April 2017

“Harvest: Unexpected Projects Using 47 Extraordinary Garden Plants” by Stefani Bittner and Alethea Harampolis

Harvest: Unexpected Projects Using 47 Extraordinary Garden Plants Book Cover Harvest: Unexpected Projects Using 47 Extraordinary Garden Plants
Stefani Bittner and Alethea Harampolis
crafts, gardening
Ten Speed Press
Feb 07, 2017
Hardcover
224



Just few months ago, I have reviewed “Natural color” by Sasha Duerr. In some respects, "Harvest: Unexpected Projects Using 47 Extraordinary Garden Plants" Stefani Bittner and Alethea Harampolis is similar, and in some, those are two totally different books. Both are beautifully photographed and printed coffee table books in hardcover. They are perfect for a gift. But where "Natural color" was focused on collecting plants for dying fabrics, "Harvest" promotes planting your garden to have plant material available for all kinds of home projects. And utilizing the plant "from fruit to root", in many cases.

In "Harvest" you are going to find ideas and recipes for all kind of projects: for making food and beverages, skin care products, home remedies and flower arrangements (with all the details on how to arrange the branches for those who like me know nothing about good design!). And these are not the most obvious ideas, for example blueberries are used for natural dye and artichoke for a bouquet. Plants you would not normally think of eating are used as teas, or in butters or vinaigrettes! And of course there is plenty on edible flowers and ideas how to incorporate those into salads.

The plants in the book are organized by season: early, mid and late. Each plant craft or use idea is preceded by plant description, including gardening requirements like hardness zone, sun and moisture needs.

I really enjoyed reading the book, and I am glad I found it just in time to start planning my home garden for this season. I should be able to try many ideas soon!

I have received a free copy of the book for the purpose of this review from Blogging for books. The links in this post may contain affiliate codes.

Click on any example book spread to see larger version!

“Just Breathe” by Dan Brulé

Just Breathe: Mastering Breathwork for Success in Life, Love, Business, and Beyond Book Cover Just Breathe: Mastering Breathwork for Success in Life, Love, Business, and Beyond
Dan Brulé
Atria/Enliven Books
March 28, 2017
Hardcover
224


I have a lot of mixed feeling after reading "Just Breathe: Mastering Breathwork for Success in Life, Love, Business, and Beyond" by Dan Brulé I have very mixed feelings about the book.

The book contains an extensive review of various breathing techniques, organized by "application": healing, motivating, developing spirituality. It is accompanied by stories of yogis, soldiers, doctors - those who invented the techniques and those who breathing helped in some way.

At the same time, by the third chapter you get overwhelmed by all those techniques and start wondering what is actually right choice for you? On which one one should you focus on?

Sure, you can boil all of the breathing approaches down to two types: Conscious Breathing and Breath Awareness. And perhaps just focus on practicing those two daily, as described in the first chapter. Or... you can decide to spend 21 days to work on a larger selection of breathing techniques, different one each day. Luckily, this 3-week challenge at the end of the book summarizes the knowledge for you in a more practical way than all the preceding chapters, which are really overloaded with details.

However, if you are interested in exploring breathing to help you in everyday problems, give "Just Breathe" a try. I am sure you will find a helpful tidbit...

I have received a free copy of the book for the purpose of this review from Goodreads. The links in this post may contain affiliate codes.