How to Get Your Lawn and Garden Off Drugs: A Basic Guide to Pesticide-Free Gardening in North America. 2nd ed.

Beryl Hamilton is a freelance writer in Thunder Bay who specializes in
home gardening.

Carole Rubin wrote the first Canadian version of this book 15 years ago
with the hope that the use of toxic pesticides in North America would
soon diminish. Rubin’s hope was not realized, and in spite of
widespread publicity about pesticide toxicity, herbicides, insecticides,
and fungicides continue to be used in unprecedented quantities. This
book is for those interested in knowing more about pesticides and how to
garden successfully without them. Five chapters cover the history of
chemical pesticides; the major principles of organic care; the basics of
soil preparation for lawns, ornamental gardens, and vegetable patches;
and the proper handling of chemical-free lawns, pesticide-free
vegetables, and organic ornamentals. There is also a well-packed
resource section, which includes useful information on soil-testing labs
in Canada and the United States, along with a list of further reading on
this important topic.

In his foreword, renowned wildlife artist Robert Bateman appropriately
remarks that this “is a book whose time has come.” Rubin’s
discussions of pesticides are extremely helpful and accessible, and she
conveys her essential points without resorting to fear-mongering,
preachiness, or excessive idealism. The suggestions she gives are always
practical and can be applied by anyone willing to devote a little extra
time and care to cultivating soil without toxic additives. The book
clearly demonstrates that “kicking the pesticide habit,” as Rubin
colourfully puts it, is not as difficult as some may have imagined. In
brief, this is a great resource for those looking to educate themselves
about pesticides and their alternatives.