The latest in the River Cottage Handbook series is directly aimed at those hoping to start growing their own food on whatever patch of land they have available. Written by Mark Diacono, River Cottage gardener, it covers not only the steps involved in growing a wide variety of vegetables, but also more general tips on soil improvement, successional planting, crop rotation and other topics of vital importance to those starting out.
As with the other books in this series it is not intended as an exhaustive guide, but as an ideal companion for those with a piqued interest in the topic who want to learn more. It’s written in an informal style, with plenty of acknowledgments that not everything is going to go the garderner’s way, but that as a total package the ups and downs of growing your own food is life affirming - as Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall puts it in the foreword,
‘…at a time when it’s easy to fall prey to all the gloom that surrounds the food we eat, Mark’s sense of what is possible is the perfect antidote.’
The book begins with an introduction to the topic of growing your own food, including reasons why you should do so as well as pointing out the commitment in time involved.
Next, it moves on to give an A-Z of vegetables with information about each species and tips on how best to grow them. This will give you a sense of what you want to grow, and the next two sections are all about planning what to plant, when to plant it, and where.
Next up, practical advice on maintaining your veg patch (crop rotation, soil improvement etc), before finishing with a selection of recipes to try with your own freshest of produce.
All in all, this book is a great resource for the beginner eager to learn the basics, while even the more experienced food gardeners will doubtless learn plenty from 250+ pages. And most importantly of all, the author’s enthusiasm shines through it all in typical River Cottage manner, proving the perfect pick-me up for the tired gardner mulling over the latest devastating slug invasion!
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