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It gives a true beginner some helpful insights into the different forms of micro-agriculture but it never goes into detail.

This is a very enchanting book, but I think the reader would be wise to take it with a grain of salt. The author makes a list of vegetables sound so good your mouth starts to water. Food literally comes to life. One farm has world class leafy lettuce. Another has miraculous tomatoes. A third has peppers for every taste. A fourth makes wool as smooth as silk.

On the other hand, some of the stories are fanciful at best. For example, there is the story of the 'good' coyote. A farmer takes pity on a limping coyote and offers it some food. The standard practice in the neighborhood was to shoot coyotes on sight, but this coyote touches the farmer somehow. The coyote mends. Once recovered, the coyote decides the farmer is 'one of the pack' and his chickens are 'his things'. Thus, she identifies the farmer's chickens as off limits and protects them from other coyotes, raccoons, and varmints. I've got chickens and cohabitate with coyotes. The idea of a coyote protecting the farmer's hens was good for a hearty laugh.

Another story concerns the 'good weed'. This story is part of section on letting plants restore soil depleted of essential trace minerals. The idea is that plants can concentrate trace minerals deep in the soil and deposit them on the surface. In this context, we meet the good thistle. The good thistle pulls out trace minerals out of the stony soil, then dies out as the soil returns to health. I had another good laugh with this story. In some ways there is truth in it, but let me tell you about my thistles. They are beautiful. Every year my soil gets better. I haven't noticed them dying out, though. Maybe next year!

Finally, there is the story of the weak plant calling out to nearby insects to end it's suffering. This theme is repeated numerous times. I guess it is the story of the 'good' bad insect. You see, those worms and beetles are not just eating any plant, they are consuming the suffering plant. I'm not going to argue that nature has a way of maintaining balance, but I had to laugh. I guess those squirrels that entirely consumed 3 trees of gorgeous, plump, red organic peaches were simply answering the peach trees cries of distress! I should have known!

If you want to grow your own food, more power to you. Don't be surprised if Mother Nature throws you a few curve balls along the way, though. Don't count on coyotes to protect your chickens, nor thistles to conveniently disappear.

Finally, Ms. Adams never mentions the local banker or tax man, which seems odd. I've never met a farmer that doesn't have something to say about these friendly folks.

This is a concise review of where large and small farming is going. It needs to be read by all. Just reading this book has elevated my urban garden to unbelievable heights.

This is a must have book for anyone wanting to get more for less out of their garden, farm, or acreage. I loved it and found it interesting and informative. It'll stay on my shelf long after I pass it around to all of my friends and family! Bravo! The world would be a better place if more people read and would take to heart the message this book brings.

If you've ever dreamed of having a small, productive farm but didn't know where to begin or how to creatively make money and have fun at the same time, this book is The Source for you. Barbara Berst Adams' "Micro Eco-Farming" is loaded with great ideas, sensible how-to information and strategies for starting, maintaining and expanding an environmentally friendly mini farm. The breadth of her knowledge is impressive. She obviously understands every aspect of small-scale farming from raising livestock and poultry to growing specialty herbs, flowers and vegetables. This is a practical handbook and a solid reference you will always want to keep on hand. It has earned a permanent place in my library.

There's great variety among the 15 skinny quilts in the book which is beautifully photographed. Unfortunately, there were only a couple that appealled to me. The stunning quilt on the cover (which is why I bought the book) turned out to be too complicated for me to consider putting that much time into a table runner. I won't be uising this book as much as I thought I would.

this is a nice little book with many projekts that I will have to try out. thank you for selling such a great book

How many times have you wanted to give a quilted gift but only thought in terms of a bed-sized version? I know when I say quilt, I think of something that will take a minimum of a month to make. With SKINNY QUILTS AND TABLE RUNNERS, you can move your quilted gift thinking from LARGE to something smaller but is still a quilted gift.

There are 15 different projects to make. Each is as colorful and unique as the next so everyone should find something that fits the needs of the "gift of the moment". They are as simple as a strip block with a couple of borders to one with lots of appliqué to a cutwork runner.

Each project is shown with a colorful photo of the finished project. A materials list that covers fabric as well as any other tool/supply needed is given. Cutting details as listed and assembling instructions are clear and easy to follow. There are graphics to help explain the instructions too. Templates are provided and finishing how-to's make up the final parts of the directions for the project.

There is a section on quilting basics for those moments when you say "How do I do that?" Don't forget to read about each designer and the editor in the "About the Designers" section. And if you need to locate any of the supplies, there is a resource page. And just so you don't think this book is only for small projects, remember to think "BIG". Each small project can be made into a bed-sized quilt by simply making more squares!

Haven't had time to begin "playing" with the ideas yet but I can hardly wait! In addition, my taste is traditional or transitional but my daughter's taste is very contemporary and rich so I've not been able to create useful items she would actually use in her home. This book has several and I'm sure she'll be delighted!

This is the best book I've ever read. Could not put it down. It's absolutely wonderful. The characters are well drawn. Every word is gold.

Earl "Earwig" Gunderman is 16 years old and growing up in Wisconsin in the 1940's. His best friend is his older brother Jimmy and Earwig follows his brother and his brother's friends looking at life through his own perspective. And one thing that he realizes is that life as he knows it is going to change. Soon Jimmy is off to war and Earwig is left behind to live his life and he watches as thing in his once routine life fall apart, his parents have a secret he probably shouldn't know about, his brother is far away and Earwig has to wonder if things will be right again. Then his brother comes home from war and he's not the same man he was when he left, Earwig is soon the protector of the brother he loves, helping him back from his experiences from the war, dealing with women and along the way learning to laugh again. Sometimes change is not so bad when you have family to help ease the strain.

This was an incredibly heartwarming novel about family, love and acceptance. Earwig is immediately endearing to the reader and Ms. Kring's vivid descriptions bring a time long past back to life. I found myself actually laughing out loud, and crying right alongside of the characters. Jimmy, Earwig, Floyd, and Eva Leigh will stay with the reader long after the final page is read. This is one novel I highly suggest adding to your reading list.

After reading the truly wonderful "Book of Bright Ideas," I was anxious to read more of Kring's books. "Carry me Home" didn't disappoint. As with "Book of Bright Ideas," she used an innocent child, in this case a learning-challenged boy, to give insight into the world and send a positive message of hope and renewal. The book clipped along with its storyline, introducing a variety of well-developed characters set in the period of WWII. Yes, the book had quite a bit of swearing or sometimes funny references to body parts, but that was in keeping with a youngster who is trying to be cool--it was narrative style and added to authenticity. Read this if you are looking for a story that casts realistic characters with an upbeat message for the real world.

In 1940 Wisconsin WWII sixteen year old Earl "Earwig" Gunderman understands from his mom that the fever he suffered fried his brain leaving him struggling with learning new concepts. His older brother Jimmy tries to help Earwig as much as he can. That ends when a drunken Jimmy enlists in the National Guard. With no training, he is sent with equally raw recruits to serve in the Philippines where his unit is destroyed at the Battle of Bataan. With no word about how Jimmy fared, his family except Earwig assumes he died and grieve their loss.

Several years pass until Jimmy finally returns home, but he is not the same person who left. He suffers from battle fatigue after spending the war as a POW. He turns to drink, but Earwig will not allow his beloved older brother to drown himself in pity; nor will widow Eva Leigh.

The first half of this fabulous historical thriller introduces the audience to the Gunderman family and friends who are gung ho patriots in support of the war effort reaching a stunner when mom announces "the army lost Jimmy". However, the tale becomes excellent with a current relevancy when Jimmy returns from the war bitter, angry and introverted. He and other vets accuse the government of deserting them in Bataan, which infuriates the townsfolk who remain patriotic supporters of the war allowing for no criticism for that helps the enemy. Yet even with that deep poignancy, Earwig owns the story line with his simple pragmatic outlook.

Harriet Klausner

I loved this book! I read it in one sitting because I couldn't put it down. This book stays with you for a long time because it is such a real story. I would recomend this book to anyone.

I am not sure if Peter Pan is well written. I am not sure if I could diagram the plot. I am sure I would never have written that story the way Barrie wrote it . . . which is why only Barrie could write Peter Pan. Only Barrie could break literary rules and plot conventions so well to create something so timeless.
Peter Pan is in no way real, but the fantasy of it is in some ways everyone's fantasy. Barries seems to have been every child. He understands them, heartless, beautiful creatures that they are. He knows that Neverland is not always very good and it can be very frightening. It is that place right before we fall asleep that mothers try to soften with night lights, but that can be all too harsh when we are left alone with Captain James Cook, the scurvy dog who is never more sinister than when he is polite.
Barrie is the guardian of children's dreams. His work should never be forgotten.

This book is all about imagination. I agree that it's really for adults, although not bad for kids. That's because kids are still there, in Neverland, and can't get the point! An important theme in the story itself is just that: the generation gap. This story has layers of symbolism, and nothing is there for its own sake. The most charming, lovely, bittersweet story ever!

Peter Pan is classic tale of youth and the joy it brings. It is also the tale of the dangers of being too grown up and living life far too seriously.

The Peter Pan you are used to from The Disney Company is not what you find in this classic From J.M. Barrie. I was surprised to find a lot of death and killing in this book, but I suppose Disney had to filter that to younger viewers. I really enjoyed this book and took up reading it because my son was on a Peter Pan kick and I wanted to know as much as I could about him.

Basically, Peter was a boy just like any other but he gave up growing up and decided to remain youthful forever. He is quite conceited and at times down right hateful and selfish, but then again what young person doesn't act this way. At first, I found I disliked Peter and the way he acted. He was too carefree and was only focused on himself, but then I realized that was who and what he represented. Life is a singular event and can only be lived moment by moment. We forget that when we become "grown up" and this book helps us to remember far better and less worrisome days.

Peter Pan is a delightful read and the characters are classics never forgotten. Peter, Captain Hook, Wendy, Mr. Smee, John, Michael, the Lost Boys, and the infamous Alligator live in between these sentences and will forever haunt your soul far after the last page and sentence are absorbed. Read this book and feel young again.

It doesn't surprise me particularly that the book "Peter Pan" (or, as it was originally titled, "Peter Pan and Wendy") is not read very often by children. Today kids have their Peter Pan animated movies, live action movies, television shows (of which the less said the better), musicals, stage plays, and what have you. There are a million different versions of the story out there, so it's no wonder the children feel that they don't need to read the original tale. I myself read it for the first time just now at the ancient age of 26, though I had been warned away from it many times. I knew about its more peculiar aspects (for example, that whole business involving Mrs. Darling's "kiss") so these didn't always shock or surprise me. They just weirded me out from time to time. What really did catch me unawares though was the wit in the book. This tale has its peculiarities, no question. But it also has amazing snatches of excellent writing. I just wish it had more of the latter and less of the former.

As every good schoolchild knows (or is liable to learn from Disney) Peter Pan is the boy who does not age. Living in Neverland, a kind of ageless fantasy-burg for kids, he is attended by the silly Tinkerbell, a fairy prone to continually shouting, "You silly ass". When Peter looses his shadow in the home of the Darling family, he meets Wendy for the first time. Wendy is entranced by Peter and with the promise of stories he agrees to take her and her brothers Michael and John with him to Neverland. While there, the kids encounter mermaids, pirates, Indians, and great swashbuckling adventures. They meet the Lost Boys and come face to face with the dreaded Captain Hook. But in the end everyone must grow up. Everyone, that is, but Peter Pan.

INTERESTING FACTS THEY NEVER TELL YOU ABOUT THE BOOK "PETER PAN":

1. Smee is declared to be the only Nonconformist in Hook's crew.
2. The fairies will occasionally stumble, "home from an orgy".
3. Tinker Bell is prone to wearing a negligee.
4. Hook attended private school and is said to bear a resemblance in his manner and dress to Charles II.
5. Peter Pan is an awful bore.

Readers of "Peter Pan" have to face up to several indisputable facts when perusing the tale. First of all, Peter's not that great a guy. I mean, it's a lot of fun to swoop around fighting bad guys and playing around all the time, but Peter's got a nasty streak about him. He's conceited and cruel (laughing when Wendy's brothers plunge out of the sky to their near deaths time and time again). He hates mothers as a rule and even goes so far as to try to trick Wendy into thinking her mother has forgotten her (though he repents at the last minute). He forgets anyone who loves him and is a combination of the worst aspects of all children. This isn't to say that his book doesn't make for interesting reading. I mean, it's not hard to work your way through "Peter Pan" and it has a lot of rewards. Barrie has an odd habit of sometimes getting wrapped up in his own peculiar thoughts for a moment before rushing back to the story in a hurry. The book is thoroughly English, containing such sentences as, "children at play are for ever beaching their coracles". Decipherable, but odd. If it weren't for statements like the ones about Mrs. Darling's kiss (creepy city) it would be an idea book. To my mind, it could stand a thorough editing job. As an author Barrie doesn't really seem sure as to who he's rooting for. One moment he's cruelly mocking Mrs. Darling and the next he's calling the children, "heartless" for leaving her in the first place.

No one familiar with the peculiarities of J.M. Barrie's personal life should be surprised by the book's moral. Mainly, that growing up is bad. This is the kind of moral kids like to hear and grown-ups, who idealize children in unhealthy ways, think is good. J.M. Barrie was perfectly aware of the cruelty of kids, but seemed to think it a good thing. When Wendy, her brothers, and the Lost Boys grow up it's written as a tragedy of epic proportions. For a healthier view of maturity, check out Madeline L'Engle's, "A Wind In the Door". Aside from its moral, however, "Peter Pan" is definitely a classic. It has influenced countless people around the globe for roughly a century. It has become a part of our culture and is vastly adored. I cannot love it wholly because I feel that it is a flawed novel. Nonetheless, I give credit where credit is due and say that it is one of the necessary books to read in the English language. If you have not familiarized yourself with it yet then you are denying yourself access to an important work. Lord, it isn't great, but it's well written and interesting. Few books can say as much.

I love this book, but I have to admit that I watched the newest 'Peter Pan' movie, starring Jeremy Sumpter, before I actually read the classic. Although the movie including many exact or related lines right from the novel and most of the same major scenes, I found that, in the movie, there was that 'puppy-love glow' between Peter and Wendy that just made the storyline so much more interesting and sweet. The novel does show some sense of that, but not as much as the movie. The whole idea that Peter tries to hide his feelings for Wendy yet act completely irrisistable at the same time...or at the end when Peter and Hook are fighting and Hook makes him realize that he is incomplete and so on. How the movie focuses on 'feelings' in the individual stages of childhood, youth, and adulthood are most interesting and are well demonstrating in the movie. Now, I love this book very much, but I suppose I was a little disappointed when it did not include such things.

Another great book for those who want to grow berries in their own back yard!

Someone highly recommended this book to me but I'm really not that impressed. It's got good basic information but some of the info such as on bramble primocanes is confusing and took further research to understand. Stella recommends 3-4 feet between rows of strawberries. Why? Who knows. Maybe she's including a path between rows. I don't know but 3-4 feet between rows of strawberries adds a whole lot of ground to be taken care of and it's absolutely not necessary (unless you're adding 18"-24" for a path)Organization of the book is not very good either. Even though there is a chapter on raspberries, the spacing for raspberries was not found there. It is in the chapter on brambles.

This is a great book that I refer to whenever I have a berry question such as planting or feeding or pruning. A lot of useful information in here. Stella knows her stuff!

Extremely helpful! Just moved to a new home and wanted to start my plants off right. This book helped me not only in the selection of my plants, but where on my property it is best to plant them, and how to properly plant them. I also learned the correct ways of pruning and fertilizing each plant. I have found this book to be an invaluable tool to a begining backyard gardener.

I recommend it to anyone interested in growing fruit at home. The information about the different varieties of each type of fruit was very useful.

This book gives credible (not just a repeat of info on manufacturer websites) coverage of insulation, air leakage, ventilation, moisture problems, etc. and handles each subject with respect to different climates. I learned a lot and it helped me make decisions in the renovation of a 60 year old house.

same great features of other books in the series (pro tips, what can go wrong...). these books are thorough and informative.

This is the best book and only book you will need on insulating and weatherizing your house. We have gained much insight and valuable information to make our house more energy effcient. The author will also (for a fee) come to your house and evaluate and recommend what you need to do. We cannot say enough about this book.

Sealing up your home envelope (the border between conditioned and unconditioned spaces) and proper insulation are the most cost effective improvements you can make in a home to significantly reduce your energy consumption while improving comfort. This book is a guide based on a professionals experiences, teaches the best ways to make those improvements, and educates you on why and how. Though it's scope is constrained around insulating and weatherizing, it's the best reference in that space I've found.

I think of all the poor suckers who pay $50,000 for new windows when they could accomplish more energy savings quicker, easier, and for only a couple hundred bucks even if they hire out the work using the suggestions of this book. Everthing you think you know about saving home energy is wrong! Read this book instead! Incredibly detailed and photographed. If you can't do it yourself then hire it out -- but DO IT!

I was excited to read my new book and learn about the topic of Feng Shui; but I was disappointed in the extra information that was not central to the point of the book. I understand that it is important to give backround on some issues, but the book did not hold my attention, since it kept giving details that distracted from the focus of the topic.

this book gets to the "meat and potatoes" of "Creating Sacred Space with Feng Shui".
I found it to be a step by step blueprint to change. Very applicable!

In addition to learning Feng Shui to clear out accumulated clutter, this book would be a good second step in creating sacred space as it would be so easy to revert back to re-cluttering what has been cleaned out. Cluttering can be a very difficult habit to break along with learning a new, healthier habit. For those of us struggling with these issues, these books are a good place to start to learn a healthier lifestyle.

I'm not sure this is real feng shui, but it was really interesting to read. I like the author's new age mentality, but I also think she is trying to toot her own horn which is annoying.

I can't put it down. This book is a great guide to those who need help clearning the clutter and making your house a home!

This is exactly what I was looking for. Step by step through the calculations. It should go far in preparing me for the Master Electrician Exam that I plan to take before year end.

Put your face in this book for 20 minutes a day for at least a month before your exam and I guarantee you'll know more about the NEC. You can't beat a good code class but this will certainly supplement any studies. After using this I took the Maine Journeyman's Exam and passed with flying colors.

I think that this book is a good book to review most of the questions, but I was a little disapoited when I was told by the local general inspector told me that the questions would be only about 200. It is a good book don't take me wrong and I am sure the format would apply many other places, but definetely not here in central Illinois.
Thanks,

Book, which was received in good conditions and on time is an excellent review of the NEC 2005, for elecricians and engineers. It provides clear and precise explanations of NEC articles, and with examples.
Thank you
Joseph

Before I got this study guide I took the journeyman's exam one time previously and failed. I saw this guide on Amazon and bought it. Received it shortly and began studying. It came with a cd rom study guide. AWESOME! The practice tests helped greatly. The tests give you direction to what you need to improve on. If you follow the study guide carefully and allow ample study time you will pass the exam. After following the study guide I passed with no problem. I felt calm and confident during the test. I even had extra time to review my answers. I would definitely recommend this guide.

Read this book with the idea that whether or not you agree with everything, it will provide many opportunities for reflection. The author seems out-of-touch, a bit, with the current generation. Her ideals and opinions about "school" sometimes come off as flaky. For example, she's disappointed that someone would leave public school for another way to meet school requirements. Even though that person is just fine with that, her disappointment is over not choosing her definition of "unschooling"--as if they still don't get how brain washed they are.
Bottom line, if one has reservations about the public/traditional education offered, this book might be just the needed inspiration to seek an alternative. The second part is especially useful. Use it as a resource, but don't overlook others. If you are seeking validation to challenging the institution of school, there are other better written books.

I love this book! I unschool my two children - ages 14 & 11. The author has fabulous ideas and speaks in a voice that rings true at my house! I have read many sections aloud to the kids and have seen both of them reading bits and pieces themselves. The Teenage Liberation Handbook is inspiring and life affirming -- I highly recommend it!

After reading this book at the age of 17, I got a GED, went to community college, and now hold a Master's in English. As a highschool student I had a 1.7 GPA and as a graduate student my GPA was a 3.8. I have Grace Llewellyn to thank.

This book gave me the courage to step away from public school and follow my own path. I realized how much energy I was wasting rebelling against a system I could just walk away from.

God bless Grace Llewellyn.

This is not an educator calling for change, this is a self-centered child that wants licentiousness, not liberty. She thinks all kids are able to be free. She forgets the debt they owe to the past. Everything we have today, material and otherwise, is due to the efforts of our ancestors, for better or for worse. When we are infants, we are helpless, so our parents feed us and take care of us. Because of these facts, we should not grow up, as the author suggests, to do anything we want. Instead, we should learn so that we can claim the liberty to contribute to society in the manner we choose, without being subserviant to any person, idea, or substance. This is a different concept, entirely. The author justs wants to say, "to hell with everything, it is all about me." This is immature. Take the experimentation with drugs, for example. That is not freedom. When you become addicted, then you are still a slave. The author wants freedom (licentiousness), BUT SHE NEGLECTS HER RESPONSIBILITIES AND OBLIGATIONS that we ALL owe as a debt to the past. This is the difference - being free to do what you want, versus being free to satisfy obligations and responsibilities in you own way, not the way dictated by someone else, such as a governmental bureaucrat.

I agree that the school system is beyond fixing. I believe in educating yourself. However, due to inexperience, you need the guidance of a mentor. A good mentor will give you access to the best thinking of the past, while still allowing you to do the work of educating yourself. No man is an island unto himself, but this author would have everyone running around doing whatever they wanted. As I said, we owe a debt to the past, and that debt is satisfied by having the liberty to reach your fullest potential in a manner of your choosing, not to experiment with drugs and become a burden on society. If education were of the mentor type, we might have less people dependent on welfare and government for their needs.

This author's writings suggest a child-like being who is self-centered, irresponsible, immature, and without character. Therefore, she has no business telling other children how to live their lives. I am all for freedom, but only if one is adult enough to know that our ancestors gave us that freedom, so we must use it to become self-reliant, productive, and decent people who are indeed able to think for themselves. They would not be slaves to anybody or anything (like drugs).

This is the only review I have ever written so take note.
This book changed my life.I went through school being vaugly aware of the opression I was suffering but I figured,as most teens would,that it was unavoidable. Keep in mind I was no deliquent. I made highest honors every term and was in AP classes. Despite that, I knew there was more to life than my grades. This book was easy for me to relate to and easy to understand.It listed the logical steps to leaving school plus dealing with legal ramifications and other things like that.I first read this book 4 months ago and I am now a 16 year old attending college.It can be done!Must read for everyone.

This is a great book for you if that's the case. Or a great gift for someone who is a woodworker. Great info and the book is put together well. Good book to have if you are a woodworker.

Book was as described and delivered on time. As I live in Australia this was a bonus as ofter delivery is delayed. Excelent service.

Lots of pictures, ideas, descriptions and this book serves its purpose of giving me ideas on current and future projects.

Recommended

I built a new shop & needed a workbench. This book had several options from VW to Rolls-Royce. Size, heigth, thickness, type of wood, tool tray, Many vise options, round or square dogs etc. It helped me decide on the bench to build. If you are looking to build one of the benches in the book, there's not allot of detail to the plans & you may need to order plans (depending on your woodworking skill level). Good references to find parts & plans. Also good history of work bench evolution.
I'm building a bench close to one in the book.

Initially i purchased this thinking it was going to give me the answer i was looking for. However what this book has done is help me explore my options of my own custome workbench.
This book is an excellent read and shows there is no one size fits all with workbenches.