In 1995, Ellen Sandbeck, a homemaker, gardener, and graphic designer in Minnesota, concerned by the fact that 500,000 tons of pesticides are used every year in the U.S. alone, self-published an unusually humorous book on non-toxic housekeeping and gardening filled with practical and healthy alternatives to commercial chemicals and cleansers. Light in tone but heavy in knowledge, Slug Bread became an instant hit with the target market, selling 7000 copies as a self-published edition and later 19,500 copies as a Broadway tradepaperback original.

In “Eat More Dirt,” Ellen shifts her focus strictly to the outdoors to present a lively, practical guide to growing and maintaining an organic pleasure garden. Written with same deliciously witty, slightly macabre sense of humor (it’s hard to talk about exploding roaches with a straight face), the book explains the benefits of organic gardening — both to the gardener and the planet — and outlines the nuts and bolts of planting, pruning, and of course, keeping nasty pests at bay. It also shares Ellen’s philosophy of gardening — namely that gardens offer a wonderful opportunity to promote well-being through exercise, relaxation, and connecting with the earth. Ellen walks readers through the process of designing a garden and preparing the land; understanding topsoil and how maintain a healthy bed of earth; choosing plants that are compatible and reflect your taste and vision; planting a garden healthily and efficiently; and finding joy in garden maintenance. As with Slug Bread, Ellen provides a wealth of amusing techniques for handling garden pests and predators in an organic fashion — such as picking beetles with homemadeherbicides.

Charming and full of home-spun stories and information, “Eat More Dirt” is a delightful alternative to the encyclopedic gardening tomes that fill the shelves — the perfect guide for the casual or first-time gardener, or anyone whose green, eco-friendly sensibilities match their green thumb.

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