Favorite Garden Resources
Favorite Garden Books
Sunset Western Garden Book of Edibles
Pat Welsh’s Southern California Organic Gardening
California Master Gardener Handbook (2nd ed.) Dennis Pittenger
Harvest Unexpected Projects using 47 Extraordinary Garden Plants by Stefani Bittner/Alethea Harampolis
The Earth in Her Hands 75 Extraordinary Women Working in the World of Plants by Jennifer Jewell
Grow a Little Fruit Tree by Ann Ralph
Groundbreaking Food Gardens by Niki Jabbour
Sunset Western Garden Book
California Native Plants for the Garden by Carol Bornstein/David Fross
Ornamental Trees for Mediterranean Climates by Don Walker/Steve Brigham
The Drought-Defying California Garden by Greg Rubin/Lucy Warren
52 Weeks in the California Garden by Robert Smaus (Some info is dated to the 1990’s but it is a charming and useful read).
Knowledge Bases for Gardeners
UC IPM Solve your pest problems with the University of California’s best science. Integrated pest management, or IPM, is a process you can use to solve pest problems while minimizing risks to people and the environment.
The California Garden Web The UC Master Gardener Program designed the California Garden Web to serve as a portal to organize and extend the University of California's vast collection of research-based information about gardening to the public. The California Garden Web focuses on sustainable gardening practices and uses a question and answer format to present solutions.
Harvest to Table A very comprehensive resource for growing vegetables, herbs and fruit. The author is a Master Gardener and provides how-to instructions and practical gardening tips for the beginning and veteran gardener alike.
Fruit & Nut Research & Information Center Created in 1995 to make University of California research-based information publicly available and coordinate extension activities in planting, growing and harvesting fruits and nuts.
USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service - Soil Biology Primer - Excellent resource on soil biology.
Calscape This powerful native plant database that helps you discover the plants best suited to your property. Using calscape.org you can:
Search by location, plant name, water needs, and more
Get detailed plant information and growing tips
Create and share your own plant lists
Find nurseries near you and check available inventory
EWG—Environmental Working Group Consumer guides to help you learn about the hidden health dangers in your food, water and everyday products to make better decisions.
