Resources for the Ecological Gardener
Educational Resources
Here you’ll find several categories of literature and online resources
Landscapes for a Healthier Planet:
Garden Revolution: How our landscapes can be a source of environmental change by Larry Weaner and Thomas Christopher
This is a fantastic read on several levels. They review the benefits of growing native gardens, and provide practical guides to achieving long-term success with projects and insights into bringing artistry into these landscapes in an ecologically valuable way. Authors are based in North Eastern US, Mid-Atlantic region.
Planting in a Post-Wild World by Claudia West and Thomas Rainer
A thoughtful examination of how to design and plan ecological gardens that are adaptable to site conditions and will be resilient with a less and less predictable climate. Many projects referenced are in the North Eastern US, Mid-Atlantic region.
Prairie Up: An introduction to natural garden design by Benjamin Vogt
Vogt is an advocate for de-lawning America and provides practical guides for how to go about doing that including planning and design of native plant communities but also extending into addressing and working with (or against) city ordinances to ensure accessibility of projets. Author is based in the Mid-western US but is highly applicable to our region.
Wild Plant Culture: A guide to restoring edible and medicinal native plant communities by Jared Rosenbaum
The subtitle really says it all but Jared is an Ecological Restoration specialist writes about finding a new relationship the land and regional flora through mutualistic stewardship. Author is based in New Jersey, US.
On our reading list for 2024:
Traditional Ecological Knowledge: Learning from indigenous practices for environmental sustainability Edited by Melissa Nelson and Dan Shilling (Essay Collection)
These Trees Tell a Story: The art of reading landscapes by Noam Charney
At Work by Piet Oudolf, introduction by Cassian Schmidt
Wild by Design: The rise of ecological restoration by Laura J Martin
Online Resources:
(hyperlinks are in the text)
The Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources has a number of helpful articles
The Maryland Native Plant Society has helpful primer on gardening with native plants
Kate Brands of the Leigh Gap Nature Center has written this helpful guide for landscaping with native plants
Penn State Extension has this great collection of articles on gardening for wildlife
Writer Nancy Lawson dismantling some of the myths of the “Natural” garden on her website the Human Gardener
The Big Picture: Ecosystem health and the human-nature connection
Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous wisdom, scientific knowledge and the teachings of plants by Robin Wall-Kimmerer
Cannot recommend this book enough. A thoughtfully woven narrative by Kimmerer - a PhD Botanist and member of the Potawatomi Nation, exploring the intersection of native cultures and ecological and botanical sciences.
Nature’s Best Hope by Doug Tallamy
Doug Tallamy can be found speaking around the country about the critical need for native plants to support wildlife populations. His book is a fantastic primer if you want to better understand the relationship between native plants and wildlife and the potential of each yard to be a part of that dynamic.
Finding the Mother Tree by Suzanne Simard
A scientific examination of how nutrients move from animal to soil to plants and trees - and even between trees told poetically. She is a beautiful writer and tells a story that won’t leave you walking through the woods the same.
How to be Animal: A new story of what it means to be human by Melanie Challenger
An evolutionary examination of how modern humans have separated themselves from the animal kingdom we are a part of, and why we need to re-find our “animal” nature to save the planet.
Get to Know Native Plants:
Native Plants of the Northeast: A guide for gardening & conservation by Donald J Leopold
Extensive guide to native plants of the northeast.
The North East Native Plant Primer: 235 plants for an earth friendly garden by Uli Lorimer
Native plant lists and descriptions, more geared towards 21st century home gardeners than Leopold’s.
Wild Urban Plants of the Northeast by Peter del Tredici
Guide to know common native and non native plants in the North East you’ll find in urban and suburban areas.
Online Resources:
Research native plants at this North Carolina State Extension Link
Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center also has a lot of information on native plants
York County Master Gardeners has this is list of common landscaping plants to make sure that you don’t have in your garden
Permaculture and Vegetable Gardening
Farming in the Woods by Ken Mudge and Steve Gabriel
Integrating edible food systems into wood areas in the Northeastern US
Gaia’s Garden: A guide to home-scale permaculture by Toby Hemenway
Establishing permaculture systems at a residential scale. Has applicable ideas for larger areas as well.
No Dig Organic Home and Garden: Grow, cook, use, and store your harvest by Charles Dowding
Excellent collection of practical gardening advice using no dig, no till methods. His YouTube Channel is linked below
Letters to a Young Farmer Collection of Essays
A book full of some advice on how to farm but more so: why to farm. Geared towards those thinking about starting market gardens or large scale farms, it’s full of sometimes poignant inspiration about why we need to transform our foodsystems
Online Resources:
If you want to learn more about how to Organic, no till gardening, I highly recommend checking out Charles Dowding’s Youtube channel
Andrew Millison of Oregon State University has a great collection of Permaculture videos on youtube. You can see his garden tour here
Listen to a conversation with Common and Ron Finley about urban farming if you need to get inspired about the power of local food
Check back for our newsletter archive
Check back for our newsletter archive
As our “ecological garden tips” newsletters come out we will archive them here