We went to a library sale a couple weeks ago (yes, it has been that long since I’ve been able to set aside time to write an update!) and I thought I’d share my haul with you. A grocery bag of books for $3 makes you forget to edit your selections before you buy.
The most….well….unusual book would be “Unusual Vegetables”. There are 79 suggestions of uncommon veggies to grow if you get tired of tomatoes and peppers. I haven’t read the whole thing yet, but there are some interesting suggestions with in depth descriptions of nutritional advantages over more common varieties and instructions of how to grow them successfully.
I also picked up a book called “Carpet Gardening”, which I thought was about low growing alternatives for grass, but it turns out it’s about how to use actual carpets in your garden as mulch. Uh, I don’t think so.
The same day I picked up an extra large garlic roaster and a couple of old ball jars with their seals for $2 at a church sale!
June 22, 2009 at 10:16 pm
You snagged a great deal! My favorite place to get really good, contemporary books is my local Goodwill. They always have something fun and interesting for me to bag.
Have fun reading!
June 22, 2009 at 11:33 pm
Sounds like fun. And if they don’t work out, you can always re-donate!
I’d like to hear about the “unusual” vegetables.
June 23, 2009 at 12:46 am
I’m seriously gonna have to check out the library’s book sale next year. I hadn’t even *thought* about going there to find books on gardening. duh….
I’m sure you could find some old carpet on craigslist if you wanted to give it a whirl.
June 23, 2009 at 1:45 am
Years ago I used old carpet around the outside of my big regular garden, and it worked great for keeping the weeds from encroaching from the adjoining vacant land. I could see using it in the pathways and covering it with an attractive mulch.
June 23, 2009 at 10:32 am
Emily, every once in a while I take a trip to Good Will myself. I usually leave with a bunch of stuff I end up re-donating anyway, but sometimes I find a gem. I’ve had great ebay success over the years with things I’ve bought at tag sales or my local auction! Sometime I’ll tell you all the story about the Smurfs.
Stefaneener, I’ll go through the book and list some of the more interesting varieties. What’s funny is, mixed in with these crazy veggies there are things like Scarlet Runner beans, which are a commonly grown variety these days.
Rachel, I really lucked out. The sale hadn’t started yet, and I was there for something else. They let me go into the back room where they were storing everything for the sale. So I got first dibs!
Granny, I’ll be happy to send you the carpet book. I’m sure if anyone could use old remnants and make a garden look attractive it would be you!
June 23, 2009 at 10:35 am
Oh, and I gave the Kids’ Victory Garden book to my cousin whose daughter just turned 1. They’ve got a pretty big SFG setup in their yard, and I figure she can just shelf the book until her daughter is a little older. I considered keeping it for myself though, as the instructions were clear as day and obviously on my level of understanding!
June 23, 2009 at 11:35 am
LOL, I’ve got my pathways pretty much under control in this small garden, although I could use a new carpet in the bedroom….hmmmm, I wonder what Mr. H would do if I ripped it out and put it in the garden. Not a good idea?
June 23, 2009 at 12:07 pm
Actually, I think it’s a fantastic idea! What better way to force the issue than to rip it out, put it outside, and cover it with dirt?
September 10, 2009 at 12:24 pm
Meme time. I tagged you.