256 p.
Publisher: Ten Speed Press
Published: 2/17/15
Source: Blogging for Books for review
The Groundbreaking Guide to Health-Conscious Gardening
If you are one of the millions of people with allergies or asthma, this totally unique book shows you how to avoid plants that trigger allergies and to create a garden that will actually protect you by trapping pollen and cleaning the air around you. This revolutionary approach combines the best of horticulturist Thomas Ogren’s previous books—Allergy-Free Gardening and Safe Sex in the Garden—into a full-color guide, including hundreds of new and updated plant listings and photographs.
Ogren’s innovative system for combating allergens is based on the crucial matter of plant sex. By replacing troublesome male plants in your yard with pollen-blocking female “pollen screens,” allergy sufferers can reduce or eliminate their symptoms. More than 3,000 plant listings are included, accompanied by an easy-to-use allergy ranking scale of 1 to 10. With many new pollen-free plants to choose from, as well as clearly marked “worst offenders” to avoid, this is the ultimate resource for home gardeners and professionals alike who want to build healthy, safe, and beautiful gardens that everyone can enjoy.My thoughts:
Happy Earth day! I thought a great way to spend it is talking about the latest gardening book I acquired. This one interested me not about the pollen but about the plants that clear the air and help with mold as well. I loved the author's insight on why there are a growing number of people acquiring seasonal allergies. This is the person who developed a scale on which to judge plants by their allergy content.
The reason Thomas Ogren says we are having an epidemic of allergies is our increased exposure to pollen. He explains that our need for plant that do not "litter" seeds has decreased the number of female plants and increased the male plants... the ones responsible for the pollen. The numbers are not even as they are in nature so the female plants which "clean" the air of this pollen aren't around to do their job. With his plan we can reclaim the area in our space with more air cleaning plants and also presents a plan to contact schools and parks to do the same.
I give this book 5 stars. It is a great book with some insight as to why so many have allergies and what we can do about it. He also has a comprehensive list of plants and how they fall on the scale for allergens and cleaning the air. It is a great book for any gardener out there even if they don't have allergies or asthma.
Uhg. Pollen. My car's been covered in it for a solid month+ and it doesn't seem to be getting any better! Might have to check this book out.
ReplyDeleteYou need those female plants!! :D
DeleteDamn male plants spreading their seeds…hehe
ReplyDeleteAllergies were AWFUL this year!
Karen @For What It's Worth
LOL! Always up to the females to clean up after... heh
DeleteI need to get this book. I suffer from horrible allergies year round here in Oregon.
ReplyDeleteYou might like the section that helps the municipalities clean up as well.
DeleteOh, did not know that about pollen
ReplyDeleteYou may not have the same problems there as we have here.
DeleteYou have to have some female plants or no veggie garden! LOL
ReplyDeleteSo basically, no matter what the species, Girls Rule and Boys Drool! *snicker*
ReplyDeleteAnyway, sounds like a helpful read! I never had seasonal allergies as a kid, but Spring and Fall are starting to get to me now. Stupid boy flowers!
Oh it sounds really interesting, it's now something I know a lot about.
ReplyDeleteAgh, hayfever. Worse than ever this year and its started early. This is definitely a book I'll have to check out.
ReplyDeleteThis sounds really interesting! I get allergies in the spring though it's usually just one weed that's crazy around here. I can't remember what it's called. But I hadn't thought about it being too many male flowers. Fascinating stuff!
ReplyDeleteI don't suffer form allergies but everyone around me does! It's crazy! I always sorry for my friends and family since they are always sick in the Spring and Summer. I'm going to have to get them this book!
ReplyDeleteLily @ Lilysbookblog
I'm so for figuring it out and finding a way to get the female plants out there! Yes, I'm an allergy sufferer. :) Thank you!
ReplyDeleteThis book sounds awesome..and who doesn't want cleaner air. We have some flowers that are what I call dirty..they spread pollen, turn my filters color etc. We ended up ripping them out. This book would have been helpful.
ReplyDelete