- ISBN13: 9781580173704
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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 >>
$9.95
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?
Rating: 4 / 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.
Rating: 4 / 5
I bought this book to learn how to garden organically. Without pictures, I could not learn. That’s the kind of learner I am and many people are. I have learned more from Rodale’s Illustrated Encyclopedia of Organic Gardening on how to make compost, take care of pests organically, etc. much better. After I get these basics of gardening down, I may reach for this book in the future.
Rating: 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.
Rating: 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.
Rating: 4 / 5