Vertical Vegetable Gardening

By Chris McLaughlin

books.google.com

Have you ever wanted to start your own garden but didn’t think you had the space? Then this book is for you! In this helpful how-to guide, experienced gardener Chris McLaughlin teaches you how to grow plants in vertical structures rather than sprawled out on the ground. This book is specifically focused on growing edible plants, so no matter how much space you have, you can still enjoy your own healthy, home grown vegetables.

It turns out that saving space is by no means the only reason to try vertical gardening. For one thing, this gardening method uses less soil, which saves you considerable time watering. For another, using less soil will save you money. Because vertically grown plants have better air circulation, you’ll also be bothered with fewer pests, weeds and plant diseases.

McLaughlin spends the first part of her book giving instructions on how to set up a vertical garden. This includes a detailed section on how to build your own vertical structures from scratch. From simple fences to trellises and cages, this book provides step-by-step guidelines (including materials lists) on how to make them. If you don’t feel like constructing things from scratch, McLaughlin also has a section on how to convert anything from spice racks to garbage bags into vertical gardening structures.

Intrigued? Vertical Vegetable Gardening is on sale at the Brookline Booksmith right now! Make sure to go check it out! http://www.brooklinebooksmith.com

What's the Buzz ?

With the arrival of summer it's time to enjoy the bounty of our New England harvest. It's also time to celebrate one of the champions of local food across the globe - the honeybee.

Honeybees are essential to our gardens and our diets, pollinating many of the foods grown in Brookline and beyond. Local favorites including apples, peaches, pears, cherries, strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, beans, onions carrots, melons, squash, eggplant, cucumbers, broccoli, greens and sunflowers owe their fruit to the honeybee!

Unfortunately, there are growing challenges facing the honeybee resulting in an alarming increase in the number of honeybee colonies dying and disappearing.  Known as "Colony Collapse Disorder", this condition, has been attributed to several key factors - disease, insects and pesticides . Locally, as well as further afield increased attention has brought light to the honeybees plight. In response to concerns for our future food supply some scientists are even preparing for a world without the buzzing of bees!

So when you are savoring local bounty, acknowledge this oft maligned and misunderstood critical link in our food chain.  And consider what you can do to insure that your garden and future growers can buzz from the miraculous work of

Apis mellifera , the honeybee.

Summer Interns

This season we welcome:

Erin Taylor , as our first schoolyard garden intern. Supporting a new partnership with the Brookline Public Schools, Erin brings in the garden and classroom experience to Brookline.

Check out her posts this summer and throughout the school year on our website

contact us for more information.

BB is also pleased to have Marisa Mathison , join us as our new program intern. Marisa, a 2011 graduate of Brookline High School will be supporting our social media development and  other community outreach.