Page 11 - ALG Issue 2 2017

The Scything
Handbook
by Ian Miller, Introduction by Kiko Denzer Filbert Press | £14.99 | Hardback
ISBN: 978-0-9933892-4-5
This is a book about how to use the scythe, why one should use it and what it can be used for.
A scythe is one of the most elegant and ef cient hand tools available. There is a graceful, rhythmic quality to scything that once mastered can provide the ultimate mind and body workout.
In this book, Ian Miller teaches you how to scythe from scratch. A scythe can be used for mowing
the lawn, harvesting small grain, and cutting back wild ower meadows without disrupting wildlife.
The hay and straw can be used in the garden for mulching and composting or for food and bedding for household pets while small grains can be used for making bread and feeding poultry.
• Quiet, ef cient way to cut grass and grain
• Ideal for awkward spots that machinery
cannot reach
• Fuel-free and environmentally friendly
• Rewarding mind and body workout
• The rst new book on scything for 35 years
11
Book Reviews
Bring the Outside In
Allotments
The essential guide
to cacti, succulents,
planters and terrariums
Bantam Press | £9.99 | Hardback ISBN: 978-0-593-07839-6
The allotment is a much-loved
part of every British city, town
and village. At their height in
the years around the Second
World War, and increasingly
neglected towards the end of
the 20th century, allotments are now in the throes of a full- scale revival. Many allotments now have long waiting lists, and allotment keeping has become a fashionable hobby across society.
This book is an elegant, inspirational guide to indoor gardening, full of beautiful photography and essential step-by-step tips for adding greenery to your home.
Love plants, but short on outdoor space? Or feeling inspired by striking terrariums and succulent gardens? Keen to create a unique home brimming with greenery? This is the book for you.
This book explores the fascinating social history of
the allotment from its roots in the 17th century Digger movement, through religion, protest and war, to the in uence of ‘food miles’ and GM. It includes insights into quirky rules and regulations, murder and looting, and even art and opera on the allotment. Drawing on archival and contemporary material, this heavily illustrated book considers both the history and the future of the not so humble allotment.
With stunning photography and expert step-by-step tips, Bring the Outside In reveals everything you need to know to help your plants thrive, from dramatic statement foliage and miniature citrus trees to table-top terrariums and hanging planters. With chapters on orchids, cacti, herb gardens and chilli plants, it would make an ideal gift for any plant or interior design lover.
By Twigs Way
Amberley Publishing | £8.99 | Paperback
ISBN: 978-1-4456-6570-2