The Barnes & Noble ReviewFor anyone baffled or intimidated by the idea of gardening "organically," the author of the popular Slug Bread and Beheaded Thistles is back with a whimsical miscellany of useful information to make any garden a bit more Earth-friendly. Ellen Sandbeck's goal is to help gardeners work with their native environment, not against it, by concentrating on plants and techniques that work naturally rather than through excessive manipulation and unhealthy practices. "There are two main principles by which I garden," she states. "Do no harm and garden to please yourself." It all starts with the soil, or what the author calls "good clean dirt," teeming with microorganisms and lots of organic material to feed them, and she provides dozens of easy-to-find-and-follow tips on how to evaluate and improve any soil type in ways that are healthy for both plants and the environment. The author follows a similar low-maintenance approach in her discussion of how to choose the best plants for your soil and climate, how to feed and nurture your plants in ways that help them grow best, and how to keep pests out of your garden without turning it into a toxic wasteland for the many useful creatures that share our gardens with us. Sandbeck also looks at how gardening can keep the gardener's body and soul in balance, too, explaining, "Learning to love a single small plot of earth is a good start toward learning to be protective of our beautiful little planet." Though not an exhaustive primer on organic gardening techniques, Eat More Dirt is full of useful tips for even the seasoned gardener and will set the less experienced on the path to organic gardening with inspiration and confidence. Deirdre Mullane