Jeff Lowenfels & Wayne Lewis ; foreword by Elaine Ingham
.PUBLICATION, DISTRIBUTION, ETC
Place of Publication, Distribution, etc.
Portland, Or. :
Name of Publisher, Distributor, etc.
Timber Press,
Date of Publication, Distribution, etc.
2006
PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION
Specific Material Designation and Extent of Item
196 p. :
Other Physical Details
ill. (some col.) ;
Dimensions
24 cm
INTERNAL BIBLIOGRAPHIES/INDEXES NOTE
Text of Note
Includes bibliographical references (p. 183-186) and index
CONTENTS NOTE
Text of Note
The basic science. What is the soil food web and why should gardeners care? -- Classic soil science -- Bacteria -- Fungi -- Algae and slime molds -- Protozoa -- Nematodes -- Arthropods -- Earthworms -- Gastropods -- Reptiles, mammals, and birds -- Applying soil food web science to yard and garden care. How the soil food web applies to gardening -- What do your soil food webs look like? -- Tools for restoration and maintenance -- Compost -- Mulch -- Compost teas -- The lawn -- Maintaining trees, shrubs, and perennials -- Growing annuals and vegetables -- A simple soil food web garden calendar -- No one ever fertilized an old growth forest -- Appendix. The soil food web gardening rules
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SUMMARY OR ABSTRACT
Text of Note
"Teaming with Microbes enlightens readers in two important ways. First, it describes the activities of the organisms that make up the soil food web, from the simplest of single-cell organisms to more familiar multicellular animals such as insects, worms, and mammals. Knowing how each of these groups contributes to the soil drives home the complexity and fragility of their interactions, and promotes respect for their integrity. Second, the book explains how to foster and cultivate the life of the soil through the use of compost, mulches, and compost teas." "By eschewing jargon and overly technical language, the authors make the benefits of cultivating the soil food web available to a wide audience, from devotees of organic gardening techniques to weekend gardeners who simply want to grow healthy, vigorous plants without resorting to chemicals."--Jacket