Simple Steps to Earth-Friendly Landscapes

Eco-Yards by Laureen Rama with Caron Wenzel was written for individuals who want the small or large plots of land they own to be part of the solution to today’s environmental challenges. This book shows simple steps that can be taken to make a yard eco-friendly. There are also tips for apartment and condo dwellers showing them how to use their balcony, a window box or small patch of soil in an eco-friendly way.

The reader is provided with the rationale behind eco-gardening and with practical information needed to turn thought into practice. Some of the information is repeated as it is assumed reader will pick and choose which sections off the book they choose to read. Throughout the book are drawings of soil micro-organisms, the key to healthy soil and the foundation of a healthy eco-yard.

Information on maintaining a yard in an eco-friendly way including “Eco-maintenance”, general maintenance, and strategies for dealing with weeds and bugs are also included. A large portion of the book is dedicated to the hows and whys of replacing a lawn with a more natural landscape. This includes a section on ways to transition a lawn to more earth-friendly grasses plus maintaining a lawn that is lush and healthy. Soil micro-organisms and how they interact with plants, composting and building healthy soil are also covered.