Organic gardening / Sustainable gardening Books

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Book SynopsisCharles Dowding is the leading proponent of No Dig gardening with a huge following, borne out of more than 40 years of growing, analysing, and recommending. He is revered in the gardening world - Monty Don (BBC Gardeners' World presenter) says "Charles has become the guru of no-dig gardening. He's a really good grower, organic, and has fabulous produce."Trade ReviewNo-dig expert Charles Dowding helps you grow bumper crops in harmony with nature, by preserving soil structure and nurturing fungal mycelium, in this inspiring all-new guide. There's step-by-step advice and photography to illustrate each part of the process, and calenders show what time of year to sow and harvest over 80 crops. -- Margaret Bartlett * BBC Countryfile Magazine *Growing flowers is a joyous activity. But for many of us, tending vegetables brings another level of satisfaction. I've been a practitioner of the 'no dig' method championed by Dowding. His latest title will inspire and educate those who aspire to vef-growing, and encourage seasoned gardeners to explore different methods. -- Rachel de Thame * The Sunday Times *

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Book SynopsisGet in tune with the rhythms of nature with this month-by-month guide to foraging.Learn how to identify wild plants correctly, harvest them at their prime, and use them in delicious recipes and relaxing wildcrafting projects. Each plant is accompanied by photography to help with accurate identification. Gathering wild food summons us to become active participants in our environment, fostering a profound sense of connection to the natural world around us. At the heart of foraging lies an intricate understanding of the changing seasons, the landscape, and the delicate ecosystems that thrive within.Danielle Gallacher has been foraging for over 20 years, and in The Forager''s Almanac she shares her expertise on how to safely harvest our countryside''s edible bounties, and how to use them in your cooking - such as pickles, preserves, ciders and lemonades. Danielle also shares her top wildcrafting ideas, including resin firelighters, home remedies, salves and balms to sooth irritated skin.Fully illustrated throughout and divided into 12 months, you will find practical information on: - how to get started and what kit to bring- when and where to forage each plant, with photographs for accurate identification- medicinal and nutritional information for edible plants- imaginative recipes using wild foods- craft ideas for enjoying your harvestThe Forager''s Almanac provides all the tools you need to live in greater harmony with the land throughout the seasons, year after year.

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Book SynopsisCharles Dowding is the leading proponent of No Dig gardening with a huge following, borne out of more than 40 years of growing, analysing, and recommending. He is revered in the gardening world - Monty Don (BBC Gardeners' World presenter) says "Charles has become the guru of no-dig gardening. He's a really good grower, organic, and has fabulous produce."

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Book SynopsisBeyond the Root Cellar is the inspiring guide that proves that with a little ingenuity the savvy grower can successfully select, harvest, store and sell vegetables all year round, providing their family and community the local food they need during winter months. Sam Knapp built Offbeet Farm, a winter storage farm in interior Alaska, from the ground up. His success there has been a testament to the many benefits of growing crops for wintertime sales. His methods continually prove that winter storage is an excellent way to diversify a farm's offerings, spread the workload throughout the year, retain customers and employees during the off-season and bolster local food systems. Beyond the Root Cellar is a compilation of insights, advice and instruction, drawing on Sam's experience and that of many other storage farmers he's met along the way. It is, Sam says, the book he wishes he had when he embarked on his own winter storage business, and will help pave the way for growers both ne

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Book SynopsisThis book will feature fun, simple and engaging gardening know-how on growing, harvesting and arranging seasonal flowers and vegetables. It will include chapters on getting started, tools of the trade, getting down and dirty with dirt, growing flowers, harvesting flowers, arranging flowers, seasonal rotation, starting from seeds and/or seedlings and keeping it organic.

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Book Synopsis A SUNDAY TIMES TOP TEN BESTSELLER Fill your garden with flowers all-year round with inspiration, planting ideas and expert advice from Sarah Raven. Colour and scent are the hallmarks of Sarah Raven’s style – and they are simple luxuries that everyone can bring into their garden. A Year Full of Flowers reveals the hundreds of hardworking varieties that make the garden sing each month, together with the practical tasks that ensure everything is planted, staked and pruned at just the right time. Tracing the year from January to December at her home, Perch Hill, Sarah offers a complete and transporting account of a garden crafted over decades. Sharing the lessons learned from years of plant trials, she explains the methods that have worked for her, and shows you how to achieve a space that’s full of life and colour. Discover long-lasting, divinely scented tulips, roses that keep flowering through winter, the most magnificent dahlias and show-stopping alliums, as well as how to grow sweet peas up a teepee, take cuttings from chrysanthemums and stop mildew in its tracks. This is passionate, life-enriching gardening; it’s also simple, adaptable and can work for you. Sarah has made the garden central to her life – this book shows you how you can too.Trade ReviewThis book is a superior article – without doubt the best horticultural offering of the year. * Sunday Telegraph *Detailed and inspiring, it’s a must-read for novice and seasoned gardeners alike. * Country Living *A brilliantly helpful guide to filling the garden with successive waves of colour … A great book for resetting jaded palettes * Country Life *Every book by Sarah Raven is a treat * The Times *Informative and companionable ... Most of us aim to have something in flower throughout the year, and this selection should ensure that you succeed. * Sunday Times *Full of inspiration, planting ideas and expert advice for a beautiful garden all-year round * Countryside *Both practical and beautiful, this is a go-to gift for the green-fingered * Culture Whisper *

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Book SynopsisThe 2024 Maria Thun Biodynamic Calendar, adapted for North American (Eastern Standard Time) dates and times.The original biodynamic sowing and planting almanac, now in its 62nd year. The easy-to-view layout features detailed planting, tending and harvesting information to help growers maximise the yield and vitality of crops and plants. Trusted by generations of farmers and gardeners, the ultimate biodynamic calendar features:-- A clear layout making it simpler to plan what to do and when-- Space dedicated to detailed explanations of the recommended activities-- Information panels make it easy to use-- Clear headings and sections for fast look-ups--- NEW! A lay-flat spine means it's easy to consult the Almanac, keep your place and make notes-- Detailed planting, tending and harvesting information to maximise the yield and vitality of crops and plants-- Suitable for both seasoned biodynamic farmers and beginner gardeners-- Solar and lunar events, plus information on planetary aspects, are given dedicated space The calendar includes a pull-out wallchart that can be pinned up in a barn, shed or greenhouse as a handy quick reference.Trade Review'This little paperback is essential for all organic gardeners. It is the original annual biodynamic planting guide. Incredibly condensed amounts of information are available [here] … Illustrated throughout with some lovely photos and clear diagrams.'-- Organicfood.co.uk'This little paperback calendar is the original of its kind and essential for all organic gardeners. An established following ensures good sales of this useful guide, which has a special feature on the care of bees.'-- Bookseller Buyers' Guide

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Book SynopsisNancy Birtwhistle is a Sunday Times bestselling author of Clean & Green, lifelong gardener and Hull-born baker who won the fifth series of The Great British Bake Off in 2014. Motivated by protecting the planet for her ten grandchildren, Nancy decided to change how she used plastic, single use products and chemicals in her home. Sharing her tips online, she amassed an engaged international following of devoted fans interested not only in her delicious recipes, but also her innovative ideas and time-saving swaps that rethink everyday house and garden tasks to make as little an impact on the environment as possible. Nancy worked as a GP practice manager in the NHS for thirty-six years until she retired in 2007. She lives in Lincolnshire with her husband, dogs and rescue hens.Trade ReviewNancy has done it again! The perfect read taking us back to basics in our gardens. As a beginner gardener I am now excited to get started, I'll be a pro by the end of the year! -- Sophie Liard, The Folding LadyI, like Nancy, am happiest in my garden. But I am yet to properly venture into growing food we actually eat because I am never quite sure if I am doing it right. Having Nancy's reassuring voice guide me through it all will fill me with the confidence needed to give it a whirl! When in a home or garden pickle, I often think, "What does Nancy say about this?" and there is always something to try! Everyone should have her collection of books at home! -- Daisy Upton, The Five Minute MumA readable chomp through the edible garden, this instant bestseller mixes sustainable hints, household tips and, as you’d expect, quick and tasty recipes. Warmly encouraging and bursting with good sense, there’s a lot to take-away from Nancy’s ‘good life’ garden. -- RHS (Royal Horticultural Society)

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Book SynopsisFrom urban plots to windowsill pots, grow a city kitchen garden! You don’t need a big garden to reconnect with nature. Grow and eat fresh, organic food using nature’s own principles as your guide: Learn about Korean Natural Farming techniques, including how to make simple treatments that will nourish your soil far better than any chemical. Understand how microorganisms do all the work of feeding your plants and keeping pests and diseases away. Learn how to encourage the natural networks that make a growing space thrive. Never create food waste again by creating compost in an odourless composting system that can be kept inside. Recycle and reuse everything! Turn a plastic bottle into a vertical hanging garden, a self-watering pot, a mini greenhouse or a DIY irrigation system. Eat seasonally with delicious fruit, vegetables, edible flowers and herbs. Discover how to preserve anything leftover with delicious pickles and fermentations. Whether you’ve got a rooftop, fire escape, balcony, canal boat, shared communal space or just one windowsill, bring the cycle of the planet back into your life and make your little part of earth green again!Trade Review"Expect a unique style, on trend content and an approach that takes into account financial and space constraints." - The Bookseller "A wonderful source of inspiration, ideas and knowledge, especially for those with limited space and time." - Charles Dowding, author of No Dig "You'll be going back to this book time and time again to glean more information on your urban gardening journey." - The Review Studio "Vitale, who hosts the YouTube channel the Spicy Moustache, demonstrates how to create an organic kitchen garden in this detailed and useful debut. . . . Make space for this volume; it’s the kind of book that can hook a reader." - Library Journal

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Book Synopsis"A breakthrough book. No comprehensive horticultural library should be without it." -American Gardener When we use chemical fertilizers, we injure the microbial life that sustains plants, and then become increasingly dependent on an arsenal of toxic substances. Teaming with Microbes offers an alternative to this vicious circle, and details how to garden in a way that strengthens, rather than destroys, the soil food web. You'll discover that healthy soil is teeming with life-not just earthworms and insects, but a staggering multitude of bacteria, fungi, and other microorganisms. This must-have guide is for everyone, from those devoted to organic gardening techniques to weekend gardeners who simply want to grow healthy plants without resorting to chemicals.

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Book SynopsisThe evergreen classic on ecological gardening, whatever size your garden! Over a quarter of a million copies sold worldwide! Working with Nature, not against her, results in more beautiful, abundant and resilient gardens. In the revised, second edition of Gaia’s Garden, Toby Hemenway extends his expert knowledge of permaculture to urban and suburban landscapes. A perfect beginner’s guide to ecological gardening, Gaia’s Garden dispels the notion that meaningful gardening can only take place on a large piece of land with lots of space to grow. Readers can expect step-by-step instructions on: Building and maintaining soil fertility and structure Catching and conserving water in the landscape Providing habitat for beneficial insects, birds and animals Growing an edible forest that yields seasonal fruits, nuts and other foods Whatever size garden you have to work with, you can apply basic permaculture principles to make it more diverse, more natural, more productive and more beautiful. Rewild your garden today with the ecological tools/principles for a better tomorrow!Trade Review"Become a sustainable producer of resources instead of a wasteful consumer. This wonderful book shows you how by helping you create and enhance beautiful backyard ecosystems within the garden. Put this book into action, and you'll begin to live an example that positively shifts your own community and beyond. Best of all, doing so with this book is simple, juicy, and fun."--Brad Lancaster, author of Rainwater Harvesting for Drylands and Beyond and http://www.HarvestingRainwater.com"Toby's fun, well-grounded, and engaging book is fast becoming a classic, and deservedly so. Practical yet visionary, broad-ranging yet focused on the basics one needs to know, this is a great place to start on the permaculture path. The new edition builds solidly on the success of the first. Congratulations!"--Dave Jacke, co-author of the two-volume Edible Forest Gardens "The world didn't come with an operating manual, so it's a good thing that some wise people have from time to time written them. Gaia's Garden is one of the more important, a book that will be absolutely necessary in the world ahead."--Bill McKibben, author of Deep Economy and Hope, Human and Wild "Permaculture gardens are no longer a thing of the future. They are here to stay and flourish. Gaia's Garden is enlightening and required reading for all people who desire to make their home's landscape healthy, sustainable, and healing."--Robert Kourik, author of Designing and Maintaining Your Edible Landscape--Naturally "Gaia's Garden is simply the best permaculture book ever written, and is in the running for best gardening book ever written. No one should be without it."--Sharon Astyk, author of Depletion and Abundance: Life on the New Home Front"Toby Hemenway's Gaia's Garden will be recorded in history as a milestone for gardeners and landscapers--a fusion of the practical and the visionary--using the natural intelligence of Earth's symbiotic communities to strengthen and sustain ecosystems in which humans are a partner, not a competitor. An amazing achievement showing how we can and must live in harmony with nature!"--Paul Stamets, author of Mycelium Running: How Mushrooms Can Help Save the WorldTable of Contents1. Introducing the ecological garden 2. A gardener's ecology 3. Designing the ecological garden 4. Bringing the soil to life 5. Catching, conserving, and using water 6. Plants for many uses 7. Bringing in the bees, birds, and other helpful animals 8. Creating communities for the garden 9. Designing garden guilds 10. Growing a food forest 11. Permaculture gardening in the city 12. Pop goes the garden

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Book SynopsisThis wonderful little book covers everything you need to know about the types of plants known as weeds. Ehrenfried Pfeiffer discusses the different varieties of weeds, how they grow and what they can tell us about soil health. The process of combatting weeds is discussed in principle as well as in practice, so that it can be applied to any situation. First written in the 1950s, this is still one of the best overviews of the subject available.Trade Review'The author was a pinoeer of biodynamic farming in the USA, and knows a thing or two about weeds ... For gardeners, there is also some good advice on weeds in compost heaps.'-- Network ReviewTable of ContentsForewordIntroductionWeeds and What They Tell UsThe Battle Against WeedsThe Biological CombatWeedy WeedsMorning Glory and CoGoosefoot or ChenopodiaceaeParsleyPlantainPoisonous WeedsPleasant-looking WeedsMore Pleasant-looking WeedsSummer- and Fall-Flowering WeedsGood WeedsDynamic Plants

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Book SynopsisHumans and the world around us have been governed by the waxing and waning of the moon since the planet came into being. Over the centuries different civilisations have embraced these natural cycles, and so lunar gardening has been around for as long as man has pulled food from the soil; once practised by the Incas and Native Americans, this tried and trusted method has been largely forgotten.John Harris, head gardener at Tresillian Estate in Cornwall, has been using Moon Gardening for over forty years. The methods he uses can be implemented anywhere, you do not need fancy tools, expensive seeds or substantial acreage, but instead, given time, patience and care, the results can be breath-taking. This is gardening at its most natural and organic.The Natural Gardener charts John's story from a rudderless young lad in a Cornish village to being charged with the salvation of the long-neglected gardens at Tresillian. As he shares how to follow these simple principles, he imparts his abundance of horticultural knowledge from years spent working in harmony with the soil, providing a timely link back to nature and the reassuring regularity of the seasons.Trade ReviewVery readable...a warm and engaging narrative...Hand-drawn line illustrations add to the charm of this useful addition to any gardening library. * The English Garden *

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Book SynopsisThe UK''s leading no-dig gardening expert, Charles Dowding, shares his organic approach to growing healthy, vibrant crops.The no-dig approach to gardening based on the key principle of leaving the ground as undisturbed as possible has gained popularity in recent years as a more efficient, economical and sustainable way to grow healthy plants.Packed with easy-to-follow advice, Organic Gardening reveals the art of the no-dig approach and the techniques required to grow organic crops while enhancing soil structure.By employing the simplicity of the no-dig technique and using a system of permanent, slightly raised beds, Charles Dowding shows how to grow a delicious variety of fruit and vegetables sustainably and organically: what to choose; when to sow, plant and harvest; and how best to avoid pests and diseases.From sowing seeds and making compost to harvesting summer salads and winter vegetables, this accessible guide is an essential resTrade ReviewCharles's crops positively glow with health, in testament to his methods... he conveys a deep reverence for the soil, which has fuelled his no-dig ethos. * Kitchen Garden magazine *If anyone can convince gardeners that vegetable plots do not need digging, it is this author - his methods are at times contrary to standard advice, but he is not dogmatic and has a gift for clear explanation. * Sue Stickland, RHS The Garden *Charles is a passionate and accomplished gardener, who grows vegetables of amazing flavour. * Raymond Blanc OBE World renowned chef and restaurateur *One of our most respected vegetable growers... Now ordinary gardeners can benefit from his years of practical experience. * Joy Larkcom, author of Grow Your Own Vegetables *This book will undoubtedly become the 'no-dig' bible, as was its predecessor. * Pushing Up Dandelions website *Table of ContentsForeword by Patrick Holden, CBE, Founder of the Sustainable Food Trust & ex-director of The Soil Association Introduction Part 1: Letting Nature Nurture your Garden The art of not digging The basics Deciding what to grow What’s in season? Living with pests Sowing seeds, raising plants Making compost The moon Part 2: Healthy Harvests Summer salads Winter salads Alliums Choice of roots Savouring summer Brassicas Tomatoes, greenhouse vegetables and unusual vegetables Perennial vegetables Herbs and edible flowers Tree fruit and nuts Soft fruit (berries) Postscript Appendix: Dig/no-dig experiment at Lower Farm Resources Bibliography Main index Index of recipes

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Book SynopsisA guide to creating a modern outdoor space that provides us with the materials we need to eat, be creative, learn and get the most out of our gardenWe no longer just want to garden, we want to engage with the land; the plants in it, the animals, insects and even the fungi. The Modern Gardener isn’t just about creating a space that simply looks visually stunning, but about responding to the need to modernize; to live in a way that works in harmony with the world around us and engages with our outdoor space. The plants that we choose to grow should encourage wildlife, reduce our carbon footprint and be useful in all areas of our lives. Filled with projects, as well as the whys and hows of growing and choosing plants, it includes a recipe section with activities that can be tried at home for all kinds of fun – from delicious concoctions to essential products – all made from plants. 'Frances Tophill is no

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Book SynopsisDiscover everything you need to know to kick-start your composting journey! Dig into compost basics and get to grips with the many benefits of composting and the tools you''ll need to get the job done. It''s time to let your garden grow! You don''t have to be a horticulture expert to get started, this indispensable compost gardening book for beginners will take you through every single step! It includes: - Gardening tips on how to make compost at home- Packed with practical, jargon-free advice, and simple DIY composting techniques- Easy-to-follow format to help grow your gardening knowledgePerfect for first-time gardeners, this is your no-fuss guide to composting! From making your own fertiliser for plants to building your own compost bin, this sustainable gardening book will help you give your vegetable and flower garden a boost. Gorgeous, full-colour photography provides plenty of inspiration to get you started! Expert

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Book SynopsisThis is a complete guide to growing and cooking perfect natural produce, with over 150 step-by-step recipes. It deals with growing and cooking food the natural way, with chemical-free gardening and delicious organic recipes. It is packed with practical advice to help you achieve outstanding results in all aspects of designing and maintaining an organic garden. It provides advice on soil, aspect, sowing, aftercare, natural ways to deal with pests and diseases, harvesting and storage.

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Book SynopsisThe Garden Journal is a beautiful, heirloom-quality journal where gardeners can record their wishes and wants, daily happenings, and successes and challenges over the course of 5 years.

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Book SynopsisUpdated for its 30th anniversary edition; [This book] remains as relevant as ever. New York Times For anyone with an interest in sustainable growing, this is a must-read. Irish Times A perennial classic The New Organic Grower isone of the most important farming books available, written byEliot Coleman, a pioneer in the organic farming movement. Now fully illustrated and updated, this 30th Anniversary Edition is a must-have for any farmer or grower. Coleman’s books and innovative methods have helped innumerable organic growers build successful farms in deep accordance with nature. The wisdom in this seminal book holds true even as the modern agricultural canon has grown – in large part due to Coleman’s influence as a wise elder with decades of experience. New information has been included in this edition to showcase the new tools and techniques that Colemant has been developing over the last thirty-five years. The New Organic Grower offers a very approachable and productive form of farming that has proven to work well for the earth and its stewards for centuries. Gardeners working on a hectare or less will find this book especially useful, as it offers proof that small-scale market growers and serious home gardeners can live good lives close to the land and make a profit at the same time. The New Organic Grower is ideal for young farmers just getting started, or gardeners seeking to expand into a more productive enterprise. New material in this edition includes: Beautiful colour photographs throughout, taken by master gardener and author Barbara Damrosch (Eliot’s wife and co-farmer) Updated information throughout on how Eliot’s practices have changed through his experiments over the years A new section from Damrosch about incorporating flowers on the small farm More information on new tools Eliot has invented that don’t appear in any of his other books Trade ReviewBooklist, Starred Review— "This 30th anniversary edition of a foundational book on small-scale organic growing has been revised and updated to reflect the changes that have happened in those intervening years. Organic food is now mainstream, growing a home food garden is commonplace, and author Coleman has developed new techniques; all of these elements are reflected in the new content which clarifies and expands on the original (1989) and second (1995) editions. While it is written with a small-scale organic farmer in mind, the information included will be highly relevant to home growers as well, especially those starting from scratch and looking to formulate a plan. Starting with a brief agricultural history and moving through virtually every element a small-scale grower would need to consider, this book is an easy-to-read, easy-to- use expert’s guide. Appendixes include several paragraphs each on more than two dozen of the most commonly grown (in the U.S.) types of vegetables, the USDA North American Hardiness Zone Map, a schematic outline of biological agriculture, recommended tools and suppliers, and an annotated bibliography."“The incomparable Eliot Coleman . . . serious, meticulous, inspiring.”—New York Times“One of America’s most innovative farmers.”—Michael Pollan“Eliot Coleman’s book will help market gardeners establish the vital and profitable link between farm and city. Every small-scale grower and serious gardener should have a copy.”—Robert Rodale“[Coleman] writes not just about gardening but about everything that connects to good food and pleasure; a Renaissance man for a new generation.”—Dan Barber, chef, Blue Hill and Blue Hill at Stone Barns“I know of no other person . . . who can produce better results on the land with an economy of effort and means than Eliot. He has transformed gardening from a task, to a craft, and finally to what Stewart Brand would call ‘local science.’”—Paul Hawken, author of Blessed Unrest; editor of Drawdown“Anybody seriously tempted to try . . . raising healthful food on healthy land . . . must first read The New Organic Grower. Coleman, who has been a quiet leader in the American organic movement for several decades, presents a balanced, logical exposition of his subject.”—Horticulture “Every page is imbued with the wisdom and careful observations [Coleman] and his associates have gathered; from soil structure to ‘mobile greenhouses’ . . . each method is thought through to its ultimate impact on the earth and on economic survival.”—Library Journal“This is the best book on small-scale farming I’ve read in years.”—Pat Stone, Mother Earth News“From first sentence to last, [The New Organic Grower] is a delight—an earnest guide written with an impish sense of humor. It will refresh anyone who wants to get the most from a vegetable garden yet doesn't want to devote too much time and energy to the process.”—Publishers Weekly“Coleman conveys a vast amount of detailed information without ever insulting the intelligence of the reader. He speaks as if to a fellow home or market gardener, sharing what works for him and discussing what he knows and what he doesn't know. The New Organic Grower will be the book you dog-ear and feather with yellow sticky pages, returning to it time and again.”—San Francisco Chronicle

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Book SynopsisAn updated edition of an underground classicThis is the 4th edition of a self-published book that no respectable publisher would touch with a ten-foot shovel. The 1st edition was published in 1994 with a print run of 600 copies, which the author expected to watch decompose in his garage for the rest of his life. Now, 24 years later, the book has sold over 65,000 print copies in the U.S. alone, been translated in whole or in part into 19 languages and been published in foreign editions on four continents.The previous editions won numerous awards, including the Independent Publisher Outstanding Book of the Year Award, deeming the book Most Likely to Save the Planet. The book has been mentioned on such diverse media outlets as: Mother Earth News, Whole Earth Review, Countryside Journal, The Journal of Environmental Quality, Natural Health, NPR, BBC, CBC, Howard Stern, The Wall Street Journal, Playboy Magazine, Organic Gardening Magazine, the History Channel, Tree House Masters, and many other national and international venues.The 4th edition is a completely revised, expanded, and updated version of what has become an underground classic bestseller. The author draws from 40 years of research, experience, and travel, to expand and clarify your knowledge and understanding of... your poop!Not only does the book address what to do with human turds, but it is also a priceless manual for anyone involved in composting or gardening, or looking for basic survival skills. There is no other book like this in print!Trade Review"This is a cult classic which might strike those without an outhouse as disgusting. But the methods outlined within have the potential to change the ecological fate of the world."–New Yorker Magazine"Despite all the books on manure and how to use it, human manure composting is not covered elsewhere, making the Humanure Handbook a fine reference for any who would learn these basics. If you're an avid composter, there's nothing like this on the market."–Midwest Book Review"Finally we have a comprehensive book on recycling human excrement without chemicals, high technology, or pollution. Well written, practical, and thoroughly researched . . ."–Whole Earth Review"Almost certain to become a classic in its field. This book should be required reading. . . ."–Countryside Journal"We think The Humanure Handbook ranks right up there with Rachel Carson's Silent Spring . . ."–HortIdeas

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Book SynopsisBuild a self-sufficient life with these 60+ photo-illustrated projects for growing and preserving your own food, keeping animals, harnessing alternative energy, and more. Learning to do more things yourself is healthy, rewarding, and fulfilling, and benefits the environment. Whether you live in the suburbs or have 80 acres in the mountains, Step-by-step Projects for Self Sufficiency guides your way with clear plan drawings, precise instructions, and detailed photos. Organized into the categories Chickens & Other Creatures, Nourishing Your Garden, Garden Projects, Food Preparation & Preservation, Homestead Amenities, and Outbuildings & Fences, projects in this volume include: A portable chicken ark Two types of beehives Solar cookers Firewood storage A potato-growing box Hoophouses and greenhouses Raised planting beds Rain barrels A cider press Compost bins Drying racks And more With these easy-to-follow projects, make progress, step by step, toward your goal of more independent living.

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Book SynopsisIn the fourth River Cottage handbook, Mark Diacono tells us everything we need to know to create our own productive, organic garden, no matter where we liveTrade Review'My team at River Cottage really know how to find and cook good, fresh food. Together we are creating a series of handbooks crammed with expert information. They will be passionate, but practical so that you can have a really useful book to hand whenever you feel the urge to forage, preserve, bake, grow or cook' Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall

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Book SynopsisThe Complete Guide to No-Dig Gardening is a warm and friendly, yet science-based, guide where readers learn how to grow a healthy, productive garden without ever turning over the soil.Trade Review"To assist both beginning and experienced gardeners, information on every aspect of gardening from seeding to harvesting is also included throughout this book." * Triangle Gardener *"...if you want to garden in a way that aligns better with nature and builds on what nature has to offer; and if you want to garden in a way that makes your life easier – this book is a great addition to your library." * Homestead How-To *Table of ContentsIntroduction: What is No-Dig Gardening? 1 The Benefits of No-Dig Gardening 2 Soil Considerations in the No-Dig Garden 3 Building a No-Dig Garden from Scratch 4 Converting an Existing Garden to No-Dig 5 Planting and Growing in Your No-Dig Garden 6 Variations on the No-Dig Concept 7 Containers—The Original No-Dig Garden 8 Bringing It Indoors Resources Acknowledgments About the Author Index

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Book Synopsis?“Gets deep into the weeds, so to speak, of the microscopic architecture of plants and the biochemical processes at play.” —Washington Post Most gardeners realize that plants need to be fed, but many of us know little about the nature of the science involved. In Teaming with Nutrients, Jeff Lowenfels explains the basics of plant nutrition from an organic gardener’s perspective. In his trademark down-to-earth, style, Lowenfels explains the role of both macronutrients and micronutrients and shows gardeners how to provide these essentials through organic, easy-to-follow techniques. Along the way, Lowenfels provides easy-to-grasp lessons in the biology, chemistry, and botany needed to understand how nutrients get into the plant and what they do once they’re inside.

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Book SynopsisWinner of the American Horticulture Society Book Award "Phillip’s first-hand knowledge anchors this innovative and highly readable book in practical wisdom that both beginner and long-time fruit growers will find invaluable."—Toby Hemenway, author of Gaia’s Garden Many people want to grow fruit on a small scale but lack the insight to be successful orchardists. As The Holistic Orchard illustrates, growing tree fruits and berries is something virtually anyone can do. A holistic grower knows that producing fruit is not about manipulating nature but more importantly, fostering nature. The Holistic Orchard demystifies the basic skills everybody should know about the orchard ecosystem, focusing on: Orchard design Soil biology Organic health management Grafting Planting Pruning Choosing the right varieties for your climate Includes a step-by-step instructional calendar to guide growers through the entire orchard year! Fruit profiles include: pome fruits (apples, pears, asian pears, quinces) stone fruits (cherries, peaches, nectarines, apricots, plums) berries (raspberries, blackberries, blueberries, gooseberries, currants, and elderberries) Phillips completely changed the conversation about healthy orcharding with his first bestselling book, The Apple Grower, and now he takes that dialogue even further by exploring: The connections between home orcharding and permaculture The importance of native pollinators Plantings with shade-tolerant berry bushes and other insectary plants Information on cover crops and biodiversity Safe, homegrown solutions to pest and disease challenges All along the way, Phillips' expertise and enthusiasm for healthy growing shines through, as does his ability to put the usual horticultural facts into an integrated ecology perspective. With The Holistic Orchard in your hand you have every reason in the world to confidently plant that very first—or next—fruit tree!Trade ReviewBooklist- With the rising popularity of farmers’ markets and ever-increasing availability of organic foods in mainstream grocery stores, more and more gardeners are catching the urge to go pesticide-free. For fruit lovers wanting to tend an orchard on a small scale, Phillips, author of the gardening best-seller The Apple Grower (2005), offers a wealth of tips and tricks here on growing berries and tree fruits without resorting to toxic sprays. Eight information-packed chapters cover such basics as orchard design, seeding and growing schedules, and soil varieties, all using natural methods of cooperating with nature to resist attacks by garden pests and plant diseases. Phillips also provides an exhaustive directory of fruit varieties, from pome fruits, such as apples and pears, to stone fruits, such as cherries and nectarines. Although the guide is aimed primarily at home growers with a little yard space and a yen for organic produce, professional orchard managers can certainly benefit and will hopefully be prompted to shy away from pesticides as well.Choice- The Holistic Orchard is a breath of fresh air in a genre too often characterized by occult mysticism and/or an air of moral superiority. Phillips (The Apple Grower, 2005), a farmer/orchardist with many years of experience, is a pragmatist, not a polemicist; he successfully covers topics ranging from plant biology and ecology to the realities and economics of niche markets. The author presents a challenge to backyard fruit growers and community orchardists to produce healthy, quality fruits organically. Phillips begins by discussing the soil and finishes with marketing his fruit at the production site. The text reflects his infectious enthusiasm, his deep understanding of the positive and negative impacts of natural organisms on his trees, and his commitment to hard work and critical thinking. The author addresses the challenges of dealing with disease and insect and animal pests along with the need to accommodate trees' annual needs for nutrients; he uses approaches that seek to promote within orchards a diversity of beneficial organisms as well as methods that promote the plant's immunological response via phytoalexins. This book is richly photographed and contains well-placed sidebars with pertinent information. It was a delight to read. Summing Up: Highly recommended. All undergraduate students, general readers, and professionals/practitioners. ForeWord Reviews- Despite a wealth of information available about grafting, soil health, tree planting, and pruning, there’s one major area of orchard management that’s tough for any beginner to learn: confidence. That’s where Michael Phillips comes in. As a farmer in northern New Hampshire, and author of The Apple Grower, he provides gentle-but-sure advice on holistic orchards in a way that’s encouraging and valuable. Beginning with a fascinating explanation of forest-edge ecology—which defines where fruit trees thrive best—Phillips moves into topics like fungal dominance, haphazard mulching, pulsing agents, and more. For those moving to the next level of orchard management, Phillips delves into the specifics of three major categories of fruits: pome, which includes apples and pears; stone, which encompasses cherry, peach, plum, and apricot; and woody berries, including blackberry, currant, gooseberry, and raspberry. Throughout, Phillips adopts a genial tone that blends farmer-next-door friendliness with a more academic approach. The mix works, giving the scientific descriptions more weight while keeping the material accessible. In general, the sheer breadth of information presented can seem overwhelming, particularly for a beginner, but it’s likely that those who are interested in getting started in holistic orchard practices will appreciate having such a thorough reference guide.Publishers Weekly- The author of the classic guide for small-scale fruit cultivation, The Apple Grower, returns to the orchard. Phillips, who grows apples and herbs in New Hampshire, concedes early on that growing fruit that is both attractive and delicious is more challenging than cultivating vegetables and herbs. What distinguishes this book from other organic guides is the author's ecological approach. He argues that orchard success begins with a deep understanding of soil health and forest-edge ecology. The chemistry lessons may challenge many, but he translates most of the science basics into practical routines that any gardener could use. Straightforward information on selecting trees and horticultural basics such as pruning and pest management follows. For those who intend to invest significant time and resources into growing fruit, this is a comprehensive guide to managing a healthy and bountiful orchard. Color photographs and illustrations throughout.Amazon.com Editorial Review- The demand for high-quality, organically grown food is skyrocketing with people's gradual understanding of the health risks and dangers of chemical pesticides and "industrialized" farming, yet good organic apples are still hard to find in many places. Phillips has employed hard work and keen observation of nature to make the best use of our great-grandparents' experiences and techniques. He then examines the latest scientific knowledge of apple pests and their life cycles to produce a thorough guide to growing wonderful, delicious varieties of apples in an orchard that is safe for animals, birds, and children playing under its tree branches. Each chapter has practical advice for the backyard fruit grower, and while this book is filled with useful facts and tactics, Phillips also adds a gentle, Earth-friendly, philosophical writing style that makes for quite an enjoyable read."Rooted in the author's many years of organic orcharding experience, this book blends ideas from soil science, holistic health, permaculture, and traditional fruit growing into a powerful new approach to orchard design and care. Phillips' first-hand knowledge anchors this innovative and highly readable book in practical wisdom that both beginner and long-time fruit growers will find invaluable."--Toby Hemenway, author of Gaia's Garden: A Guide to Home-Scale Permaculture"Michael Phillips' Holistic Orchard is a seminal work, to be compared with Sir Albert Howard and J.I. Rodale's classic books on soil and organic gardening. This is deep horticulture at its best, showing just how and what we must do to orchard sustainably and ecologically."--Bill MacKentley, St. Lawrence Nurseries"The words 'holistic' and 'comprehensive' barely do honor to Michael Phillips' scope in The Holistic Orchard. The author has woven multiple strands of orchard knowledge -- based on his expansive vision and a lifetime of experience, together with the wisdom of researchers and fellow fruit growers -- into a brilliant web that captures the wonderful complexity of the orchard ecosystem. A sparkling joy to behold!"--Guy Ames, orchardist and tree fruit specialist with ATTRA, the National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service"The Holistic Orchard is a stimulating account of fruit production from a biological rather than chemical approach. Phillips' orchard philosophy- learned from keen observation and reflection- will fall and clobber you like a giant Newtonian apple; then, your walk through the orchard will never be the same. Digesting this book is like tasting a delectable new apple variety for the first time."--Tom Burford, Orchard Consultant, Author, Apple Historian"For decades experts have insisted that organic orcharding is an impossibility. Michael Phillips has led the effort to show that the truly sustainable, organic orchard is something we all can have. His example has been an inspiration. His tireless research has provided a road map to creating our own holistic orchards."--John Bunker, apple historian and author, Not Far from the Tree"Michael Phillips does it again! His ability to understand and explain the parts, interactions and emergent properties of orchard systems is unparalleled. The Holistic Orchard integrates fundamental biology with the practical realities of ecologically sound management. The book describes the trek from healthy soil to healthy people, with great fruit all along the way. This is done in a way that can only be achieved by a highly experienced orchardist-practitioner-author-philosopher."--George W. Bird, Professor of Nematology, Michigan State University "A new way of thinking is called for given the failure of chemicals to solve problems and feed the world. Mixing up dozens of organic thoughts, Michael Phillips ushers us into the 21st century and virtually creates a new language so we can really understand what is happening in our orchards. Shake off those 20th century blues and let's move on with The Holistic Orchard as a guiding light."--Tim Bates, biodynamic orchardist, The Apple Farm, Philo, California

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Book SynopsisHuw Richards has been growing organic food in his family's garden for the last 17 years and recently launched Abundance Academy - online courses on garden productivity. Huw's YouTube channel has over 500,000 subscribers - the most popular videos have more than 3 million views. Huw has written three books with DK, Veg in One Bed (2019), Grow Food For Free (2020) and The Vegetable Grower's Handbook (2022).

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Book SynopsisThis inspiring and accessible award-winning book shows how simple gardening techniques can provide a dazzling plant display while helping the native wildlife.

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Book Synopsis ‘Garden Book of the Year’ – Garden Media Guild Awards 2022 Discover Britain’s most beautiful and inspiring wild gardens, and how you can make your own. Winner ‘Best Garden Book of the Year’ Garden Media Guild Awards 2022 Despite our best efforts, and no matter how much we prune, tidy and shape our gardens, they are inherently wild. In fact, it is often the most unrestrained and untamed areas that add drama and romance. In this glorious celebration of exuberant, naturalistic planting, we take a walk on the wild side. Be transported to lush valleys and tropical jungles with exotic gardens shaped by Victorian plant hunters. Wander through beautiful bluebell woods, blossoming orchards and magical wildflower meadows, and explore prairie-style gardens inspired by North American grasslands. Discover special places influenced by natural landscapes, and sustainably managed spaces designed with wildlife in mind. You’ll find out how wild play areas can help children to connect with nature and how immersing yourself in quiet woodland can immediately benefit your sense of well-being. A helpful guide also offers advice and tips on how to create and manage your own wildlife-friendly garden so that you can attract birds, bees, bats, bugs and many other wild and wonderful creatures.Trade ReviewFrom the orchid-studded wild flower meadows of Stowe and the artful gardens that Dan Pearson recently designed around the picturesque ruins of Lowther Castle, to the tree fern glades of Trengwainton in Cornwall, the exotic “jungle” of Glendurgan (also in Cornwall), and the “nature on steroids, visual suckerpunch” that is Bodnant, Mahon paints a vivid, immersive picture of these “wild” gardens and how they support a complex, biodiverse range of vulnerable habitats. The Irish Times

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Book SynopsisWhether you love growing, love creating, or just want to liven up your outdoor space, a container garden is just the answer. So many of us nowadays are crammed into our homes and a garden is a luxury that few can afford. But there is always room for a bit of greenery; whether it's herbs and spices to add fresh flavour to your food, or putting a jungle on your windowsill, a container can enable growers to bring nature to the most inhospitable and smallest spaces. Frances Tophill covers the sustainable, crafty and culinary aspects of container gardening. From urns and troughs to chimney stacks and hanging baskets alongside what to grow inside them - bonsai to annuals, bulbs, grasses and bamboos, tumbling and creeping plants and flowers - there are also 40 ideas on how to pair plants and pots, including upcycling existing items and creating your own containers.

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Book SynopsisRevised, updated and expanded edition Joy Larkcom's classic guide to growing your own vegetables.Trade ReviewAs any allotmenteer will tell you, this is the GYO bible, by the Delia Smith of the vegetable garden

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Book SynopsisFor anyone already practicing, or turning to, biodynamic gardening and farming methods, numerous detailed questions arise, such as:* How do you make and use the key preparations, such as horn manure and horn silica?* How do you develop living, fertile soil?* Which treatments are best for controlling weeds, pests and disease?This manual, fully illustrated with explanatory diagrams and photographs, provides the answers. The book covers* all aspects of making and using biodynamic preparations and composts* managing the health of plants* controlling weeds and pests* working with cosmic rhythms* combatting common diseases such as mildew* working with seeds, pastes and root dips* care of fruit trees and vinesThis second edition also has extensive new chapters on large-scale farming, including livestock and cereal cultivation, and vegetable farming. The whole book has also been completely revised and updated.Although the technical aspects of biodynamic growing are exhaustively covered, the author also considers the human qualities necessary for this kind of agriculture to succeed.This is an invaluable guide for all biodynamic growers to have to hand daily.Trade Review'The definitive practical manual for biodynamic farmers and gardeners, with a section on viticulture.'-- David Lorimer, Scientific Medical Network Review

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Book SynopsisFor decades fruit growers have sprayed their trees with toxic chemicals in an attempt to control a range of insect and fungal pests. Yet it is possible to grow apples responsibly, by applying the intuitive knowledge of our great-grandparents with the fruits of modern scientific research and innovation. Since The Apple Grower first appeared in 1998, orchardist Michael Phillips has continued his research with apples, which have been called "organic's final frontier." In this new edition of his widely acclaimed work, Phillips delves even deeper into the mysteries of growing good fruit with minimal inputs. Some of the cutting-edge topics he explores include: The use of kaolin clay as an effective strategy against curculio and borers, as well as its limitations Creating a diverse, healthy orchard ecosystem through understory management of plants, nutrients, and beneficial microorganisms How to make a small apple business viable by focusing on heritage and regional varieties, value-added products, and the "community orchard" model The author's personal voice and clear-eyed advice have already made The Apple Grower a classic among small-scale growers and home orchardists. In fact, anyone serious about succeeding with apples needs to have this updated edition on their bookshelf.Trade ReviewNorthern Woodlands (Review)- As anyone who has ever planted a few apple trees knows all too well, growing apples can be a perplexing and frustrating endeavor. The trouble is that apples are very attractive to many of nature's creatures besides humans. And at least one of these creatures, from deer to apple maggot flies, and from the roundheaded apple tree borer to mice (not to mention the long list of diseases that also affect apples), is sure to be working for its share of the fruit (and in some cases the tree) every day of the year. But if you've ever baked a pie made from your own apples, or pressed a batch of cider from them, the trials and tribulations all seem worth it with that first bite or sip. Michael Phillips' revised The Apple Grower has as much help as you'll find anywhere to get you to that first bite of pie or sip of cider. The previous edition, published in 1998, was the bible for many backyard orchardists and commercial organic growers. The new edition, boasting color photos and expanded and better-organized chapters, is a real treat for anyone interested in apples. The new edition's chapter on diseases and pests will be helpful to those left scratching their head about who or what is eating the apples or trees they are trying to grow. Phillips sprinkles tributes to other apple growers throughout the text. These persistent and dedicated souls, along with Phillips, are exploring uncharted territory: they are trying, without the use of traditional pesticides and chemicals, to keep ever-evolving pests and diseases away from trees that are themselves not evolving. All named apple varieties are genetic dead ends. A Macintosh today is genetically identical to a Macintosh from a century ago, but the bugs and diseases have spent that time evolving to break through the trees' defenses. Phillips presents intriguing ideas about orchard soils. Since people started growing apples in orchards, those orchard soils have largely been bacterially based, meaning that fertility has been maintained by the addition of bacteria-laden manure. Sheep and cattle were allowed to graze the grass and eat dropped apples, adding manure to the soils, and often the orchard was formerly pasture or hayfield, where manure was regularly added to maintain fertility. Bacteria-based soils are great for grasses and hay crops, but not necessarily for trees. Phillips argues that apple trees are still, well, trees, and like other trees, they prefer forest soils, which rely mainly on fungi to break down organic matter such as bark, wood, and other plant matter to maintain soil fertility. Phillips believes that this soil is what apple trees naturally want, and that it makes them healthier and better able to deal with pests and diseases. He has been experimenting with using fast-growing comfrey in his orchard, cutting it down to add rotting plant matter and to stifle the growth of grass, which can rob an apple tree's surface feeder roots of nutrients. He advocates adding composted branches, bark, wood chips, and even excess chunks of sheetrock to your orchard to promote the fungi in the soil and deter grasses. Phillips' style is more writerly than reference. His homespun stories about his many years of trying to outwit and outmaneuver the legions of apple-loving creatures are both entertaining and packed with tips. Phillips' extremely handy compendium of orchard tasks has always served as my basic plan of attack for what to do in my orchard, and the revised and expanded edition will be a welcome addition to my library. I have no doubt that over time it will take on the grimy, thumbed-through, and well-used look of my copy of the first edition of The Apple Grower. -- by Carl Demrow"A must read for anyone who grows apples or is contemplating doing so."--Lee A. Reich, garden author and Associated Press syndicated columnistNorthern Woodlands- “Michael Phillips’ revised The Apple Grower has as much help as you’ll find anywhere to get you to that first bite of pie or sip of cider. The previous edition, published in 1998, was the bible for many backyard orchardists and commercial organic growers. The new edition, boasting color photos and expanded and better-organized chapters, is a real treat for anyone interested in apples. The new edition’s chapter on diseases and pests will be helpful to those left scratching their head about who or what is eating the apples or trees they are trying to grow. Phillips’ style is more writerly than reference. His homespun stories about his many years of trying to outwit and outmaneuver the legions of apple-loving creatures are both entertaining and packed with tips. Phillips’ extremely handy compendium of orchard tasks has always served as my basic plan of attack for what to do in my orchard, and the revised and expanded edition will be a welcome addition to my library. I have no doubt that over time it will take on the grimy, thumbed-through, and well-used look of my copy of the first edition of The Apple Grower.”Table of ContentsAcknowledgments Introduction Chapter One Growing Apples Locally Apple Growing a Hundred Years Ago Today's Integrated Pest Management Bringing It All Together Conventional Wisdom The Small Commercial Orchard in Context Chapter Two The Orchard Site and Its Climate Sacred Slopes The Four Points of the Compass Dry Ground Zone Hardiness Windbreaks Biodiversity in a Fruit Orchard Proximity to Markets Chapter Three The Enriching of Fruit Lands The Living Soil Compost Forever Soil Amendments Foliar Feeding Biodynamic Teachings Cover Cropping Ponderable Mulch Soil Tests and Leaf Analysis Trace Minerals for Every Tree Chapter Four The Trees and the Planting Cultivar Selection Rootstocks and Tree Spacing Nursery Sources and Varietal Collectors Grafting and Propagation The Setting of the Trees Orchard Size and Layout High-Density Plantings Down to the Nitty-Gritty Chapter Five Care of the Orchard Intuitive Pruning Training the Apple Tree Pollination and Fruit Set Frost Protection Thinning the Fruit The Great Grass Debate Mowing Options Summer Care Preparing for Winter Restoring Neglected Orchards Chapter Six Apple Pests and Diseases The Beginning of Understanding Good-bye, Foliar Pests Insect Identification Bug-by-Bug Profiles Beneficial Insects Good Sanitation Fungal Diseases Other Diseases of the Apple Four-Legged Considerations Chapter Seven Spraying for Balance The Complexities of Nature All the Answers Aren't Known, but We're Gaining Timing Is Everything The Orchard Calendar Botanicals, Elementals, and Forbidden Fruit Gentler Sprays Spray Equipment for the Small Commercial Orchard Matters of Concern Chapter Eight Reaping the Harvest When to Pick Harvest Equipment The Apple Picker's Reel Hiring Help Windfalls and Fat Sheep From Orchard to Packing Shed Grading Revisited Cider Making The Juice of the Apple Apple Storage Chapter Nine Marketing in the Local Economy Getting a Fair Price Apple Economics Niche Marketing Value-Added Products Organic Certification Advertising Marketing Innovations Long-Term Vision Chapter Ten The Last Organic Frontier The Sustainable Orchard Tree Spirit, Community Spirit Organic Perseverance Here We Come a-Wassailing Esopus Spitzenberg and a Better Tomorrow Appendix I Compendium of Orchard Tasks Appendix 2 Apple Grower's Source List Appendix 3 Lost Nation Apple Recipes Appendix 4 Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisThe UK's leading no-dig gardening expert, Charles Dowding, draws on his years of experience to show how easy it is to start a new vegetable garden.Any plot - whether a building site, overgrown with weeds or unwanted lawn - can be turned into a beautiful and productive vegetable area. Charles''s no-nonsense and straightforward advice is the perfect starting point for the beginner or experienced gardener.The book takes you step-by-step through everything - from planning, clearing the ground and the early stages of starting a vegetable garden, to growing in polytunnels and greenhouses. There is also helpful guidance on how to use mulch, ways to minimise digging, and planting/sowing tips across the seasons.Filled with labour-saving ideas and the techniques that Charles uses to garden so successfully, How to Create a Vegetable Garden is illustrated throughout with photos and tales from Charles''s first year in his new vegetable garden.Trade ReviewAnother inspiring yet practical book from Charles Dowding. -- Rozie Apps * Permaculture Magazine *It is impossible not to feel inspired by the unique combination of helpful guidance and enthusiastic encouragement of experimentation. As Charles proves, there is no plot of land too wild to tame, a building site too overgrown with weeds or an unwanted lawn that can't be turned into a productive and beautiful garden area. -- Chris Allen * Gardening TImes *This is yet another book that will, as a manual, be on my bookshelf, but it will sure spend more in my hand than on the shelf. -- Michael Smith * Green (Living) Review *How to Create a New Vegetable Garden is the best vegetable gardening book I have read for a long time. -- ThePottingShed.co.ukIf this doesn't encourage more of us to turn our gardens into productive and beautiful spaces, I don't know what will. -- Anne Swithinbank, broadcaster and gardening writerWhether you're a dedicated gardener or a newcomer to the word of growing, take a look: Charles's methods work beautifully. -- Mark Diacono, gardener, food writer and broadcasterHow to clear weeds and grow great plants: Charles explains from a wealth of experience. -- Sarah Raven, journalist and garden writerTable of ContentsForeword by Steve Mercer Introduction Part One: Clearing ground and preparing soil 1. Starting points 2. Beauty in the food garden 3. The setting 4. Clearing ground 5. Mulching 6. Building beds 7. Dig versus no-dig (with compost) 8. Dig versus no-dig (without compost) Part Two: Sowing and growing 9. Raising plants under cover 10. Early sowing and plantings 11. Successional sowings and plantings 12. One bed, one year 13. Growing under cover 14. Hot beds 15. Perennial vegetables Appendix: Seasons and climate zones Glossary Resources Index

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Book SynopsisDiscover how to keep your garden in the best of health.Ideal for first-time gardeners, Grow Pests & Diseases contains everything you need to know to prevent and treat a wide range of plant pests, diseases, disorders, and more. Far more than a simple list of treatments, this book shows you how to keep plants in top condition, recognise the signs of ill-health, and decide whether or not intervention is needed, while the fully illustrated ailment directory is organised by symptom and plant type for quick and easy identification.Packed with practical, jargon-free know-how, this easy-to-use guide has everything you need to know to help your garden Grow.

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Book SynopsisNatural gardening taken to the next level, for a truly ecological and planet-friendly garden that is full of bountiful life.

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Book SynopsisEven though technology makes us more “connected” than ever, we still hunger for authentic relationships—with the natural world, our creator, and one another. But how do we find them, especially when we’ve lost touch with many of the foundational rhythms that draw us together?The Kindred Life is a rallying cry for real connection in a time when we need to re­capture what’s been lost. In this collection of stories, photos, and recipes from her home on Kindred Farm in Santa Fe, Tennessee, sustainable farmer Christine Bailey shares both the beautiful and gritty moments as she grew from a hopeful urban gardener to co-owner of a farm full of produce, bees, chickens, and flowers that provides meaningful experiences for friends, family, and hundreds of guests each year.Kindred means “tribe” or “family,” and at the center of The Kindred Life is an invita­tion to pursue the Trade Review'The Kindred Life offers a nourishing reminder for us to stay connected through the simple (but often complex) nature of relationship with ourselves, and others. Christine dares us to reach our hands into the soil of authenticity, and beckons us through her personal stories and recipes to gather in community, around the table. After the long period of disconnect we've all faced, this book is timely, refreshing, and one to return to time and time again. The Kindred Life will have you singing, cooking, possibly weeping, and certainly sipping her signature latte whilst sinking deep into Christine's inspiring work and words.' * Leah Boden, Author Of Modern Miss Mason (Tyndale, Jan 2023) *'The Kindred Life is an invitation to experience more; more laughter, more meaning, more risk and more life. Christine has a rare ability to write in a way that makes you feel that you are sitting with an old friend around the table with a cup of coffee or a matcha green tea latte with steamed coconut milk and a sprinkle of cinnamon. Her own journey along with her gritty and beautiful experiences on the farm will leave readers with the gentle and inspiring nudge to dig in and reach out for more. Whether you are a gardener, a cook, or someone just trying to figure out how to squeeze more out of your life, The Kindred Life will unlock the potential that's inside of each one of us and give you the courage to move towards your dreams.' * Chris & Julie Bennett, Hosts of Finding Family Podcast *'Christine Marie Bailey is brave, and the kindred stories she shares are beautiful. She is like a kind companion, holding your hand and gently inviting you into a life of courageous community and connection--a life of depth, simplicity, and wonder. This book will awaken the dream in your heart to center your life around reclaiming the earth, time, your deepest desires, and all that really matters.' * Rachel Marie Kang, author of Let There Be Art *'In The Kindred Life, mother, farmer, and author Christine Bailey shares poignant stories from her life that inspire me to build community and love my home. Her tales of meeting her husband, traveling to India, and starting their farm drew me in and sparked a desire in me to evaluate aspects of my own life and further align them with my values of simplicity, generosity, and hospitality. Readers will love the stories and find themselves drawn towards a more purposeful life as they turn the pages of Christine's beautiful book.' * Jennifer Pepito, Author, and Founder of The Peaceful Press *'The Kindred Life is an authentic and inspirational read. In a world that too often values productivity and efficiency over peace and connection, this book will encourage you to live a life that prioritizes courage, nourishment, belonging, listening and hospitality. These stories, recipes and invitations will stir your spirit and compel you to a more emotionally healthy way of life, where the harvest is rich relationship and days full of meaning.' * Amy Alexander, Executive Director and Co-Founder of The Refuge Center for Counseling *'Christine Bailey is a ray of sunshine, a wise sage, and an heirloom friend to all who meet her. She is the full embodiment of peace and joy, love and kinship, fun and grit, hospitality and grace, simplicity and kindness-- and she has put all of her heart into these pages to share these essential foundations of a Kindred Life with us. Listen well to the life she lives. We would all be the better for it.' * Jeremy Cowart, Photographer and Artist *

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Book SynopsisA must-read for anyone who wants to know how to grow their own zero-food miles, pesticide-free veg, while treading gently upon our planet. Dave Goulson, author of The Garden Jungle and Gardening for Bumblebees Whether you’re an experienced gardener or have ambitious plans for your allotment, this A–Z, soil-to-table guide shows you how to reduce chemical inputs; naturally enrich your growing ecology; and create a hardy, nutrient-dense and delicious crop. In The Healthy Vegetable Garden, expert organic gardener Sally Morgan explains how to use natural approaches to cope with the challenges of a changing climate through principles from regenerative gardening, agroecology and permaculture – all to help your green space thrive. The Healthy Vegetable Garden shows you how to: Combat disease and keep pests at bay with natural predators, companion planting and trap and barrier crops Choose the right plants to attract pollinators and pest predators Build a healthy soil full of organic matter, earthworms and mycorrhizal fungi Regenerate soil through no-dig practices, composting, cover crops and mulching Boost biodiversity through the use of crop rotations and polyculture Rewild your garden by creating a range of habitats, making use of walls and fences, log piles, water features and wild corners Understand plant defences and use biocontrols Make natural barriers, traps and lures A healthy, productive garden should work in harmony with nature to produce and protect delicious fruits and vegetables as well as build a rich soil that is full of life. With The Healthy Vegetable Garden, growers of all levels will start reducing incidents of pests and diseases while creating a verdant habitat – all without the need for fertilizers, pesticides or weedkillers.Trade Review"A must read for anyone who wants to know how to grow their own zero–food miles, pesticide-free veg, while treading gently upon our planet."—Dave Goulson, author of The Garden Jungle and Gardening for Bumblebees"COVID has led to a renewed appreciation of nature for many people, and an interest in joining CSAs or growing their own produce. So this book could not be better timed, and given Sally’s lifetime experience of organic gardening, it’s bound to inspire all those who want to ‘grow back better’."—Helen Browning, chief executive, Soil Association"If you want to grow your own food while helping nature to thrive, this fascinating book is for you. I learnt a lot."—Alex Mitchell, author of Crops in Tight Spots"An invaluable addition to the gardening literature, Sally Morgan’s new book does a superb job of presenting a holistic, ecological approach to soil health as well as pest and disease management. Whereas many books may simply say, ‘Use X product to fight X issue’, Morgan describes in thorough detail what the gardener can do – from building habitats to improving soil conditions – to ensure that issue never has a chance to take hold. You will turn to this book time and again as a smart, non-dogmatic guide to producing consistently healthy crops and, in effect, a healthier environment."—Jesse Frost, author of The Living Soil Handbook"There are so many reasons to grow a healthy food garden, and expert gardener Sally Morgan shows you how. In this comprehensive guide, you will dig deep into the world of soil, natural pest control and companion plants, along with a range of options for your natural landscape. This clearly written book sets up a strong foundation for new gardeners while also offering advice for those with more experience, who seek tools for building and maintaining a healthy food garden from start to finish."—Ellen Ecker Ogden, author of The New Heirloom Garden"In The Healthy Vegetable Garden, Sally Morgan shares a wealth of information about growing healthy soil as the foundation for exceptional gardens which produce nutritional food with minimal pests. Her simple informative style empowers the reader to put these concepts into grounded action. She has created a fantastic resource for the success of the next generation gardeners."—Katrina Blair, author of The Wild Wisdom of Weeds"One thing I found refreshing about Sally Morgan’s book is that she doesn’t trade in the myth of the ‘perfectly balanced organic soil’ which, of course, is not to be found in this imperfect, constantly evolving world. She doesn’t aspire to a weed-free or pest-free garden, but rather one where problems are kept manageable without resorting to extreme or disruptive remedies. She cites a slew of strategies one might use to correct course: biocontrols, barriers repellents, and so on. However, she keeps returning to the basic premise that by fostering a diverse and resilient habitat, the soil and garden ecosystem can do a great deal to regenerate and maintain itself, making external fixes unnecessary."—Will Bonsall, author of Will Bonsall’s Essential Guide to Radical, Self-Reliant Gardening"There are few gardeners (or farmers) I know who wouldn’t benefit from reading Sally Morgan’s new book, The Healthy Vegetable Garden. For the novice grower, the book is a great introduction to the principles and methods of ecological gardening. And for the veteran grower, there is sure to be plenty of new information, including incredibly detailed sections on pest and disease control. . . .[This is] a detailed and indispensable resource."—Hobby Farms

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