Gear For Good Living - Products for a Sustainable Lifestyle

Gear For Good Living^TM

^{Products for a
Sustainable Lifestyle}

The concept of "Gear for Good Living" was developed by Lyman Wood, the direct marketing entrepreneur and visionary promoter of the "garden way of living." The story of his life is told in the fascinating business biography: What a Way to Live and Make a Living: The Lyman P. Wood Story

The book can be ordered directly from the publisher, In Brief Press, or from amazon.com. See below for more information about Lyman and how to order.

Lyman Wood - entrepreneur and promoter of the "garden way of living" - was one of the founders of Garden Way, Inc. which built and sold the Troy-Bilt Rototiller, the big-wheeled Garden Way Carts, and many other products for home and garden. Lyman helped develop many of these products at the experimental vegetable gardens near his home at Cedar Beach in Charlotte, Vermont. But even more important to Lyman was the creation of an ethic of doing business in a way that was beneficial to others, including employees, customers, and the environment. He called his approach "not for profit only" business practices, and "doing well by doing good." One of his proudest accomplishments was the founding of Garden Way's non-profit arm called Gardens For All, which promoted vegetable gardening and community gardens in Vermont and throughout the United States. Gardens For All is now known as the National Gardening Association, and is located in South Burlington, Vermont.

Roger Griffith, a former editor at Garden Way Publishing, wrote the book about Lyman's business life and Garden Way. The title is What a Way to Live and Make a Living: The Lyman P. Wood Story. It was published in 1994 by In Brief Press. Drawing on Lyman's over 50 years of experience as one of the pioneers of direct marketing in America, this very readable book is full of anecdotes, marketing tips, sage advice and musings about business and life in the twentieth century.

252 pages, illustrated, quality soft cover

How to Order

What a Way to Live and Make a Living: The Lyman P. Wood Story

Save 20% & shipping charges by ordering directly from the publisher

Mail your order to:

In Brief Press, P.O. Box 84, Charlotte, VT 05445

Include a check for $15.95 per copy (plus 6% sales tax for Vermonters) This is a savings of 20% off the retail price of $19.95, and includes FREE shipping via priority mail.

Questions? Send an e-mail or call 802-425-2761 for more information.

Or the book can be ordered online from amazon.com. Use their "Search Inside the Book" feature to view portions of the book.

We are seeking new solar and alternative energy products that will meet your needs for a sustainable lifestyle. In the meantime, here are links to companies that manufacture and/or sell products for the home and garden that were developed and promoted by Lyman Wood and others associated with the Garden Way Companies:

Big-Wheeled Garden Carts
The Squeezo Strainer and other Country Kitchen and Homestead Helpers
Books for Country Living including the original Have-More Plan, "A Little Land, A Lot of Living"
Gardeners Supply Co.
The original Town & Country Cart
Troy-Bilt Rototillers
DR Trimmer-Mowers, Field & Brush Mowers, Power-Wagons

Lyman lived his life by the "golden rule," and developed his own simple rules: his "keys" to a happier life. They have brought strength and comfort to family, friends and many others for over 60 years. Here they are:

1. Be thankful always.

2. Be giving always

3. Be forgiving always.

4. Be self-helpful always.

5. Be faith-full always.

More history: Lyman always preferred to work at home, at the dining room table. But encouraged by his family, he built a log cabin in 1965 near his house at Cedar Beach in Charlotte. It was used as an office overlooking his experimental vegetable gardens .


In 1972 he added the Meeting House portion of the building, designed to serve as the headquarters and board of directors meeting place for Garden Way, Inc. After an unfriendly internal takeover on January 28, 1982, Garden Way departed from Vermont. In subsequent years Lyman continued to use the Meeting House as incubator space for a variety of businesses that he helped start: Country Home Products, Treadle Power Inc., In Brief Press, and Home, Farm & Garden Research Associates. For several years after his death in December 1996 it was used as a retreat center and the home of Earth Friendly Baby Products. It is now a private residence.