KOGS Lending Library

New! The KOGS Lending Library contains a wide collection of books, CDs, DVDs and tapes on organic agriculture, farming practices, and marketing. The Library can be used, free of charge, by any KOGS member, though a nominal postal fee will be necessary if books are exchanged by postal mail. Download the full Library Catalogue - please note that this file is more than 1MB to download, so if you are on dial-up you can request a paper copy from the KOGS office. Read the lending library Borrowing Procedures.

To become a member of KOGS, download the Membership pamphlet, fill it in and send it along with your cheque to the KOGS office.

Recommended Reading

The Encyclopedia of Natural Insect and Disease Control, edited by Roger B Yepsen Jr., Rodale Press, 1984. subtitled: The most comprehensive guide to protecting plants - vegetables, fruit, flowers, trees and lawns - without toxic chemicals. 450 pages wtih some colour photos.

Rodale's Pest and Disease Problem Solver: A chemical-free guide to keeping your garden healthy. Authors: Linda Gilkeson, Pam Peirce and Miranda Smith, Rodale Press, 1996 Two major sections: Plants a - z and Pest or Disease A - Z. Each section has an alphabetical listing with colour photos. There are also sections on creating a healthy garden as well as where the different pests and diseases are most likely to occur in North America (yah! It included Canada!)

Steel In the Field: A Farmer's Guide to WEed Management tools. edited by Greg Bowman, published by the sustainable Ag Network, 1997. The tools in this book are divided into three main categories: agronomic row crop tools, harticultural crop tools and dryland crop tools. There is also a section devoted to anecdotal stories of farmers who describe their use of the different tools based on their own soil, crop and climagte needs.

The Northern Gardener by Jennifer Bennett, published by Harrowsmith, 1982. Another oldie by goodie - lots of good information for beginners and perhaps some tips for the more experienced farmes as well. Has useful fall frost maps, seed saving and storage sections as well as an alphabetical listing of vegetables.

The Whole Organic Food Book: Safe Healthy Harvest from your garden to your plate by Dan Jason.Raincoast books, 2001. Long time seed saver and whole food promoter has published another great book loaded with information and recipes. If you would like to have a primer before Dan's presentation this winter, borrow this wonderful book.

You Eat What You Are: A Study of Ethnic Food Traditions by Thelma Barer-Stein. McLelland and Steward, 1981. A fun read, this book traces the climate, geography that formed the cultural identities and food traditions of so many that came to North America.

Taylor's Guide to Fruit and Berries: the complete guide to the best selections for the home garden. edited by Roger Holmes, Houghton Mifflin Company, 1996. More than 500 varieties with how-to-grow instructions and colour photographs throughout.

Stuff: The Secret Life of Everyday Things by John C Ryan and Alan Thein Durning. Northwest Environment Watch, 1997. A fascinating account of all the environmental and social implicaitns of the production of "stuff" we may take for granted such as shoes, a hamburger, a computer.

Organic Field Crop Handbook, second edition. Edited by janet Wallace, ublished by the Canadian Organci Growers, 2001. A great book to accompany the Standards, this book provides an overview of organic practices starting wtih the soil, crop rotations and intercropping and finishing upwtih sections on each of the field crop categories: cerela crops, pulses, broadleaf and other crops and forage crops. While it does not cover vegetables other than potatoes it is still useful to vegetable growers for its section on soil and basic organic principles.

Organic Livestock Handbook edited by Anne Macey and published by Canadian Organic Growers in 2000. Another useful resource, this book covers general principles, management tools and individual livestock from rabbits to dairy cattle.

Organic Tree Fruit Management by Linda Edwards, published by COABC, 1998. The five sections of this book cover: The transition to Organic Production; Management Tools, techniques and products; Orchard Overview; Pest Management; Tree Fruit Production (which covers fruit set, harvesting, tree nutrition, planting).

Sharing the Harvest: A Guide to Community Supported Agriculture by Elizabeth Henderson with Robyn Van En. Chelsea Green Publishing Co., 1999. A comprehenisve and practical guide to starting and maintaining a csa.

Seed to Seed by Suzanne Ashworth published by Seed Savers Exchange 1991 - the perennial classic guide to saving seed - a critical skill at a time when not only are a handful of corporations controlling the bulk of the global seed supply but organic standards are requiring certified organci seeds.

Successful Small-Scale Farming: An organic approach, by Karl Schwenke. Published by Storey Books, 1991. An excellent primer for novice farmers with guides to terminology and basic how to's working with what is at hand.

Colin Spencer's Vegetable Book published by conran Octopus 1996. Lots of interesting info on over 100 vegetables, tracing their history of use and offering more than 300 recipes to use the fruits of one's labour. The book is divided into "families" such as the onion family, beet family, bean and mushroom families. There are also lovely colour photographs of both the raw and cooked vegetables.

The Ultimate Book of Historic Barns by Robin Langley Sommer, published by Prospero Books, 2000. A pictorial essay into the history, geography, ethnic roots, design and technology of barns throughout North America.

Growing Herbs and Vegetables: From Seed to harvest by Terry and Mark Silber, published by Alfred A Knopg, 1999. The authors are from Maine and so offer advice on all aspects of growing food in a northern climate. a good book for starters.

Rodale's All New Encyclopedia of Organic Gardening, published 1997. covers the A - Z of organic farming as well as a listing of common and botanical names. Loaded with pracitcal advice and subtitled "The Indispensable Resource for Every Gardener: Complete, Practical, Authoritative".

From the Good Earth: A Celebration of Growing Food Around the World by Michael Ableman. Published by Harry N Abrams Inc., 1993. The fruits of farmer Michael's seven years (during the "off-season") of traveling around the world exploring and photogrpahing sustainable farming wherever he went. Michaels' book is from the perspective of a farmer and activist and it is well worth a read and a look.

Why We Garden: Cultivating a Sense of Place by Jim Nollman, published by Henry Holt & Co., 1994. Described as witty, informative, philosophical, it explores "how the garden can act upon the gardener".

The Ecological Risks of Engineered Crops, by Jane Rissler and Margaret Mellon, published by Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 1996. The title is self-explanatory and the authors are both respected scientists who give a broad scientific and policy overview to the issue of genetically engineered crops.

Small is Beautiful: Economics as if People Mattered by E.F. Schumacher, published by Harper Perennial. Originally published in 1973 it is perhaps more relevant than ever.

Growing and Selling Fresh Cut Herbs by Sandie Shores, published by Storey Books, 1999. This book not only provides info on growing more than 20 herbs, it also has info on building and maintaining a greenhouse, managing business details and doing market research.

Soil and Composting: The Complete Guide to Building Healthy Fertile Soil by Nancy J. Ondra, published by Houghton Mifflin Co., 1998. Soil Scientist Nancy Ondra provides clear and practical advice to building healthy soil, no matter what you are starting with.

So Shall You Reap: Farming and Crop in Human Affairs by Otto T. Solbrig and Dorothy J. Solbrig, published by Island Press , 1994. This book reviews the influence that farming has had on history and where we are headed.

The Forgotten Pollinators by Stephen L. Buchmann and Gary Paul Nabhan published by Shearwater Books, 1996. An exploration of the relationships that exist between plants and the animals they depend on for reproduction. Plant-polllinator relationships offer vivid examples of the connections between endangered species and threatened habitats.

Fast Food Nation: The Dark Side of the All-American Meal by Erick Schlosser published by Houghton Mifflin in 2001. If you need any encouragement to never enter the doors of a fast food restaurant or even to buy meat from a chain store, read this book. You will never look at meat and potatoes the same way again.

From Land to Mouth: Understanding the Food System by Brewster Kneen, published by NC Press, 1993. The classic, easy to read guide to understanding why the food system is the way it is and what we can do to opt out of what is destrictive about it. Worth a second read!

Living Lightly on the Land: Self Reliance in Food and Medicine by Dan Jason. Printed by Barnyard Grafix of Salt Spring Island in 1998. Stuffed with information and practical tips for becoming as self-reliant as possible: for any of you who have ever wanted to grow legumes and grains on a small scale, Dan provides the encouragement and advice on how to do it.

The Paradox of Plenty: Hunger in a Bountiful World, edited by Douglas H. Boucher, published by Food First, 1999. The section are divided into essays on: The World Food System; The American Connection; Global Policies and Hungry People; The Free Market Path; and finally, Alternatives.