Review: A Life in the Garden

This isn't just a gardening book. It's a 382 page manifesto on recapturing one of the best parts of the agrarian past—community food production—without giving up any features of modern life. After several chapters that make the case for personal and neighborhood vegetable/flower gardens, the author moves to in-depth treatments of soils, how to get the most from even a tiny space (for example, "...a whiskey barrel with a single paste tomato plant encircled by oregano and basil"), garden planning, useful tools, and scheduling plantings throughout the year. In addition there are chapters on sharing with friends, extending the growing season with protected areas, dealing with both pest and beneficial organisms, and overwintering gathered food. The final section, nearly half the book, talks about what to grow. In short, comprehensive!

If I may add a couple more references to this (which I've used and go back to regularly), check out the Old Farmer's Almanac garden planner (https://gardenplanner.almanac.com/ - $35 a year or just use the 7 day free trial) and Truelove Seeds (https://trueloveseeds.com/ - they grow and sell heirloom seeds from around the world).

Highly recommended.