Review

"With a relaxed, Southern charm. . . . Farmer invites readers into his community of plants, people, and landscapes, gently urging readers to adopt old gardening ways and adapt them to 21st-century life." --Publishers Weekly "Engaging. . . . Each chapter describes a time-honored skill or idea, introduces people who have mentored Farmer in these older ways, and shows readers how these practices can be adapted for modern times. . . . This treasure trove of homespun botanical advice will remind growers why they fell in love with gardening in the first place." --Booklist "Farmer's enthusiasm for sharing his and his mentors' knowledge shines through the text, and the color photographs are beautiful and useful." --Library Journal "I can't think of a recent gardening book I have enjoyed more. Nowhere else could I have met so many wise gardening mentors or learned about a 'sapro-entrepreneur' and 'rose rustlers.'" --Garden Rant "A compelling tour through generations of hard-won gardening wisdom and traditions, through the eyes of Jenks Farmer and his own garden mentors." --The American Gardener "Farmer is a natural storyteller." --Somerset Daily American "Deep-Rooted Wisdom: Skills and Stories from Generations of Gardeners is not nostalgia or reminiscence; it is a guide to how old skills and ideas can be adapted, using the latest science, for modern gardening. . . . Farmer is an original, in the best sense of the word, and Deep-Rooted Wisdom is a highly original book." --Cherokee Library "Peppered with stories and humor, this treasure trove of down to-earth gardening advice passed down through generations is a great read for both the new and the master gardener." --Charleston Daily Mail "This is a down-to-earth handbook of traditional gardening methods. . . . A wonderful gift for the gardener in your life." --Norwich Magazine "A delightful retro guide to simpler yet successful ways to grow and enjoy plants." --Carolina Country "This is a delicious book to pour over because there are so many connections between people and plants." --The Herald-Journal "Novice gardeners, veteran planters and everyone in between can find something to enjoy inside the pages. . . . features practical lessons, oral histories and DIY pointers." --Columbia Daily

From the Back Cover

Who taught you to garden?

In the past, gardening knowledge was handed down from generation to generation. The essential skills necessary to create productive, beautiful gardens were passed from teacher to student and parent to child. Today that chain of wisdom has been broken and some of the old skills and techniques are in danger of being lost. Our connection to the earth and to the simple joy of gardening is being lost along with them.

Augustus Jenkins Farmer, or just Jenks, did learn to garden from his elders. He had dozens of mentors, including friends, family, and teachers, who taught him low-tech, commonsense ways to plant, propagate, water, and fertilize. In Deep Rooted Wisdom, Jenks uses his natural storytelling ability to pass on the art and science of gardening to you. With Jenks as your mentor, you will learn how to create modern gardens and reintroduce yourself to the wonders of the natural world.

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