Gardening: plants and cultivation guides Books

Book SynopsisUnlock the power of one of nature's most beneficial herbs--and explore the many modern applications of lavender. Learn to make nourishing, all-natural, and affordable remedies for mind and body, as well as home cleaning products. Plus, discover lavender as a culinary ingredient and whip up delcious cocktails and more! Here, you'll find simple herbal remedies, tips, and projects for inspiration, relaxation and well-being, as well as info for growing and cultivating your own lavendar plants. Harness the natural power of lavender with recipes for: * Lavender Matcha Latte * Yoga Mat Freshening Mist * Dried Lavender Fire-Starter * Lavender Frose * Day's End Tea * Blue Day Lavender Roll-Away * Nourishing Lavender Makeup Remover * Lavender and Rose Fizzy Bath Salts * Sweet Dreams Diffuser Oil * Soothing Eye Pillow The book covers gardening (favorite varieties and pollinators); preserving (harvesting, drying, and extracting culinary oil); body care (essential oils, aromatherapy, oral remedies); the mind (stress relief and sleep); skin care (including allergens); cleaning (antiseptic and antifungal properties); food (pantry essentials); and projects (including gifts).Trade Review"[A] well-rounded book on lavender . . . From gardening to oil-making to cooking up foods and teas, this book has a little something lavender for everyone." -Booklist

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Book SynopsisIt is an illustrated guide to varieties, cultivation and care, with step-by-step instructions and more than 130 beautiful photographs. It offers everything you need to know about fuchsias at a glance in one handy practical gardening guide. It includes a beautiful photographic directory of over 35 types, including both hardy and tender fuchsias. For each variety, full botanical information is provided on the plant's history, growth, size and flowering. It includes step-by-step guidance on planting, propagating, pruning and training fuchsias, and dealing with pests and diseases. It features superb ideas for planting bedding fuchsias in the garden, growing in containers, potting on, creating beautiful hanging baskets and cultivating under glass. It is the definitive handbook for one of the most popular and best-loved garden plants. It is not surprising that fuchsias are among the most popular plants grown today. Few, if any, other flowering shrubs can rival the fuchsia for its reliability and ease of cultivation, combined with the staggering variety of hues, shapes and sizes which make it such a familiar sight of summer. This practical book explains how to use fuchsias to their best advantage in the garden - as bedding plants, in borders, as hedges, and in containers and baskets - and provides a complete guide to over 35 varieties. From selecting the best types to planting baskets, pruning and training, the book offers expert advice that will help you to grow and enjoy these wonderful plants.

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Book SynopsisThis is an illustrated guide to varieties, cultivation and care, with step-by-step instructions and over 170 beautiful photographs. Features: everything you need to know at a glance in one handy and magnificently illustrated practical guide; full photographic directory of over 50 varieties, including single zonal, double zonal, dwarf zonal, rosebud zonal, regal, angel, decorative, scented leaf and stellar; step-by-step guidance on planting, propagating and growing pelargoniums, and controlling pests and diseases; tips for growing and displaying pelargoniums outside and indoors, in beds, hanging baskets and window boxes; for each variety, full botanical information is provided on history, growth, hue, height, spread and suitability; and a highly accessible guide to some of the most popular flowering plants, celebrating their diversity and beauty. Pelargoniums are one of the most cherished groups of garden plants. They are particularly renowned for the impact of their vibrant flowers, their pretty leaves and rich aromatic scent, and they thrive both outdoors and inside. This book guides you through the simple techniques involved in growing and propagating these decorative plants, and illustrates some of the most popular cultivars. It includes a history of pelargoniums, with advice on how to recognize the different types. A fully illustrated plant directory describes over 40 recommended varieties, together with expert advice on selecting the best ones, planting them in beds and hanging baskets, and dealing with pests and diseases. The book will help you to create pretty displays indoors, in conservatories, on windowsills or as outdoor plants.

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Book SynopsisThis is an illustrated guide to varieties, cultivation and care, with step-by-step instructions and over 145 stunning photographs. It features a directory of over 50 varieties of succulents, including Agave, Aloe, Cotyledon, Euphorbia, Haworthia, Kalanchoe, Lithops, Sedum and Testudinaria. It features step-by-step photographic guidance on planting, repotting, propagation by seeds and cuttings, everyday maintenance, and common pests and diseases. For each variety, full botanical information is provided on growth, spread, size and flowering, as well as suggestions for other recommended species to try. One of the great wonders of nature is the ability of plants to adapt and survive in the harshest of environments. Growing mostly in desert areas, succulents provide many fascinating examples of this. Among this plant group there is an astonishing variety of size, shape and hue to be found, ranging from Testudinaria elephantipes, with its swollen hemispherical wooden base, to stone plants such as Lithops, that are little more than a pair of swollen leaves. This book features 50 of the best varieties, and explains how to cultivate and care for them.Hardy and stoical, but also immensely varied, every grower will find a succulent to suit their tastes.

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Book SynopsisWinner of the Garden Media Guild Awards Reference Book of the Year 2016, the Guild of Food Writers Food Book of the year 2016, and the BBC Food & Farming Awards 2016 for Outstanding Achievement.Accompanied by a beautiful and comprehensive website of the same name, this wonderfully unique book is an indispensable and one-of-a-kind guide. It tells the story of the pear from its delightful taste and wonderful appearance to breeding and cultivation, following the fruit’s journey through history and around the world.Beautifully illustrated with 40 botanical watercolour paintings by Elisabeth Dowle, The Book of Pears is the most up-to-date and comprehensive guide to the pear. Moving through continents and cultures, Joan Morgan celebrates the pear’s long history as both a fresh and cooking fruit. Revealing the secrets of the pear as a status symbol, some of the most celebrated fruit growers in history, and how the pear came to be so important as an international commodity.The pear directory, which makes up the second half of the book, covers the world’s ancient and modern varieties, each with full tasting notes and historical, geographical and horticultural detail. A fully illustrated version of this directory is shown on the author's website www.thebookofpears.fruitforum.netTrade ReviewJoan Morgan’s magnificent new work on Pears…my food book of the year.. illustrated with Elizabeth Dowle’s exquisite paintings’ -- Nigel Slater * Instagram *A remarkable book, a scholarly work, a joy to read and look at. -- Sheila Dillon * The Food Programme, BBC Radio 4 *The publication of this most readable book is a cause for celebration. -- Ursula Buchan * The Spectator *The Book of Pears is ‘stunning, it’s beautiful, brim-full of information and inspiration.’ -- Lord Hall * BBC Radio 4 Food and Farming Awards *This is food history at its finest. Morgan’s rigorous and fluent prose grows from its botanical base to widen our understanding of society and culture. * TLS *

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Book SynopsisThe team at Gardeners' World bring you the ultimate guide to your gardening year, from planning and planting to troubleshooting tips and gardening discovery. Organised by month, this book includes lists, timetables, step-by-step guidance and expert advice for year-round gardening, as well as an informative guide on what to plant when and projects for every season. Complemented by beautiful hand-drawn illustrations and tips from your favourite gardening personalities, The Gardeners' World Almanac will help you make your garden look its very best throughout the year.

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Book SynopsisLearn how to make stylish dried floral designs that will last longer than freshly cut bouquets.Do you adore having flowers around the house but they always seem to wilt and fall to pieces as soon as you place them in water? No longer! Join the trend of DIY drying and create stunning bouquets that will outlast fresh cuts while still adding that soft, romantic floral touch.Expert florist Carolyn Dunster breathes new life into the age-old art of growing, drying, and displaying blooms in ways that will bring a chic, natural vibe to any room. Whether you are looking for elegant DIY bridal arrangements or trying to add a little bohemian flair to a room's décor, there are dried designs that will complement every aesthetic and occasion.Written for a new, younger audience that is just discovering the art of drying flowers and from a popular British botanical stylist with a penchant for urban gardening, this book is a modern spin on a classic craft. For those who are concerned with environmental impact, dried flowers are also gaining popularity as a more sustainable approach to floristry.Dried flowers are perfect for:DIY bridal bouquets and table arrangements Stylish home décorSprucing up your place of business in an affordable, low maintenance wayThis book is an ideal purchase for anyone wanting to get started with the art of growing and drying flowers. Learn how to grow your own stems and the best combinations of colour and texture to create floral sculptures that breathe new life into any space in any season.

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Book SynopsisDeals with the basic skills that every gardener needs to know and understand. Think about what you're trying to achieve, whether it be formative shaping of the plant, maintenance, renewal or rejuvenation. Look at the best tools available for the job and the different techniques to use.Includes:* guidance on selecting and using tools and equipment* comprehensive instructions on pruning plants, including roses, shrubs and hedges* tips on how to increase cropping and flowering* advice on training for shape and supportAlan Titchmarsh imparts a lifetime of expertise in these definitive guides for beginners and experienced gardeners. Step-by-step illustrations and easy-to-follow instructions guide you through the basic gardening skills and on to the advanced techniques, providing everything you need to create and maintain your dream garden.

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Book SynopsisFew elements add interest to a garden better than a well-placed tree, and even small gardens can accommodate one. But trees are long-term investments, so it's worth knowing exactly what you want before you plant. Here Alan Titchmarsh guides us through the selection and planting processes, plus how to look after trees to ensure optimum performance and maximum impact. * Garden design ideas and where to plant trees * Practicalities of location and aspect * Ornamental effects for all seasons * Pests, tree diseases and problems * Illustrated gallery of recommended trees

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Book SynopsisRHS Companion to Wildlife Gardening is the perennial and comprehensive guide to the art of wildlife gardening. Fully revised and updated by the author, this beautiful new edition is freshly illustrated and it highlights the changes in garden wildlife over the past 35 years.Trade Review‘As ever this book remains relevant, useful and engaging…and it should be on the bookshelf of every gardener’ * Gardens Illustrated *Table of ContentsPART I WHY MAKE A WILDLIFE GARDEN? WHY WILDLIFE? A SPECIAL ROLE FOR GARDENS PLANNING THE GARDEN AS A HABITAT FOR YOU AND YOUR WILDLIFE PART I I CREATING NEW HABITATS THE WOODLAND EDGE HABITAT HEDGEROWS AND CLIMBERCOVERED SCREENS LIVE-IN LAWNS AND WILDFLOWER MEADOWS GARDEN PONDS AND OTHER ‘WETLANDS’ PART I I I SUPPLEMENTING THE HABITATS COTTAGE GARDEN SERVICE STATION A WILD KITCHEN GARDEN BOOSTING WILDLIFE HABITATS PROPAGATING NATIVE PLANTS A RICH TAPESTRY OF WILDLIFE STUDYING GARDEN WILDLIFE OVER THE GARDEN WALL PART IV USEFUL ADDRESSES INDEXES ACKNOWLEDGMENTS PICTURE CREDITS

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Book SynopsisNo dig organic gardening saves time and work. It requires an annual dressing of compost to help accelerate the improvement in soil structure and leads to higher fertility and less weeds. No dig experts, Charles Dowding and Stephanie Hafferty, explain how to set up a no dig garden. They describe how to: Make compost, enrich soil, harvest and prepare food and make natural beauty and clean ing products and garden preparations. These approaches work as well in small spaces as in large gardens. The Authors' combined experience gives you ways of growing, preparing and storing the plants you grow for many uses, including delicious vegetable feasts and many recipes and ideas for increasing self reliance, saving money, living sustainably and enjoying the pleasure of growing your own food, year round. Charles' advice is distilled from 35 years of growing vegetables intensively and efficiently; he is the acknowledged no dig guru and salad expert both in the UK and internationally. Stephanie, a kitchen gardener, grows in her small, productive home garden and allotment, and creates no dig gardens for restaurants and private estates.She presents truly delicious seasonal recipes, made from the vegetables anyone can grow. She also explains how to use common plants you can grow and forage for to make handmade preparation for the home and garden.

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Book Synopsis Elevate your backyard veggie patch into a work of sophisticated and stylish art. Kitchen Garden Revival guides you through every aspect of kitchen gardening, from design to harvesting.Author Nicole Johnsey Burke, founder of Rooted Garden, one of the leading US culinary landscape companies, and Gardenary, an online kitchen gardening education and resource company, leads the way with expert advice.Participating in the grow-your-own movement is important to both reduce your food miles and control what makes it onto your family’s table. If you’ve hesitated to take part because installing and caring for a traditional vegetable garden doesn’t seem to suit your life or your sense of style, Kitchen Garden Revival is here to show you there’s a better, more beautiful way to grow food.Instead of row after row of cabbage and pepper plants plunked into a patch of dirt in the middle of the yard, kitTrade Review“One of the other things I really loved about Kitchen Garden Revival is Nicole’s new takes on established garden ideas.” * The Kitchen Garten *“Whether the reader is a novice or experienced gardener, Kitchen Garden Revival offers information that is practical and helpful. Eric Kelley’s 230 color photos add clarity and beauty to the written word.” * OregonLive.com *“Burke’s book is filled with witty, easily-read information. The facts are intermixed with humorous stories of her mistakes while attaining her self-taught expertise.” * Triangle Garden *Not only will you learn about what crops to grow and when, but the book also guides readers through the process of building a garden and its benefits. * LifeSavvy.com *Table of ContentsPREFACE INTRODUCTION What’s a Kitchen Garden and Why It’s Time for a Revival Part One: Creating the Kitchen Garden CHAPTER 1: SITE Find the Perfect Kitchen Garden Spot CHAPTER 2: GATHER Select Your Kitchen Garden Elements CHAPTER 3: FRAME Install the Kitchen Garden Structures CHAPTER 4: FILL Add Soil and Water Part Two: Growing the Kitchen Garden CHAPTER 5: PLAN Create Your Kitchen Garden Calendar CHAPTER 6: PLANT Begin to Grow In Your Kitchen Garden CHAPTER 7: TEND How to Care for Your Kitchen Garden CHAPTER 8: HARVEST Ways to Enjoy Kitchen Garden Growth Appendix One: How to Take the Next Step in the Kitchen Garden Revival Appendix Two: Garden Listing Appendix Three: Celebrate Local Resources About the Author About the Photographer Acknowledgments Index

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Book SynopsisAll gardeners and farmers should be plant breeders, says author Carol Deppe. Developing new vegetable varieties doesn't require a specialized education, a lot of land, or even a lot of time. It can be done on any scale. It's enjoyable. It's deeply rewarding. You can get useful new varieties much faster than you might suppose. And you can eat your mistakes. Authoritative and easy-to-understand, Breed Your Own Vegetable Varieties: The Gardener's and Farmer's Guide to Plant Breeding and Seed Saving is the only guide to plant breeding and seed saving for the serious home gardener and the small-scale farmer or commercial grower. Discover: how to breed for a wide range of different traits (flavor, size, shape, or color; cold or heat tolerance; pest and disease resistance; and regional adaptation) how to save seed and maintain varieties how to conduct your own variety trials and other farm- or garden-based research how to breed for performance under organic or sustainable growing methods In this one-size-fits-all world of multinational seed companies, plant patents, and biotech monopolies, more and more gardeners and farmers are recognizing that they need to "take back their seeds." They need to save more of their own seed, grow and maintain the best traditional and regional varieties, and develop more of their own unique new varieties. Breed Your Own Vegetable Varieties: The Gardener's and Farmer's Guide to Plant Breeding and Seed Saving shows the way, and offers an exciting introduction to a whole new gardening adventure.Trade ReviewReview by John F. Swenson, Volunteer--Plant Information Office, Chicago Botanic Garden There is nothing quite like this book in the world's literature--it is the Hope diamond of horticulture. In the field of edible plants, Carol Deppe is a modest legend who has been a matchmaker and midwife to many new vegetables. In this book, Ms. Deppe explains how she and a few other masters of plant breeding have achieved their success. She encourages the rest of us to try our hands and hearts--and patience--at producing our own culinary gems. Ms. Deppe, who combines a doctorate in plant genetics with insatiable curiosity and soil-stained hands, will continue to inspire growers to participate in a creative process as ancient as farming itself. This book is an intense and readable exposition of the science and art of plant breeding, which will inspire and inform any reader. Even the casual reader who doesn't take up the challenge of developing unique garden specialties will become aware of humanity's debt to our predecessors, who turned wildlings into the organisms that can feed all of us. Ms. Deppe deserves a special pedestal in the company of her kindred spirits for this book, a revised version of a work originally published in 1993. In Good Tilth- “Every serious organic gardener and farmer needs to read this book. Even casual gardeners—in fact, anyone interested in our food supply, whether in its production or its consumption—should find it fascinating and inspiring. No one who reads it will ever look at vegetables or other plant foods in exactly the same way again. Joining Carol Deppe on her plant-breeding adventures throughout these pages is a privilege and a delight. Her mastery of genetics, far-ranging experience and contagious passion in plant-breeding, and wonderful talent for conveying it all through the written word, make her book as unique as her vegetable varieties. The food supply of the future can indeed be flavorful, nutritious, interesting, and sustainable, if we amateur plant breeders learn the lessons she shares.”"Any gardener interested in vegetable plant breeding must have this book. It is the standard reference. But it is also much more than that. Deppe's grasp of the intricacies of plant life will enlighten food lovers as well as general readers. Thank you Carol Deppe!"--Michael MacCaskey, editor-in-chief, NationalGardening.com"Deppe invites you on a journey of discovery to reclaim the lost lore of our ancestors, to relearn the traditions of seed-saving and seed-breeding and to take back control of the seed. Within you will find information not available in other garden books or anywhere else. Learn how to design trials, why and how far apart to isolate varieties for purity, how to understand and appreciate the subtleties of selection and why the detailed artistry of classical plant breeding makes most genetic engineering look like the work of simpletons. Here is a woman who knows seeds, who knows the ineffable joys working with them brings, and who has penetrated deeply into the mysteries of their inner workings. She can be your guide as you chart your own path to restore and renew a time-honored tradition one experiment at a time."--C. R. Lawn, Fedco Seeds"The gardening book of the decade." --Ken Allen"So new and unique that it could truly be called one of a kind . . . [it's] unlike any other book on the market . . . Certain to change the way many growers see the act of gardening."--Don Parker, Publisher, The Growing Edge"Deppe has done Luther Burbank one better. She has bred many significant new varieties and now has provided the instructions for others to follow her lead. Great Work. Great Book."--Suzanne Ashworth, author of Seed to Seed

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Book SynopsisScientist/gardener Carol Deppe combines her passion for organic gardening with newly emerging scientific information from many fields — resilience science, climatology, climate change, ecology, anthropology, paleontology, sustainable agriculture, nutrition, health, and medicine. In the last half of The Resilient Gardener, Deppe extends and illustrates these principles with detailed information about growing and using five key crops: potatoes, corn, beans, squash, and eggs. In this book you’ll learn how to: •Garden in an era of unpredictable weather and climate change •Grow, store, and use more of your own staple crops •Garden efficiently and comfortably (even if you have a bad back) •Grow, store, and cook different varieties of potatoes and save your own potato seed •Grow the right varieties of corn to make your own gourmet-quality fast-cooking polenta, cornbread, parched corn, corn cakes, pancakes and even savory corn gravy •Make whole-grain, corn-based breads and cakes using the author’s original gluten-free recipes involving no other grains, artificial binders, or dairy products •Grow and use popbeans and other grain legumes •Grow, store, and use summer, winter, and drying squash •Keep a home laying flock of ducks or chickens; integrate them with your gardening, and grow most of their feed. The Resilient Gardener is both a conceptual and a hands-on organic gardening book, and is suitable for vegetable gardeners at all levels of experience. Resilience here is broadly conceived and encompasses a full range of problems, from personal hard times such as injuries, family crises, financial problems, health problems, and special dietary needs (gluten intolerance, food allergies, carbohydrate sensitivity, and a need for weight control) to serious regional and global disasters and climate change. It is a supremely optimistic as well as realistic book about how resilient gardeners and their vegetable gardens can flourish even in challenging times and help their communities to survive and thrive through everything that comes their way — from tomorrow through the next thousand years. Organic gardening, vegetable gardening, self-sufficiency, subsistence gardening, gluten-free living.Trade ReviewLibrary Journal- "Resilient" gardeners adapt to challenging health, dietary, weather, or financial situations to produce food that can sustain a family through adverse times. In this guide to becoming such a gardener, plant breeder Deppe (Breed Your Own Vegetable Varieties) details her methods for safe and reliable food production-and covers more than strictly gardening-no matter your state of health or what climate you are in. She focuses on five crops with calorie, nutrient, and storage values: potatoes, corn, beans, squash, and, yes, duck eggs. In each chapter, Deppe describes her experiences with specific varieties of crops (with particular reference to her own climate in coastal Oregon), specific techniques for success, and unusual recipes suited to the varieties she grows (all are designed for those with gluten intolerance). VERDICT Deppe's idiosyncratic personality shines through her writing-this is as much a series of personal anecdotes by a lifelong expert gardener as a gardening book that will appeal to readers of a similar bent. Ideal for dedicated, independent gardeners who want to focus on food production despite dietary challenges, poor health, or other issuesForeWord Reviews- In The Resilient Gardener, scientist and author Carol Deppe offers readers an inspiring approach to gardening. For many, gardening is a hobby-a source of solace and an experiment in self-sufficiency. Gardens are designed to offer up good things during good times-handfuls of bulbous tomatoes after weeks of careful watering, weeding, and monitoring for invading insects, for example. But what happens when gardeners-along with the rest of society-face uncertain times? Uncertain times, caused by an unstable economy, changing weather patterns, or personal injury, result in an expanse of time when the "garden suffers because people have other priorities." With this premise in mind, Deppe introduces the concept of resilient gardening. In Deppe's world, gardening transcends the world of leisurely pursuit and transforms into an act of empowerment. In twelve intensely detailed chapters, The Resilient Gardener empowers readers with the knowledge they need to design, build, and maintain gardens that can withstand intense hardship and thrive despite periods of complete neglect. The first half of the book marries the practice of gardening with emerging global issues, such as climate change, increasing attention to weight control, and the rise of food allergies. Readers must first achieve a firm grasp of how these issues intersect with the process of gardening in order to fully benefit from the hands-on guidelines provided later in the book. Deppe's analysis is thorough; her research delves deep. By discussing the interaction between gardening and prevalent world issues, she establishes gardeners as hubs of sustainability and survival, their individual efforts producing movements of resilience that can benefit society as a whole. One of the major strengths of this book-and what sets it apart from the deluge of gardening books currently on bookstore shelves-is the union of Deppe's scientific knowledge with her personal gardening experience. The second half of the book details the five essential crops of self-reliance-potatoes, corn, beans, squash, and eggs-and how to grow them. Though these sections are largely "dip and skip" depending on the reader's level of knowledge, they are expressed in crisp, detailed, and incredibly fluid prose. Deppe is able to transmit the nitty-gritty of gardening through invaluable parcels of personal anecdotes that make the material relatable and a pleasure to read. Deppe's unique approach to her topic makes The Resilient Gardener an appealing selection for both experienced and beginner gardeners, as well as readers interested in issues of sustainability and global reform.Permaculture Activist- "This book presents an in-depth seed-to-table understanding of five culturally significant and life-sustaining crops: corn, beans, squash, potatoes, and eggs. Its power and promise are rooted in Deppe's lived experience and revealed in the careful detail by which she shares it. This book is frank, plainspoken, and intimate. The basis for the author's diet is her intolerance for grain. She has celiac disease and cannot digest wheat or any of its near relatives in the grass family: rye, barley, oats, or triticale, and so has learned from much difficult experience to exclude completely from her table the foods most people depend upon for their daily bread. The basis of the book, however, is her determination to provide a reliable supply of staple food for her kitchen and to be responsible for every aspect of that from breeding and selecting the crops she uses to stabilizing and sharing the seed, to understanding the genetics, to exploring, cooking, and relishing the palate of flavors she nurtures and the rich and deeply satisfying foods that in turn nurture her, It is this quality of determination and careful empirical and practical work that recommends The Resilient Gardener to serious gardeners and home economists. Deppe is doing what many of us aspire to do.” "The Resilient Gardener is so essential, timely and important, and I will recommend it to everyone I know. It doesn't matter if you garden or if you don't-this is practical wisdom good for humans to know, passed on by a careful student who has deeply studied her life. Carol Deppe's lens is the garden-which is great for gardeners, but really, she speaks clearly to all of us. If you try to think like Deppe, you will find you have a new view of your life no matter who you are. This is a wise and intelligent book. Hats off to Carol Deppe!"--Deborah Madison, Author of Local Flavors and Vegetarian Cooking for Everyone "In the years since Carol Deppe wrote the classic Breed Your Own Vegetable Varieties, she has continued to grow in deep wisdom and experience. The Resilient Gardener is brilliantly timely, and shows us how to create gardens that can survive our increasingly erratic weather, while supplying key nutrition lacking in most vegetable gardens. This book fills a critical niche, and I recommend it unreservedly."--Toby Hemenway, author of Gaia's Garden: A Guide to Home-Scale Permaculture "The Resilient Gardener is the most comprehensive and detailed book about gardening that I have read to date, and I could not find one sentence that I would quibble with. Not only does Deppe discuss all the immediate, nose- to- the- grindstone kind of information about producing and using homegrown food, but also all the surrounding environmental and cultural aspects of gardening that are so vital to success. A must read for beginning gardeners, and full of details even the most experienced will find invaluable."--Gene Logsdon, author of Small-Scale Grain Raising and Holy Shit: Managing Manure to Save Mankind "The Resilient Gardener gives concrete examples of how to deal with diet, climate, and economic changes before the need arises. Deppe challenges us to experiment with and practice all aspects of gardening, seed saving and food storage, and advises on the growing need to meet special food and climate requirements in the face of our food system's fragility. This book is an invaluable tool for gardeners and farmers as we experience more and more volatility in our food systems."--Suzanne Ashworth, author of Seed to Seed "Carol Deppe is informative, funny, and intriguing as she guides us through every phase of gardening--dispelling myths while also orienting us to the technical, emotional, and spiritual aspects of growing food. The Resilient Gardener is the quintessential guide to gardening from an authority who also knows how to enjoy herself."--Didi Emmons, author of Vegetarian Planet "Carol Deppe's celiac-friendly approach to gardening and nutrition provides a wealth of information on how to overcome food intolerances many are confronted with each day. If you struggle with food allergies or sensitivities--or want to use natural resources to create a healthy world for you and your family--this book is for you."--Peter H.R. Green, MD, Director, Celiac Disease Center at Columbia University "Growing food is among the most positive changes anyone can make in the face of uncertainty about the future. The Resilient Gardener is an information-packed resource for people starting or expanding a garden practice. This book empowers readers with skills and understanding, as did Deppe's previous book, Breed Your Own Vegetable Varieties."--Sandor Ellix Katz, author, Wild Fermentation and The Revolution Will Not Be MicrowavedTable of Contents1. Gardening and resilience 2. The plant-gardener covenant: 33 golden gardening rules 3. Gardening in an era of wild weather and climate change 4. Diet and food resilience 5. Labor and exercise 6. Water and watering 7. Soil and fertility 8. Potatoes 9. The laying flock 10. Squash and pumpkins 11. Beans 12. Corn

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Book SynopsisConventional wisdom is difficult to question, even when it is misguided and contains many contradictions.Should you water in the evening? Do containers need pottery shards for drainage? Can cucumbers and tomatoes be grown together? Gardening has its share of such myths' some with discernible origins in history, others that have become established for no obvious reason and they often obscure simpler and easier methods of working. Asking why gardeners are always told to do things a certain way, Charles Dowding clears up common garden misconceptions in this delightfully illustrated book. Wise words from a thoughtful practitioner, Charles reveals how common-sense triumphs and crops are more successful when these rules' are overturned.Gardening Myths and Misconceptions is a fascinating but practical book that will save the seasoned gardener time and give new gardeners heart.Trade ReviewThese days, garden writing based on a solid career’s worth of practical experience is rare indeed. Therein lies the value of this thought-provoking little book. -- Rory Dusoir * Gardens Illustrated *Beginners and experienced gardeners alike can only benefit from Charles’ enthusiastic and deep understanding of what plants really need. * The Oak Tree Low Carbon Farm Blog *It has been proven untrue that watering in sunlight damages leaves. It is also untrue that rhubarb leaves and citrus peel cannot be composted, the latter may just take a while to decay. All this and much more makes for an entertaining and instructive read. -- Mary Davies * The Irish Garden *For anyone who grows edibles or for that matter gardens intensively I would recommend this book. -- Helen Jonstone * The Patient Gardener *There’s enough detail here to make a real difference to your garden, but it’s cleverly broken down into bite-sized chunks with illustrations, so it never feels hard-going. * The English Garden *Table of ContentsIntroduction 1. A web of myths and misconceptions 2. Sowing and planting 3. Watering 4. Vegetable garden planning and design 5. Annual vegetables 6. Trees, shrubs and perennial vegetables 7. Manuring and fertilising 8. Making and using compost 9. Soil structure and care 10. Pest, diseases and weeds Index

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Book SynopsisGardens for the Soul shows how a sustainable and eco-friendly ethos can be at the heart of creating a beautiful garden, whatever its location or size. There are a multitude of different ways in which we use our outside spaces, and in Gardens for the Soul Sara Bird and Dan Duchars explore ways to create and style a haven that will suit your lifestyle. Day Dreamers seek solitude and a therapeutic experience, and Home Harvesters use their garden space to grow flowers or fruit and veg; while Garden Partiers put their outside space to work as an entertaining zone for friends and family and Great Escapers aim to recreate a chilled holiday vibe at home. Sara and Dan visit real-life gardens that fall into these categories, from tiny patios to larger spaces, to glean ideas, tips and inspiration. With a focus on sustainability and reclaimed materials, there are suggestions for choosing garden elements, from décor to lighting to furniture and accessories, as well as easy craft projects that add quirky personal touches.Trade ReviewIf you’re looking for ideas to make your garden a more eco-friendly space, this book encourages you to think about how your choices impact your own landscape and the world beyond your garden. Whether you crave a serene urban oasis, cottagecore escape, or place to entertain friends and family, the photos show whimsical gardens of every size and use - Veranda.com

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Book SynopsisDavid Austin Roses is one of the world's leading rose nurseries. The English Roses developed there have brought the rose to a new level of beauty and strength; their ability to flower continually throughout the summer and autumn makes them one of the most durable garden flowers.In this revised and updated edition, David Austin describes how he combines the beauty and fragrance of the Old Roses with the repeat-flowering and wide colour range of the Modern Roses. David presents seven groups of classification for his roses and advises how to grow and maintain them.Featuring more than 20 new rose varieties, all with detailed descriptions and updated photography throughout, this third revised edition of The English Roses is an essential reference for all rose lovers and gardeners.Trade ReviewThere are a couple of months to go before rose season, but this sumptuous updated edition showing off the long-flowering, highly scented varieties that Austin has been breeding for more than 60 years, will make you long for summer. * The Sunday Times *Iconic rose breeder David Austin wrote many regard as the definitive work on English roses, which has now been revised and updated. Sumptuously indulgent photography captures the delicate beauty and charm of different rose varieties, with fascinating details about their history, fragrances, cultivation and breeding. * The English Home *

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Book SynopsisYou can't beat growing, picking and eating fruit from your very own garden. This book will guide you through the processes and pitfalls of fruit-growing, from propagating your first seeds, or planting your first fruit tree, to selecting the ripe fruits for your dinner table.Includes:* guidance on selecting all types of fruit for home growing* handy tips for maximizing flavour and cropping* illustrated A-Z profiles of recommended fruit* practical advice on care, harvesting, storage, pruning, propagation and pest control* step-by-step illustrations showing essential techniquesAlan Titchmarsh imparts a lifetime of expertise in these definitive practical guides for beginners and experienced gardeners. Step-by-step illustrations and easy-to-follow instructions guide you through the basic gardening skills and on to the advanced techniques, providing everything you need to grow delicious fruit in your garden.

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Book SynopsisThis book shows how to plant, maintain, harvest and enjoy a productive backyard tea garden, with a comprehensive survey of all the crops that make delicious tea drinks, plus advice on cultivation, harvesting, drying, storing and brewing. Growing Your Own Tea Garden is packed with inspiration and practical instructions for cultivating and enjoying delicious teas. Guidance on how to choose the right crops for your soil and climate, starting with the tea plant (Camellia sinensis) and going on through a comprehensive range of tisanes, or herbal teas, from flowering chamomile and lavender to chicory roots, rose hips, lemon verbena, peppermint, aromatic bergamot and more. Jodi shows you how to harvest, dry and store your tea to enjoy all year long, along with brewing tips and creative recipes.

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Book SynopsisIdeal for beginner gardeners, this book catalogues 150 separate garden plants, shrubs, trees, weeds, wildflowers and climbers found across the United Kingdom and Europe.

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Book SynopsisTHE BEST GARDENING BOOKS OF THE YEAR - GARDENS ILLUSTRATED''Informative and enthusiastic'' i PaperPLANT-BASED MEDICINE FOR A CALMER, HEALTHIER LIFE It''s easy to turn to the pharmacy when we''re stressed, sick or feeling under the weather, but what if you turned to your garden instead?In this accessible and easy to use manual, horticultural expert, former Gardener''s World presenter and Guardian columnist, Alys Fowler, shows how to take control of your health by adopting a more natural lifestyle. For thousands of years, people who had no access to clinical medicine knew how to boost their well-being by using the ingredients they found in plants. Herbs are the people''s medicine; often freely available and abundant, they are ready and waiting to be plucked from around you to soothe and heal your body and mind. With guides for how to use and grow over 100 herbs - for example how to use fennel for indigestion, camomile for anxiety and nettle for hayfever - you''ll soon be heading into the garden, rather than opening the medicine cabinet. Offering a fusion of botanical, practical, cultural and historical information, A Modern Herbal reveals how common herbs are the simple, cleansing way to better health and happiness.''An important and accessible herbal for the 21st century . . . For anyone delving into herbs for the first time or those who want to broaden their herbal repertoire in the garden and home, this book is much needed'' Gardens IllustratedAS SEEN IN THE GUARDIANTrade ReviewInformative and enthusiastic * i Paper *An important and accessible herbal for the 21st century . . . this book provides plenty of practical growing advice . . . Her extensive experience as a hands-on gardener gives this book added weight . . . For anyone delving into herbs for the first time or those who want to broaden their herbal repertoire in the garden and home, this book is much needed * Gardens Illustrated *Explores the many medicinal uses for herbs and other plants * Daily Telegraph *Gardener and writer Alys Fowler has a knack with words as well as plants, and in this compendium of herbs (each one smartly illustrated), she infuses each page with lore, understanding and green-fingered know-how. It makes you feel like you're tapping into ancient botanical secrets. * The Herald *Your garden can be an invaluable medicine cabinet, says expert Alys Fowler * Woman's Weekly *Dip into this charming miscellany of herbs from renowned horticulturalist Alys Fowler. It is ready to answer all your herb-related questions. Packed from cover-to-cover with useful growing pointers, medicinal benefits, cultural and historical background information. A must-have reference resource for any potting shed or kitchen bookshelf * Grow Your Own *Alys Fowler explores remedies from the herb patch * The Simple Things *This manual shows you how to live a healthier lifestyle, involving the use of tried and tested plants * Garden News *Informative, enthusiastic and ideal dip-in material, it makes you feel like you're tapping into ancient and worthy botanical secrets * Belfast Telegraph *Equips you with the knowledge to harvest everything you need * Weekly News *

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Book SynopsisA stylishly illustrated compendium of 100 herbs, designed to enrich our understanding of all their uses. This isn't just a book for the kitchen it's for the greenhouse, the medicine cabinet, the coffee table... Award-winning designer Caz Hildebrand's Herbarium is a 21st-century reboot of the traditional herbal compendium. The visual genius behind the international bestseller The Geometry of Pasta, she has created abstract forms and vibrant colours to illustrate 100 essential herbs and to reveal their hidden properties. From bergamot, comfrey and dill to sassafras, vervain and wasabi, all types of herbs are covered; each is explained through the fascinating history of their uses and symbolism. There are tips on how to use them as seasonings and how to create healing potions, as well as advice on when and how to grow them. Herbarium celebrates all facets of herbs and all their life-enhancing properties.Trade Review'An exquisite and inspirational book' - Nigella Lawson'I need three copies of this book: one to reach for in the kitchen, one to read in bed and one (if it’s not sacrilege?) to cut up to decorate my walls with. This is a book which is informed, useful and completely divine. It’s a must for anyone with an interest in the beauty of herbs or the boldness of great design' - Yotam Ottolenghi'A chic illustrated compendium of 100 heavenly herbs … I love this book!' - Psychologies'Every kitchen should have one' - The Lady

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Book Synopsis ''I absolutely adore Clare Nolan''s approaches to garden planning and creative use of color in her designs. This gem is sure to delight any flower lover.'' - Erin Benzakein of Floret Flower Farm Planting cut flowers brings that ''grow-your-own'' excitement to a whole new level - being able to step out of the back door and pick a single stem for beside the bed or pull together a posy for a friend is a joy. In this beautifully designed book, brimming with inspirational photographs, Clare Nolan reveals her secrets for growing a bountiful harvest as well as styling spectacular homegrown displays that will fill your home with colour and the gorgeous scent of the garden year-round. She takes the mystique out of what to grow and guides you through the entire process - from choosing the plants to suit both your garden and home décor and laying out your cutting patch, to planning ahead so you get your perfect palette of colour, texture and shape to play with at the

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Book Synopsis''The master. Puts all other modern tree-writers in the shade'' John Lewis-Stempel, author of MeadowlandThomas Pakenham is an indefatigable champion of trees. In The Company of Trees he recounts his personal quest to establish a large arboretum on the family estate, Tullynally in Ireland; his forays to other tree-filled parks and plantations; his often hazardous seed-hunting expeditions; and his efforts to preserve magnificent old trees and historic woodlands.Whether writing about the terrible storms breaking the backs of hundred-year-old trees or a fire in the peat bog on Tullynally which threatens to spread to the main commercial spruce-woods, his fear of climate change and disease, or the sturdy young saplings giving him hope for the future, his book is never less than enthralling.Trade ReviewThe more you read of the various Earls' attempts to create beautiful views across their parkland, the more you realise they struggle with the same problems the rest of us face when designing our ownlittle gardens. The only difference is that they're working on a massive scale, and thinking in centuries instead of years ... Raising all his own saplings from seed, he comes across like a real-life version of P. G. Wodehouse's amiable (if unworldly) Lord Emsworth, pottering about with his seed trays and compost in his ancestral kitchen. But he engages fully with the 21st-century threat of global warming, as well as the four new diseases threatening our trees: acute oak decline, sudden oak death, ash dieback and pseudomonas syringae - a lethal canker of horse chestnuts that has infected 49 per cent of the tree species in England, according to a recent survey -- Helen Brown * DAILY MAIL *The Company of Trees: A Year in a Lifetime's Quest, brings readers along a journey from the 1,500 acres of farm and parkland of the family estate at Castlepollard, Co. Westmeath, to planthunting expeditions in Asia and South America, and more ... told in monthly chapters that will charm a readership beyond those who don't need to Google 'arboretum' for a definition. There is a sense of adventure in travel diary revelations where the energetic Eighth Lord Longford (though he doesn't use that inherited title) tells of shinning up rocky banks near the foothills of the Himalayas and nearly breaking an ankle in the quest for seeds. He being in his 80th year, mind ... Good-humoured revelations of triumphs that sometimes end in failure contribute to an engaging openness -- Valerie Shanley * IRISH MAIL ON SUNDAY *At Tullynally, his estate in Ireland. Thomas Pakenham is growing his own woodland. In this lively diary of his travels to the Himalayas and Patagonia in search of seeds, and his tours of the thriving plantations where he plants and preserves trees, he gives seasoned advice on garden design and landscaping, and worries about the diseases that have devastated ashes, elms, oaks and chestnuts * SAGA magazine *Historians make very good tree people because they respect both the past, with its particular and changing atmospheres, as well as posterity. After all, most trees span more than one human lifetime, and the story of trees has been part of the story of the land and even the people. And historians can salt the worthy fare of plant descriptions with tales of plant hunters and gardeners from the past. Pakenham's writing is brisk, clearly personal and pleasantly epigrammatic ... Readers should finish this book with a lively sense of the importance and allure of trees, even if they have never so much as planted an acorn -- Ursula Buchan * THE SPECTATOR *Few have ever indulged their inclinations on a grander scale than Thomas Pakenham, whose passion is for trees. This is an exuberant tale of greed and gratified desire by a romantic who, for 50 years and more, has been planting trees by the thousand on his family estate at Tullynally in Westmeath. Pakenham is currently in his 82nd year, and buying magnolias like a madman "in what the Germans call Torschlusspanik" (last-minute or door-closing panic) ... Trees are, as this book points out, "the biggest living things in these islands, taller than most buildings, older than many ancient monuments", and, like the Williamses at Caerhays and the Holfords of Westonbirt, the planting Pakenhams have done them proud in person and in print -- Hilary Spurling * THE GUARDIAN *Botanical history and travel are two of the underlying elements of this absorbing year in the life of tree-loving Thomas Pakenham. Eloquently written as a diary and illustrated with an array of colour photographs, this informative and entertaining read describes the arboretum and garden areas he is creating on the family estate in Ireland. The book reveals his observations, experiences and lessons learned * COUNTRYSIDE *Thomas Pakenham could convert a property developer into a tree-hugger ... If The Company of Trees is a diary, it is also a journey - into the author's life and Tullynally's past. The book's photographs are as beautiful and glossy as conkers; anecdote and information fall like autumn mast ... I closed the book and went to look at my own trees. Thanks to the joyful hours spent in its author's company, I saw them anew. His book is a plum among autumn's publishing fruits -- John Lewis-Stempel * COUNTRY LIFE *Gardeners who love beauty, not arboreal ethnicity, now have an eloquent ally ... The Company of Trees is beautifully illustrated with his own excellent colour photos... it tells a story which has touching continuity across generations -- Robin Lane-Fox * FINANCIAL TIMES *The book is written as a journal in a tone so natural you feel as if you're in his study at Tullynally as the wind soughs through the woods. His hard-won knowledge garnered over a lifetime of seed-collecting, planting and observation is displayed lightly so you absorb masses of information without ever feeling like you're at a dendrology conference. It's impossible not to feel affection for a man nearing 80 who not only plants a copse of rare Magnolia campellii Alba Group from seed, but collects that seed himself from a mountainside in Sikkim, India ... Pakenham's optimism and concern for future generations, both trees and people, is infectious. The world's trees could not have a more compelling advocate -- Caroline Beck * GARDENS ILLUSTRATED *The Company of Trees: A Lifetime's Quest is by one of the world's most famous tree huggers, octogenarian Thomas Pakenham of Tullynally Castle. It tells the story of his collection of remarkable trees in Co. Westmeath, and also shares gems such as discovering a rare blue poppy in Tibet by sitting on it, and getting lost at nightfall in his own woods only to be saved by a search party hours later * THE SUNDAY TIMES IRELAND *Thomas Pakenham, the champion of trees, narrates a story of exploration and discovery, of life-cycles longer than our own in this lavishly illustrated book ... An enthralling book by a passionate writer, educator and entertainer * WELSH BORDER LIFE *Thomas Pakenham's endlessly fascinating life and garden is the subject of The Company of Trees in which he continues the story of one man's love for all things arboreal begun in his 2002 bestseller, Meetings with Remarkable Trees. In this latest work we find him at home in Tullynally, where he has established an important arboretum, recalling his diverse personal quests for plants and seeds found on his far-flung travels ... and as all journeys begin with one small step, so do many plants grow from one small seed. Their stories follow fast and furious -- David Wheeler * HORTUS *

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Book SynopsisThis guide is a must-have book for all garden aficionados. Even if you don''t have space for an outdoor garden, it''s packed with practical information for propagating, growing, using and preserving herbs and spices in large or small spaces to help make you more self sufficient with an emphasis on clay pot and container gardening. Each plant profile contains growing advice for each herb or spice including how to prepare the soil, when to sow and plant, when to harvest and gather, and how to use each herb and spice in food. Herbs include aloe vera, basil, bay leaves, lavender, lemon balm, lovage, and more! Spices include caraway, chili peppers, garlic, horse radish mustard, poppies and saffron. Full-color photos of the herbs and spices with recipes for each one accompany each plant including Aloe Vera Juice, Candied Angelica, Tomato and Basil Salad, Bouquet Garni and Blackberry and Apple Crumble. Become more self-sufficient and bond with nature by growing your own food, including your h

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Book SynopsisPoisonous plants have intrigued and beguiled humans throughout history, and this book will take readers on a world tour of 50 of the most toxic and fascinating species of plants and fungi. The book will be lavishly illustrated and include information on the toxic effects of each plant, peppered with stories of some of the world's most high-profile poison cases. Discover how we have harnessed the power of some of the planet's deadliest plants to create cutting-edge medicines, and how others have been used for centuries for recreational and ritual purposes. Crucially, you will learn what NOT to pick when foraging, as some of the deadliest plants can be mistaken for common edible varieties. Illustrated by Alice Smith, in a stunning gothic style which highlights the uses and stories associated with these plants; alongside more traditional botanical illustrations so that readers can accurately identify these plants in the wild.

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Book Synopsis"The best wine book I read this year was not about wine. It was about cider"--Eric Asimov, New York Times, on Uncultivated Today, food is being reconsidered. It’s a front-and-center topic in everything from politics to art, from science to economics. We know now that leaving food to government and industry specialists was one of the twentieth century’s greatest mistakes. The question is where do we go from here. Author Andy Brennan describes uncultivation as a process: It involves exploring the wild; recognizing that much of nature is omitted from our conventional ways of seeing and doing things (our cultivations); and realizing the advantages to embracing what we’ve somehow forgotten or ignored. For most of us this process can be difficult, like swimming against the strong current of our modern culture. The hero of this book is the wild apple. Uncultivated follows Brennan’s twenty-four-year history with naturalized trees and shows how they have guided him toward successes in agriculture, in the art of cider making, and in creating a small-farm business. The book contains useful information relevant to those particular fields, but is designed to connect the wild to a far greater audience, skillfully blending cultural criticism with a food activist’s agenda. Apples rank among the most manipulated crops in the world, because not only do farmers want perfect fruit, they also assume the health of the tree depends on human intervention. Yet wild trees live all around us, and left to their own devices, they achieve different forms of success that modernity fails to apprehend. Andy Brennan learned of the health and taste advantages of such trees, and by emulating nature in his orchard (and in his cider) he has also enjoyed environmental and financial benefits. None of this would be possible by following today’s prevailing winds of apple cultivation. In all fields, our cultural perspective is limited by a parallel proclivity. It’s not just agriculture: we all must fight tendencies toward specialization, efficiency, linear thought, and predetermined growth. We have cultivated those tendencies at the exclusion of nature’s full range. If Uncultivated is about faith in nature, and the power it has to deliver us from our own mistakes, then wild apple trees have already shown us the way. Trade Review“The best wine book I read this year was not about wine. It was about cider, though not entirely. It was really about trees and places, agriculture and culture, and the tension between nature and industry . . . Uncultivated is thoughtful, pessimistic and hopeful at the same time. Anybody who loves food, loves wine and ponders where they come from should read this book."—Eric Asimov, New York Times“The Book for Cider Lovers”—New York Times Booklist— "Brennan is deeply anti-capitalist and endeavors to work with the land and the trees in a way that is respectful and sustainable, actively rejecting the conventional wisdom of entrepreneurship focused on continual growth. The book is written in a conversational style and readers will get to know the author’s personality easily." “Andy Brennan is a stubborn, thoughtful original, and his apple memoir is powered by inspiring verve and irreverence. Loving apples or cider is not a prerequisite for loving this book. All that is needed is the willingness to follow a vibrant narrative voice driven by the pursuit of dreams.”—Alice Feiring, author of Naked Wine and For the Love of Wine“Andy Brennan’s new book Uncultivated is smart, wise, raw, generous, unapologetic, and poetic. As delicious to drink in and as profound as the unique and artful ciders he makes.”—Deirdre Heekin, vintner, La Garagista Winery; author of An Unlikely Vineyard“Andy Brennan’s Uncultivated could become the twenty-first century’s One Straw Revolution. Forty years ago, Masanobu Fukuoka’s 1970s classic helped define the thinking of thousands of us searching for a new way to look at farming and the world. Every cider maker in America will want to read Uncultivated, and everyone else should, too. Not only does Brennan explore the questions facing those of us who love to grow and squeeze apples, he also digs deeply into language, art, economics, and life itself. Uncultivated is provocative and fun. Whether you’re a cider maker or not, read this book. It’s a One Apple Tree Revolution.”—John Bunker, apple historian; author of Not Far from the Tree“Part autobiography and part ecological meditation, Uncultivated presents the case for the rewilding of our agricultural imagination. Andy Brennan reflects on the relationship between authenticity, location, and commerce and finds his deepest truths in the dry farm cider of America’s Northeast. Above all, this is a celebration of the power of the wild apple tree to express a sense of place; as it acclimatizes and adapts, so it tells us the story of the land.”—Francis Percival, coauthor of Reinventing the Wheel“This book captivated me—it’s wry and artful, informative and soulful. In Uncultivated Andy Brennan throws down the gauntlet (or rather gathering tarp) for cider made from foraged wild apples, continuing hill town traditions of spirit and survival. He offers readers a new/old (revolutionary/conservative) way to think about community, business, and the living world. The book is bright with art, spirit, and daring.”—Judith Maloney, cofounder, West County Cider“Andy Brennan’s journey with the fruit of our desire is wildly inclined in ways that are going to surprise and delight. Dare I describe my cider-making friend as raucous? That this word-loving hooligan is the one orchardist among us who presumes to ungrow the apple? Open a bottle of your finest, and make a date with Uncultivated this very evening. The time has come to ponder the dignity of the apple tree.”—Michael Phillips, author of The Apple Grower and The Holistic Orchard“Every community has its visionaries. At times, they inspire and enlighten. At others, they vex and confound. But they always push you to think more deeply, reevaluate your judgments, and become more intentional, while making you feel a little uncomfortable in the process. I believe Andy Brennan is a key visionary for contemporary American cider. In Uncultivated you learn that while Andy was helping to shape and elevate the national conversation about cider and apples, he was also evolving in profound and personal ways. Idealistic and provocative, rebellious and vulnerable, Andy is both cider’s conscience and a thorn in its side, and we are the better for his work.”—Ellen Cavalli, editor and publisher, Malus“With regards to growing apples and making cider, uncultivation is a concept that excites me, particularly coming from an American author. Andy Brennan’s Uncultivated argues a case for ‘natural cider’, and his approach to it is something I hope to see grow as craft cidermakers aim to express individual quality and identity. Philosophical, haughty, and enjoyable, Andy’s approach embraces what American cidermakers strive to understand: American terroir.”—Bill Bradshaw, coauthor of World’s Best Cider“American cider has traditionally been deeply regional, dependent on ungrafted seedling trees like those lining the rocky farm fields and sandstone ridges of the Hudson Valley in New York. Andy Brennan and Polly Giragosian name their “locational” ciders after some of these foraging sites: Neversink Highlands, Shawangunk Ridge, Mamakating Hollow. Theirs are tannic, rich, full-bodied, complex drinks. As Brennan writes, ‘Cider making is a responsibility’—to the trees, the land, good food, and the community. Uncultivated is a wonderful, timely reminder of all that this drink can be at its best.”—David Buchanan, owner, Portersfield Cider; author of Taste, Memory

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Book SynopsisPlant is a stylish, practical, modern guide to the world of house plants by the Guardian houseplant columnist, Gynelle Leon.House plants can change a home in an instant. A flash of colour, a calming influence, they are adaptable, affordable and - if you know how - easy to care for.In Plant, horticultural expert and author of Prick, Gynelle Leon, gives you all the knowledge you need to help your plants thrive. Featuring:- A plant gallery showcasing some of the very best house plants- A chapter of styling ideas to inspire you to show your plants and their best- A care guide with all you need to know to help your plants thriveTrade ReviewWhere once houseplants were the province of an older generation who had the time, knowledge and space to tend them, they're now proving popular with a younger, cooler crowd. * The Telegraph *

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Book SynopsisDiscover 50 practical actions on how to you can make your environment greener.With suggestions for your home, your building, your neighbourhood and your city as a whole, Living Green in the City is full of smart ideas on how you can revegetate the area around you.With illustrated tutorials and testimonials, this is the perfect guide for anyone wanting to bring more greenery around them.

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Book SynopsisAimed at a new generation of indoor gardening enthusiasts, this book is a perfect guide for anyone keen to see their plant offspring thrive. Plants have found popularity in the small home, and are being proclaimed the new stars of Instagram. This attractive little book is ideal for the novice "plant parent," providing tips on how to choose plants, and above all how to care for them and keep them thriving. Indoor-plant experts and Instagrammers Erin Harding and Morgan Doane bring the subject to life alongside their beautiful photographs of happy plants in the home.Trade Review"Not all of us are skilled in keeping plants alive, so hallelujah for this handy guide, which will also look good on the bookshelf." -- New!"This clever book offers top tips for green-fingered success including plant selection and maitenance, DIY projects and styling" -- - The Herald“If you've never managed to keep a houseplant alive, this little book is for you. Also catering to more experienced 'plant parents', it provides tips on how to choose plants, and above all how to care for them and keep them thriving. A perfect gift for those who love houseplants, especially if they usually kill them…” -- - Hertfordshire Life"In this succinct, 112-page guide by Morgan Doane and Erin Harding of Instagram’s @houseplantclub, brief bits of advice and encouragement accompany the sorts of loving photos that have so far earned the duo more than 465,000 followers." -- Gardenista"This sweet little book is ideal for the novice 'plant parent', providing tips on how to choose and care for them." -- Real Homes

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Book SynopsisKiftsgate Court, perched on the northern edge of the Cotswolds Hills in Gloucestershire, is a garden composed of many different scenes. Some elements - the bluebell wood, the clipped hedging and the rose border, with its famously huge Kiftsgate rose - are traditionally English, but there are also areas of Italianate planting and terracing, and others where a mixture of perennials, roses and rare and exotic shrubs thrive side by side. Equally remarkable is the fine balance between continuity and gentle evolution that the visitor finds at Kiftsgate. This is largely because the garden has belonged to the same family since its creation 100 years ago. Three women have tended Kiftsgate, each one its driving force for a third of a century, and each building on the legacy of the previous generation. In 1919 Heather Muir and her husband, Jack, bought the house, which stands on a relatively narrow plateau from which a bank plunges 100 feet. Heather gave Kiftsgate its structure, laying out the semi-formal gardens by the house, planting the tapestry hedge and rose garden, and terracing the banks. In 1954 Heather was succeeded by her daughter, Diany Binny, who extended and developed her mother's planting, made more borders and paths, and refashioned the White Sunk Garden. Since the late 1980s Diany's daughter, Anne Chambers, has been at the helm, further modernizing the garden and its planting, creating new areas of interest, and opening more often to the public. As Robin Lane Fox, who has written the foreword, comments: `There is nowhere else in Britain that has such a family tradition of planting and dedication ... It is intimate but many-sided, evolving but with roots in a remarkable past.' This beautiful new book - the first dedicated to Kiftsgate - is structured in two main parts. For the first, `The History', Vanessa Berridge has had exclusive access to the Kiftsgate archive, which contains not only family photographs but also letters from their gardening friends, helping us to understand why and how Heather, Diany and Anne have gardened. Among the circle of friends and acquaintances who feature are Lawrence Johnston of Hidcote Manor (Kiftsgate's neighbour); Vita Sackville-West, the creator of Sissinghurst Castle Garden; and the horticulturalist Graham Stuart Thomas, gardens adviser to the National Trust. The second part of the book takes the reader on an extended tour of the garden, illustrated by the glorious photography of Sabina Ruber. The tour concludes with notes on Kiftsgate's signature plants and Anne Chambers's personal reflections on this, one of the great gardens of England.Table of ContentsForeword by Robin Lane Fox Introduction The History: Early Kiftsgate Heather Muir: An Eye for Colour Diany Binny: A Practical Plantswoman Anne Chambers: The Modernizing Spirit The Garden: Arrival at Kiftsgate and Bluebell Wood House and Side Lawn Four Squares Wide Border White Sunk Garden Bridge Border Rose Border Fern Border and Wild Flower Corner Water Garden Yellow Border North Border The Banks Lower Garden Orchard, Mound and Tulip Avenue Timeline The 'Kiftsgate' Rose Kiftsgate's Signature Plants Afterword by Anne Chambers Select Bibliography Acknowledgements Index

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Book SynopsisThe Curious Gardener's Almanac contains over 1000 entries of remarkable information about flowers, vegetables, fruits, trees, herbs, insects, birds, water, soil, tools, composts, climate, recipes, gardens and gardeners, myths, superstitions, biodynamics..In short it is a collection as profuse and variegated as gardening itself. Woven into this wealth of knowledge are famous quotations, anecdotes, traditional sayings, lines of verse, and words of rural wisdom. The spirit and focus of the Almanac is British but the wider picture is international as so much of our gardens originated from overseas.Dry or dull information has no place in the almanac and its presentation is as appealing as the content.Trade ReviewPacked full of recipes, sages, tips and histories, it is a perfect addition to any greenhouse collection... this book has the capacity to encourage, inform and inspire... A perfect present for the green-fingered * The Ecologist *Crammed with weird facts and ephemera, time-honoured tips and old sayings... this charming book defies categorisation. It'll come in handy for the pub quiz, though * Daily Mail *Collection of nuggets and ancient wisdom related to gardening * The Sunday Times *The Curious Gardener's Almanac is a beautifully written and produced gem of a book. Just the right size to fit into the pocket of a raincoat it is full of helpful hints garnered over the ages * Living North *This is a joyous book * Nottingham Evening Post *

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Book SynopsisMaria Thun, a pre-eminent expert in biodynamic cultivation methods - sometimes referred to as "premium organic" - has here compiled over 100 of her best gardening tips based on 50 years' research. Find out: * how to produce abundant and tasty crops; * how special preparations can transform your soil and produce; * how the moon affects planting and growth; * the difference between 'root', 'leaf', 'blossom' and 'fruit' plants; * what the best storage methods are; and much more. Accompany the author on a journey through the seasons and discover lots of new tips and suggestions. There is a wealth of advice here for gardeners seeking to manage nature responsibly and successfully.

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Book SynopsisThis second guide in the Gardening with Nature Series gives step by step advice on how to encourage butterflies to your garden. Jenny Steel describes the importance of providing shelter and avoiding the use of pesticides, with lists of suitable nectar and larval plants, and their maintenance.

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