The Shelter Island Public Library may be closed, but it has loads of online resources available to cardholders including a great selection of gardening e-books.
Gardening — even if just in a container on your porch — is a great way to get some fresh air and exercise. And garden supplies are available right here on Shelter Island, with online ordering and curbside pickup to limit social interactions.
Gardening e-books
To find e-books, go to the Shelter Island Library website, shelterislandpubliclibrary.org, and in the menu at the top of the page select online resources, and from the drop-down menu select Live-brary.
Or, just follow this link: https://www.livebrary.com/database-information.
Once you get there, sign in with your library card number and your password. If you have a library card, but have never ordered online before, you can register as a new user.
Live-brary is a resource shared by all of the libraries in Suffolk County. You can search by topic, by author, by category, or more — just be sure you’re looking only at e-books during these days of library shutdowns. It’ll be a while before hard copies of books are back in circulation.
Titles the library recommends
These are some of the e-book titles the Shelter Island Public Library recommended in its weekly newsletter:
(Note: like regular books, e-books have circulation limits and you may find there’s a wait due to increased demand)
Vertical Gardening by Derek Fell, which encourages gardeners to “grow up, not out” to get higher yields in a smaller space.
The Ultimate Self-Sufficiency Handbook by Abigail R. Gehring, a complete guide to baking, crafts, gardening, preserving your harvest, raising animals, and more.
Any Size, Anywhere Edible Gardening by William Moss, the no yard, no time, no problem way to grow your own food.
Year-Round Indoor Salad Gardening by Peter Burke, how to grow nutrient-dense, soil-sprouted greens in less than 10 days.
Herb Gardening by Melissa Melton Snyder, how to prepare the soil, choose your plants, and care for, harvest and use your herbs
Rodale’s Basic Organic Gardening by Deborah L. Martin, a beginner’s guide to starting a healthy garden.
The Complete Compost Gardening Guide by Deborah L. Martin and Barbara Pleasant, how to develop mature compost right in your garden.
Shelter Island ACE Hardware
As an essential business, Shelter Island ACE Hardware is open, but with reduced hours, 7:30AM to 3PM daily, opening at 11AM Sundays. And, the owners want to keep everyone working there safe.
Toward that end, shoppers are encouraged to order supplies online through the ACE hardware website, choosing Shelter Island from the store locator. The items will be ready for you to pickup curbside at the store, 4 Grand Avenue in the Heights.
It there is something you need but don’t see it on the website, you’re welcome to call the store, 631-749-0097, or drop by and shop, but keep this request in mind:
“If you come in our store, please respect our space,” Shelter Island ACE Hardware said on its Facebook page. “Please practice social distancing. Please remember we all have families that we go home to. Please, if you are sick, showing possible symptoms or have been around anyone who is sick, please DO NOT come in our store. Thank you.”
Tips for safe gardening
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention offers tips for safe gardening, including:
- dress to protect
- put safety first
- know your limits (especially in the heat)
- be sure your tetanus vaccination is up to date
“Gardening can be a great way to enjoy the outdoors, get physical activity, beautify the community, and grow nutritious fruits and vegetables,” the CDC says. “If you are a beginner or expert gardener, health and safety should always be a priority.”
Find details at the CDC website, https://www.cdc.gov/family/gardening/index.htm.
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