If you live in the West, you know that gardening is difficult here. Lean soils, little precipitation, low humidity, harsh winds, and inopportune freezing temperatures make vegetable gardening an extreme undertaking. 

But there are at least two ways organic vegetable gardeners can overcome these challenges: build soils that support soil life and create protective microclimates for plants.

Those two nuggets of gardening wisdom are just the beginning of the expert advice Jane Shellenberger offers gardeners in her new book, “Organic Gardener’s Companion: Growing Vegetables in the West” (Fulcrum Publishing, $24.95).

Jane lives and gardens on five acres along Colorado’s Front Range, between Boulder and Longmont. For the last 15 years she’s published and edited Colorado Gardener, a regional gardening magazine.

Jane writes that she learned about plants from her botanist mother, but learned how to garden in the West the hard way. Her first vegetable bed was dug in a hard-packed dirt driveway.

Maybe that’s why she advises gardeners to start with the soil. “Our most important job as vegetable gardeners is to feed and sustain soil life, often called the soil food web, beginning with the microbes.”

Even though gardening is difficult in the West, organic gardeners are at an advantage here, Jane writes, because it’s easy to build the soil with organic and inexpensive materials.

She gives solid steps for nurturing the soil food web from adding organic material to avoiding tilling the soil after the first year a garden is established. 

This comprehensive guide to organic vegetable gardening is well-researched and it doesn’t skimp on any topic. Whether gardeners are familiar with organic methods or just considering an organic garden, this book provides a complete vegetable growing education.

In addition to delving into the natural history of nitrogen, gardeners will find in-depth information on the plight of our pollinators, all the different methods for starting an organic vegetable garden from scratch, and creative ways to extend the growing season. The chapter on beneficial insects includes color images to help with identification and the chapter on pests includes weeds, as well as wildlife and unwanted insects. I especially appreciate how she tackles the difficult topic of water rules in the West.

Her book is equal parts organic gardening how-to, agricultural history lesson, weather tutorial, and geology class. Jane doesn’t just tell organic gardeners how to grow a vegetable garden, she explains why it’s important to plant one. 

(Fulcrum Publishing provided me with a free review copy of “Organic Gardener’s Companion: Growing Vegetables in the West.”)

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Burpee Organic Coconut Coir Concentrated Seed Starting Mix, 16 Quart

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ORGANIC COCONUT COIR: Made from recycled coconut husks, coir is a light, sustainable growing medium that holds the perfect amount of moisture for starting seeds. 100% biodegradable soil alternative. Environmentally friendly and a renewable alternative to peat moss. OMRI listed and certified organic. IDEAL GROWING MIX: Improve seed germination and root growth with this premium coconut fiber mix, which improves nutrients absorption! Great for flower, vegetable, herb, and more plant types. OMRI listed. Naturally disease and pathogen resistant, it will help you grow healthy live plants. EASY TO STORE & EXPAND: Each compact coconut coir brick expands into 8 quarts of seed starting mix, providing 16 quarts total. Just add water to expand! Dehydrated bricks save space until planting. Once expanded, coconut coir provides a quality growing medium for all types of plants—indoor plants, house plants, outdoor plants, and more! NATURALLY CONSERVES WATER: Renewable coco coir has excellent moisture retention and better air circulation than peat. This eco-friendly, premium seeds starting mix combines well with other potting soil and compost for container plants & raised beds. 100% GUARANTEED: Burpee is committed to the success of all gardeners. We treat each order with care to ensure healthy seeds, plants, soil mixes, and gardening supplies are sent in excellent condition. If you are unsatisfied with your purchase, we aim to make it right!

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Spearhead Shade Gardening Shovel with Steel-Reinforced Fiberglass Handle

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Reduce Digging Effort - The Spear Head Spade is the first hybrid shovel/spade, guaranteed to make your toughest digging up to 80% easier than regular shovels and spades, even in the toughest soil conditions. Ideal for landscaping and gardening. Multi-Purpose Shovel - Spear Head Spade is a versatile tool that can be used for digging, planting, weeding, cutting, and edging. It is designed to handle tough soil and clay conditions, and can cut through roots and tough vegetation with ease. Innovative Design - Has a unique blade design that makes it more efficient and easier to use than traditional spades. The blade is shaped like a spearhead, with a pointed tip and a curved edge that allows it to penetrate the soil more easily. Ergonomic D-Handle - The large, cushioned D-grip offers comfort and better leverage for gloved and ungloved hands alike, reducing strain on the hands and wrists. Lightweight & Strong - Durable handle is made of special steel-reinforced, pultruded fiberglass to withstand heavy use. 60% stronger than EN-3388 shovel/spade standards, 33% thicker and 25% harder than normal shovels. Sharpened from tip to tail at a 35 degree angle for an effective and durable edge.

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