Reviews
Both these books [ The Truth About Organic Gardening and The Truth About Garden Remedies ] are refreshing, lucid and enlightening. Their spare style, with no illustrations, and concentration on facts rather than 'inspiration' even gives them an old-fashioned charm., Although Gillman writes that gardening gurus are necessary to dole out knowledge of plants and the traditions that surround growing them, he also winces at all the superstition and half-truths flying around, hence, this terrific book., This book is the result of years of research into what really does and does not encourage plants to grow faster and what works to protect them from diseases and pests. Gillman is also very clear on what concoctions should be avoided. -- Valerie Easton "Seattle Times" (01/18/2006), Gillman writes with a light touch, offering a horticultural version of David Letterman's 'Will it float?' In one hilarious scene, he's in the kitchen arranging slugs and crushed egg shells on a paper plate while his wife, Suzanne, bakes lime pies. In others, he's fertilizing tomato seeds with buttermilk or sprinkling orange peels on ant mounds. -- Marge Hols "St. Paul Pioneer Press" (03/04/2006), Jeff's humor and his own hilarious experiements held me captive all the way until the end. -- Debra Teachout-Teashon "Rainy Side Gardeners" (05/04/2006), Wondering how best to keep your garden healthy? Let Jeff Gillman ... do the research, so you don't waste time and money trying to add nutrients to the soil, keeping slugs and deer away, or protecting your roses from powdery mildew and black spot., " The book is organized in a no-nonsense and user-friendly manner, setting out the theory and practice of each claim as well as the bottom line for the gardener. The results are fascinating. This is a book that many of us will want to consult frequently." -- Linda McIntyre, American Gardener, September/October 2006, [Gillman's] efforts have given us a book that's filled with a great deal of relevant information. It's also well-organized, written with flair, and darn interesting., Some of these may come as a shock or upset your favorite long-held ideas, but the book is worth it and is a fun read. It gives you lots to talk about with your gardening friends. -- John Van de Water "Newark Star-Ledger" (06/06/2006), The book offers something for everyone, no matter what your experience might be. -- Randy Miranda "Minneapolis Star Tribune" (05/16/2006), While entertainingly relating his experiments and his research, Gillman also packs in a wealth of useful information. -- Beth Botts "Chicago Tribune" (06/04/2006), [Gillman] maintains a good balance between science and fun and has produced a book that is highly informative and entertaining at the same time., Smoothly written in Jeff's folksy, conversational style, this is a terrific book for beginning and advanced gardeners alike. Not only will you learn which homemade and commercial products work and which don't, you'll gain a solid layman's understanding of the science and chemistry behind plant growth and plant protection., "The author has put various products and practices to the test and explains his findings in a clear and useful format. Rather than give the remedies a simple thumbs-up or thumbs-down, he explains that some things work to a certain extent and under specific conditions." Steve Aitken, "Horticulture" Jan/Feb 2007, Worth its weight in gold as it clears up the mysteries behind all sorts of folklore remedies touted by gardeners for eons., Does music make plants grow more luxuriantly? Should you plant trees deeply so roots won't dry out? Do coffee grounds change soil pH? ... Be prepared to have some of your long-cherished gardening notions debunked. But you'll also learn how to spend your gardening time and money. -- Valerie Easton "Seattle Times" (01/18/2006), Gillman's goal is to get gardeners to think--to make sure there is a reason behind everything they do for their plants., While entertainingly relating his experiments and his research, Gillman also packs in a wealth of useful information., This thoroughly delightful book will make you a less gullible and hence better gardener. -- Luurt Nieuwenhuis "American Rhododendron Society Journal" (05/01/2006), Does music make plants grow more luxuriantly? Should you plant trees deeply so roots won't dry out? Do coffee grounds change soil pH? ... Be prepared to have some of your long-cherished gardening notions debunked. But you'll also learn how to spend your gardening time and money., Looks at more than 100 home remedies and garden practices, reviews any past scientific research about them, and in some cases sets up experiments to determine if they work and how best to use them. ... [An] eye-opening new book. -- Charlie Nardozzi "National Gardening Association" (02/02/2006), Gillman meets his goal of helping gardeners get a better understanding of the science behind the practices and does so in an entertaining and engaging style. His analysis is always helpful and sometimes even surprising. Recommended for all gardening collections., Gillman teaches gardeners to think about what they do, know why they're doing it, and observe the results, trusting their knowledge and experience over claims made by companies, 'experts' or garden folklorists., Jeff's humor and his own hilarious experiments held me captive all the way until the end. -- Debra Teachout-Teashon "Rainy Side Gardeners" (05/04/2006), We found it highly entertaining to browse through the book, enjoying Dr. Gillman's frequently humorous presentations of both common and strange ideas., [Gillman's] efforts have given us a book that's filled with a great deal of relevant information. It's also well-organized, written with flair, and darn interesting. -- Sarah Robertson "Albany Democrat-Herald" (05/21/2006), "This is a must-have book for both its information on home remedies and its survey of commercial remedies. Clearly, we need fewer gurus and more people like Gillman." , With graduate degrees in entomology and horticulture, Gillman brings scientific rigor to the topic of commercial, homemade and 'traditional' garden remedies. ... Never didactic or preachy, Gillman takes pleasure in testing techniques for treating plants and urges readers to 'divide off a section of plants in your garden just for experimenting and have fun with them.' Gillman teaches gardeners to think about what they do, know why they're doing it, and observe the results, trusting their knowledge and experience over claims made by companies, 'experts' or garden folklorists., In "The Truth About Garden Remedies," things like putting a cup of beer out to trap slugs and snails and playing music to get your houseplant to grow are put under the microscope and analyzed by a professor from the University of Minnesota. Those gardeners who like to pick things apart with science will love this book., "The Truth about Garden Remedies" is a book that is sorely needed in the gardening world. ... The discussions are thoughtful and researched or tested by easily repeatable experiments. -- Luurt Nieuwenhuis "American Rhododendron Society Journal" (02/01/2006), This book is the result of years of research into what really does and does not encourage plants to grow faster and what works to protect them from diseases and pests. Gillman is also very clear on what concoctions should be avoided., The book is organized in a no-nonsense and user-friendly manner, setting out the theory and practice of each claim as well as the bottom line for the gardener. The results are fascinating., Worth its weight in gold as it clears up the mysteries behind all sorts of folklore remedies touted by gardeners for eons. -- Jody Headlee "Oakland Press" (05/07/2006), Looks at more than 100 home remedies and garden practices, reviews any past scientific research about them, and in some cases sets up experiments to determine if they work and how best to use them. ... [An] eye-opening new book., We found it highly entertaining to browse through the book, enjoying Dr. Gillman's frequently humorous presentations of both common and strange ideas. -- Greg and Pat Williams "HortIdeas" (03/01/2006), The Truth about Garden Remedies is a book that is sorely needed in the gardening world. ... The discussions are thoughtful and researched or tested by easily repeatable experiments., Gillman meets his goal of helping gardeners get a better understanding of the science behind the practices and does so in an entertaining and engaging style. His analysis is always helpful and sometimes even surprising. Recommended for all gardening collections. -- Daniel Starr "Library Journal" (01/01/2006), Gillman writes with a light touch, offering a horticultural version of David Letterman's 'Will it float?' In one hilarious scene, he's in the kitchen arranging slugs and crushed egg shells on a paper plate while his wife, Suzanne, bakes lime pies. In others, he's fertilizing tomato seeds with buttermilk or sprinkling orange peels on ant mounds.
