From Publishers Weekly
What this book lacks in pizzazz it makes up for in practicality. Although Stell's crisp, no-nonsense presentation is as utilitarian as a sturdy trowel, she packs in an impressive amount of information. Some of the discussions are fairly technical?soil acidity and nutrients, for example?and may initially be daunting to novices, but the lively layout (an abundance of illustrative line drawings, charts and sidebar features such as "Master Gardening Tips" and "Hints for Success") keeps the material accessible. Stell leaves no stone unturned in exploring her subject, whether instructing on how to identify particular types of soils, remedy deficiencies, improve problem soils or zero in on the needs of specific plants. She's thorough, presenting, for instance, not one or two but half a dozen different composting methods. The book may not dazzle readers with its style, but it's a valuable resource they'll no doubt find themselves turning to time and again. Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.


From Booklist
Stell starts with an analysis of soil: how it was formed, its different textures, its structure, and the importance of drainage and earthworms. She explains how to create fertile soil with the help of nutrients and organic matter and what hand tools are needed to cultivate the soil--trowels, hoes, spades, shovels, weeders, forks, rakes, etc., as well as power tools such as shredders, trimmers, mowers, rototillers, and cultivators. There's a chapter on making and using compost and how to construct composting bins, a chapter on the use of mulches, and one on choosing and using fertilizers. Another chapter gives data on starting a new garden and deals with raised beds, sunken beds, slopes, and terraces. This latest volume in Storey's Gardening Skills Illustrated series contains 300 detailed color drawings. George Cohen


Book Description
Create productive soil anywhere with step-by-step instructions for making compost and fertilizers.


From the Back Cover
Learn all the secrets for creating fertile, productive soil anywhere. With more than 300 detailed illustrations and at-a-glance charts, Secrets to Great Soil solves all your soil problems and gives you techniques for year-round soil building. In Secrets to Great Soil you'll find: * The basics of soil pH and nutrients * Quick methods for making compost * Instructions for using organic mulches, soil amendments, and fertilizers * Ways to customize your soil for a variety of vegetables, flowers, fruits, trees, shrubs, and lawns


About the Author
A life-long avid organic gardener, Elizabeth Stell was a childhood composter who persuaded her parents to turn over a few square feet of suburban yard to her trench composting experiment. This success at an early age led to her interest in botany, soil science and environmental studies in college. She has managed the herb gardens at the Hancock Shaker Village, worked in the Comstock, Ferre greenhouse, volunteered at San Francisco's Strybing Arboretum, and has edited many projects. Stell contributed to the Holt Dictionary of Ecology and Environmental Science as well as Rodale's Landscaping with Perennials. Her Storey title is Secrets to Great Soil. She is currently a horticultural consultant and editor for the IMP Gardening Made Easy project.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

Learn all the secrets for creating fertile, productive soil anywhere. With more than 300 detailed illustrations and at-a-glance charts, Secrets to Great Soil solves all your soil problems and gives you techniques for year-round soil building. In Secrets to Great Soil you'll find: * The basics of soil pH and nutrients * Quick methods for making compost * Instructions for using organic mulches, soil amendments, and fertilizers * Ways to customize your soil for a variety of vegetables, flowers, fruits, trees, shrubs, and lawns

SYNOPSIS

Create productive soil anywhere with step-by-step instructions for making compost and fertilizers.

Author Biography: A life-long avid organic gardener, Elizabeth Stell was a childhood composter who persuaded her parents to turn over a few square feet of suburban yard to her trench composting experiment. This success at an early age led to her interest in botany, soil science and environmental studies in college. She has managed the herb gardens at the Hancock Shaker Village, worked in the Comstock, Ferre greenhouse, volunteered at San Francisco's Strybing Arboretum, and has edited many projects. Stell contributed to the Holt Dictionary of Ecology and Environmental Science as well as Rodale's Landscaping with Perennials. Her Storey title is Secrets to Great Soil. She is currently a horticultural consultant and editor for the IMP Gardening Made Easy project.

FROM THE CRITICS

Publishers Weekly