Expert flower grower Lisa Mason Zeigler introduces us to the long-blooming stars of the spring garden, the hardy annuals – those flowers that thrive when they are planted during cool conditions (instead of waiting until the warmth of spring).  Forget “Some Like It Hot,” she advises, and give them a cool start. Plant them in the right spot at the right time, nestle their roots deep into rich organic soil, and stand back. In no time at all, you’ll have a low-maintenance, vibrant spring flower garden that keeps on blooming when other annuals are dead and gone.

The Little Veggie Patch Co. DIY Garden Projects includes more than 38 of their best projects for those young and old wanting to transform their outdoor living space. Also included are a variety of projects for experienced handy folk and quirky ideas that will involve the youngest members of the family. The ideas range from incredibly quick and simple (such as creating a self-watering milk-carton planter, growing micro-herbs, and hanging milk-crate planter boxes) to large-scale building projects (such as making vertical gardens from pallets and how to build a playhouse from recycled apple crates). Written in a personable, approachable style, with stories to accompany each project as well as clear step-by-step instructions with colorful photographs to match, The Little Veggie Patch Co. DIY Garden Projects will inspire the green thumb in every reader.

Put some spring in your lawn's first step. Wake it up with rich organics and beneficial microbes. Mid-March is usually the right time to begin feeding your lawn. • Covers 6,000 square feet • Phosphorus-free to reduce algae in water • Natural and organic-based ingredients • Fortified with Protilizer® beneficial soil microbes for rich soil and strong roots • Enriched with sulfur and iron for deep, green color • Slowly releases nutrients to eliminate growth spurts • Promotes strong roots for efficient use of water and nutrients

Soaring prices and concerns about chemical-laden fruits and vegetables increasingly drive us to grow our own healthy food close to home. In cities, however, vanishing ground space and contaminated soils spur farmers, activists and restaurateurs to look to the skyline for a solution. The hunger for local food has reached new heights, and rooftops can provide the space that cities need to bring fresh, organic produce to tables across North America.

The first full-length book to focus entirely on rooftop agriculture, Eat Up views this growing movement through a practitioner's lens, explaining:

• Structural, access and infrastructural considerations
• Zoning and building codes
• Proven growing techniques
• Business and marketing strategies

This graphically rich guide provides inspiration and advice to aspiring growers through photographs of successful rooftop farms and gardens, as well as interviews with industry professionals. Easy-to-use checklists and a decision tree are included to help gauge the viability of each unique rooftop opportunity. Essential reading for home gardeners, entrepreneurs, restaurateurs, policy makers, academics and designers, Eat Up takes urban agriculture to a whole new level, proving that rooftop farming is not just a pie-in-the-sky idea - it is the future of urban food.

Eating on the Run will equip you with a working knowledge of dozens of readily harvested plants, grasses, nuts, and berries that require the least, if any, preparation. You will learn how to distinguish safe plants from toxic varieties, which parts of the plants are edible and when, and where abundant supplies are likely to be in each season. Plus, the author shares delicious ways to enjoy the plants when on the move.

Wong turned the tables on old-school advice with a radical new system that transforms the flavor and nutrition of homegrown produce. Grow for Flavor shows the simple steps and innovative methods that yield tasty harvests beyond dreams and, best of all, the methods involve less effort, are strictly organic and can be mastered easily by newbie gardeners.

Colin McCrate and Brad Halm, former CSA growers and current owners of the Seattle Urban Farm Company help readers boost their garden productivity by teaching them how to plan carefully, maximize production in every bed, get the most out of every plant, scale-up systems to maximize efficiency, and expand the harvest season with succession planting, intercropping, and season extension.

An added bonus of growing your own food is that it is cheaper, fresher, tastier, and as organic as you make it, and your footprint (carbon and otherwise) is greatly minimized. Fred Demara's revised how-to manual, Guerrilla Gardening for Long-Term Survival, gives readers food for thought about starting their own guerrilla gardens.

The 1970s classic has been out of print for years. Now, updated for today's readers and back in print, its information is as useful as ever. It contains instructions and illustrations for everything from harnessing solar energy to cultivating a sustainable garden to learning how to keep bees. Simply put, Mother Earth News Almanac is designed to empower readers to be self-sufficient.

Andrea Bellamy, author of the award-winning blog Heavy Petal, shares all the knowledge she’s gained from years of gardening small: how to find and assess a space, and how to plan and build a garden. Bellamy also highlights the top 60 edible plants and offers complete information on how to sow, grow and harvest them.