Climate-Wise Landscaping

By Sue Reed and Ginny Stibolt
New Society Publishers, April, 2018

This book is a great overview of Biodiversity as well as numerous action items that we can implement immediately. The authors have divided the book into sections, each section packed with information and recommendations. The sections are:

• Lawn; Trees and Shrubs; Water; Ecosystems ; Soil;
• Planning and Design; Herbaceous Plants; Urban Issues; Food; Material

While acknowledging the challenges facing us, the book is focused on the positive steps we can take immediately. They say that “…almost everything we can do on our own property has potential to help the larger environment.” Reed and Stibolt also include action items for communities and urban areas.

By looking at Biodiversity as a whole, they show us how it’s all interconnected. They breakdown Biodiversity into three categories: Ecosystem; Species; Genetic. They explain that we must understand the inter-connectivity as we plan our landscaping.

They say that “millions of us can take the countless small actions that will be needed to help us reverse climate change.” This book gives us positive steps to be better stewards of our environment.

Climate-Wise Landscaping is not just for homeowners. Many of the action items are community-based, reminding us that we all have a part to play in this crucial work.

Reviewed by Barbara Racine, who spent 40 plus years working at independent college bookstores.