Greenwoman Publishing was founded on three passions: an enthusiasm for gardening and nature, a deep love of garden writing, and a desire to do something that would turn people on to both.
Twenty-five years ago I discovered garden writing through Bonnie Marranca's American Garden Writing. A new world opened up for me through the words of Thomas Jefferson, Alice Morse Earle, J. I. Rodale, Wendell Berry, Allen Lacy, Elizabeth Lawrence, and many others.
I learned that the genre of garden writing was a marriage of Nature and Culture: the beauty, magic, and science of gardening as it connected to history, art, politics, fashion, ecology, philosophy . . . everything!
It made me want to get my hands into the soil, to create my own garden, and, most importantly, to be a better steward of the earth. It made me want to write and publish work that excited others about gardening and the natural world. Greenwoman Publishing is devoted to green thought in all its forms--fiction, creative nonfiction, poetry, biography, art, and comics. We publish a rich variety of new voices and we revisit the classics.
Our Exciting New Release for 2019:
Please Don't Piss on the Petunias!
Please Don't Piss on the Petunias is a collection of essays and stories by a Colorado gardener with a dream: to give her two daughters the nature-centered childhood she had always longed for. When her husband finds an old house in a quirky part of town, she begins to make her dream a reality.
Engaging, edgy, and often hilarious, Please Don’t Piss on the Petunias follows Sandra Knauf as she turns a weed-filled yard into an urban paradise. Over the course of several chaotic years, she:
Muddles through "mistress gardener" training, learning the ABCs of horticulture.
Raises, with her young daughters, exotic breed bantam chickens named after Greek goddesses.
Goes on her first bee-swarm capture.
Discovers that a hen in their small flock has undergone a sex change.
Copes with a series of family dogs: a rambunctious rescue Dalmatian, a destructive black Lab puppy, and a counterfeit teacup Chihuahua with a bad attitude.
Adds to the animal menagerie: Netherlands dwarf rabbits, fancy backyard goldfish, triops from the age of the dinosaurs, and more.
Through creating a life filled with plants and animals (and plenty of love) Sandra makes a discovery that will resonate with any rebel: Going off the beaten path may be the best way to find out who you really are.
"An ambitious sci-fi novel that will charm eco-champions . . ." -Kirkus Reviews
". . . Knauf 's powers of description are marvelous, as is her ability to create original, funny characters and terrific, punchy dialogue. . . . will leave readers hoping for a sequel." -BlueInk Review
"The minor characters are exquisite: lively, entertaining, and complex." -San Francisco Book Review
Greenwoman Publishing's logo was inspired by antique drawings of the legendary Picts—the Celts who painted their bodies before going into battle. The warrior-soul and the natural/celestial designs resonated with Sandra when she sought the perfect image for her publishing venture.
Colorado Springs artist Mike Beenenga created this powerful and distinctive logo. You can see his work on Facebook at Artistic Gold Creative Concepts.