Gardening Without Work: For the Aging, the Busy, and the Indolent

I read this book when I was homeless and had a community garden. Following the instructions in this book got me laughed at until everyone saw how magnificent my garden was. I eventually went on to teach classes about my experience and was elected to the City Council. Worthwhile read.

Even though the forward states that her style of writing may not be top notch, I really enjoyed her sense of humor and view of life. After struggling with my garden for years and either not getting much from it, or having to spend every waking moment fussing over it I am excited to see the results from this method. I have watched countless videos of people who use this method and all of them are pleasantly surprised when they unearth 50+ pounds of potatoes from a row of spoiled hay! One such couple on Youtube called "Back to Reality" explain the science behind this. I recommend both the book and the video.

If you are looking for gardening techniques, this is probably not the book for you. There is certainly a lot of just plain common sense around gardening. She takes out the over engineering related to growing plants and brings it all down to the simplest level. She applies the KISS principle in everything she grows. The best thing about this book is her humor. I laughed until I cried at times. Many of us gardeners would probably do much better if we adopted some of her attitudes... stress less and pamper less and plants will grow on their own. Great book... recommend it for anyone looking for less structure and more practically in gardening and a little humor for perspective.

I noticed a mention of Earl Stanley Gardner in Ruth Stout's book, probably a sly dig at her brother, Rex Stout, whose Nero Wolfe mysteries I adore. Too bad these folks are gone, I would love to write them each a fan letter. To her book -- yes, it's premise is simple, but we folk who were raised on the complexities and mysteries of gardening JUST CAN'T BELIEVE it's that easy. I've started and my only problem is getting enough straw. When I get some down, it looks so pretty! I think if I put down hay, the deer and rabbits would assume it was for them. I'll report back next spring, meanwhile, enjoy the book over the winter!

-Mulch 8" thick with spoiled/moldy/bad/cheap hay and more as needed anytime (25 50-pound bales as about the minimum for 50 feet by 50 feet, or about a half-ton of loose hay to start).-Add #5/100ft2 cottonseed meal in the dead of winter on top of everything.There are several other things she enjoys like salt solutioning your Brassicas, but a quick online summary (or the two bullets above) is adequate to cover the heart of it...it is simple after all. I lost my grandmas last year and it feels like an old lady's meandering story which gave me some smiles. It is a 2-star book with a 5-star idea.

I was familiar with the Stout method of gardening. I saw the book and decided to read for myself. The book was as easy to read and as delightful as her gardening practice. I am lazy. This is easy. I had been using her techniques for several years with much success. Now I know why.

I wanted to garden, without killing myself, and I got that, and much more from this book. Indeed, the book is not new, however, I know you will find the information in it, as wonderful as I did, and if you want to save your back, knees, sweat, and tears, then purchase the book. It turned out to be so much more than I ever expected. Not just in the reading, but in the doing. For the first time in a long time, I know that I will be able to garden for many years to come, and for those who are young, it will not wear you down like old gardening does. Trust me, I know both, and THIS METHOD IS OUTSTANDING! I intend to grow all of my produce myself, and this is the ONLY way I will be able to do that for so many in my family. I may be old, (64) but I can do it with Ruth's method. She gardened until she was 90 yrs. old! How's that for proof of her method! She was before her time, follow it, you won't be let down.

I've seen some of the Ruth Stout videos on YouTube and I ADORE her (R.I.P. Ruth). The writing style is very much like her videos would suggest, you can hear her voice in every word.However, on the practical side, the primary thing you will learn from the book is PUT STRAW OR HAY MULCH ON EVERYTHING IN YOUR GARDEN AND YOU WILL HAVE VERY LITTLE WORK TO DO WHILE ENRICHING YOUR SOIL. There, I just saved you some money.It's still rather sweet, I'm just not sure that beyond the primary tip I just revealed, you'll gain much else here that you can't gain from any other source on gardening. Ruth still rocks though!

I love this. Yes it's not a gardening manual and some might find it disappointing but if you google Ruth Stout and watch the youtube video on her, you will know instantly if it's your cup of tea. It's certainly mine.

I loved this book and as I have just been given an allotment I am using her methods to suppress the weeds and feed the earth. Before I bought this book I was a bit overwhelmed by the amount of digging my allotment required. (It was in a bit of a state) Now I don't need to do any digging. I love her sensible approach and sense of humour and was sad to get to the end as I enjoyed it so much.

Hubby loves this book, a very good read and such a mine of information to make gardening easier for those getting older or not as fit as they once were.......

Wonderful book. Very easy reading with some excellent ideas and information on no dig gardening

interesting book good service