Gardening For Everyone
Growing Vegetables, Herbs, and More at Home
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- $14.99
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- $14.99
Publisher Description
A guide to creating and growing a backyard garden simply and sustainably—from planning to planting to harvest, with profiles of essential vegetables and herbs, ecological tips, and fun and creative projects
Growing food in your backyard (or even on a porch or windowsill!) is one of the simplest and most rewarding ways to nourish yourself, be self-sufficient, and connect with nature in a hands-on way. Here sustainability expert Julia Watkins shares everything you need to know to grow your own vegetables, fruits, and herbs (as well as wildflowers and other beneficial companion plants). The book covers all the nuts and bolts of creating and caring for your garden—planning, building, planting, tending, and harvesting—followed by a deeper dive into the plants themselves: demystifying annuals vs. perennials, cold-weather vs. warm-weather veggies, and profiles of favorite crops. Throughout, Julia offers tips for creating an eco-friendly and sustainable garden (such as vermicomposting, no-till “lasagna” gardening, and attracting pollinators), plus some fun and unexpected hands-on projects like how to build a bean teepee, make wildflower seed paper, and enjoy refreshing herbal lemonade ice pops.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Simply Living Well blogger Watkins delivers a dandy primer on "planning, building, planting, tending, and harvesting an organic kitchen garden." Organizing her advice into those steps, Watkins begins with "planning," in which she recommends observing one's space as well as the climate and access to sunlight in order to choose the best plot, and offers suggestions for small spaces, such as growing vertically. "Building" provides plans for raised bed gardens, no-dig raised gardens, and an indoor kitchen garden; "planting" covers methods of sowing; "tending" digs into watering, weeding, pruning, and pest-control ("Try to start with the simplest and least harmful methods and then work your way to more complicated treatments"); and "harvesting" is a guide to preserving and storing produce. A final section, "playing," is a collection of projects and recipes, such as an upcycled chair planter and savory herbal biscuits. Though the endeavor is encyclopedic in its level of information—down to an alphabetical list of plant profiles—readers will appreciate Watkins's ability to keep things light and straightforward: "Grow what you like to eat," she advises, and "keep it simple." Jam-packed with beautiful colorful photographs and helpful tips, this is just right for aspiring eco-friendly gardeners.
