Organic gardening / Sustainable gardening Books

Book SynopsisA design-focused, easy-to-use guide to colorful, eye-catching foliage and flowers for your whole yard, from the ground plane to the canopy, for homeowners and landscapers faced with replacing thirsty gardens in California and other dry regions in the Western US. If readers must reluctantly remove water-guzzling favorites from the garden, they need equally beautiful substitutes! This book is a visual treat that supports the transition to dry gardening by proving that gardeners can have all the gorgeous color and flowers they had in the past using just a fraction of the water. Maureen Gilmer provides chapters on design categories of plants—flowering shrubs, the ground plain, eye-catching accents, ephemeral flowers, perennials for color, animated plants and fine textures, canopy, and edibles—with profiles for each plant plus background info and top picks lists. The Colorful Dry Garden is unique because it features only bold plants that are also heavy bloomers despite heat and limited water. It also features more than just Western native plants by including varieties from the world's driest climates.Trade Review"Compact and easy-to-read, with practical tips for "going dry," a.k.a. transitioning to a drought-resistant yard, along with loads of color photos of flowering shrubs, perennials, ground covers, succulents and grasses."—The Los Angeles Times"[This book] couldn't come at a better time. As we adjust to using less water in every part of our lives, Gilmer's book provides practical guidance to gardeners who want vibrant landscapes in the future while using less of our precious resource, water."—The Oregonian"This book features beautifully illustrated profiles of drought-tolerant plants"—Texas Gardener"Includes guidelines for transitioning yards to an “arid palette,” as well as hundreds of photos and detailed descriptions of flowering plants and trees that provide the punches of color she and other floral fans crave."—Las Vegas Review-Journal "Maureen Gilmer consolidates everything you need to know to get started [in water-wise gardening] based on her 30 years of experience in the field.... The perfect resource for folks who may not be hard-core gardeners but want a beautiful yet unthirsty garden all the same." —Succulents and More

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Book SynopsisAre you sick and tired of pesky insects in your garden? Do you want to stay away from pesticides and harmful poisons that could be hazardous to your health and your garden? If you answered yes to both of those questions, The Naturally Bug-Free Garden has all the answers to your troubles.This book will show you how to bring your garden ecosystem into balance so that beneficial insects and larger animals do the work of pest control for you.Anna Hess has had seven years of experience growing all of her family’s vegetables. Here, she sums up all of her knowledge and expertise, teaching you many hands-on pest-control techniques, such as succession planting, choosing resistant plant varieties, and shielding plants with row covers. Paying attention to the nutritional needs of your vegetables can also deter pests, and the remaining insects are simple to handpick.With Anna’s expertise, you too can grow beautiful, healthy, organic vegetables for you and your family.

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Book SynopsisRodale''s Ultimate Encyclopedia of Organic Gardening has been the go-to resource for gardeners for more than 50 years, and the best tool novices can buy to start applying organic methods to their fruit and vegetable crops, herbs, trees and shrubs, perennials, annuals, and lawns. This thoroughly revised and updated version highlights new organic pest controls, new fertilizer products, improved gardening techniques, the latest organic soil practices, and new trends in garden design. In this indispensable work you will find: ? Comprehensive coverage for the entire garden and landscape along with related entries such as Community Gardening, Edible Landscaping, Horticultural Therapy, Stonescaping, and more ?The most in-depth information from the trusted Rodale Organic Gardening brand ?A completely new section on earth-friendly techniques for gardening in a changing climate, covering wise water management, creating backyard habitats, managing invasive plants and insects, reducing energy use and recycling, and understanding biotechnology ?Entries all written by American gardeners for American gardeners, with answers for all the challenges presented by various conditions, from the humid Deep South and the mild maritime coasts to the cold far North and the dry Southwest Rodale''s Ultimate Encyclopedia of Organic Gardening has everything you need to create gorgeous, non-toxic gardens in any part of the country.

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Book SynopsisIn Teaming with Microbes, Jeff Lowenfels revealed the fascinating facts around the soil food web, all the tiny organisms that live in soil and aid a plants growth. In Teaming with Nutrients, he explored how those organisms aid in the uptake of nutrients. And in Teaming with Fungi, he detailed the symbiotic relationship between plants and fungi—the most important organism living in the soil. In his new book Teaming with Bacteria, Lowenfels digs into the new science behind how endophytic bacteria supply nutrients to a large array of plants and explains, in accessible language, how this information applies to home gardeners, small-scale farmers, and cannabis growers. Based on cutting-edge science that will help gardeners increase plant health and productivity, Teaming with Bacteria is a must-have addition to every organic gardener’s library.

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Book SynopsisWho doesn't want a yard filled with birds, bees, and butterflies? In The Ultimate Wildlife Garden, Stacy Tornio makes it easy. This hardworking, photo-filled guide will enable you to create the earth-friendly, plant-filled garden of your dreams. Readers will find plant-specific information on attracting species-specific varieties of birds, hummingbirds, bees, butterflies, and other wildlife. Additional information includes advice on finding the right type of feeder, avoiding pesticides, and native plant options. Ten garden plans allow homeowners to build specific gardens from scratch, including a hummingbird garden, a songbird garden, a bird-habitat garden, and more. Whether you want to entice birds with black-eyed susans or attract bumblebees by planting bee balm, this must-have guide will help bring your garden to life.

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Book SynopsisEngaging and quirky; full of ideas and inspiration for garden projects that you'll be itching to try for yourself. Dave Goulson, author of The Garden Jungle A thoughtful and practical guide Country Life Design a garden for the future – because what we grow matters. Transform your garden into a self-sustaining haven for nature and wildlife. Ecological garden designer Matt Rees-Warren shares inspirational design ideas and practical projects to help you create a garden that is both beautiful today and sustainable tomorrow. The Ecological Gardener will give you the tools to create an abundant, healthy garden from the soil up – a garden that welcomes birds and bees and allows native planting and wild flowers to flourish, with minimal carbon impact or need for fresh water. This book can guide both novice and experienced gardeners alike in their journey to a more ecological approach, and is full of practical projects and information, including: Finding the right design for your space Creating a wildflower meadow Building rainwater catchments and other tips for water conservation Making compost from kitchen waste, leafmould, compost tea and more Creating a space for wildlife such as hedgehogs, bees and other pollinators Finding beauty in your garden during the winter Matt will show you how to reimagine how you garden, working with nature instead of controlling it, to create a space that promotes both wildlife and beauty. Trade Review‘Engaging and quirky; full of ideas and inspiration for garden projects that you’ll be itching to try for yourself.’—Dave Goulson, author of The Garden Jungle‘Finally, a book for UK gardeners who recognise the desperate need to share their gardens with nature. In The Ecological Gardener, Matt Rees-Warren explains why every square inch of planet Earth, including our gardens, has ecological significance, and he tells us exactly how to increase that significance in ways that will benefit us all. Excellent, timely, essential!’—Douglas W. Tallamy, author of Nature’s Best Hope‘Matt Rees-Warren has distilled his experience, observation and passion for the natural world into an incredibly informative narrative, with practical examples to help us tread lightly on the land. Gardens are for people, but in our endeavour to create beauty, we forget that our space is shared with cohabitants and time. Matt takes us through the garden with an ecological lens – just what we need to view a future that is in harmony with nature itself.’—Arit Anderson, garden designer, chartered member of The Landscape Institute‘Gardening for nature shouldn’t be a radical act, but it takes courage to trade power tools and pesticides for hand tools and native plants. The Ecological Gardener helps you brave the rewilding of your own patch through practical, inspirational advice for growing lightly on the land. With Matt Rees-Warren and the natural world as your guides, you can welcome all your wild neighbors, from slugs to the newts who eat them, to your life-sustaining space.’—Nancy Lawson, author of The Humane Gardener‘Gardening fads and styles come and go, from topiaries to green walls to Tropicalisimo. Yet the arc of understanding what a garden is slowly bends to the less controlled and naturally friendly. As our understanding of the connectedness and mostly concealed weave and warp of “life entire” gains steam, so too does our desire to fully embrace the whole. Within this context, Matt Rees-Warren does an admirable job in explaining the objectives while providing the garden-maker a satisfyingly readable map from which to find one’s personal paradise that welcomes the natural world into our own backyard.’—Daniel J. Hinkley, author of Windcliff and The Explorer’s Garden"The accompanying narrative is what sets this book apart; the breadth and depth of Rees-Warren’s experience allows him reflections that result in a philosophical exploration that is far more than just instruction (though the instruction is high quality, too)."—Booklist

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Book SynopsisNamed one of the best gardening books for 2023 by Gardens Illustrated An Irish Times Best Gardening Book 2023 2023 GardenComm Media Awards Silver Laurel Medal of Achievement The ideal, easy-to-use resource for growing healthy, resilient, low-maintenance trees, shrubs, vines and other fruiting plants from around the world – perfect for farmers, gardeners and landscapers at every scale. Illustrated with more than 200 colour photographs and covering 50 productive edible crops – from Arctic kiwi to jujebe, medlar to heartnut – this is the go-to guide for growers interested in creating diversity in their growing spaces. Cold-Hardy Fruits and Nuts is a one-stop compendium of the most productive, edible fruit-and nut-bearing crops that push the boundaries of what can survive winters in cold-temperate growing regions. While most nurseries and guidebooks feature plants that are riddled with pest problems (such as apples and peaches), veteran growers and founders of the Hortus Arboretum and Botanical Gardens, Allyson Levy and Scott Serrano, focus on both common and unfamiliar fruits that have few, if any, pest or disease problems and an overall higher level of resilience. Inside Cold-Hardy Fruits and Nuts you’ll find: Taste profiles for all fifty hardy fruits and nuts, with notes on harvesting and uses Plant descriptions and natural histories Recommended cultivars, both new and classic Propagation methods for increasing plants Nut profiles including almonds, chestnuts, walnuts and pecans Fertilisation needs and soil/site requirements And much more! With beautiful and instructive colour photographs throughout, the book is also full of concise, clearly written botanical and cultural information based on the authors’ years of growing experience. The fifty fruits and nuts featured provide a nice balance of the familiar and the exotic: from almonds and pecans to more unexpected fruits like maypop and Himalayan chocolate berry. Cold-Hardy Fruits and Nuts gives adventurous gardeners all they need to get growing. Both experienced and novice gardeners who are interested in creating a sustainable landscape with a greater diversity of plant life – while also providing healthy foods – will find this book an invaluable resource. ‘If you are an edible gardener interested in widening the scope of what you grow, or a designer looking to explore where edible perennials meet the ornamental, this book will serve you very well indeed.’ Gardens IllustratedTrade Review“Outrageous diversity throughout the ecosystem will always be essential for growing healthy fruit and nuts. Allyson Levy and Scott Serrano have provided a thorough guide to adding an intriguing selection of productive plantings to your landscape. Get on board and plant more of everything!”—Michael Phillips, author of The Holistic Orchard and Mycorrhizal Planet“At a time when we are rediscovering the value of biodiversity and habitat enrichment, Cold-Hardy Fruits and Nuts offers a compendium of lesser-known backyard forageables that can turn a home garden into a homestead landscape ripe with flavor and nutrition.”—John Forti, author of The Heirloom Gardener; executive director, Bedrock Gardens “Allyson and Scott are deeply committed plant lovers, and this well-researched, handsome book—with educational photographic portraits of each plant—shares their botanical love affair with us! Hortus Arboretum and Botanical Gardens is their magical plant playground that we get to visit, and this delicious gift is birthed from that rich source. They deftly guide us to diversify our landscape with beauty we can eat, while increasing our personal and ecological health.”—Dina Falconi, author of Foraging and Feasting and Earthly Bodies and Heavenly Hair“This is the book for growers looking to expand their range of perennial and tree crops. Levy and Serrano have not wasted too much space on general cultivation tips. Instead, they wisely dedicate the bulk of the book to detailed, practical advice on a wide variety of species, some of which I had never come across before, others which I had assumed would need warmer conditions. You will be inspired!”—Ben Raskin, author of The Woodchip Handbook; head of horticulture and agroforestry, the Soil Association“Allyson Levy and Scott Serrano are consummate gardeners and artists. They bring horticultural prowess and designer insights to this beautiful, easy-to-use, and easy-to-read book. Their in-depth research and hands-on knowledge are invaluable to those looking to expand their palette of plants. Featuring taste profiles, landscape tips, and propagation techniques, Cold-Hardy Fruits and Nuts is my new go-to guide for growing these plants. It is wonderful to see native trees and shrubs included with such enthusiasm and appreciation.”—Marc Wolf, executive director, Mountain Top Arboretum“This book is filled with enthusiasm for growing uncommon fruits and nuts and I can’t agree more. Allyson and Scott give honest assessments of each plant based on years of hands-on experience. Along with the detailed plant and fruit descriptions, I particularly like their ‘Growth Difficulty Rating’ and ‘Taste Profile and Uses’ sections to help readers decide what to grow. They have me dreaming of growing Himalayan chocolate berries and Korean stone pines.”—Charlie Nardozzi, author of Foodscaping“Cold-Hardy Fruits and Nuts offers practical experience and useful information on a great diversity of species, including a few surprises. A great place to turn for anyone developing a perennial edible landscape, one of the world’s highest-carbon forms of gardening and farming.”—Eric Toensmeier, coauthor of Edible Forest Gardens, author of Perennial Vegetables“Allyson Levy and Scott Serrano have been my ‘go-to’ source for information on unusual or common plant subjects to draw. Now they have made their wealth of knowledge available in this beautiful and concise book. Full of essential information alongside interesting facts about each tree, shrub, or vine, the book tells us what to plant and why, how to best grow it, when to harvest, how to crack the nuts, and what to do with an abundance of fruit to preserve. The photos are lovely and descriptive. As an artist, a harvester, and a novice gardener, I now have all the information I need about my fruit and nut growing in one book!”—Wendy Hollender, botanical artist and author of The Joy of Botanical Drawing“Cold-Hardy Fruits and Nuts covers a full range of edible plants for the home landscape—from the familiar to the lesser known to the truly exotic. Highly recommended for its great level of detail. The authors’ deep research into botanical history and descriptions both satisfies my curiosity and makes me want to delve even deeper into the information they provide.”—Robert Kourik, author of Sustainable Food Gardens and Designing and Maintaining Your Edible Landscape Naturally"Beautifully and profusely illustrated, Cold-Hardy Fruits and Nut is impressively and comprehensively informative, exceptionally well written, and thoroughly 'reader friendly' in organization and presentation. Especially and unreservedly recommended for personal, professional, community, and academic library."—Midwest Book Review"If you are an edible gardener interested in widening the scope of what you grow, or a designer looking to explore where edible perennials meet the ornamental, this book will serve you very well indeed."—Gardens Illustrated

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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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Book Synopsis"The Organic Grain Grower is the best resource we’ve seen for small-scale grain growers everywhere. . . . [Lazor's] passion comes alive in this fine guidebook’s depth of detail."—Mother Earth News The ultimate guide to growing organic grains on a small and ecological scale The Organic Grain Grower is invaluable for both home-scale and commercial producers interested in expanding their resiliency and crop diversity through growing their own grains. Longtime farmer and organic pioneer Jack Lazor covers how to grow and store wheat, barley, oats, corn, dry beans, soybeans, pulse crops, oilseeds, grasses, nutrient-dense forages, and lesser-known cereals. In addition to detailed cultivation and processing information, Lazor argues the importance of integrating grains on the organic farm (not to mention for the local-food system) for reasons of biodiversity and whole farm management. Including extensive information on: The history of grain growing and consumption in North America The twenty-first century and the birth of the local-food movement Considering your farm's scale and climate Understanding soil fertility and structure Planting your crop (including spring vs. fall cereals and preparing your soil) The growing and ripening process (reproductive, milk, hard-and-soft dough stages) The grain harvest Preparing grain for sale, storage, or end use (drying, cleaning seed, grain handling) Seed breeding and saving Machinery, infrastructure, and processing (both home-scale tools and larger farm equipment) Grinding grains for livestock rations (including how to put together a ration based on protein content) and sample rations for dairy cows, pigs, and chickens Processing grains for human consumption Additional resources and information for new grain farmers, and more... Beginners will learn how to grow enough wheat for a year's supply of bread flour for their homestead, and farmers will learn how to become part of a grain co-op, working alongside artisan bakers and mills. Never before has there been a guide to growing organic grains applicable both for the home-scale and professional farming scale. This will be a classic for decades to come and a crucial addition to any farmer's, homesteader's, gardener's, agronomist's, or seed-saver's library.Trade ReviewMother Earth News- "The Organic Grain Grower is the best resource we’ve seen for small-scale grain growers everywhere. The book covers necessary equipment and cultivation techniques for many types of crops: corn, wheat, barley, oats, rye, spelt and triticale, buckwheat, soy, dry beans, and oilseeds. Lazor describes himself as 'a grain-processing nut,' and his passion comes alive in this fine guidebook’s depth of detail.""Jack Lazor writes about grain growing with passion and experience. With this wealth of background and insight, readers will want to do it themselves, and with the lode of detailed information Jack provides, they will be able to do so. Although his focus is on medium-scale commercial production, many of the tips he shares are applicable to the backyard grain-grower as well."--Will Bonsall, Khadighar Farm; director, Scatterseed ProjectForeWord Reviews- "Longtime farming pioneer Jack Lazor has progressed from a back-to-the-land idealist to the co-manager, with his wife, of a profitable dairy and grain business, Butterworks Farm in Westfield, Vermont. In The Organic Grain Grower, he shares his considerable experience and expertise with new generations of holistic home and market grain producers. Lazor’s book starts with the history of grain production in his local region; early settlers found that northern New England offered a good climate for wheat, vital for animal fodder and bread making. Today, “the rebirth of grain growing” is not just common sense, but fun, Lazor enthusiastically reports. He takes readers through soil fertility and tillage, to the crucial matter of storage (“mice … have an uncanny ability to … burrow into bags that you can’t see from the outside of the pile”), drying, screening, grinding, and grading. He recommends equipment, including less expensive “retired” machinery. Grains covered are corn, wheat, barley, oats, rye, spelt, triticale, buckwheat, and flax, plus soybeans and other legumes. The book is very well organized, including a large section of clear, helpful photos. Though he is not averse to employing newfangled machinery if it does the job well, Lazor takes pride in using older farming equipment that is less complicated than modern counterparts, and some examples of these are illustrated. The Organic Grain Grower is more than 500 pages, with a colorful, informative cover. Anyone seriously considering growing grain for animal feed, human consumption, or sale will find value in this manual. It would also be beneficial for those interested in any aspect of organic farming, since the sound advice given for grains could apply to any crop. The foreword by author Eliot Coleman (The Winter Harvest Handbook) praises Lazor as the person “who inspired the movement” back to the “small farm’s grain heritage.” Lazor is as handy with a pen as with a plow, making even grain diseases sound interesting (“there is nothing like a mid-June thunderstorm to set up wheat plants for an invasion of … rust”). His flowing style demonstrates both hard knowledge and old world graces, as he modestly expresses the hope that the book “will help people avoid some of the mistakes that I have made.” Another outstanding offering from Chelsea Green Publishing, Lazor’s guide will doubtless plant the seeds of inspiration among beginners and old hands alike as they tackle the complexities of grain growing and organic agriculture, and will do its part to propagate more general interest in the subject."“The Organic Grain Grower is quite possibly the most complete and extensive text ever written on grain production in the Northeast. Jack Lazor’s deep passion and knowledge creates an astounding story, and he shares his wisdom and experience generously. If you have ever wanted to grow grain, this is a book to own and cherish.”--Dr. Heather Darby, University of Vermont Extension Agronomist“Jack writes from the top of a mountain—the mountain of his life. His long years of experience are longer than his very beard, and the wisdom and distillation of his farming life are written here with clarity and graceful articulation. As he says in the book, ‘people are hungry for meaning as well as food.’ In this classic book, Jack provides not only the meaning, but also the methods required to succeed as a small-scale grower of organic grains."--Jeffrey Hamelman, director, King Arthur Flour Bakery, and author of Bread: A Baker’s Book of Techniques and Recipes"Given our industrial agriculture, most of us assume that grain can only be grown in huge monocultures devoted to producing as much as possible, unmindful of the quality. But in The Organic Grain Grower, Jack Lazor provides us with a practical and attractive alternative. As a farmer he has demonstrated that one can provide an emerging market with a diversity of superior quality grains, grown on a small scale, using heirloom varieties and modest investment. This book is (as Eliot Coleman puts it) “like acquiring hundreds of years of knowledge in one book.”--Frederick Kirschenmann, author of Cultivating an Ecological Conscience“I believe I can safely say, without losing any money, that if you know of one fact truly necessary to growing grains organically in the United States that is not in this book, I'll pay you five bucks out of my own pocket. Plus there's a whole bunch of stuff about how to process and use grains in the barn or on the table that I have not found all in one place before.”--Gene Logsdon, author of Small-Scale Grain Growing

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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 SynopsisRecipes Your Babies Will Love, Made with Ingredients You Trust Take charge of your children's health with these delicious, nutrient-dense recipes designed to nourish your little ones. Sorted by the ages and stages of early childhood, these 60 incredible recipes from Andrea Bemis-organic farmer, mother and creator of the popular blog Dishing Up the Dirt-will help you navigate which foods are safe to feed your kids and master the tricky business of introducing solids into your children's diet. Even better, Andrea offers helpful advice drawn from her own experiences about how to cater to your children's evolving palettes, aid their digestion and incorporate more vitamins into every meal. Start simple with pureed Cinnamon Spice Squash that will please even the pickiest baby, or enrich your child's diet with Vitamin A and amino acids with homemade Chicken Liver Pâté. Made with fresh, all-natural ingredients (and lots of love!), family favorite recipes like mouthwatering Mini Sweet Potato Frittatas or savory Sheet Pan Cauliflower Nachos are sure to help your kids develop a healthy relationship with food early on. Whether you're feeding a baby or a toddler, one thing's for certain-the tasty snacks, meals and desserts in this book are sure to be a big hit with your tiny humans.

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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 SynopsisRecipient of the GardenComm Emergent Communicator Award for 2023: Acadia Tucker Regenerative farmer Acadia Tucker proves it’s possible to grow food without land. In this, her third easy-to-use gardening guide, Tucker describes how to cultivate bountiful container food gardens in pots, planters, and raised beds. Climate activist and farmer Acadia Tucker fell in love with container gardening after glimpsing its potential to produce food—lots of food. By applying select growing practices, and managing for square inches rather than square feet, she has come up with instructions for growing a small-scale farm on your patio, your stoop, or in your dining room. If what you want is a garden big enough to line a windowsill, she’s got you covered there. Her book, loaded with helpful illustrations, includes: Profiles of 21 container-friendly crops Recipes for cultivating potted farms Tips on finding the right container Information on designing for small spaces—and making food gardens beautiful Guidance on how to raise crops in pots all year long Tucker also describes how to maximize the environmental impact of growing food in pots. She offers tips on attracting pollinators, shows how to build microbe-rich living soil, and explains ways to ditch harmful pesticides and fertilizers. Her goal is to make it easier for anyone with access to a patch of sun to grow food, no backyard required.Trade Review"This book digs into the positive impact that even a tiny garden can have on your mental health, community food security, and local biodiversity. A great read for those interested in gardening, and not sure where to start."—Jes Walton, Green America"Acadia is an evangelist for the Earth."–Jill Cloutier, Sustainable World Radio"There is truly something for everyone in this book."—Meribeth Deen, Bowen Island Undercurrent“As home gardening continues to climb in response to COVID-19, farmer and environmentalist Acadia Tucker proves that readers do not need a backyard to grow their own food.”—Food Tank’s Reading List for Spring"Gardener extraordinaire Acadia Tucker provides those of us without much yard space everything we need for planting nutritious balcony crops, indoor container gardens, and lush green rooftop farms. More delicious climate-saving ideas from this inspirational farmer-writer."–Virginia Aronson, Director, Food and Nutrition Resources Foundation“The regenerative farmer and author, Acadia Tucker, is back with her third book—a guide to growing crops in a confined space. Inspired by the rise in popularity of gardening during the pandemic, Tiny Victory Gardens is full of suggestions, tips and recipes about the best types of produce to grow in containers. No outdoor space necessary. “—Modern Farmer"Tiny Victory Gardens is both a call to action, and DIY instructional guidebook for people who don't have much space, but want to make the most of what they have. Expertly written, exceptionally well organized, and thoroughly 'user friendly' in presentation."—Midwest Book Review"Whatever your motivation for container gardening, Tiny Victory Gardens is a resource worth exploring."—Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association"Everyone can grow food! Acadia Tucker provides a practical reference for growing a huge array of crops in small spaces. Useful charts and clear line drawings make this a user-friendly guide for anyone ready to try growing food in containers."—American Gardener Magazine, American Horticultural Society

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Book Synopsis'This beautifully presented book gives readers the nitty-gritty guide for five diverse ways to nourish ourselves from stewarding nature's abundance.'David Holmgren, co-originator of Permaculture'This book may change your life and your community.'Costa Georgiadis'Finally, the ultimate self-reliance manual from premier educational facilitator, Milkwood.'Joel Salatin, Polyface Farm'A joyful guide to how to grow, eat and live in harmony with nature.' Indira NaidooThe skills that we learn bind our lives together. Do you want to know how to grow your own food? Or how to keep bees? How to forage for edible seaweed along the shoreline, or wild greens down by the stream? Maybe you're curious about growing mushrooms or how to grow the perfect tomato. You're invited to make these skills your own. Designed to be read with a pot of tea by your elbow and a notebook beside you, Milkwood is all you need to start living a more home-grown life. From DIY projects to wild fermented recipes, the in-depth knowledge and hands-on instruction contained in these pages will have your whole family fascinated and inspired to get growing, keeping, cooking and making. Milkwood is the name of Kirsten Bradley and Nick Ritar's first farm as well as their school where anyone can learn skills for down-to-earth living. Kirsten, Nick and a team of educators offer courses on topics contained in this book as well as permaculture design, natural building and much more. Kirsten and Nick live on a small regenerative farm near Daylesford, where many things from the sprouted grain they feed their chickens to ingredients that make up dinner is homegrown.Trade Review'From two of Australia's most energetic and capable permaculture communicators, this beautifully presented book gives readers the nitty gritty guide for five diverse ways to nourish ourselves from stewarding nature's abundance. A book that draws on more than a decade of passion and experience both learning and communicating practical skills powered by permaculture ethics and principles. Beautifully presented, inspiring with hands-on processes for nourishing ourselves from nature.'David Holmgren - co-originator of Permaculture'This book may change your life and your community. Pick a chapter and start to grow a new skill. Enjoy the ride!'Costa Georgiadis'Finally, the ultimate self-reliance manual from premier educational facilitator, Milkwood. No start button, no interrupted streaming, no electronic subscription necessary. Just curl up with delicious information and begin turning pages.'Joel Salatin, Polyface Farm'The antidote to what ails us lies within these pages; a joyful guide to how to grow, eat and live in harmony with nature.' Indira Naidoo'This book is an expressive roadmap to a chosen life. It is filled with fascinating and inspiring detail so that you too can choose and develop the simple or more complex skills you seek; to nurture and make connections in your world, a world to love more fully.'Holly Davis'At last! The book we've all been waiting for! Milkwood Permaculture has been at the intellectual and practical forefront of all things growing, living and sharing for as long as I can remember. They have now blessed us with this stunning and knowledge laden book that will doubtlessly become a dog-eared touchstone for anyone who enjoys getting their hands dirty and their bellies filled.'Paul West, River Cottage Australia

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Book SynopsisYour Asian Veggie Patch is a comprehensive, beginner-friendly guide to growing and cooking Asian vegetables, herbs and fruits at home. Permaculture gardener Connie Cao guides you though a curated selection of more than 40 cool-season and warm-season annuals and perennials (from amaranth greens, bok choy and daikon to loofah, pandan and yuzu), meaning it''s easy to find produce that will thrive in your garden and climate.Then, make the most of your abundant harvest with 50 fresh home-style recipes inspired by Connie''s Chinese heritage: think edamame and pickled mustard greens, stir-fried Shanghai rice cakes, pork and chive dumplings, Chinese pumpkin cakes and winter melon tea.Featuring photography and illustrations both beautiful and informative, Your Asian Veggie Patch has everything you need to get your garden flourishing and your mouth watering.

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Book SynopsisFrom Peter Wohlleben, the New York Times-bestselling author of The Hidden Life of Trees, and his wife, Miriam, comes an inspired, practical memoir of creating a sustainable homestead amongst the trees.Called "a veritable tree whisperer" by the Wall Street Journal, Peter Wohlleben is known across the world for his illuminating books about forests and how to help them thrive. Now, the German forester invites readers into his home for the first time in Our Little Farm, describing the steps he and his wife, Miriam, have taken to live sustainably and in harmony with nature.Peter and Miriam moved from the city to a remote forest lodge in the early nineties. Amidst juggling careers and raising a young family, they learned how to plant and rotate crops, harvest and preserve nature's bounty, and tend to the unique needs of their animals and environment. Along the way, they made mistakes and abandoned some projects (sheep raising was not their thing) but maintained a sense of joy in their shared goal.Brimming with insights, wisdom, and tips on everything from constructing farm buildings to choosing the perfect chicken, Our Little Farm shows that, with a little grit, humor, and self-compassion, it's possible to live according to our values and to care for the earth even as we care for ourselves, our homes, and our families.Published in partnership with the David Suzuki Institute.Trade Review"[A] detailed look at [the Wohllebens'] decades-long experiment in sustainable living... The conversational tone will be welcome to those seeking specifics as readers new to the sustainable lifestyle."—Booklist"A factual how-to handbook that’s filled with lessons ... and practical farming advice."—Library Journal"A great source of inspiration for anyone wishing to become more self-sufficient."—Kirkus Reviews"A wonderfully inspired story of soil, food, chickens, and goats, sharing the joys, insights, and challenges of a couple rising to a more sustainable living."—David R. Montgomery, coauthor of The Hidden Half of Nature and What Your Food Ate"A wonderful invitation into the journey of making a livelihood locally."—Chris Smaje, author of A Small Farm Future and Saying NO to a Farm-Free Future

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Book SynopsisThe complete year-round guide to organic vegetable production for market gardeners and small-scale farmers now fully revised and updatedSustainable Market Farming is the comprehensive, go-to reference for serious growers in every climate zone. Extensively revised and updated, this brand new, fully illustrated edition is packed with detailed information on everything from planning to harvest, and features in-depth profiles of a full range of crops.Informed by the author''s experience leading decades of intensive year-round organic vegetable production on a few acres to feed a community of 100 people, this complete practical guide includes: The most current farm-specific planning and organizational business skills to ensure a profitable, successful, smooth-running, professional enterprise Cutting-edge information describing new and efficient techniques, strategies for season extension, approaches for integrated pest, disease, and weed management, and preferred climate-smart, disease-resistant varieties to add to your repertoire Updated guidelines for improving and maintaining soil quality and finding resilient, regenerative solutions to align farming practices with new environmental challenges Precise growing guides for a cornucopia of vegetables, addressing selection of varieties, soil, water, and fertility requirements, sowing, cultivation, crop rotation, succession planting, common pests and diseases, harvest, storage, and more. Whether you are a beginning grower, an aspiring market gardener, or an established enterprise seeking to take your operation to the next level, Sustainable Market Farming is the book you will find yourself returning to again and again throughout a long farming career. An exciting, timely, and invaluable resource.

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Book SynopsisThis book brings together the best advice for cultivating fruit trees, berries and shrubs using biodynamic methods, with the aim of harvesting healthy fruit free of pesticides.Ehrenfried Pfeiffer discusses the principles of tree biology before describing the measures that can be taken to develop a pest-free orchard without the use of chemicals, including soil preparation, the selection of trees for planting, issues of transplanting and pruning, the application of pastes, green cover crops, and pest control.Michael Maltas ran fruit tree experiments on his biodynamic farm in Missouri for four years. The results are recorded in a highly practical annual spraying schedule for orchards, which is reproduced in this book. A month-by-month calendar gives information on specific methods and controls, based on Maltas's extensive experience.This is an invaluable book with practical advice on all aspects of planning and maintaining a healthy orchard.This is a thoroughly revised and updated combined edition of 'Biodynamic Treatment of Fruit Trees, Berries and Shrubs' by Ehrenfried Pfeiffer and 'Orchard Pest Management and Spray Schedule' by Michael Maltas.Published in association with the Biodynamic Farming and Gardening Association of North America.

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Book SynopsisIt has long been observed, by farmers, gardeners and botanists alike, that from time to time certain plants seem to affect certain other plants growing their near them -- both favourably and unfavourably. By taking account of these relationships, farmers and gardeners can improve the quality of food and flowers, reduce losses from pests and disease, drought and frost, and enhance both satisfaction and pleasure in their work and financial profit.Years of experimentation by Richard Gregg and subsequently Helen Philbrick and others resulted in this unique reference book. It offers a detailed and comprehensive A-Z of plants and how they affect each other and their surrounding environment, including the soil, insects and birds.Trade Review'The first version of this book came out as early as 1943 and is based on the observation that certain plants seem to affect others growing near them in both a favourable and unfavourable manner. This knowledge can enable us to improve the quality of our food and flowers and reduce losses due to pests and disease. [...] Readers will be able to test andconfirm the suggestions for themselves. '-- Network Review

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Book SynopsisThe original biodynamic sowing and planting calendar, now in its 62nd year.The simple, two-week-to-view layout features detailed planting, tending and harvesting information to help both seasoned biodynamic farmers and beginner gardeners maximise the yield and vitality of crops and plants. Trusted by generations of growers, the ultimate biodynamic features:-- An easy-to-view layout making it simpler to plan what to do and when-- Space to add your own notes-- Clear headings and sections for fast look-ups-- NEW! A lay-flat spine means it's easy to consult the Calendar, keep your place and make notes-- Information on solar and lunar events and planetary aspects-- A pull-out wallchart that can be pinned up in a barn, shed or greenhouse as a handy quick reference-- Eco-friendly printing with recycled FSC paper using plant-based inksTrade Review'The new design looks clear and fresh, with great visual clues to help beginners -- from colour-coded growing advice boxes to information on the constellation of the moon, plus useful practical suggestions of what tasks to do in the garden.'-- Claire Hattersley, Head Gardner, Weleda UKTable of ContentsPrefaceWhat are the basic principles of the calendar?How do I use the calendar?What’s shown in the calendar?Times and symbolsI’d like to understand the astronomy in more detailStar signs and constellations; Transplanting Time and ascending and descending MoonWhy are other astronomic events important?More Moon rhythms; Sun and zodiac; Planets; Aspects Astronomical symbolsConverting to local timeCalendarMore tips inspired by biodynamicsCrop tablesCompanion plantingBiodynamic preparationsAnimal and insect pests, fungal problemsSowing and felling times for trees and shrubsBeekeepingMoon diagramsMaria Thun The barrel preparationThe tree bark preparationFurther reading and Biodynamic associations

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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 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 SynopsisMore than 150 recipes for making the most of your home-grown fruit and vegetables – from warming soups and bakes to vibrant summer salads and tangy preserves. There is nothing as satisfying as growing your own produce – home-grown fruit and vegetables, picked and used at the height of freshness, are more tasty and nutritious than any supermarket offerings. Not only that, but they also cut down on food miles and can be a far more budget friendly way to eat. Home-grown Harvest is a celebration of the bounty you can grow in your garden, back yard or even windowbox. Cultivating your own fruit and vegetables does not have to mean eating the same dishes days in a row to use up produce. Instead, this book will show you how to use creatively what you grow in an array of exciting combinations. Simply organised, the book makes each vegetable or fruit the star of its own chapter, providing a wealth of different recipes to use up any gluts you may have (from the garden or a trip to the farmers’ market). From fresh dishes such as Triple Tomato Risotto with Basil or Strawberry Tiramisu, to preserves and chutneys, which can be stored for future use, each recipe is selected because it is rich in fresh produce. With handy tips and hints for preparing vegetables, and beautiful photographs throughout, Home-grown Harvest is an invaluable guide to cooking seasonally and eating very well indeed.Trade ReviewHome-Grown Harvest gives you the skills to emulate Felicity Kendal by growing your own food, with 150 recipes of maximum deliciousness – Balance

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Book SynopsisPractically Pagan - An Alternative Guide to Gardening takes the spooky out of alternative and keeps the magic. Elen Sentier brings together, and expands on, recent scientific discoveries, and shows how close they are to the old ways that were labelled as superstition in the 20th century. Sentier's writing is accessible and opens up the down-to-earth practicalism of pagans as people of the land to all, for that's what the word pagan means, 'of the land'. Sentier doesn't preach or proselytise folk to become pagan, but brings to light how you've been thinking this way for years. Elen Sentier is a best-selling author of British native shamanism. She also writes paranormal mystery-suspense novels. She’s a wilderness woman, born on Dartmoor and grew up on Exmoor in a family who had practiced the old British magic for hundreds of years. Her books include Pagan Portals - Merlin: Once and Future Wizard (Moon Books, 2016), and Gardening with the Moon & Stars (Moon Books, 2015).

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Book SynopsisPacked full of the age-old wisdom and expertise of generations of gardeners, who used their down-to-earth and practical experience to create beautiful, productive and useful gardens without spending a fortune.Behind every beautiful garden is the skill and experience of the gardener who tends it. How do you know which plants will thrive in your patch, given the bewildering array on offer? How do you know what soil and location they will like? And what do you do about all those pests just waiting to tuck in, not to mention the fungal diseases that suddenly turn your rose leaves from glossy green to blotchy yellow and coat other leaves with a powdery white dust? Just how do you tackle these gardening challenges, while being eco friendly at the same time? This is where Old Wives’ Lore for Gardeners comes in. Packed within its pages is all the age-old wisdom of generations of gardeners, people who knew a thing or two about plants. They lived before the days of chemical pesticides and concocted kitchen-cupboard remedies to treat pests and diseases. They gardened organically – although they wouldn’t have called it that – because there was no other choice on offer. With a wealth of savvy and cost-effective tips and advice, intriguing facts, snippets of history and quotes, Old Wives’ Lore for Gardeners is not only a fascinating read but also an invaluable guide to the gardening practices of old, which are as relevant today as they have ever been.

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Book SynopsisCreating and maintaining a beautiful garden that is safe and natural is becoming increasingly popular as we begin to understand the benefits of adopting an organic way of life. The Organic Garden is an indispensable guide to using organic methods to create flourishing ornamental and wildlife gardens. There is also a vital section on kitchen gardening that reflects our growing interest in eating and producing fresh, healthy and chemical-free vegetables, herbs and fruit. Christine and Michael Lavelle give clear advice on creating and caring for a natural garden, showing how to adopt an organic approach to each garden task, whether this is soil preparation, weeding and weed control, watering and feeding, or pruning and propagation. There is also helpful practical information on dealing organically with pests and diseases in both the garden and the greenhouse. The book looks in turn at different aspects of organic gardening, from creating spectacular lawns and decorative beds and borders in the ornamental garden, through attracting a host of beneficial creatures to the wildlife garden, to growing a wealth of crops in the kitchen garden. An easy-to-use directory of vegetables, herbs and fruit provides clear, at-a-glance information on growing a wide range of healthy produce, with advice on sowing, planting, harvesting and storing. With its wealth of inspirational and practical photographs, useful step-by-step information and well-informed text, The Organic Garden Book is a comprehensive guide for both first time and experienced gardeners, whether you wish to start an organic garden from scratch or use organic methods in an existing garden.

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Book SynopsisBeans are easy to grow, easy to cook, delicious, nourishing and beneficial for us and the planet. Growing your own beans not only helps you build healthy soil in your garden, it also provides you with a nutrient-rich diet. Beans can play a role in reducing the risk of obesity, diabetes, heart disease and cancer – they are good sources of protein, fibre, folate, iron and potassium – and they can reduce your carbon footprint and food miles as well! This fascinating book brings together Susan Young’s 10 years of experimentation with multiple varieties of beans. She clearly explains how to sow, grow, harvest, dry, store and cook them, and shares her six ‘must grow’ varieties. Go on a tasty culinary journey around the world and discover a range of colourful and historic beans, from the pink ‘Fagiolo di Lamon’ of Italy to the black and white ‘Bosnian Pole’ bean. Learn which varieties are best for eating fresh from the pod and those that are best for drying and storing for later use. Beans offer year-round nutritious meals, and dried beans can be the star of the show with their fabulous diversity of flavours, colours and textures.

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Book SynopsisWhat are the amazing healing effects of trees and shrubs? How does tree bark effectively reduce inflammation? How can fruits and leaves help recovery and build resilience? Discover therapeutic benefits of trees and shrubs, ranging from forest bathing to soothing remedies, from painkillers to stressbusters. Anne Stobart draws on her direct experience as a medical herbalist, and shares how to recognise useful trees and shrubs and then harvest and create a range of herbal supplies, from fir needles to jujube fruits. Anne includes profiles of 80 trees and shrubs suited to temperate climates with recommendations on their uses. Learn the abundant and sustainable sources of healing available from trees and shrubs and how they can be safely used within a range of settings, from gardens and food forests to woodlands and permaculture projects. Ideal for foragers, gardeners and growers, walkers and wilderness lovers, agroforesters and forest schoolers, and anyone interested in herbal medicine. The book is laid out in two parts. Part One introduces the potential of the medicinal forest for therapeutic use, remedies for common complaints, medicines for repair and recovery from illness, and how these healing plants can be grown and used for the health of people and planet. Anne explains the importance of reconnecting with medicinal trees and shrubs through sustainable use and the benefits for environmental concerns. Part Two incorporates a directory of 80 woody species, from large trees to small shrubs, offering a range of plants for any sized growing space. Each profile comes with illustrated and accessible content on identification and habitat, medicinal parts and uses, safety advice, suggested preparations alongside a suggested recipe for each medicinal tree or shrub.Trade Review"Anne Stobart offers us another sumptuous insight into the majestic contribution trees make towards enabling healthy human life." Julian Barker, author, botanist and medical herbalist

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Book SynopsisAward winning author and self-sufficiency practitioner Liz Zorab takes readers on a highly entertaining and joyful celebration through the seasons. Following on from her hugely popular debut book, Grounded, Liz returns with The Seasoned Gardener, inviting you on a personal and yet totally relatable journey of growing and learning through the gardening year. Illustrated with a delicious selection of Liz's own photos, The Seasoned Gardener provides an abundance of friendly advice and hundreds of top tips on what to and what not to do as she inspires gardeners of all levels to have a go at growing tastier and healthier food for themselves and to benefit the natural world. The Seasoned Gardener inspires you to connect with your garden and surroundings and explains how the veg garden sits within the wider context of the landscape, highlighting the importance the seasons, weather, microclimates, water cycles and light levels play on growing successful and healthy crops. Liz's down-to-earth writing style has been likened to having a helpful neighbour chatting over the garden fence. Her enthusiasm is infectious, and every chapter is filled with plenty of advice on what to grow, when to seed and plant out, what pitfalls to avoid - having learned from her own mistakes - and how to be creative with what you have around you.

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Book SynopsisGrow your own beautiful multilayered food forest in your own backyard. Pippa Chapman is an RHS trained gardener who designs, plants and maintains abundant, biodiverse, edible and beautiful forest gardens. Here she shares her practical tips for realistically transforming your own plot, whatever its size, and with limited time, money and resources. A forest garden doesn't have to be big; you can grow a productive edible paradise in pots and containers too. Pippa explains how to create multiple layers on a small-scale to maximise your growing area, using polycultures and guilds for healthy, low-maintenance food. She shares how to use perennials for structure and for year-round food, and how to incorporate flowers for beauty, wildlife and for the kitchen. Chapters on permaculture design and forest gardening give practical advice on how to plan and plant your own garden, with guilds and plant profiles to give real-life examples to help you get started. Useful tips on propagation and seed saving help keep plant costs low and a handy chapter on the soil-food web will help you understand your own soil and how to keep it healthy.

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Book SynopsisA handy, accessible guide to creating your own paradise plot where you can forage throughout the year Anna Locke condenses years of hands-on experience to walk you through the skills and techniques you need to design and plant a delicious, useful, and thriving garden in town or country that is also a haven for wildlife as well as for humans. She encourages us to see our gardens as part of a bigger, local food strategy that can help to generate abundance, health and resilience. This book provides: An overview of organic gardening techniques-great for the beginner A basic, accessible guide to designing your garden Insights into how to plant guilds and choose what is right for your space Valuable information on how 'weeds' can become harvests A choice of nutritious, seasonal plants for any sized plot Techniques to grow maximum food with minimal work Practices that reconnect you with Nature and enhance well-being Money saving tips to make a forager's garden available to anyone! The Forager's Garden demonstrates one of the easiest and most enjoyable ways possible to grow and harvest food.

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