KG Bookshelf: October 2011

Not like other gardening books

Unlike many other books currently on the market, the Vegetable Gardener’s Handbook highlights the different stages of creating and maintaining your garden as the weeks go by. Written in a friendly fashion and with thorough detail, it is unique in this way, and is presented in an attractive diary form.

The Vegetable Gardener’s Handbook provides friendly and informative advice, tips and instructions from authors Ron and Jennifer Kujawski, both of whom have years of experience with growing their own food. Written for an American audience some of the advice may need adapting for UK gardeners, but it is none the less useful for that.

Although it takes the diary format, the sheer amount of detail in this book means that it is not one to use ‘on-the-go’ when needing information quickly, but is more of a reference. However, it does also contain clear illustrations to show how to perform hundreds of garden tasks correctly.

Who is it for?

The Vegetable Gardener’s Handbook is a must both for those who are new to gardening and more experienced food growers, due to the large amount of information it contains. Priced at £9.89 on Amazon.co.uk.

ISBN: 978-1-60342-694-7

How does my garden grow?

If you have a child this book is for you, especially if they spend most of their time in the kitchen or garden, as it gives them plenty to do during those long school holidays. With dozens of facts and even things to grow and make, this book is full of excitement with bright colours and fun fonts throughout to ensure How does my garden grow? is extremely eye-catching for those young eyes.

Each page in the book flows on to the next making it easy for children to understand and several logos are reused throughout to keep it consistent. A child can pick out a plant that they like, find it in the book and from there learn how to grow it before making it into a project to ensure they get a full knowledge of their chosen plant.

As the retail price of this book is only £9.99 it is a definite value buy, your kids will love it and you don’t even need a garden!

How does my garden grow? was published by the Royal Horticultural Society.

IBSN: 978-1-40536-262-7

Who is it for?

Families, especially those with younger children!

Gardening for beginners!

How to Grow Your Food provides organised and easy-to-follow instructions from Jon Clift and Amanda Cuthbert, who each have accumulated many years of experience concerning growing their own food, as well as writing several other Green Book titles together. It offers the reader a focused view on a wide range of crops, including many important tips, plenty of advice and steps to take to ensure success. All of this is presented in an enthusiastic, positive and friendly way. The 132-page book is packed full of detailed information concerning preparations that should be made before planting begins, as well as patiently and simply going through the basics. Although the book would appear to be focused on catering the beginners’ needs, sections also offer help to experienced gardeners and the writers’ passion for their subject shines through. Priced at £6.95.

ISBN: 978-1-900322-68-3

Recipes without waste

The Thrifty Kitchen teaches people how to make delicious recipes without wasting food or money. The book is based on wartime Britain but can also relate to the current economic downturn and the fact that people are thinking much more about what they spend. Although the book doesn’t look too exciting at a glance, its practical and down-to-earth advice will enable you to produce amazing results, whether it be for a main course or a pudding!

This book was published by the Independent Age charity, priced at £9.99.

IBSN: 978-0-9562950-0-2

Who is it for?

The Thrifty Kitchen is a great book for anyone who enjoys cooking.

The complete manual for beekeepers

THE intriguing world of the honeybee, a fascinating insect whose plight has been highlighted during recent years as colonies decline, is explored in this step-by-step guide to keeping bees.

An easy-to-follow reference to the addictive art of beekeeping, the Bee Manual presents facts, step-by-step illustrated sequences as well as diagrams, an in-depth glossary and all the information needed to ensure that your hive is healthy, happy and thriving.

With dedicated chapters on choosing equipment, obtaining bees and the best ways to lay out an apiary, handle and inspect your colony and advice on swarm prevention and pest control, you will quickly find out how to work with your bees, harness the honey crop and understand the life cycle and activities of an operating colony.

The Bee Manual by Claire and Adrian Waring is published by Haynes priced £19.99.

ISBN 978 085733 0574

Who is it for?

Suitable for the novice or more experienced beekeeper.

The way we were

The Country House Kitchen Garden 1650-1900 examines how gardens were once a necessity to ‘grow your own’ produce to sustain the family with year round fruit and vegetables.

This fascinating book covers all aspects of gardening, including interesting chapters on walled gardens, glass houses and the use of herbs in medicine.

With excellent reproduced period photographs, the book gives an historic account of the country house kitchen garden and its development over 350 years.

C Anne Wilson is ably assisted in the writing of this book by contributions from several acknowledged garden and food historians, with a brief note on each expert at the front of the book. An excellent companion to The Country House Kitchen 1650-1900.

The Country House Kitchen Garden edited by C Anne Wilson is published by The History Press, in softback, priced £9.99.

ISBN 978-0-7524-5594-5

Who is it for?

Anyone interested in the history of gardening.

Morville revisited

The Morville Year by Katherine Swift is a superbly written and illustrated follow-up to the best-selling The Morville Hours, which followed the creation of the author’s garden at the Dower House at Morville in Shropshire.

The Morville Hours was an enthralling historical look at the past through generations of people who had lived at the Dower House and tended the same soil; and The Morville Year gives an equally enchanting month by month account of what is happening in the garden, from the first shoots in March to the smell of freshly cut grass and flowers blooming in May and right through the year.

Each month opens with a charming illustration by Dawn Burford, and excellent colour photography of the ever changing images of the garden are by Jane Sebire.

Another masterpiece from Katherine Swift, this book is unique and goes much further than the garden, appealing to gardeners and non-gardeners alike as a literary offering par excellence.

The Morville Year is published by Bloomsbury, hardback, £18.99.

ISBN 978-1-4088-1109-2

Who is it for?

A most informative and entertaining read for all who love gardens.

Farming in the city

‘An Urban-Dweller’s Guide to Growing Food and Raising Animals’, Your Farm in the City comes from Lisa Taylor and the gardeners of Seattle Tilth, which is a non-profit organisation in the US which aims to cultivate a healthy urban environment and community by teaching people to grow organic food and conserve natural sources.

Although aimed at an American market and featuring one or two creatures that may be a problem for farmers in America but not in the UK (bears!), it is relevant to any city/town gardener and features common plants and animals found in most countries.

It explores all aspects of the city gardener and the challenge of utilising often limited space to create your own urban farm and grow organic produce.

With advice on design, planting, varieties, harvesting, pest control and raising livestock including chickens, ducks, goats and bees, it is the complete book for any gardener and ideal for those who like to create some degree of self-sufficiency.

In an easy to read format, the book will guide and inspire you to produce your own fruit, vegetables, flowers, eggs, honey and all manner of garden produce.
Your Farm in the City is published by Black Dog and Leventhal Publishers, New York, in softback and priced at £12.95.

ISBN 978-1-57912-862-3

Who is it for?

For all city/town gardeners interested in traditional gardening and incorporating some livestock.

For more reviews, see this months issue, available to buy online!