Last Thursday, after staring at a laptop for 8+ hours, I decided to ease my digitally-overloaded mind by flipping through Trowel and Error: Over 700 Tips, Remedies and Shortcuts for the Gardener
It’s the kind of book you can read word for word or opt to read only the parts that pertain to you—frequent illustrations, diagrams and headings make it easy to quickly gauge what a page or section is about. The graphics can be a little hokey (think the kind of cozy, pastoral scenes and muted-colored woodland creatures you might see on a birthday card from your grandma); Lovejoy’s enthusiasm a little too Chicken Soup for the Soul (“One of my greatest joys is an early-morning walk in the garden,” she begins).
But what Trowel & Error lacks in edge, it more than makes up for in practical tips and advice (even my hippie boyfriend seemed impressed by her novel suggestion for seed-starting containers: hollowed-out citrus). Not only are all of the gardening solutions Lovejoy offers organic, many of them can be implemented with things you probably already have around the house—vinegar, spices, newspapers, even your own hair.
Since finishing the book, I’ve been coating the area around my fire-escape garden with chili pepper & vinegar to try and repel the obese squirrel that’s been plaguing my french sorrel; so far, he hasn’t been back.
More of my favorite advice from Trowel & Error:
- L’Eau CHaud: Many French Provencal gardeners set old half-barrels throughout their gardens to catch rainwater. The proximity of the barrels to their work area makes hand-watering with a can easier.
- Aspirin (uncoated)—dissolved in water, fights mildew, black spot and more.
- Cardboard egg cartons can be recycled into perfect seed-starting flats.
- Hair today, gone tomorrow: Bury pieces of human or dog hair around seedlings to deter the critters who try to feast on them. Hair also contains nutrients that will nourish young seedlings.
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