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debz57a52's review
4.0
I grew up in the Cleveland area (although not Strongsville - I only got down there a few times) around the same time as Jen did, so I was really interested in this local history kind of book. It truly satisfies my need for personal narrative while allow weaving bits of related history and science, sometimes without me noticing the shift in focus. I hate that the Hirt family has gone through so much trouble, especially since Jen's descriptions of her family's greenhouses are so full of feeling that I would love to visit them, but it feels like she tried really hard to finish off the book with a "don't weep for us" kind of mood... which I don't. My favorite section: the collage-like essay "Stronghold." After reading a book like this, I want to really work at turning my black thumb into a green thumb, put the Grotto of Redemption on my bucket list, and research exotic fringe plants and their uses.
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