Big Ideas for Small Spaces

http://www.renaud-bray.com

http://www.renaud-bray.com

A practical guide to creating a green oasis in the city.Big Ideas for Small Spaces is for anyone with a small outdoor space that they wish to green up . While the projects and advice are valuable to any gardener, they are especially useful to urbanites surrounded by concrete who nonetheless want to enjoy the soothing environment of a garden.Thirty step-by-step projects show how to transform balconies, windowsills, rooftops, pocket-sized patios, even walls, into features of lush greenery, grasses and blooms. They reveal how to create space for perennials, herbs, vegetables, bulbs for season-long flowers, and even shrubs or small trees, as well as seating, tables, lighting, and decorative elements.The first four sections provide expert advice with numerous illustrated examples:1. Garden Anywhere -- Why small spaces are different (Microclimates, Wind, Shade, Pollution, Access, Water, Weight, Privacy); Why get growing? (Beauty, the Environment, Health, Wildlife, Pollution, Crime, Community)2. Where Does Your Garden Grow? -- Making the most of your space (Container growing, Raised beds, Walls, Windowsills, Rooftops, Balconies, Patios, Side yards)3. Think Outside the Box -- Design tricks (Focal points, Breaking up a small space, Boundaries, Color, Creative containers, Lighting, Water, Mirrors, Storage, Seating)4. The Projects - The projects include You Will Need checklists, tip boxes, and step-by-step photographs. They use inexpensive or repurposed materials, standard tools, and are exceptionally easy to do.