Biodynamic techniques recognize that plant life is intimately bound up with the life of the soil; that the soil itself is alive and vital; and that the degree of vitality has a direct bearing on the health of the crops. Through the nurture and care of the soil you will soon be able to grow quality produce which possesses vitality and has a full flavour. Sharing its principles, methods and techniques with organic farming, biodynamic agriculture additionally acknowledges that the plant's growth is also affected by planetary influences like the waxing and waning of the moon. Whether you are an experienced gardener or not, whether or not you have used permaculture or grown organic produce before, this volume offers tips on: favourable times for planting, harvesting and growing; ways of combating pests and diseases; building soil fertility - crop change and rotation; and how planets and stars affect plant growth.

This is an exciting introduction to the global seed-swapping and grassroots gardening movement, exploring how we can rewild the world around us with beautiful wildflowers. As seedbombing and seed swapping become even more popular, passionate seed activist Josie Jeffrey presents an invaluable handbook to the practices, explaining how we can fill the world around us with beautiful wildflower blooms, as well as why we should care about our plant heritage. With an invaluable directory of all the best common seeds to save and swap, alongside essential seedbomb recipes to transform concrete oases into colourful wildlife havens, this timely handbook provides all the tools you need to start your very own green revolution. Endorsed by Kew, the Soil Association, Seedy Sunday UK, Dr Vandana Shiva, Satish Kumar and The Heritage Seed Library, these practices will transform any space into a riot of colour, and at the same time help enrich the environment around where they are growing. With essential husbandry and harvesting techniques and a step-by-step guide to creating your own seedbank, this is an empowering call-to-action every environmentalist or gardener will dig into.

Winner of the Garden Media Guild Practical Book of the Year Award 2022 From the creator of the wildly popular website 'Vertical Veg' and with over 200k people in his online community of growers, comes the complete guide to growing delicious fruit, vegetables, herbs and salad in containers, pots and more - in any space at home - no matter how small! If you long to grow your own tomatoes, courgettes or strawberries but thought you didn't have enough space, Mark Ridsdill Smith, aka the 'Vertical Veg Man,' will show you how. Make the most of walls, balconies, patios, arches and windowsills and create rich, beautiful and delicious homegrown food. With proven results from his ten years of experience growing in all kinds of containers and teaching people how to grow bountiful, edible crops in small spaces, Mark will show you how gardening in containers is more than just a hobby but rather a way of creating a significant amount of delicious, low-cost, nutritious food. In his second year of growing in containers, Mark grew over 80kg of food worth GBP900! Inside The Vertical Veg Guide to Container Gardening, you'll find: Mark's 'Eight Steps to Success' How to make the most of your space How to draw up a planning calendar so you can grow throughout the year Planting projects for beginners and the best plants to start with Compost recipes and wormery guide for the more experienced gardener Troubleshoots for the specific challenges of growing in small spaces Ways to support pollinators and other wildlife in urban areas How growing food at home can contribute to wellbeing, sustainability and the local community Don't be confined by the space you have - grow all the food you want with Mark's Vertical Veg Guide to Container Gardening.

In recent years, container gardening has taken on a new dimension, as new and vastly varied containers have become available to suit every taste. In this will advise you on the best use of container plants to enhance your garden and patio, to achieve dramatic and colourful results in small spaces, or, in larger gardens, to create focal points which link different parts of the garden. She gives practical suggestions on how containers can be used to solve problems in the garden, and hundreds of ideas for striking and unusual plant combinations. Creative containers provides a wealth of exciting and original ideas for container gardening, focusing on the following - Planning - how containers fit into the overall design of the house, patio and garden. Choosing containers, including ideas for unusual containers and instructions for making or decorating your own containers. Plant discussions - detailed descriptions of suitable container plants, suggested combinations, growing conditions, etc. Plant care and maintenance - how to make sure that your container plants flourish.

With over 40 projects to make your own creative containers, let Frances Tophill show you how to use often overlooked pots to their full potential and transform your garden - whether you've only got a modest balcony, small square of patio or just a windowsill. There is always room for a bit of greenery in your life. Whether it's growing herbs to add a fresh touch of flavour to your cooking or planting succulents to display on your windowsill, containers help you to bring nature to the most inhospitable and smallest of spaces. Frances covers a range of different planting schemes and types of container, from urns and troughs to chimney stacks and hanging baskets. She delivers expert advice on what to grow - from bonsais, bulbs and bamboos to tumbling and creeping plants and flowers - and shows you how to make a living wall, a pond in a metal trough or even your own bespoke containers. With Frances's creative ideas, you can transform any garden into a host of inspirational and unique pots and plants.