Wrapping up the gardening season for another year means more free time to plan and dream for the future. Do you have even a small bit of land you want to convert to growing some food? There are so many possibilities, and the benefits reach far beyond simply eating.
To encourage you, no matter where you live, here’s a shortlist of books I’ve read recently and highly recommend. I found all of these titles are in my local library system.
Groundbreaking Food Gardens: 73 Plans That Will Change the Way You Grow Your Garden
This is the book to jump start your creative thinking about gardening in unexpected urban places. Thumb through the garden themes and diagrams to expand your [available space] horizons. Learn from the many wise methods described by these gardeners to ensure productivity. Delve deeper using the list of contributing garden owners to visit to their websites and gain even more knowledge.
by Niki Jabbour. Niki lives in Halifax, NS, and is the author of four books including Year-Round Vegetable Gardener. She was named the 2021 Distinguished Alumnae for the Faculty of Agriculture at Dalhousie University for her work on food security through home gardens.
The Suburban Micro-farm: Modern Solutions for Busy People
Easy to read, full of strategies and diagrams, this book is a joy to revisit again and again. Amy tells why the suburbs are primed with food-growing potential and shows how to make your landscape as productive as it is beautiful. You don’t need the perfect yard to have a micro-farm. She explains how to work around the challenges, how to choose the best crops for success, and how to use simple permaculture techniques for abundant harvests.
by Amy Stross. Amy is a professional gardener specializing in ecologically friendly and edible landscapes. As well as her Masters in education, Amy has certification in both Permaculture Design and Community Garden Development.
The Urban Homesteading Cookbook: Forage, Farm, Ferment and Feast for a Better World.
Catherine’s commitment to thinking creatively about personal food security is absolute. Whenever I open this book, I start to smile. It’s rich with possibilities for enriching your food supply even if you live in a city apartment. I admit that my reactions range from “yup, I do that” to “nope, I’ll never do that.” But if times got desperate, it could be comforting to have some of this knowledge and be aware of outside-the box means of feeding your family. Meanwhile, enjoy the gorgeous photography, the intelligent writing, and the joie de vivre.
by Michelle Catherine Nelson. At the time she wrote this book, Michelle lived in an apartment in East Vancouver BC. She has a PhD in conservation biology.
The Edible Ecosystem Solution: Growing Biodiversity in Your Backyard and Beyond
If you only have even 25 square feet of land to spare, this is the book to inspire you. There’s a lot of big picture stuff too. I love Zach’s thesis. It begins: “When I first started writing this book, I was focused on why people should maximize their yards with gardens and edible landscapes. More specifically, I wanted to teach people how to turn a single piece of lawn into a garden and show how straightforward and affordable this actually can be. One small area, no greater than 25 square feet – essentially, a garden spot – is a great starting point for creating more garden abundance in your yard, along with all the benefits it can provide to your well-being.”
by Zach Loeks. Zach is an “edible ecosystem” designer and international educator and is director of the Ecosystem Solution Institute. He lives in Ottawa ON and travels extensively to teach and set up up Education-Propagation-Inspiration Sites.