About this item

Focusing on containers, trellises, and raised beds, this book shows how everyone can garden, including those with physical limitations like arthritis or location limitations like apartment-dwellers without backyards. Knowing where our food comes from is a huge issue; food safety and costs seem to figure more prominently in our lives all the time. Many people would like to grow their own vegetables but don’t know how to begin—digging, plowing, planting, weeding, and watering a large plot can be daunting. Stand Up and Garden shows how everyone can garden, including those with physical limitations like arthritis or location limitations like apartment-dwellers without backyards. Imagine harvesting radishes, carrots, and strawberries in the spring; herbs, tomatoes, and cucumbers all through the summer; beets, spinach, and even potatoes in autumn.



About the Author

Mary Moss-Sprague

Having been raised on a small farm in the Puget Sound area, I grew up watching my mother, an astute, self-taught master gardener, create beautiful beds of perennials and grow vegetables.

During the course of working at the University of Washington for 11 years, my writing skills were subsequently realized and honed. During that time, I also fell into serving as Science Editor for KRAB-FM for five years. Later, I began freelance writing for publication in magazines and newspapers. Eventually, I moved to Oregon, where I also developed my lifetime interest and experience in gardening. At that time, I discovered in myself a keen interest and expertise in beekeeping, and began what turned out to be nearly 20 years of keeping the little buzzies. Usually, I had about 15 colonies in my apiary. From the start of this pursuit, I was active in a local beekeeping club, and also wound up editing the state's beekeeping association's newsletter for several years.

I also obtained a nursery license, specializing in bedding plants, and went on to complete the Oregon State University Cooperative Extension Service's master gardener course. Since then, I've found a ready audience as well as local and national interest in my off-the-ground gardening methods. Thinking that detailing them in a book might be well-received, I wrote "Stand Up and Garden," and am very pleased with how well it's selling. Since then, I've enjoyed the privilege of being an invited regular blogger for MOTHER EARTH NEWS. For that venue, I write about food preservation projects, special recipes, honeybees, and other topics.

When we downsized a few years ago here in Oregon, we built two of my straw-bale garden boxes, making them 2' wide rather than 4' as our lot here is smaller. People passing by our home stop to look and many of them leave with an "Aha!" gleam in their eyes. I've been kept busy showing people my off-ground gardening methods while working hard to get this new place landscaped and productive.

Overall, writing is the main focus of my life; I simply can't imagine not writing about something! So much to write about, so little time . . .



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