The Gardener’s A-Z Guide to Growing Organic Food
- ISBN13: 9781580173704
- Condition: NEW
- Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
Product Description
Here is the only single-volume reference that supplies all the information necessary to plant a successful organic food garden. Before it was a book, THE FACT-HUNGRY ORGANIC GARDENER was organic gardener Tanya L. K. Denckla’s private database, the distillation of years of hands-on, real-life, dirt-under-the- fingernails experience in growing her own vegetables, herbs, fruits and nuts. Interest in organic gardening is increasing, and The Fact-Hungry Organic Gardener… More >>
The Gardener’s A-Z Guide to Growing Organic Food
First, on the positive side, the book does cover a broad variety of food crops and for each entry there is a ton of really useful information. Each entry is broken down into easy to peruse sections detailing soil & water needs, pests, incompatibles, harvest information, and so on. For the crops it covers this is a very useful reference. The glossary of organic remedies covers the basics and has some good alternatives and the appendices have good references (bibliography, seed sources, etc.).
However, while I know a book cannot be all things to all people nor cover every variety of vegetable and fruit, I was unpleasantly surprised to find the common, nutritious chard missing. Similarly, no sign of mustard greens (mustard is mentioned only in a table as an ally). I was expecting information on both of these to be in a book entitled an “A-Z guide”. Why these are missing while celeriac is included is anyone’s guess. And while the title states that it is a guide “to growing organic food” who eats lavender,or sage? I wouldn’t dispute that people may want to grow these but why are they in a book that is supposedly about food crops while some common food crops are missing?
1Rating: 4 / 5
Sometimes, it’s nice to have that one book that can do it all. That is incredibly rare, so instead you’re delighted to have a book that can almost do it all. This book is definitely one that fits the “almost” category for most everyone, and it actually “is” for others.
This book contains a wealth of information on organic gardening, but that exists in so many other places that it may already rest on your bookshelf. But what sets this work above all others is the extensive listing of vegetables, fruits, and herbs that can be grown. The information isn’t just the basics of when to plant, but also how many to plant.
All in all, this is a must for any organic gardner, and is probably a must for any non-organic gardner as well!
2Rating: 5 / 5
I refer to this book every time I think about planting something in my garden. Presentation of the info is very clear – I especially like the inclusion of allies and companions. At the time of planting I can get both plant and ally of to a good start. Love the chapter opening page illustrations. Only thing I disliked was the lack of illustrations for garden pests – detailed drawings would have been fine.
3Rating: 4 / 5
Very useful. Goes over many aspects of gardening including which plants complement each other and which should be kept separate. Very helpful for planning the layout of my garden.
4Rating: 5 / 5
Although the book could include more images and lacks information on some important vegetables/fruits, and apart from being centered in the North America soils and nature, the book is very very comprehensive and is tremendously well organized. It gives usually alternatives and good explanations without getting bored. Nicely written too. I also wish it could have had a more manageable format, but it as it is is also a pleasure to read.
5Rating: 4 / 5