Home & Garden from our 2019 Winter Newsletter

Orin Martin, who has been the manager of UC Santa Cruz’s renowned Alan Chadwick Garden for decades, shares his wisdom about growing healthy, organic fruit trees in his excellent new book. Covering apples to peaches, citrus to figs, Martin advises on the selection, planting, feeding, and pruning of trees to produce a bountiful harvest. With stellar instructions, a foreword by Alice Waters, and Stephanie Martin’s lovely illustrations, Fruit Trees for Every Garden is an indispensable book that every gardener should own. - S.B.

Cabin Porn began as an online project created by a group of friends to inspire their own homebuilding. Then came a phenomenally popular website and bestselling book featuring the exterior designs of handmade homes. Now an all-new volume features a look inside these most beloved cabins, shelters, and retreats from all over the world. The rooms in the getaways are filled with warmth and simplicity and will appeal to anyone wanting to live in harmony with nature.

Dazzling, lush, and vibrant, Flora Magnifica is the result of a collaboration between floral artist Makoto Azuma and botanical photographer Shunsuke Shiinoki. Often evoking the opulence of a Dutch still-life floral but still clearly contemporary, these images are organized thematically by season. You will happily get lost in the layers of petals, unfurling fern fronds, and riots of color. - S.B.

Secondhand. Salvaged. Scrap. Reclaimed wood once went by many different names and was used out of necessity; now it is extolled for its beauty and for the character and history it can bring to any space. This gorgeous new book about reclaimed wood covers everything from the history of wood in America to sourcing and design. Packed with inspirational photos of homes, furniture, and artwork that use repurposed lumber, it would make a great gift for any woodworker, builder, or designer, or anyone who appreciates natural beauty. - S.B.

Down to Earth features houses that are relaxed, effortless, and celebrate a connection with nature. Designer Lauren Liess draws upon her fondest memories outdoors to inspire her interiors, creating homes that have a simple and natural vibe and are meant to be enjoyed rather than designed to impress. With her use of durable textiles, rustic beams, and great tiles, Liess’s style reminds me of a cross between Justina Blakeney (The New Bohemians) and Joanna Gaines (Fixer Upper), and no doubt fans of either would be delighted with this book. - S.B.

Nomad is equal parts dream board and resource guide, exploring the life less conventional and how best to live it, whether in a converted van, a tiny home, a school bus, or a boat. Profiling people worldwide (including one family in the Santa Cruz Mountains!) who have defined home for themselves in simplified, revitalizing, workable ways, this gorgeous design book is perfect for those in need of everyday inspiration as well as those in search of trailheads for a new path forward. - Melinda

This seminal book started a gardening revolution, the New Perennial movement, when it was first published in 2003. Dutch designer Piet Oudolf (the High Line, Battery Park) champions a naturalistic approach to home and public garden design, emphasizing the use of hardy perennials and grasses that produce landscapes that look natural and organic no matter the season. This revised edition includes beautiful new photography and updated plant lists, making it more valuable and inspirational than ever. - S.B.

Whether you dream of living off the grid or being just a little greener, Back to the Land will help get you there. Filled with lovely builds and a wonderful property in Boulder Creek, including A-frames, tent cabins, treehouses, domes, this book celebrates outdoor life with a decidedly modern flair. With advice on low-level homesteading and next-level gardening, Back to the Land is great for anyone who wants to escape to a simpler way of life. - Jenny