plants and animals of each community, and the role of geography, geology, and climate in determining their presence and distribution. He provides keys to understanding ecological succession, identifying species by community, recognition in different seasons, and looking for anomaly. The book also offers sound advice about off-trail travel (what to wear, what maps to carry, hazards to watch for); even tips on growing native plants and attracting birds. Graphic aids include over 150 line drawings, black-and-white and color photographs, range graphs, and charts.

    Written by a gardener with 30 years of experience, this easy-to-use reference explains everything you need to know to start seeds and raise healthy seedlings successfully. You'll find:* The latest research in seed starting* The best growing media* The newest gardening materials* Solutions to seed-starting problems* Source lists for seeds and hard-to-find gardening suppliesAnd! An encyclopedia section lists more than 200 plants--including vegetables and fruits, garden flowers, wildflowers, herbs, trees, and shrubs--with details on how to start each from seed.