The month of December is national ‘read a new book’ month. So, in an effort to encourage ‘gifts of plow’ related to eco literacy, read a new book. For, it is important that each of us identify and record eco life-style experiences as well as read stories published by others.
A few writers I enjoy reading are Ed Snodgrass who educates both the professional and novice related to 'green roof' technologies. To expand Snodgrass’s work into a holiday gift, acquire a copy of his recent book which focus on ‘hands-on’ backyard gardener projects such as a green-roof dog house or bird house and combine it with project materials. Another writer’s work that can easily be expanded is Renee Shepherd . As a holiday gift, one of Shepherd’s cook books could be combined with her suggested theme garden seed packages providing both materials required to plant a garden and a ‘how to’ use after harvest. Brent Heath of Brent and Becky’s Bulbs located in the Tidewater area of Virginia also publishes books on the topic of bulb plant gardening. For those interested in bulb plantings, acquire a copy of one of his books and combine it with a seasonal order of bulbs.
Although there are numerous writers from which to chose, other garden writers who make my favorite list are the late Jim Wilson who shared his vast horticulture knowledge, Barbara Kingsolver who shared her family's back to basic living adventure in a book Animal, Vegetable, Miracle; Tanya Denckla who provides an organic gardening guideline the Gardeners' A-Z Guide to Growing, and Carolyn Freas Rapp who shares through an investigative reporter style the stories of women and their gardens.
Similar to garden writer colleagues, I first compiled eco tips and strategies for personal use but recognizing a void of public-at-large knowledge, have since shared this information as a free-lance writer as well as in workshop and speech formats. Intended to enable awareness of earth-friendly life-style choices, my work-shop style books provide step by step guidelines for creating an eco-chic – ultimate green. “The Wright Scoop,” says Washington Gardener magazine reviewer Edna Troiano, “Sylvia Hoehns Wright’s book, From Eco-weak to Eco-chic: landscape green, offers readers guidelines for joining the green revolution in their own yards. Becoming eco-chic, she explains, is primarily a matter of ‘working with instead of against an area’s natural environment’ to create sustainable, eco-friendly landscapes.” For details, visit Sylvia Wright's Storefront - Lulu.com .
In the spirit of the holiday season, join me in a quest to green life’s garden one scoop at a time. Give gifts that encourage others to acquire eco literacy: reflect eco-chic, ‘plow, not hearth’. For as gardeners, we not only have opportunities to make a difference through personal choices but can influence others through our use of green space, both rural and urban. A series of columns will be posted which suggest ‘gifts of plow, not hearth’. To follow, link to Examiner.com column and select ‘follow’ for notice by Tweets or ‘subscribe’ to receive notice by email. For additional tips and strategies, visit web site TheWrightScoop .
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