Best of Cool Springs Press

When Duke and Becky Mossman decided to expand their family garden, they were interested in growing vegetables and berries and nuts. But they were also interested in growing great kids. Working the soil with kids is a way to teach a lot of things. Mary Ann Newcomer, author of The Rocky Mountain Gardener's Handbook agrees, saying that gardening is about family and belonging and it naturally celebrates hard work. Learn More.

Joel Karsten has the seeds, fertilizer, soaker hose and straw bales ready to go. Karsten uses the straw instead of soil. He considers growing with straw a breakthrough vegetable growing method. Karsten can grow vegetables earlier, anywhere and without weeding. It's become a gardening craze and led Karsten to write Straw Bale Gardens. Learn More.

For those not familiar with the technique, like New York Times writer Michael Tortorello, straw bale gardening sounds like a pretty improbable way to grow vegetables. But Joel Karsten, author of Straw Bale Gardens for Cool Springs Press, has convinced Tortorello that the technique does work. Learn More.