Any readers of Buffalo Bird Woman's Garden?

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Hey folks,

I was just reminded of one of the most profound gardening books I have ever read. It is called Buffalo Bird Woman's Garden by Gilbert L. Wilson. The book chronicles a year in the gardening life of one of the last surviving Hidatsa women in the Dakotas.

When I was stymied because of perceived technological needs, when I was curious to know whether and how to use antled and bone to make tools, when I was looking for ways to nurture the soil, this book was there...and still is there although I have not looked through it now for 3 years.

Has anyone read this book? Do you have such a title that rises to the absolute top of your gardening and life/philosophy list?

Oscar

-- Oscar H. Will III (owill@mail.whittier.edu), February 16, 2002

Answers

Found this online source for Buffalo Bird Woman's Garden, http://www.artsci.wustl.edu/~landc/html/wilson/, it is 88k, if anyone is interested.

-- BC (desertdweller44@yahoo.com), February 16, 2002.

Oh yes, I have the book and thank you for reminding me of it. I must read it again!

-- Ardie/WI (ardie54965@hotmail.com), February 16, 2002.

Thank you Oscar! I'll have to see if I can find a bookstore that carries it. I have searched all over the internet trying to find personal stories on how the Native Americans gardened, with no luck. Thanks again for the info. Appreciate it!

-- Annie (mistletoe6@earthlink.net), February 16, 2002.

Buffalo Bird Woman's Garden is for sale by Pinetree Seeds for $11.95. They also have Waheenee: An Indian Girl's Story, which is the childhood story of Buffalo Bird Woman for $8.95. I bought Waheenee for my daughter, but I got Buffalo Bird Woman's Garden from the library through interlibrary loan. It was a wonderful book.

-- Sheryl in ME (radams@sacoriver.net), February 16, 2002.

I read this book about 10 years ago and it has inspired me to grow my gourds or squash with my beans and corn. I continue to use the pelvic bone of a goat when planting in the garden because it pushes out just enough soil to give plantlings enough room for root systems to grow.I cannot help but wonder if 200 years ago the Native Americans who lived in this region used the same (but most probably from a deer).Terry

-- Terry Lipe (elipe@fidnet.com), February 17, 2002.


a friend of mine read it for her school work , a great book, and am in the process of reading it , wow, so neat, for her it was part of her state studies(we are in ND )

-- Beth Van Stiphout (willosnake@hotmail.com), February 18, 2002.

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