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Rough Patch: How a Year in the Garden Brought Me Back to Life
'Warm, humorous, nature-packed restoration ... a story you can neither put down nor stop thinking about' Delicious 'Book of the Month'
'Full of hope and joy' - Garden News
'A healing year of sowing and reaping ... [Kathy's] tale of personal transformation is inspiring' Saga Magazine
When Kathy was forced to quit her high-flying career in London, she was a wreck - burnt out, anxious, consumed by depression. But she found solace in an unlikely place - the veg patch. She put her hands in the soil and found a way to grow, to sow some small seeds of hope.
In Rough Patch, Kathy draws us into the world of the kitchen garden to reflect on the lessons she learnt from the soil, along with sharing recipes inspired by the land. Weaving together her own story of recovery with the year she spent growing and cooking her harvests, Kathy realises that the two are tightly bound together and that reconnecting with the earth could restore her hope and renew her life. Along the way there are tales of marauding pigs, transformative insights from planting leeks, recipes for an unchecked courgette glut and the discovery of why a radish seed is worth staying alive for. The result is a candid, hopeful and sometimes funny story about the healing powers of nature; a quiet manifesto for a more connected life.
'Full of hope and joy' - Garden News
'A healing year of sowing and reaping ... [Kathy's] tale of personal transformation is inspiring' Saga Magazine
When Kathy was forced to quit her high-flying career in London, she was a wreck - burnt out, anxious, consumed by depression. But she found solace in an unlikely place - the veg patch. She put her hands in the soil and found a way to grow, to sow some small seeds of hope.
In Rough Patch, Kathy draws us into the world of the kitchen garden to reflect on the lessons she learnt from the soil, along with sharing recipes inspired by the land. Weaving together her own story of recovery with the year she spent growing and cooking her harvests, Kathy realises that the two are tightly bound together and that reconnecting with the earth could restore her hope and renew her life. Along the way there are tales of marauding pigs, transformative insights from planting leeks, recipes for an unchecked courgette glut and the discovery of why a radish seed is worth staying alive for. The result is a candid, hopeful and sometimes funny story about the healing powers of nature; a quiet manifesto for a more connected life.
- GenresNonfictionGardeningFood
222 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 6, 2025
22 people are currently reading
254 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
October 19, 2025
"The vegetable patch was becoming a daily haven. It offered safety and comfort and peace. An escape."
Having been a reader of Kathy Slack's blog- Tales from the Veg Patch, first assumptions was that this was to be a story of the a life in the year of her garden. But this is so much more.
Opening her heart, Kathy Slack tells how the vegetable patch helped save her from a serious breakdown and depression. Candidly written and very moving she describes the lows and very lows when she could no longer continue her role in the world of advertising and ultimately found solace and understanding by growing vegetables and nurturing the small patch of land that gave her hope, salvation and a future.
Being someone who understands when the 'fog ' descends and can paralyse you some days, the role of green therapy- biophilia ; our predetermined need to connect with nature can truly help restore our minds and bodies in the direction of recovery.
This is a beautiful and moving book- covering a twelve month period through which Kathy tells her personal story of struggling to make sense of life and being but also describing the year of growing sales and vegetables and the seasonal changes and harvests.. It is also peppered ( no pun intended) with lovely seasonal recipes.
This is a book that many will relate to- the challenge of finding yourself - your self worth and not being defined by status and materialism and recognising the power of the outdoor world and in Kathy's case a vegetable patch that truly rescued her.
Highly recommended and thank you to Kathy for telling her personal story
Having been a reader of Kathy Slack's blog- Tales from the Veg Patch, first assumptions was that this was to be a story of the a life in the year of her garden. But this is so much more.
Opening her heart, Kathy Slack tells how the vegetable patch helped save her from a serious breakdown and depression. Candidly written and very moving she describes the lows and very lows when she could no longer continue her role in the world of advertising and ultimately found solace and understanding by growing vegetables and nurturing the small patch of land that gave her hope, salvation and a future.
Being someone who understands when the 'fog ' descends and can paralyse you some days, the role of green therapy- biophilia ; our predetermined need to connect with nature can truly help restore our minds and bodies in the direction of recovery.
This is a beautiful and moving book- covering a twelve month period through which Kathy tells her personal story of struggling to make sense of life and being but also describing the year of growing sales and vegetables and the seasonal changes and harvests.. It is also peppered ( no pun intended) with lovely seasonal recipes.
This is a book that many will relate to- the challenge of finding yourself - your self worth and not being defined by status and materialism and recognising the power of the outdoor world and in Kathy's case a vegetable patch that truly rescued her.
Highly recommended and thank you to Kathy for telling her personal story
March 8, 2025
Depression and anxiety are selfish, invisible, shameful and isolating. I loved reading your story Kathy. It took me back to my journey- and how I had to reach rock bottom in-order to explore the source of my illness. Through therapy and discovering my joy of food and cooking. This is my story. And I climbed back up. This is a joyous book to read. It got me. And the recipes are all the ingredients I love to cook with and eat! I mistakenly bought the kindle version. I need the hardback!!!
March 19, 2026
Descriptions of her battle with depression and how nature brought her back are well written. I have great empathy with the depression having suffered with my own mental health.
But having said all that I’m so tired of reading these kinds of books! My own fault for not trying a sample first! What I mean by that is people who burn out after doing 14 hours plus a day in high flying jobs. These jobs buy you the nice house in the Cotswolds and are a choice when you want more ambition or more stuff to buy.
For once I would love someone who has to work long hours just to survive and pay bills to write a good book on how nature helped them to heal. More ordinary people that struggle to make ends meet daily. But maybe they don’t have the time to be in nature or write the books.
I have to say her admission of hating Cats and squashing Caterpillars also did nothing to endear me to the author either! Just move the Caterpillars to some weeds in your large garden if they bother you so they can be food for birds. I manage that in my postage stamp of a garden.
But having said all that I’m so tired of reading these kinds of books! My own fault for not trying a sample first! What I mean by that is people who burn out after doing 14 hours plus a day in high flying jobs. These jobs buy you the nice house in the Cotswolds and are a choice when you want more ambition or more stuff to buy.
For once I would love someone who has to work long hours just to survive and pay bills to write a good book on how nature helped them to heal. More ordinary people that struggle to make ends meet daily. But maybe they don’t have the time to be in nature or write the books.
I have to say her admission of hating Cats and squashing Caterpillars also did nothing to endear me to the author either! Just move the Caterpillars to some weeds in your large garden if they bother you so they can be food for birds. I manage that in my postage stamp of a garden.
October 16, 2025
An inspirational read. Kathy Slack has a very high powered job in advertising in London travelling each day from the Cotswolds. Eventually, something snaps and after a breakdown and severe depression she turns to her patch of earth. It is through finding joy in growing vegetables from a tiny seed to something she can cook and serve up for a meal that she is able to face the world again. I can relate to this after being flooded nearly 3 years ago it has been restoring our garden that has kept us sane (well almost!!).
November 25, 2024
Kathy Slack once bought into the whole consumer culture. Working in advertising, being at the head of global strategies to figure out what the overarching story of margarine and cat food were, she was at the top of her game. But she was not happy. Worse, she became increasingly sick as the years flew by and no amount of shiny, expensive distractions seemed to be helping. One day she stopped working, literally and metaphorically.
What brought her back to life was her garden. Specifically growing food. Over the months she was signed off sick, she found that of all the things she tried, growing her own fruit and vegetables was the one, consistent thing that allowed her to feel calm and grounded. This prompted a revolution in her life and sense of purpose, which is ostensibly what this book is about.
Using the structure of a growing year, she takes us through the story of how she shook off the corporate life for one thinking of what to do with courgette gluts, and how that helped her mental health.
As someone whose mental health is and always has been somewhat shaky, I really appreciated the lack of evangelising in this book. Slack is very clear that this is what helped her, and that it doesn't mean it will help you (gardening only ever added to my anxiety, for example). She is also very good on the multiple things she did try and in acknowledging that she had the privilege of time, money and supportive loved ones to help figure things out. I admire her honesty.
What brought her back to life was her garden. Specifically growing food. Over the months she was signed off sick, she found that of all the things she tried, growing her own fruit and vegetables was the one, consistent thing that allowed her to feel calm and grounded. This prompted a revolution in her life and sense of purpose, which is ostensibly what this book is about.
Using the structure of a growing year, she takes us through the story of how she shook off the corporate life for one thinking of what to do with courgette gluts, and how that helped her mental health.
As someone whose mental health is and always has been somewhat shaky, I really appreciated the lack of evangelising in this book. Slack is very clear that this is what helped her, and that it doesn't mean it will help you (gardening only ever added to my anxiety, for example). She is also very good on the multiple things she did try and in acknowledging that she had the privilege of time, money and supportive loved ones to help figure things out. I admire her honesty.
July 5, 2025
I downloaded the audiobook after listening to Kathy speak at a local literary festival. I chose to attend her session as I enjoy gardening.
I enjoyed listening to Kathy’s delight in nature and the recipes have inspired me to pay more attention to vegetables. Helpfully the recipes are available as a PDF download on Audible.
This book could be really helpful for anyone who is supporting someone with depression as it provides insights into what it feels like to be a sufferer.
Although Kathy has a husband he didn’t feature much and whole sections are written, almost from the point of someone living alone, which seemed a little odd and I would have like to know more about how the changes Kathy made to her life affected him and their life together.
I found the insight into the business of Marketing interesting. Small point, but couple of things grated, more so as the book progressed; the frequent use of both the buzzword ‘agency’ and (the extraneous use of) the word ‘apple’ in recipes requiring cider vinegar - cider vinegar is only made from apples (I am English, I know Americans use this tautology routinely). I recommend the book if you can tolerate these small irritations.
I enjoyed listening to Kathy’s delight in nature and the recipes have inspired me to pay more attention to vegetables. Helpfully the recipes are available as a PDF download on Audible.
This book could be really helpful for anyone who is supporting someone with depression as it provides insights into what it feels like to be a sufferer.
Although Kathy has a husband he didn’t feature much and whole sections are written, almost from the point of someone living alone, which seemed a little odd and I would have like to know more about how the changes Kathy made to her life affected him and their life together.
I found the insight into the business of Marketing interesting. Small point, but couple of things grated, more so as the book progressed; the frequent use of both the buzzword ‘agency’ and (the extraneous use of) the word ‘apple’ in recipes requiring cider vinegar - cider vinegar is only made from apples (I am English, I know Americans use this tautology routinely). I recommend the book if you can tolerate these small irritations.
March 5, 2026
As someone who has deeply struggled with depression, OCD, and the difficulties that come with being autistic, as well as survived attempts to unalive myself, I know what the depths of darkness feel like. I also find solace in nature, plants, and getting my hands into humus-rich soil. That's why when I discovered this book about a person who, going through the same sort of darkness, has found gardening to be restorative, I had to read it.
This book is a journey through the different months and seasons of the year in a vegetable garden in the Cotswolds, England. We go from Kathy recounting her old corporate life and how depression gradually crept in, to how she slowly but surely found a way out of it through growing a vegetable patch.
I love how Kathy describes her gardening process, it really takes you there with her and gives you a taste of wonder of mindfulness, of being present and immersing yourself in whatever it is you're doing. Moreover, the awe with which she writes about it is infectious.
I also appreciate the candor with which Kathy discusses her experience with depression. I aggree with her on how depression makes you feel completely helpless, and how something like growing your own food, even if it's just one tomato plant for example, can give you back a sense of agency and fulfilment.
We often get the advice to write down things we're grateful for every day to counteract the negative loops of thinking, but, as Kathy says, it is often too abstract for us to be able to fully grasp it and thus actually feel this gratitude when we're depressed. Gratitude can be made tangible by acting on it. By, for example, growing your own food. Because you get to see the process unfold from seed to fruit, and then delight in whatever dish you make with it, the way you feel is so different from when you simply count your blessings.
The lessons Kathy learns from the garden along the way are very valuable, such as embracing imperfection, being compassionate toward ourselves, the joy of simplicity, resilience, hope, and how we should stop questioning our worth, and just let ourselves be. "The dog in the garden just is. The bugs in the patch just are. That's it. I realized that I must meet everyone in the world, including myself, just like the dog and the bugs: as the creatures of nature they are, unburdened by any expectations to achieve or to prove themselves."
This book is a journey through the different months and seasons of the year in a vegetable garden in the Cotswolds, England. We go from Kathy recounting her old corporate life and how depression gradually crept in, to how she slowly but surely found a way out of it through growing a vegetable patch.
I love how Kathy describes her gardening process, it really takes you there with her and gives you a taste of wonder of mindfulness, of being present and immersing yourself in whatever it is you're doing. Moreover, the awe with which she writes about it is infectious.
I also appreciate the candor with which Kathy discusses her experience with depression. I aggree with her on how depression makes you feel completely helpless, and how something like growing your own food, even if it's just one tomato plant for example, can give you back a sense of agency and fulfilment.
We often get the advice to write down things we're grateful for every day to counteract the negative loops of thinking, but, as Kathy says, it is often too abstract for us to be able to fully grasp it and thus actually feel this gratitude when we're depressed. Gratitude can be made tangible by acting on it. By, for example, growing your own food. Because you get to see the process unfold from seed to fruit, and then delight in whatever dish you make with it, the way you feel is so different from when you simply count your blessings.
The lessons Kathy learns from the garden along the way are very valuable, such as embracing imperfection, being compassionate toward ourselves, the joy of simplicity, resilience, hope, and how we should stop questioning our worth, and just let ourselves be. "The dog in the garden just is. The bugs in the patch just are. That's it. I realized that I must meet everyone in the world, including myself, just like the dog and the bugs: as the creatures of nature they are, unburdened by any expectations to achieve or to prove themselves."
April 14, 2025
I've followed Kathy for a while as I am a keen gardener and cook and I love her friendly, approachable style. This book is a completely honest account of her 'breakdown' and recovery through the power of growing vegetables. The fact that she struggled with her mental health as a result of the modern lifestyle of 'having it all' was difficult to read at times but it is inspiring to see that recovery does come, albeit at a slower pace.
We are living in an age where many people are disconnected from nature, the land and the food that we eat. The message from this lovely book is that the simple act of sowing a seed and watching it grow into something you can actually eat is powerful, positive and sustains good physical and mental health.
We are living in an age where many people are disconnected from nature, the land and the food that we eat. The message from this lovely book is that the simple act of sowing a seed and watching it grow into something you can actually eat is powerful, positive and sustains good physical and mental health.
March 10, 2025
The Eat, Pray, Love of our time.
Kathy's memoir is a wonderful exploration of reinvention and what it's like when you climb the career ladder and realize that it's against the wrong wall.
Her journey from the dizzying heights of being a Global Strategy Director in a London advertising agency, through burnout and depression and finding rejuvenation in nature is a page-turner and also a point of reflection for anyone who might be wondering "is this it?".
It's a great read and it will help a lot of men and women who are at their own crossroads.
Kathy's memoir is a wonderful exploration of reinvention and what it's like when you climb the career ladder and realize that it's against the wrong wall.
Her journey from the dizzying heights of being a Global Strategy Director in a London advertising agency, through burnout and depression and finding rejuvenation in nature is a page-turner and also a point of reflection for anyone who might be wondering "is this it?".
It's a great read and it will help a lot of men and women who are at their own crossroads.
February 10, 2025
A truly beautiful read…as a mental health nurse and an allotment gardener Kathy’s experience and story telling had a real impact on me. Her story is one of sadness, courage, insight, wonder and an awakening to something so powerful…nature. Beautifully written, it made me cry and laugh and admire Kathy even more than I already did. An absolute MUST read, thank you for sharing your story Kathy, it’s a masterpiece.
July 20, 2025
Bought this after hearing Kathy Slack speak at Hay Festival. It was as engaging a read and she is to listen to. Somehow she manages to make a really hard time of illness resonate with beauty and earthy connection. We need more stories about the very real (and extremely common) experience of the body/mind eventually saying no in a society that asks us to never stop. I was very glad to read this one.
August 7, 2025
I really enjoyed reading rough patch, it was so lovely and emphasised how important and okay it is to take a step back and look after yourself when life becomes overwhelming! Mental health is so significant and should be cherished despite the fact that it is still highly ignored and it’s true that gardening can be the key medicine for this healing ❤️🩹 5 stars, would recommend (especially if you like nature and the outdoors) ✨
March 25, 2025
Kathy's personality and her passion for growing shines through. I enjoy her style of writing - although the book is about the lowest time in her life and she addresses it realistically, she does so with humour and hope. I love the way she includes favourite recipes along the way too.
I want to grow more veg as a result of reading this book - and will certainly try out some of her recipes!
I want to grow more veg as a result of reading this book - and will certainly try out some of her recipes!
April 14, 2025
This was a very good book. The way she speaks of depression and anxiety made me feel seen. I’ve never read anything that put the obscure way my brain often works into words. Kathy speaks matter of factly but with hope.
Kathy is an atheist and her belief that there is “no need for a god” is discussed.
Kathy is an atheist and her belief that there is “no need for a god” is discussed.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 25, 2025
I picked this book up right after the inauguration. I was feeling angry and my depression had increased significantly. I read it slowly, savoring it like a delicious meal. It made me feel hopeful. I started seeds early, indoors. There are many recipes here that I am excited to try. I just ordered her cookbook too. Thank you for helping me out of a slump. Five stars!
August 4, 2025
I loved it - somehow she got right inside my head and found words to describe and explain most of my last few years. I didn’t fly as high, or crash so low, but I’ve had my own ‘rough patch’. Kathy validated my decisions, and inspired me to try harder at veggies
A beautiful tribute to the power of nature to heal!
And - the recipes are really good!!!!
A beautiful tribute to the power of nature to heal!
And - the recipes are really good!!!!
September 3, 2025
A beautifully written book, full of relatable thoughts and emotion. Grounding, inspiring and reassuring. Delicious (and do-able) recipes scattered among the pages. A delight to read, highly recommend.
February 21, 2025
Beautiful, inspiring, heartwarming... this book brought me back to life
April 23, 2025
The best description of severe depression I have encountered in my medical career.
Everyone should read this book, it is humanising, reassuring and beautifully written.
Everyone should read this book, it is humanising, reassuring and beautifully written.
August 22, 2025
Wonderful, funny, moving, inspiring healing non-fiction that makes you thing about starting your own vegetable garden and cooking delicious healthy food from your own soil.
February 11, 2026
I absolutely adored this book from start to finish. Such an honest description of a life changing situation and how something as simple as nature can bring you back to yourself. Loved it!
June 2, 2025
Delivers so much more than you could ever imagine from the premise of the book. Beautifully written and never mawkish, this book shows how you can rise from the ashes and rediscover joy in life through something as simple as growing vegetables. I was doubtful when I was given this book as a present from a friend but was captivated by the time I was just a few pages in.
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews