1921-2009

King of the DIY HOW-TO writers — Gladstone was a prolific writer, photographer and ideaman for Popular Science and later was the home-workshop columnist for The New York Times for over 30 years. [more]

Was also a boater and a WWII veteran who had enlisted in the Army in 1942, finally discharged after sustaining injuries in the war.

Retired to Bradenton Florida. Died Jan 29, 2009 in University Park Florida. At the time of his death, he was survived by daughter Robin, his second wife Sandra Zalbowitz, four stepchildren. He was also a grandfather.A funeral service was held on Monday Feb 2 2009 at 11 a.m. at Toale Brothers Funeral Home. [NYTimes obit] [Paid notice from Ruth] [Guestbook (behind paywall)]

Career

Wrote for Popular Science as a teen and soon worked up to editor — commuted to Manhattan from his Long Island home — lived there in late 40s with his wife and children and had one of the first bamboo-laden postwar basement tiki bars, with Kentile flooring (including shuffleboard court) plus other side for laundry, clothing storage closet (painted with cedar paint to deter moths and with an indicator light on outside to show if light was left on), and a photographic darkroom.

Also wrote for Mechanix Illustrated.

Later went on to be a popular and syndicated columnist for The New York Times and retired in 1991, but continued to work freelance from home and file stories for several years until retiring to Florida.

Gladstone was the author (or editor) of many DIY books such as The Complete Home Guide to Furniture Finishing and Refinishing and The New Boatkeeper: Motorboating & Sailing’s Authoritative Guide to Maintenance, Repair and Improvement.

Articles etc

Wrote hundreds and hundreds of short articles on home handyman projects as well as collections of hints and tips. Many of his Popular Science articles were collected and repackaged into paperback books for the handyman and do-it-yourselfer.

• How to Install a Live Well
• The Right Way To Choose And Use Solvents
• Plaster ‘bridge’ repairs wall cracks
• Insulate attic door to prevent cool drafts
• Smoke and Fire Alarms (scroll down midway)
• Pros and Cons on Reel and Rotary Lawn Mowers

For further reference

Topsy Turvy

A commerical product is available, Topsy Turvy. [old]

“Tomato-Growing Device Turns World of Gardening Upside Down, Had Appeared on QVC” [archive]

Making your own inverted planters

There’s a number of articles on DIY methods. One simple, effective way is to put a cherry tomato plant through the bottom hole of a plastic hanging planter, fill it with dirt and plant parsley on the top of it.

Some use plastic 2-liter soda jugs and mount them to stakes outdoors.

“Inverted Indoor Gardening” was a 2006 article on making an indoor planter according to this method. [archive]

Another DIY guide to doing this.

Culinary Lavendar

“Cooking with Lavendar” includes a history of lavendar and a dozen interesting recipes (crostini with white truffle & olive paste, lavendar sorbet)

Happy Valley Lavendar & Herb Farm recipes (lavendar lemonade)

Crafts

Homemade lavendar soap balls

[google]

Books

Links and articles

Advocated washed beach sand for use in potting soil mixture [NYTimes ref]

Brought perennial asters from Britain to the Brooklyn Botanic Garden in 1921 [NY Times article about their 1922 bloom]

Free’s 1951 comments on Maud H. Purdy (1873–1965)

Article on perennial gardens mentions Free’s All About the Perennial Garden.

[intro]

“Although almost 40 years old, this article explains the mysteries of these plants which still fascinate bushwalkers today.”

The International Triggerplant Society

Tricker’s is the oldest pond and water lily specialist and do mail order.