Supplies Books

A warmly written praise of gardening tools and the gardening process written by a person with a keen appreciation of the simple things in life. A must read for those who like to get their hands dirty in serach of the perfect flower or vegetable. The author has a fine sense of humor and mixes philosophy with wit. I read the book in one sitting.

I've been an organic gardener for 35 years and Jeff Taylor's "Tools of the Earth" is hands down the best book on what gardening is really about that I have ever read! His wit, style and humor leave me wanting to find this guy and just follow him around for a couple of months to see how much I can learn. He is amazing and I love his writing!

This is a pleasant read. Brought a smile when I didn't expect it. Though it didn't tell me "how to" create a beautiful garden it expressed the way I work in the earth. When I leave my tools laying about tucked in the flowers this book showed me others think the same and do the same. Practical info: the chapters are short and you can skip around chapter wise. The book is nicely presented with good quality paper. This would also make a wonerful gift.

Using a quiet sense of humour the author of this book coaxes a smile from the reader for the people who use the tools of the earth. You don't have to be a gardener to enjoy this book. It is a delight to read.

Would make a great wintertime gift for a gardner. It was fun and informative. It would help to fill-in that awful winter void when we gardners can't play in the dirt.

This is a great resource for anyone considering owning or one who owns a guinea pig. It was very helpful for us. We learned about bathing our guinea and cutting her nails and so much more. Great for 4H Cavy project.

This book has everything about Guinea pigs!!!!! It's really great

This book is great and give lots of great info on how to take care of your guinea pig.

This is a wonderful resource book for new AND experienced guinea pig owners, fanciers and breeders. The information is easy to find, easy to read and yet comprehensive.

The book is very useful for any guinea pig owners. There is a section on how to groom long-hired species. The most useful part is the section on illnesses and what to do in the event of the illness. Very Helpful!

When you are overwhelmed by what everyone tells you what you "have to have", this book helps narrow down what the must haves are versus the nice to haves and what is really not necessary at all. It pairs very nicely with "Baby Bargains" by Denise & Alan Fields

I just love this book!! It is full of all the information that I need for every aspect of my baby purchases!! And it's a fun read! I didn't feel like I was being talked down to by some expert on a platform, but rather that I was having a great conversation with one of my best gal pals. The author's humor and real-life examples were a wonderful touch and made this book really enjoyable.

I also have to say that besides being fun to read, the book was designed to actually be functional. There's a quick buyers guide and tips for what to look for in each baby "gizmo" that I'd want, not to mention a section for me to write my own best picks while out shopping. I've already used this handy feature to compare items online and actually remember what I thought about each - a huge help when you have 3 little kids pulling you away from your computer every 2 minutes.

Overall I really have to recommend this book to everyone - not just new moms but also experienced ones. Once you have a baby you're in this Mom's club, but no one told you about all the stuff that you'd need to purchase let alone be an expert on!! And no one wants to admit to not knowing the difference between a booster carseat and a convertible carseat. Luckily the Baby Gizmo buying guide arrived to discreetly (and humorously) let us know all the in's and out's of all that baby gear that we inevitably will end up buying. Thank you!!!

Someone on my expecting club board recommended this book, and I had to buy it because I was clueless on what I would need for our new baby due in May. It's nice to have information on all products in one spot. The humor in it certainly helps the read too!

I liked the list at the end of what you must have on your registry, as well as the "Must Have", "Nice to Have", and "Don't Need" ratings for each product category.

As a new father, my wife gave me this book. For a man who knows nothing about babies or what to buy for them, this is a great source of information. I have referenced several of the sections, when trying to select from the mountains of different babies products. Guys, if you have any questions, this book will help.

It is a little big, i.e. not small enough to actually fit in your pocket. I don't know about you but I am not about to carry it around the store with me. I read up before I go.

Overall, this is a great product. I would recommend it to anyone who has never dealt with babies before and to any new fathers who are worried about getting the wrong stuff.

Wow! What an informative and hillarious book! I had no idea where to start when shopping for a carseat. After reading the Baby Gizmo Buying Guide I feel like an expert! I love the sense of humor the book has because real people can relate to it. From virgin shoppers (ha, I guess their not virgins anymore) to veteran shoppers, everyone will learn something from this book! Great Job Ms. Heather Maclean!

Hi, when I heard about this book, I said I worked so hard with parenting links on my online Baby to Toddler store, when this book would be also a great resource too. Every new parent should have it by their computer-side! The thing is, new parenting sites happen all the time, so don't be complacent, buy the Next Addition(s) too, if you can*! or visit regularly the Publisher's website to see the New sites to be Listed in the next addition!
* My experience it sells pretty quickly! ...

If you have a baby, or need to purchase baby items, or need information about babies, then this is the RESOURCE to get it from. Gretchen Nalley has carefully placed all the websites that pretains to babies, from baby gifts, to parenting to care of baby and everything in between. A quick reference guide to take you to where you need to be without having to search and search. Thank you Gretchen for a job well-done!

I am one of the unfortunate ones who had their kids too early for this book, if only it had been around when they were younger. But that hasn't stopped me from buying this book - I have given it as gifts! The time saved in not having to search the web for the websites & information that is in this book is invaluable for parents that already find their time at a minimun with the demands of a new baby.

This is a must have!

Never has a book been more useful! This directory is a parent's dream. Have you ever looked up "baby" in the yellow pages? There sure isn't much there. My only regret after buying The Baby Web is that it wasn't available with my first two kids! I love it, and the pictures are adorable! No new parent should be without The Baby Web (I keep mine in my purse!).

Everyone knows that the Internet is a great resource for information and a great alternative to traditional catalog shopping. Unfortunately, weeding through literally millions of sites can be both time-consuming and frustrating. Since time is a precious commodity when you have young children, getting someone else to do the weeding is a welcome shortcut, and that is what this book delivers. Think of this book as the yellow pages for baby websites.  The 1,200 sites are listed by category and also in an alphabetical index. Categories include: Announcements, Baby Care Products, Baby Gear, Baby Names, Bedding & Furniture, Clothing, Food & Feeding Supplies, Gifts and Gift Baskets, Health & Safety, Parenting Advice, Pregnancy & Breastfeeding, and Toys. Many of my favorite sites were listed, and some new ones that I have since bookmarked.  This book is a great starting point for a new parent or someone new to the web, but it is also a good resource for anyone interested in finding new websites for parenting tips and products on the Internet.  There are a couple of sites that I probably would not have included if I were making a list since they offered only one or two items or were intended for dealers rather than consumers, but out of 1,200 sites that's a pretty good track record.  You will need access to the World Wide Web and a basic understanding of navigating the web to get the full benefit of the book, although many of the sites listed also include a customer service phone number.  --Reviewed by Teresa Burgess

This is the do-it-yourself book that got me started on that sweet rite of spring -- making my own maple syrup. The author's emphasis is on how to do it efficiently and very cheaply, using easy-to-find materials you can scrounge yourself. If you have the trees to tap, by all means get this book! (Hint: they don't have to be the sugar maple species. Try other maples as well. I get great syrup from box elders, which I considered "trash trees" until I learned they are in the maple family. Now I treasure them like gold.)

My own sugaring set-up is total simplicity: just some old refrigerator grates set on top of cinder blocks, heated with odd scraps of wood that others have thrown away at construction sites, etc. The sap is boiled down in flat baking pans, then finished off on the stove inside. Except for the initial expense to buy some professional spiles for tapping (you can make those, too, but I'm a failure as a tinsmith), I have spent ABSOLUTELY NOTHING for the 3-4 gallons of syrup we make each year. Not a bad return for a book that I cost me less than ten bucks!

It doesnt matter if never made maple syrup and you are a newbie like me, or you are a pro. These simple techniques will explain to you how and why make excellent maple syrup. Lots and lots of good advice from somebody that really knows the sugarin process in the backyard. This also means that you can make your own syrup without spending a fortune but buying simple little things or reusing everyday use things for the whole process.
Its more of a dialogue of your grandpa teaching you than a guide.

We have a 300+ year old sugar maple in our back yard. For the past few years we have tapped it each spring and boiled down the sap for the best maple syrup! This wonderful little "how-to guide" has given us a lot of pointers and info we were not aware of before. Easy to read and understand too. Just a nice little reference book.

I remember fondly the early Michigan spring from my childhood, helping my father collect sap. This more than anything fueled my desire to make my own syrup. This book, Rink Mann's "Backyard Sugarin'" is an excellent book to get you off without breaking your back or your bank account. The author has a delightful writing style that is thoroughly engrossing. The book is well illustrated, full of ideas and rock solid on exactly when, how and what to tap, and exactly how to process all that sap. I highly recomend this book. Even if you don't live in sugar country you will enjoy this book.

Tioga County is farming country and most farms in these parts used to have a sugar shack. Vermont might get better promotion and produce more, but there's nothing better than Grandma's flapjacks topped with homemade syrup from the farm. If you've a hankering for homemade and want to try making your own, then Backyard Sugarin': A Complete How-To Guide, by Rink Mann will show you how.

This book tells you how you can make maple syrup right in your own back yard without having to build a sap house or buy buckets, holding tanks, and other expensive paraphernalia. Think of it as sugar on a shoestring. The author goes over the basics of selecting your trees, homemade evaporators, the boiling down process and includes tips from small-time sugarers from across the country.

Author of "Hobo Finds A Home" about a barn cat who wanted more out of life and editor "Of A Predatory Heart" outdoor stories that will make you laugh and cry.

My copy of this book is in tatters, because I have read it so much. Since buying the book I went on a canoeing expedition to one of the northern rivers Cliff talks about in the book. I would agree with most of what Cliff recommends. This book or the newer edition is a must if you are going to do an extended canoe trip in the wilderness.

Good reference book, interesting read. The section on BEARS pays for the whole thing. Here I thought I was doing right, but now I find that I am lucky I ain't been et yet.

This book takes you through the planning, paddling, and post adventure stages of an expedition canoeing experience. It is a very thorough collection of expedition canoeing issues, from one of the leading authorities on expedition canoe travel.

A terrific read for novices and pros alike. The writing is easy to follow and accompanied by detailed diagrams and photos.

It is required reading for all of our guides and clients taking part in one of our expeditions.

This is not a book for the novice. I suppose it would be enjoyed but to really apprieciate the excellent ideas and tips, I think one would need to have many wilderness miles in your log. I rank this book with Colin Fletcher's [The Complete Walker] from back in the 70's at the top of the advanced "how to books" list. Well written with just the right amount of stories and humor. This is not to be read by just those useing canoes or traveling the far north. If you spend as much time as you can get away with "out there" you will love this read.

Cliff Jacobson has once agian set a new standard for canoe tripping literature. In his most recent publication, Expedition Canoeing: A guide to Canoeing Wild Rivers in North America, Jabobson goes where no other book of this kind has gone. The book is a thorough and comprehensive collection of every aspect of expedition canoe travel. Jacobson covers everything from choosing a river to the meals that you can prepare in barren land, but what sets this book apart from others is that he includes his own novel concepts for the trail alongside time-tested techniques that only someone with his experience can add. This book will surely become the standard against which all other books of this nature will be measured. The book is an absolute must for anyone wishing to venture north with a canoe.

What an impressive book - you get 400+ pages of ways to make life more comfortable for someone with Alzheimers. These also help the caregiver in a variety of situations.
The advice covers things like how to deal with wandering and gives four types of this behavior. It tells how to eliminate places to hide and rummage, coping with fears (of bathing, of strangers, of abandonment), and managing incontinence.
The book helps with mobility issues, addresses safety and how to manage daily living. It includes a valuable section (38 pages) lists where to find special products from stair lifts to bathing aids to ramps to bedwetting alarms.
I'm so glad to see a book this comprehensive to assist with Alzheimer's needs.

Mark Warner's book on Alzheimer's proofing your home is more than a how to book. Mr. Warner gives an in-depth description of the ways in which Alzheimer's disease affects a person's life, and the life of the extended family. By understanding the disease in depth and the changes that take place in a person physical and emotional need, there is a context to understanding why modifications and alterations are needed. He explains what to do and why to do it. His approach is that of a loving caregiver who not only wants to make the home safe and secure, but also wants to raise the quality of life. . Modifications are practical, but also designed to bring comfort. Even after over two decades of working professionally with people with memory loss, many of his suggestions caught me by surprise. I kept saying to myself, "why didn't I think of that?" He addresses all the behaviors associated with the disease, from wandering to agitation, and suggests environment solutions that could ease the situation. Not only will this bring a higher level of comfort to the person with the disease, but many of the suggestions are a benefit for anyone who wishes to have a safe and barrier free home. I recommend this book to anyone caring for someone with Alzheimer's, anyone involved in home care, and anyone who is interested in altering environments to meet specific needs of unique individuals. Like any thoughtful book, his ideas about adapting environments to the needs of people with Alzheimer's disease also stretches one's thinking about changing environments for anyone with specific needs, or who wants to think about the highest level of safety for family members.

Since first reading this book over 14 months ago, I've found it a constant source for information and resources. It addresses the problems I encounter on a daily basis AND gives sources for products that I can use to provide better care for my loved one.

"...Alzheimer's Proofing Your Home" is the most complete, most helpful, and most insightful volume I have read on the subject of AD care. With incredible attention to detail, every issue one could encounter is addressed individually. It isn't enough to have a how-to-do-it manual with AD - Mark confronts matters like behavior, wandering, mobility, safety and comfort with deep sensitivity and compassion. A rich, in-depth source of information, Mark explains in detail how to transform any home into a safe haven in a manner that the patient will find warm and welcoming. Cognitive, spatial, and emotional deficits can be compensated for using Mark's well thought out guidelines, and I wish his book had been around when I began caregiving many years ago. There are many books on the subject, all filling a need; but Mark's is far and away superior to anything I've read, which is considerable. Hundreds of situations and their remedies are explored. Concerns encountered as AD progresses are addressed one by one, with a wealth of hints, tips, and shortcuts that are the lifesaver of harried caregivers. Easy to accomplish safety and comfort measures are provided - how needed! Emphasis is placed on concerns all CGs share - how to keep loved ones protected and content, AD being the antithesis of both. Mark has given us an instructional book, made warm and personal because it's about individuals and their needs. There is a comprehensive listing of product and service providers for caregivers, and most of the numbers are toll free. The title of this book does not begin to do it justice, it's so much more. Plus, it's very attractively bound - a beautiful volume of superior quality. Among my treasured books on the subject of dementia caregiving, this is my bible. ..........Sue B.

This book is a must for caregivers and professionals facing the challenges of Alzheimer's. It is the first book I've read devoted to Alzheimer's care that offers something more than reasons to institutionalize our people. Caregivers need information, options and where to access tools and resources before they can make informed decisions about their choices or their role as caregiver. As someone who spent 25 years designing rehabilitations plans for handicapped people and another 10 years facing the care of my husband, Tom, who died of this disease in our home, this is the first volume I've picked up that speaks of caregiving in positive, life-giving, do-able terms and not the drudgery that we are all led to believe consumes the process. While it offers pragmatic, workable, affordable solutions to caregivers, it never loses sight of the continued humanity and needs of our family members for love and regard in spite of their loss of cognitive skills. My experience as a caregiver was met with nothing but obsticles in my quest to keep my husband home, a journey I relate in my book, "He Used to be Somebody." I found Tom's care problems were 75% attitude and 25% tools, resources and help. This book offers both to families. I highly recommend it.

This is the most clearly written book I could find on dust collection. The author makes it very clear that dust is dangerous to your long term health and then concisly states through pictures and words how to help you make woodworking a life long experience. I highly recommend this as a first and maybe only book on dust collection.

When someone asks you a riddle, it is complex in trying to find an answer. Once you find it, or someone gives it to you, it seems so obvious, you may blurt out, "I knew that" Well that is what the author has done with every aspect of controlling dust in the workshop. This guy knows it so well, that he has reduced it to simplicity. No guesswork in his approach. He states it, and that is the end of it. It is a highly recommended read. No nonsense, simply put, this is the way to put the best dust collection system together.
Here is what I decided to do, after reading the book. Although the author recommends a cyclone dust collector, I am purchasing the JDS Dust Force, with the 1 micron kit, (be sure and get the optional 1 micron kit) and a Woodstock International separator. The price of doing it that way is one third of the cost of the a cyclone unit. Home made units can be made, and he points the way on how to do it, but I would prefer to not have to build one, since I have enough projects to do already. His penchant for the cyclone unit, is that chunks of wood, or even worse metal, won't be dancing off of the fan blade, which could cause a spark. The only thing that arrives at the cyclone filter is a little powder. Additoinally their isn't any vacuum loss with a cyclone, due to resistance. Well the JDS Dust force delivers more air at 1200 CFM, so the small amount of resistance created by the Wookstock International pre separator is of no consquence. Additoinally it prevents anything other than fine powder getting near the fan blade and filter as well.
Since the popular Oneida 2HP cyclone unit only gives you 1100, and their 1.5HP is rated for 750 as I recall, and at three times the cost.
This book gets into everything you need to know, to set up a complete system. In addition to the book, I noticed at the Onieda-air.com site, they had a sample room layout, with the proper pipe sizes etc. Proper sizing and layout, will give you the right amount of performance, and in proportion for the varying needs of different types of tools.
I guess I am getting a little wordy. Buy the book. It will save you way more than the purchase price in your quest for the dust free shop.

I like this book because for one the photos are very clear and in color. All too often woodworking books come with drawn pictures or black and white photos, which I hate. One of the best things I like about this book is Rick Peters shows you how to make simple dust collection hookup for each of your machines. I already made 2, which work great. The only thing I disagree with is the fact he tells you not to use PVC for your ducting. I live in a humid climate so static electricity is the least of my worries. This topic has been debated to death, and I guess Rick is on one side of the debate, but PVC is so much easier to work with and more readily available. Plus it is [less expensive]. All in all this is a fine book.

This book could save you life. Dust can be very dangerous. This book will more than pay for it's self when you decide to collect that dust instead of breathing it. The book is aimed a small commercial or home workshop. My family joked and laughed at me for buying a book about dust. After looking over the book, my son said it is interesting, and he was glad i bought it. I am just about finished with the instalation of a dust collection system in my shop. I used a lot of great input from this book. Peters recommends metal pipe over PVC. I have a friend who has a nice PVC system, and will be replacing the PVC with metal. In the past I had a large commercial DC system that worked very well. I expect this smaller system will work well too.

I ordered this book before setting up my 1000 sq/ft shop. It really cleared up a lot of things. I was considering buying 2 of the popular (Jet or Delta) bag collectors... one for each end of my shop.

However, after reading the book, I decided this would be a cheaper way to go, but not a better way. I ended up buying a cyclone unit and using all metal ductwork. More expensive, but safer and much more efficient.

I love this book....the kid on the cover is adorable and I already made that hat for my kids, it is so cute and so easy to make. All these projects are amazing and so much fun. I love being a crafty mama. You must have this book if you have children. You will love all the things you make and be so proud of yourself (also you can make great gifts for the grandparents).

I just got my "Crafty Mama" book and I LOVE it! There are tons of totally simple, affordable "looks-like-I-spent-20-hours-and-a-zillion-dollars" (but I DIDN'T!) craft projects I can't wait to get started on. Plus the writing is hilarious, the instructions are crystal clear and the pictures are totally inspiring! This book is a MUST BUY for any grandma, mama or auntie of a toddler or baby!

I am SOOOOOO not-crafty, but I LOVE things with my baby's picture on it. ANYTHING with my baby's picture on it!!!! So I envy all of those people who have cute personalized bags, t-shirts, mugs with their kids' pics! This book makes it so even I, the NON-CRAFTY MOM, can have super-cute personalized stuff for me AND super-cute home-made stuff for my kid!!! And the author is funny to boot, so the projects are all a lot of fun! I would recommend for all moms of little-ones, crafty or not, who just want adorable, personalized stuff!

I love the projects in this book! I'm a novice (ok, terrible) crafter yet I was able to create these projects flawlessly and they turned out great... and I was able to make tons of great gifts (some for myself!) for super cheap. I definitely recommend this book.

I took a class with Abby, the author, which was phenomenal. Her creativity is AMAZING and her projects are unbelievably simple and fun to create, yet are extremely useful/practical and beautiful. I am so excited to buy the book and see what new and fabulous ideas she has come up with!

Anyone who has to hire film or video crews and other production personnel should consider this book. The author covers nearly every production category imaginable - so much so that it's like NAB in a book. With so many new digital and film products on the market today, this book makes it a lot easier to talk the right lingo with essential crew members and stay informed of what new and old options are available for any production budget.

Anyone who has to hire film or video crews and other production personnel should consider this book. The author covers nearly every production category imaginable - so much so that it's like NAB in a book. With so many new digital and film products on the market today, this book makes it a lot easier to talk the right lingo with essential crew members and stay informed of what new and old options are available for any production budget.

I purchased this book as a graduation gift for a friend in film school
and then I bought myself a copy. I've been using it in production
meetings to discuss equipment options with my crew and I plan to add it
to the list of required reading for all of my production interns.
This book really covers an incredible spectrum of production tools
available to filmmakers and video users alike.

This book is full of toys that I didn't even knew existed. I was really impressed with the depth of product and information that they gathered in this book. There is some great gear in this book that I have to get. It contained things that I never would have imagined. And they will help speed up and drastically improve my next film shoot. Good find.

I purchased this book as a graduation gift for a friend in film school and then I bought myself a copy. I've been using it in production meetings to discuss equipment options with my crew, and I plan to add it to the list of required reading for all of my production interns.
This book really covers an incredible spectrum of production tools available to filmmakers and video users alike.