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Books > Health, Home & Family > Gardening > Specialized gardening methods > Organic gardening
Charles Dowding draws on his years of experience, to show how easy
it is to start a new vegetable garden. Any plot - whether a
building site, overgrown with weeds or unwanted lawn - can be
turned into a beautiful and productive vegetable area. Charles's
no-nonsense and straightforward advice is the perfect starting
point for the beginner or experienced gardener. The book takes you
step-by-step through: * Planning and early stages * Clearing the
ground * Mulch - what, why, how? * Minimizing digging * Sowing and
planting across the seasons * Growing in polytunnels and
greenhouses It is filled with labour-saving ideas and the
techniques that Charles uses to garden so successfully and is
illustrated throughout with photos and tales from Charles's first
year in his new vegetable garden.
No dig organic gardening saves time and work. It requires an annual
dressing of compost to help accelerate the improvement in soil
structure and leads to higher fertility and less weeds. No dig
experts, Charles Dowding and Stephanie Hafferty, explain how to set
up a no dig garden. They describe how to: Make compost, enrich
soil, harvest and prepare food and make natural beauty and clean
ing products and garden preparations. These approaches work as well
in small spaces as in large gardens. The Authors' combined
experience gives you ways of growing, preparing and storing the
plants you grow for many uses, including delicious vegetable feasts
and many recipes and ideas for increasing self reliance, saving
money, living sustainably and enjoying the pleasure of growing your
own food, year round. Charles' advice is distilled from 35 years of
growing vegetables intensively and efficiently; he is the
acknowledged no dig guru and salad expert both in the UK and
internationally. Stephanie, a kitchen gardener, grows in her small,
productive home garden and allotment, and creates no dig gardens
for restaurants and private estates.She presents truly delicious
seasonal recipes, made from the vegetables anyone can grow. She
also explains how to use common plants you can grow and forage for
to make handmade preparation for the home and garden.
The Ecological Farm is a breakthrough resource for ecological fruit
and vegetable growers at every scale who want to go beyond organic.
Through a unique ecosystem-balancing approach focusing on reduced
tillage, minimising farm and garden inputs and pest control,
you’ll learn how to build higher soil quality and fertility by
using fewer harmful inputs. Â Farmer, consultant, and
educator Helen Atthowe (along with her late husband, Carl Rosato)
have decades of farming experience which is shared in this
essential book. They guide readers on how to reduce or eliminate
the use of outside inputs of fertiliser or pesticides – even
those that are commonly used on certified organic orchards and
market gardens. With clear, easy to action language and colour
photography, charts, and graphs throughout, The Ecological Farm
emphasizes the importance of managing the details of an entire
growing system over the full life of an enterprise. The Ecological
Farm features a crop-by-crop guide to growing more than 25 of the
most popular and profitable vegetables and fruits, including
specific management advice for dealing with pests and diseases.
You’ll also learn how to: design a system that establishes a
year-round root-in-soil system for microbial health strengthen the
“immune system†of a farm or garden supply crop needs using
only on-farm inputs such as cover crops and living mulch maximise
the presence of beneficial insects and microbes minimise ecological
impact in dealing with insect pest and disease problems The
Ecological Farm makes complex, sometimes messy, ecological
concepts and practices understandable to all growers, and makes
healthy farming, in which nature is invited to participate,
possible.
The inventory of knowledge that is generally warehoused under the
classification of biodynamic is rich and timeless, and yet very few
farmers have even a nodding acquaintance with the subject. This
book performs a rescue operation. A practical, how-to guide to
making all of the biodynamic preparations, this book will provide
what you need to put these proven techniques to work in your
fields. Perhaps the best of the many biodynamic titles currently
available. Further explains how to achieve success through
CSA-style market garden marketing.
Grow 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.
A wildlife-friendly garden provides year round entertainment whilst
providing food, drink and shelter for a range of species. This
volume gives clear and practical advice on how to create a wildlife
haven in your back garden and how to enjoy it through the changing
seasons.
Landscape designer Owen Wormser explains how to replace the
deadscape we call lawn with low-maintenance, eco-friendly meadows.
In this second edition of his award-winning book, he includes
photos of meadows in progress plus more ways to cultivate your own
organic meadow. This how-to book on growing your own wildflowers
and native grasses is also about sustainability, regeneration, and
beauty. In a world where lawns have wreaked havoc on our natural
ecosystems, meadows offer a compelling solution. It is garden
landscaping that is beautiful, all year round. Meadows establish
wildlife and pollinator habitats, are low-maintenance and low-cost,
have a built-in resilience that helps them weather climate
extremes, and can draw down and store far more carbon dioxide than
any manicured lawn. Wormser describes how to plant an organic
meadow garden or traditional meadow, that's right for your site.
His book includes guidance on: Preparing your site Designing your
meadow Planting without using synthetic chemicals Growing 21
starter native grasses and wildflowers, including butterfly weed,
smooth blue aster, purple coneflower, wild bergamot, blue grama
grass, switchgrass, and many more Building support in neighborhoods
where a tidy lawn is the standard. He also shares 28 color photos
that highlight the multitude of ways you can cultivate your own
organic meadow. To illuminate the many joys of meadow-building,
Wormser draws on his own stories, including how growing up off the
grid in northern Maine, with no electricity or plumbing, prepared
him for his work.
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.
A journal with a perpetual diary, a manual of gardening to inform
and inspire, packed with illustrations and an introduction by
Darina Allen of Ballymaloe Cookery School Three quarters Charles's
advice on how to grow great crops, one quarter writing space for
each day. Use it year after year to make the best decisions, with
your notes alongside Charles's suggestions, for future reference.
Advice in the diary section is linked to each week of the season
and takes you through the whole process, from clearing weeds,
feeding soil and sowing to harvests and storing vegetables. *
Advice on sowing and planting methods, plus raising plants at home
* Best sowing dates - seeds neither fail in cold nor start too late
* Advantages of no dig, saving time, giving fewer weeds and bigger
crops * How to maintain control of weeds through timely mulching
and hoeing * How to feed soil just once a year, for strong and
healthy growth * When and how to make all the harvests, with advice
on storing produce too.
Beans 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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Veg Patch
(Hardcover)
Mark Diacono
1
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R529
R434
Discovery Miles 4 340
Save R95 (18%)
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Ships in 9 - 15 working days
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Drawing directly from his experience as an acclaimed climate-change
gardener, and of setting up a kitchen garden from scratch for River
Cottage, Mark explains the practical aspects of organic growing,
introduces us to a whole world of vegetables we may not have
previously considered, and does away with alienating gardening
jargon once and for all. Mark begins with a catalogue of vegetables
that will grow in this country, explaining for each their benefits,
what varieties to go for, dos and don'ts, and popular culinary
uses. He then invites us to create a wish list of foods, and shows
us his own list from his early gardening days. Next, he explains
how to turn this wish list into a coherent kitchen garden plan
appropriate for our space, whether it be a patch of acidic soil, a
roof-top garden or an allotment, whether we put on our wellies in
every free moment or are 'time-poor' gardeners. Then he puts all
the theory into practice, showing us how to look after nutrients in
the soil, how to resist pests and diseases, and how to make our
garden sustainable and organic. In clear, concise sections we learn
about seed trays, supporting plants with climbing structures,
mulching, composting, companion planting, irrigation and promoting
pollination, and there are additional tables showing sowing and
harvesting times, plant sizes, and alternative varieties of plants
for different sites.About thirty recipes and a directory of useful
addresses finish the book, and the handbook is complemented by
bright colour photography throughout. Practical and inspiring, with
a textured hard cover and an introduction by Hugh
Fearnley-Whittingstall, "Veg Patch" is destined to join Handbooks
No. 1, 2 and 3 as an indispensible household reference.
This book offers everything readers need to know to grow tasty
organic fruit outdoors - whether in a garden, allotment or on their
window ledge! It is suitable for beginners and includes a
comprehensive directory. This latest title, from a growing and
successful series, is by an UK author. What could be better than
the enjoyment of tasting your own sweet, succulent, home-grown
fruit? Most people have got room to grow some kind of fruit -
whether it be a small apple tree in a front garden, a grape vine up
a trellis or strawberries in a window box. Gardeners seeking a
concise, easy-to-follow approach to fruit growing and maintenance
need look no further; this book will provide all the practical
advice and information that they need. With guidance on which
fruits to choose, when and how to plant, propagate, harvest and
store them, plus a comprehensive directory of popular varieties to
grow - it won't be long before readers are discovering the delights
of their own home-grown organic fruit.
Conventional wisdom is difficult to question, even when it is
misguided and contains many contradictions. Gardening has its share
of such 'myths' - some with discernible origins in history, others
that have become established for no obvious reason - and they often
obscure simpler and easier methods of working. This delightfully
illustrated book reveals how common sense triumphs and crops are
more successful when these 'rules' are overturned. A fascinating
but practical book that will save the seasoned gardener time and
give new gardeners heart.
Known as the guru of no-dig, Charles Dowding has updated his
definitive book on salad-growing in this beautifully illustrated
new edition: how to have tasty salad leaves all year round in a
garden, balcony or windowsill; how to grow micro leaves and how to
serve them in delicious recipes, all using organic or permaculture
principles. Great for food lovers keen to eat tasty food with a low
carbon footprint. This compendium of practical methods for growing
a wide variety of salads throughout the year, will inspire you to
grow your own, whether on a windowsill, in your garden or on the
allotment. Here is all the information you need for productive,
healthy and tasty salads. Learn the subtleties of salad seasons and
virtues of different leaves throughout the year. And when your
table is groaning with the abundance of your harvests, there are
delicious and imaginative recipes by Stephanie Hafferty, exploiting
the fantastic flavours, colour and vitality of home grown salad
leaves.
How to grow delicious produce in your own backyard In this guide,
expert botanist Ginny Stibolt and Master Gardener Melissa Markham
provide simple and accessible advice for successful vegetable
gardening in Florida, where soil types vary and cool-weather crops
are grown right through the mild winters. They offer advice on what
to do with over-abundant harvests, strategies for developing a
community garden, and suggestions for opportunities beyond the home
garden. They also address integrated pest management, appropriate
raised bed types, irrigation, seed saving, just-in-time harvesting,
and food safety. This second edition is updated with the latest
scientific knowledge and growing techniques; new crops for growers
to try; more detail in the growing calendars separated by north,
central, and south Florida regions; and color photos and
illustrations throughout the text. Readers will appreciate this
reliable resource that will help them and their families become
more resilient by controlling some of their food from seed to
table.
DK brings you an all-encompassing horticultural handbook to fulfil
your every leaf and legume! Get your gardening gloves on, as
best-selling author Huw Richards takes you on a green-fingered
journey to be an undefeated veg-grower! A recent study suggests 38%
of British adults use their gardens to grow herbs and vegetables.
But with the ever-growing pressure of balancing family life with a
career, a lot of today's green-fingered gardeners simply lack time
for vegetable growing. Huw is on a mission to change that! Whatever
your horticultural hopes may be, Huw Richards brings you a
veg-growing guide that is sure to shape the next generation of
green-fingered gardeners like never before, full of top tips on
smart gardening, without compromising on time, effort or money.
With passion in every page, you can enjoy: -Tons of tips and tricks
to maximise efficiency of your vegetable gardens -Skillful and
solid information to disparage the common myth that gardening
requires too much time and effort -Easy to follow step-by-step
instructions of fundamental gardening techniques -Visual
representations of Huw's innovative ideas to easily apply to your
own vegetable garden After the immeasurable success of his first
two gardening books 'Veg in One Bed' and 'Grow Food for Free', Huw
brings you a riveting third release, full of simple yet effective
strategies to leave you with a patch to be proud of! By applying a
strategic approach to your veggie patch, from choosing the right
compost to using the correct cultivation tools, Huw assures that
even the most hapless of gardeners can unearth the endless
potential that all gardens possess, no matter the shape or size!
Why not stand out from the crowd with this fully-illustrated veggie
handbook, and start your intuitive gardening journey today to reap
the benefits of a more bountiful harvest. An ideal gift for the
green-fingered gardener or budding botanist in your life! With over
500,000 subscribers on YouTube, Huw Richards is keen to share his
17 years' experience on maximising productivity of vegetable
patches, so get those gloves on, and join the journey today! Ready,
set, let's grow!
Learn how to make and use nourishing compost for your garden with
this handy little guidebook from an experienced National Trust head
gardener. It's packed with useful tips for successful composting,
from deciding what to put in your kitchen compost caddy to how to
use the final product in your garden. The author discusses the
various composting set-ups you can choose, from simple plastic
cone-shaped 'Dalek' bins to ingenious hand-rotated barrels and
elaborate solar-powered hot composting systems, and gives full
instructions to make a professional-looking three-bay compost heap
from old pallets. Also covered are unusual and innovative
techniques such as keyhole gardening and lasagne planting, and
there's a guide to wormeries and, for the very adventurous,
snaileries. He also reveals the many uses to which compost can be
put in your garden, and not just to grow plants in - as a top
dressing to keep your lawn looking fresh and green, as mulch for
your flower beds, or, in liquid form, as a powerfully nutritious
plant feed. And there's a handy guide to which bits of kitchen
waste you can put into your compost, and which you really
shouldn't. Finally, if you've always wanted an exceptionally
environmentally friendly composting toilet, instructions are here.
Beautifully illustrated throughout, this practical guide contains
all the advice you'll ever need to get your compost going and use
it to help your garden thrive.
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 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.
Ehrenfried Pfeiffer was a pioneer of biodynamics in North America.
This short but comprehensive book is a collection of three key
articles introducing the concepts, principles and practice of the
biodynamic method, as well as an overview of its early history. The
book also includes a short biography of Ehrenfried Pfeiffer by
Herbert H. Koepf.
The follow up to the Sunday Times bestselling Clean and Green and
Green Living Made Easy, former Great British Bake Off winner Nancy
Birtwhistle's third book is a guide to gardening and growing at
home, all with a sustainable, eco-friendly outlook and suffused
with the author's customary passion, knowledge, and warmth. Whether
you have a sprawling garden, a modest patch of grass or just a
spare windowsill, The Green Gardening Handbook will help you make
the most of your space, and what it can grow. The book is split
into the four seasons and provides information on everything from
when to plant potatoes, what sort of fertiliser to use and the
plethora of foods that can be grown from tiny pots in your kitchen.
It features seasonal recipes and guides to storing and preserving,
tips for getting kids involved and excited about where food comes
from and provides a blueprint for embracing the joy of growing and
eating from your own garden - and reducing your carbon footprint in
the process. Packed with advice on composting, clothing and basic
equipment, and demonstrating the mental and physical benefits of
gardening, The Green Gardening Handbook is underlined by Nancy's
belief that once we understand the seasons we can live a healthier
lifestyle that in turn will ensure our planet stays healthy too.
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