A horticulture professor of mine used to state that “plants absorb nutrients in the ionic form and the plant doesn’t care if the nutrients come from a bag or a cow pie.” Jeff Gilman expands upon this line of thinking to thoughtfully explore how, when and why we should consider using organic fertilizers, pesticides, and gardening techniques. As he discusses each subject he provides the benefits, drawbacks, and his bottom line summary of when it is beneficial to use organic versus synthetic products. Mr. Gilman is a horticulture professor and his subject matter is presented so that the book is easy to read and understand.