Amish Garden: A Year In The Life Of An Amish Garden

by Laura Anne Lapp, Jeremy Hess (Photography)

In , Laura Anne Lapp records the love, uncertainty, and hard work of growing her family’s vegetables, month to month, from January through December. Matchless photos show the garden asleep, the Amish women putting together their orders for seeds, the preparation of the soil, parents and children planting, the emerging plants, the lush harvest, and the food being preserved.

This close-up of a world seldom seen shows how Amish life works rhythmically with the passing seasons. Living with her husband and three young sons in a tucked-away valley, Laura delights in tending her garden and helping her friends and family members tend theirs. Though each woman gardens differently, they all bring the same care and devotion to their work.

Genres: Gardening, Nonfiction, Amish, Cookbooks

208 pages, Hardcover

First published April 1, 2013

Reviews

[Christy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought this was a lovely journal read of an Amish woman and her families gardens. Many sweet pictures of the changing seasons in a beautiful hardcover book. If you are looking for a how-to in the garden you will not find that here; but you will find little snippets of tips and a couple of recipes thrown in. Gardening comes down to the zone in which you live in for proper planting and what works best in your area. I enjoyed the relaxing walk through the seasons.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you are looking for a great how-to book on gardening, this is not it. Or, if you desire to know the inner workings of how the Amish like to garden, you may wish to keep looking. This really is not either of those books. But, if you enjoy seeing the beauty of gardening and having those friendly over-the-fence conversations with other gardeners, than this is the book for you!

I wasn't sure what to expect from this book, but I was more than pleasantly surprised by the author's down-to-earth writing style and honesty in her gardening skills and life as an Amish wife and mother to young boys. I actually learned a few things about the Amish that aren't covered in those Amish fiction books too (did you know they like to drink iced coffee?). And I enjoyed her many stories of home life, gardening through the seasons, and her few simple faith-filled moments she shared.

Laura's book is beautifully written in a journal style as reflections through each month and what is happening in her Pennsylvania garden. Included are full page photos, a few recipes for canning and enjoyment, and the few tips and insights of an intermediate gardener. Most of all, though, I appreciated her open honesty in her gardening struggles, what worked for her and what didn't, giving encouragement even to those of us who are only beginner's!

"Confession time for the wasteful gardener. I was rototilling tillage radishes out of the newly planted pea patch the other day, when I lost all patience and started wildly whipping my tototiller from side to side, not caring what I plowed out... At first I felt bad. Then I decided, 'No, I won't be guilty. This is my garden, and if I don't think I can manage raising peas and processing them, there's no rule saying that just because I'm an Amish housewife, I have to raise peas!'"

As a keepsake of my own Pennsylvania roots, and an inspirational book on gardening, this book is a treasure I hope to have on my own shelves someday. Loved it!

[aloveiz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beyond charmed by this work.
I poured repeatedly over how Lapp makes consternations sound sweet and the mundane sound fortifying. I yearned for all seasons simultaneously and also felt reflective and patient.

I don't know of another book that better illustrates the continuities between Zen Buddhism and American Amish practice. Of course that had nothing to do with the thesis but it was woven into the character of my reading experience nonetheless.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lovely, peaceful, simple book documenting an Amish woman's garden for a calendar year. She shares recipes and ideas but it mainly reads as a journal. The photographs are exquisite.

[Katherine · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a wonderful book! Written by an Amish wife and mother, Laura takes each reader thru a year in her garden, month by month. Starting with January, you share her curiosity and surprise at the seed catalogs and choices, February and March begin the anticipation of warm weather and sunny skies, and in April much of the work begins. What I appreciated the most is that Laura openly admits that she is not the best gardener, and certainly not always successful. Her down-to-earth honesty is inspiring and encouraging. So many gardening books dwell on success and make a beginner or struggling gardener feel frustrated and discouraged. Laura openly admits mistakes and gives ideas and advice to prevent them again. The pictures are beautiful and the photography gives good insight to the Amish way of life without seeming intrusive to their privacy. If you pass your long winters reading gardening book and thinking of Spring, be sure to add this book to your list!

[Christina · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is not a how-to book, more of a diary of a garden. The author shares her thoughts about planning, planting, care of a garden, harvesting, and more. It is filled with nice pictures and the occasional recipe, although I wish there were more!

[Sue · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is absolutely delightful! Great photographs and an honest look at the hard and rewarding work that is a big garden.

[Zoraida · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lovely book to read. Yes some what short, but beautiful photographs and a yearlong garden journal of an Amish wife’s life. Well done!

[Alissa Quinlan · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting look into the Amish garden. A few recipes, lots of pictures, and an interesting first person account. Quick easy read.

[Krista · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fascinating glimpse of an Amish women’s garden from
Spring to Fall.

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked "hearing" the author's voice through this diary of her garden. Lovely photos, too.

[Dave · Rating 5 out of 5]

An interesting book. I originally thought there would be more details as to how the Amish garden. Being it was more excerpts from the author's journal, with pictures, I wound up enjoying it anyway. I don't think that she hated gardening (well, except for the Tillage Radish & maybe the peas) like one of the reviewers suggested; I just think she is relatively new to gardening & learning just how much work a garden can be. She obviously wants her garden to be as "perfect" as those of her relatives, but realizes she has a ways to go for it to seem so effortless for her.

[Jack Barraclough · Rating 3 out of 5]

A year in the life of an Amish garden. The book contained some interesting information and neat pictures, but it didn't really go into much detail. A book that you would likely read once, and not refer to time and again.

[Holly Klump · Rating 2 out of 5]

Great photos. I understand this is supposed to be a journal, but the author seemed to not enjoy gardening at all. I found the whole thing to be depressing. Not what I was expecting at all...I read the whole thing in 45 minutes.

[Lori Thorrat · Rating 3 out of 5]

Beautifully illustrated but I would have liked more recipes and gardening advice.

[Suzy]

BJ 14; #1189

[Barbara Cooper · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book. Author is inspiring.

[Jonele · Rating 2 out of 5]

Set up like a journal with really great pictures. I wish it would have been a little more in-depth or something. It was mildly interesting.

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting look into a year of this woman's garden. Written in a journal style which I enjoyed.

[N.L. Riviezzo · Rating 2 out of 5]

A lot of beautiful pictures but not much else. Overall, it was rather disappointing.

[Christina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lovely photographs and a gentle walk through a year in an Amish garden. I would have appreciated more details about Amish life in general, but perhaps writing about those details would have been in conflict with the Amish focus on humility.