Published to rave reviews in 1993, Noah's Garden shows us how our landscape style of neat yards and gardens has devastated suburban ecology, wiping...
read full description
reviews
Jun 21, 2009
Jen
rated it: 
I thought I was really going to like this book about "restoring the ecology of our own backyards," especially considering that, having just bought a new house, we are starting a backyard from scratch. However, I found it repetitive and unorganized, and I ended up mostly skimming the last two chapters. I realize that this was intended as a story of how Stein and her husband manage their lot rather than a how-to book, but I found the structure of the book confusing. I wish she had def
More...
Mar 28, 2011
Rainbowgardener
rated it: 
This is a wonderful book on the importance of urban/suburban backyards in sustaining our eco-system. Given continuing population growth, we can't really avoid further habitat loss, but even in cities, we can provide some habitat to sustain native plants, insects, animals, and a healthy diverse ecosystem. She has a wonderful vision of suburbia where the wooded edges of my backyard flow (unfenced) into the wooded edges of my neighbors backyard, creating corridors. Very good on the science of wh
More...
Aug 27, 2011
Sandy
rated it: 
This was written in 1993, so it is actually a bit dated in terms of the trend towards using native plants in your garden & yard. It is also a bit depressing - despite the fact that it's cool to have jack-in-the pulpit or marsh marigold in your yard (and there are now plenty of places to buy native plants), the basic trend towards huge subdivisions with acres of sterile lawn, white gravel, and a few isolated trees and run of the mill shrubs like gas-station yews seems to have prevailed.
More...
More...
Feb 03, 2010
Jamie
rated it:
Sara Stein documents her journey from being a conventional American gardener to a naturalist, ecologist and native-habitat restorer. Along the way there are wonders to behold and lessons to learn.
First a sample of one of the wonders: have you ever considered the life cycle of the aphid? Aphids are polymorphous, viviparous and parthenogenetic. Let's break that down.
Polymorphous: different generations have different body shapes.
Viviparous: they give birth to live young. More...
First a sample of one of the wonders: have you ever considered the life cycle of the aphid? Aphids are polymorphous, viviparous and parthenogenetic. Let's break that down.
Polymorphous: different generations have different body shapes.
Viviparous: they give birth to live young. More...
Dec 10, 2010
Elizabeth
rated it:
When I worked for GSLIS, one of the fun things I did in the summers was record book talks from LEEP students in the Adult Popular Literature class - easily one of the most popular, and certainly one of the most fun classes we offered. I picked this one up on the basis of one of the book talks and thoroughly enjoyed it - I was a nascent greenie at that point, so perhaps this book was one of the first to sow the seed of "back to the land" in my little head.
Jan 12, 2010
Lee
rated it:
This book taught me so much about native plantings and how to bring back local wildlife and keep it around (like the bluebirds). We were so inspired by this book that we drove to Pound Ridge, NY to tour Sara Stein's own yard during Open House Days. Our 12-year old River Birches were planted specifically because Sara Stein wrote about them, and they are the most beautiful trees in our yard.
Nov 13, 2010
Jo
rated it:
I heard Sara Stein speak at a native plant conference. What an epiphany! I had been working on responsible stewardship of land for years, but here was a whole new wise perspective. Highly recommended for anyone who is interested in taking care of their land in an eco-responsible way. Her nature drawings are lovely, too.
Sep 10, 2009
William
rated it:
I bought this book off the sale table at the Chicago Botanic Garden.
It is a sequel to a previous book that I did not read.
Interesting anecdotes about trying to create gardens that in some ways resemble natural settings.
It is a sequel to a previous book that I did not read.
Interesting anecdotes about trying to create gardens that in some ways resemble natural settings.
Feb 07, 2012
Troy
rated it:
I was thoroughly impressed with everything Stein had to say in this book. Noah's Garden is essentially a testimonial of someone who went from being a typical ornamental gardener to a stewardess of ecological health. What Stein did to her yard is an inspiration that is only now beginning to catch on. The fact that this book was written in the 90's makes this even more impressive.
I aspire to have a yard like Stein's, and feel that it is not only environmentally responsible, but much mor More...
I aspire to have a yard like Stein's, and feel that it is not only environmentally responsible, but much mor More...
Mar 15, 2011
Michael
rated it:
I enjoyed the book in a historiacl context as well as a fresh perspective on what I can do in my own backyard to help restore the ecology.
Jan 28, 2012
Ron
rated it:
A great book ahead of its time. The description of a field without invasives was striking and has stuck with me.
Jun 17, 2009
Wayne
rated it:
Excellent insights as to how the individual can do his/her part toward restoring the local environment. Well written.
Jun 23, 2010
Jessica
rated it:
excellent gardening/horticulture book: native plants are extremely important! i wish the writing were a little better...but in this case, the content is worth it.
Apr 13, 2009
Jessica
rated it:
This book describes one gardener/biologist's efforts to re-invent the suburban yard to enhance the local ecosystem. It's full of practical insight, detailing many of the techniques she tried and their results. It's also a great book to inspire a sense of wonder in the natural world, as she brings the reader along to meet all the living creatures whose homes are our natural ecosystems, and considers what they need to live and how the typical yard does or does not provide for those needs.
Oct 28, 2007
Susan
rated it:
Our backyard ecology bible and inspiration. Stein dreams of transforming suburbia into the wildlife and nature preserve it could be if we just stopped manicuring the hell out of it. Leave things alone and nature will take care of itself!
Dec 17, 2009
Gea
rated it:
Talks about un-learning how to garden -
most of our assumed gardening practices are doing more harm than good. Very interesting book to make you look at your backyard very differently.
most of our assumed gardening practices are doing more harm than good. Very interesting book to make you look at your backyard very differently.
Dec 16, 2009
Jeremy
rated it:
This book is about how to incorporate nature and native plants into your own landscaping. It is not a how-to book, but more a story of how one person did it. One of my favs!
Dec 04, 2011
John
rated it:
A good book if you're looking for inspiration to garden more naturally. Most appropriate for readers in the northeastern U.S.
Apr 25, 2010
Maggie
rated it:
Excellent book about planting native plants and designing landscapes so as to attract and sustain wildlife.
Mar 30, 2011
Noah
rated it:
I came across this title when searching for books that would help me in planting a garden and landscaping my yard using native plants. I was probably suckered by the title which plays to my occasional bouts of megalomania. But in all seriousness, this was a very fulfilling read.
Sara Stein's narrative approach to what could be a dull topic is very engaging and convicting. Although her home and acreage are in New England, it definitely gave me some ideas for here in Michigan...and potent More...
Sara Stein's narrative approach to what could be a dull topic is very engaging and convicting. Although her home and acreage are in New England, it definitely gave me some ideas for here in Michigan...and potent More...
Feb 11, 2012
Feb 08, 2012
Feb 03, 2012
Feb 01, 2012
Jan 24, 2012
