The Backyard Homestead Guide to Growing Organic Food: A Crop-by-Crop Reference for 62 Vegetables, Fruits, Nuts, and Herbs

Cobb (Reclaiming Our Food) is an environmental mediator and food-systems planning instructor. Her book’s opening pages extol the sustainable, practical and stress-relieving virtues of gardening. The “For Starters” chapter details how to plan and maintain a self-sustaining garden. It includes tidbits about composting, soil balance, and managing essential bugs. Other chapters cover vegetables, fruits and nuts, and herbs. Each crop is presented with clear instructions on planting, determining the proper soil, understanding water and temperature needs, and storing. Readers will also learn about companion and incompatible plants, ideal times to harvest, and pests and diseases. There are tips for identifying and preventing common garden problems and advice about gardening without chemicals. The final chapter compiles allies and companion plants into an easy-to-read chart that lists the plants they help and the insects they repel or attract. Additional resources, such as recommended readings and metric conversion charts, appear at the back of the book.