Description
Book SynopsisFrom the biology behind flavor to the stories and memories that taste evokes, here is a savory exploration of the terroir of the Southwestern borderlands—the geological, ecological, and cultural history embodied in the foods of this desert region.
Trade ReviewOne of Napa Valley’s most prestigious winemakers recently said that there is no such thing as terroir. He scoffed at the idea… that wine somehow captures the essence of place. A scientist by training, he insisted instead that wine is the result of chemical processes that can be analysed and controlled, nothing more. Gary Paul Nabhan’s new book, Desert Terroir: Exploring the unique flavors and sundry places of the borderlands, is an eloquent refutation of that assertion. Like other proponents of terroir, Nabhan argues that sunlight, wind, rain and minerals in the soil all affect the way a given food tastes. But for him there is more. Terroir is also an expression of the hands of the women who rhythmically pat out tortillas in the borderlands between the United States and Mexico, and of the labours of ranch hands who graze sturdy Corriente cattle. It is found, too, in the ancestry of both human and plants. If we attune ourselves to our own history, and to that of the natural world, we stand to gain a keen appreciation for our planet’s myriad distinctive tastes… Nabhan is a natural storyteller.
* Times Literary Supplement *
Table of Contents
- Preface
- Chapter 1: Introduction to Organics
- Reasons to Go Organic
- Converting to the Natural Organic Program
- Chapter 2: Soil Building
- Basic Soil Science
- Soil Biology
- Soil Texture
- Nutrients
- Soil Testing
- Soil Amendments
- Chapter 3: Planting
- Basic Bed Preparation
- Seed Planting
- Cuttings
- Transplants
- Tree Planting
- Potting Soil
- Chapter 4: Fertilizing
- How Organic Fertilizers Work
- Foliar Feeding
- Product Information
- Refractometer
- Chapter 5: Pest and Disease Control
- The Real Purpose of Toxic Chemical Pesticides
- Pests and Their Organic Remedies
- Insect Pests
- Structural Pest Control
- Honeybees and Other Pollinators
- Diseases
- Weeds: The Disliked Plants
- Chapter 6: Compost
- Why Compost?
- Compost Types and Methods
- Compostable Materials
- Composting Process
- Warning Signs in Compost
- Vermicomposting
- Using Compost
- Compost Tea
- Chapter 7: Mulch
- Mulch Types
- Mulch Uses and Applications
- Pitfalls of Mulching
- The Science of Mulch
- The Mulch Business
- Mulches Not Recommended
- Chapter 8: Landscaping
- Landscaping Elements
- Landscaping Specifications
- Chapter 9: Commercial Growing Operations and Recreational
- Properties
- Commercial Growing Operations
- Recreational Properties
- Chapter 10: Organic Strategies and Global Climate Change
- Global Warming by the Numbers
- Organic Methods Make a Difference
- The Link to Soil Life
- Carbon-rich Organic Glue
- Organic Material, Organic Matter, and Soil Carbon
- Squashing the Symbiosis
- Managing Trees in Landscapes as Carbon Sinks
- Landscape and Turf Management
- Conclusions
- Appendix 1: Organic Treatment Formulas
- Appendix 2: Sources for Organic Supplies
- Appendix 3: Soil-Testing Resources
- Appendix 4: Conversion Tables
- Information Resources
- Index
