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Field Guide to Urban Gardening: How to Grow Plants, No Matter Where You Live: Raised Beds - Vertical Gardening - Indoor Edibles - Balconies and Rooftops - Hydroponics
Join Kevin Espiritu of Epic Gardening to learn the basics of growing plants, choose the right urban gardening method for you, and troubleshoot any problems you might encounter.
If you think it’s impossible to grow your own food because you don’t have a large yard or you live in the city…think again. There is a plethora of urban gardening options to create beautiful, productive edible gardens no matter where you live. The key to succeeding as an urban gardener is to choose the method(s) that make sense for your unique living situation and then give your plants what they need to thrive . In Field Guide to Urban Gardening , Kevin helps you do just that.
But he doesn’t stop there. He also provides in-depth garden plans , from upcycled DIY projects and intensive hydroponic systems to beautiful and functional raised beds. Urban gardening is a real, growing, and important movement in today’s world. This fact-packed book is your roadmap to get growing today .
Urban gardening techniques featured include:
If you think it’s impossible to grow your own food because you don’t have a large yard or you live in the city…think again. There is a plethora of urban gardening options to create beautiful, productive edible gardens no matter where you live. The key to succeeding as an urban gardener is to choose the method(s) that make sense for your unique living situation and then give your plants what they need to thrive . In Field Guide to Urban Gardening , Kevin helps you do just that.
But he doesn’t stop there. He also provides in-depth garden plans , from upcycled DIY projects and intensive hydroponic systems to beautiful and functional raised beds. Urban gardening is a real, growing, and important movement in today’s world. This fact-packed book is your roadmap to get growing today .
Urban gardening techniques featured include:
224 pages, Paperback
First published May 14, 2019
495 people are currently reading
945 people want to read
About the author
Kevin Espiritu
8 books60 followersKevin Espiritu is the founder of Epic Gardening, a multi-platform online gardening education company. His mission is to teach 100,000,000+ people around the world how to grow their own food at home.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 89 reviews
April 12, 2019
There’s a lot of good information and tidbits stuffed into one tidy book. No matter how small the space, food or flowers can be grown there. Kevin Espiritu shows us how to leverage small spaces and choose the right methods and gardening tools for success. I am pleased I picked up this book. There are a lot of great photos, great designs and great ideas for the urban gardener.
June 20, 2021
I found Kevin’s youtube channel while looking for advice on growing tomatoes. In the comments someone mentioned how helpful this book was for them, so I decided to check it out, and I’m so glad that I did! He makes garden concepts comprehensive without ever seeming condescending. Even though I’ve been growing a few food plants for a while, it never hurts to be reminded of things you’ve forgotten or made aware of things you’ve missed (or willfully ignored, in my case). Now I’m ready to try my hand at a few new (to me) plants and to be more ambitious with the containers on my porch.
I really, really liked this book. It was fun to read but also just beautiful, with so many images and a clear layout.
I really, really liked this book. It was fun to read but also just beautiful, with so many images and a clear layout.
July 15, 2019
I LOVED everything about this book! Beautiful photographs, written simply, gives enough informations and visual support for anyone to feel prepared to venture into the world of gardening! I have been gardening since I was a kid, yet, it was something that was passed down from generation to generation without much science to it. This book gives me enough science to boost my gardening skills by a lot without feeling overwhelmed. I will still very likely not immediately jump into hydroponics, but I am glad to know it is a possibility! I appreciate the review of a variety of containers commonly used for gardening - what is safe vs what should be avoided. I would highly recommend this book!
paused
July 1, 2024we do not speak of the three week long experiment of summer 2024 🥸
September 26, 2020
I first was introduced to this book by and through the Epic Gardening Youtube channel. As an Amateur gardener, this was a great resource to boost my garden's growth and output. I recommend using this book in combination with the advice from the Epic Gardening Youtube channel. This book has tips for everyone interested in gardening either as a hobby or just because they want to start saving some money by eating out of their gardens. The tips, especially those involving container gardening, soil types, and Microgreens, were very informative and the images help the reader visually understand certain tips and tricks. I must admit that prior to the information I learned in this book and from the channel, my garden and "green thumb" were struggling. I know it is nearing the end of the growing season where I am, but the events of this year has, for better or for worse, created a lot of free time for some, and I believe that gardening and producing food and other products is a healthy means of using that free time.
This book gives the gardener a solid foundation to start from and you will keep learning something every time you read this book. While there are certain tips for particular locations, but everything is useful and you can apply the concepts contained within the book to your situation. This is a truly well written book and a great resource to have in your home. I definitely recommend this book for those interested in gardening and growing their own vegetables.
**I also reviewed this on the Epic Gardening website.
This book gives the gardener a solid foundation to start from and you will keep learning something every time you read this book. While there are certain tips for particular locations, but everything is useful and you can apply the concepts contained within the book to your situation. This is a truly well written book and a great resource to have in your home. I definitely recommend this book for those interested in gardening and growing their own vegetables.
**I also reviewed this on the Epic Gardening website.
June 28, 2021
This is a great primer for people gardening in urban spaces. Even if you live in a high rise without a balcony or useable rooftop, there is information in this book that will help you grow something. There is a large chunk towards the end devoted to hydroponic gardening, which I mostly glossed over because I do not have the desire to embark down that path, but it was chock-full of information on how to get started. I thought I already had the urban gardening thing down, but there are several things I am now hoping to try out before the end of this season that I hadn't thought of before.
There is information on how to grow in small spaces, what different nutrients your soil will need, how to rotate crops in small gardens, how to grow indoors, how to identify, prevent, and treat several common pest and disease issues you may see, and lots of DIY instructions that range from building your own soil mix to putting together a hydroponic grow system. I am certain that even someone who has been gardening for years will get something new from this book.
There is information on how to grow in small spaces, what different nutrients your soil will need, how to rotate crops in small gardens, how to grow indoors, how to identify, prevent, and treat several common pest and disease issues you may see, and lots of DIY instructions that range from building your own soil mix to putting together a hydroponic grow system. I am certain that even someone who has been gardening for years will get something new from this book.
June 26, 2021
I got into Kevin Espiritu through his Epic Gardening podcast, then his super useful Youtube channel. This book is just the tip of the iceberg, but it does provide a good overview of tips and techniques. For me the sections on Container and Raised Bed Gardening were most helpful, and honestly, I just kinda grazed through the Vertical Gardening and Hydroponics sections. Overall, it's presented well, with clear descriptions and great photos, and lots to consider. This is a good into book, and his Resources section near the end is a good jumping off point.
July 9, 2019
Unfortunately, my balcony can’t have rail pots or hanging ones, but it is inspirational still to see the wide variety of options! Might look into a few for the library, especially the sub-irrigated bottle garden.
May 16, 2021
Lots of good advice, clever ideas & fun projects.
I heard the author on Wisconsin Public Radio. He was knowledgeable & articulate.
The author has a very nice website at https://www.epicgardening.com/
I heard the author on Wisconsin Public Radio. He was knowledgeable & articulate.
The author has a very nice website at https://www.epicgardening.com/
June 1, 2022
An excellent primer and reference guide to the fundamentals of gardening. This supplements the author's website/youtube channel called Epic Gardening where he demonstrates the ideas put forth in this book and continues his personal adventures in gardening.
May 17, 2021
super useful!!
May 12, 2019
Originally published on my blog: Nonstop Reader.
The Field Guide to Urban Gardening is a new gardening and tutorial guide to maximizing yields and utilizing every space to produce food, flowers and greenery with diverse techniques like hydroponics, vertical gardens, balconies, rooftops, and indoors. Due out 14th May 2019 from Quarto on their Cool Springs imprint, it's 224 pages and will be available in paperback format.
In times of increasing food insecurity and distrust/boredom with the incredibly limited selections available to most people who live in urban areas, coupled with the psychological and health benefits of being in contact with growing plants and having more control over our food as well as the sense of accomplishment that comes from being more self sufficient, it's easy to see why more people are making a conscious choice to garden. People in urban areas face more challenges finding space to grow anything as well as challenges associated with water and light conditions. This book gives a lot of really creative solutions to those problems (and more).
This book is seriously packed with information. The chapters are formatted well and follow a logical progression. The introduction and background chapters cover what gardening problems are especially challenging for small spaces, getting started, a survey of equipment, possible regulations which must be taken into consideration, and more. The author listed several considerations which hadn't even occurred to me.
The following chapters cover specific types of gardening: Containers, Raised Beds, Vertical Surfaces, Indoors, Balconies, Hydroponics, as well as a good Troubleshooting chapter.
The author has also included a nice resource list (with links), aimed at the gardener in North America. There's also a sidebar with metric conversions and an index.
The book is well photographed (many are stock photos, but they are clear and illustrate the plants and techniques well).
Four stars. Full of information.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
The Field Guide to Urban Gardening is a new gardening and tutorial guide to maximizing yields and utilizing every space to produce food, flowers and greenery with diverse techniques like hydroponics, vertical gardens, balconies, rooftops, and indoors. Due out 14th May 2019 from Quarto on their Cool Springs imprint, it's 224 pages and will be available in paperback format.
In times of increasing food insecurity and distrust/boredom with the incredibly limited selections available to most people who live in urban areas, coupled with the psychological and health benefits of being in contact with growing plants and having more control over our food as well as the sense of accomplishment that comes from being more self sufficient, it's easy to see why more people are making a conscious choice to garden. People in urban areas face more challenges finding space to grow anything as well as challenges associated with water and light conditions. This book gives a lot of really creative solutions to those problems (and more).
This book is seriously packed with information. The chapters are formatted well and follow a logical progression. The introduction and background chapters cover what gardening problems are especially challenging for small spaces, getting started, a survey of equipment, possible regulations which must be taken into consideration, and more. The author listed several considerations which hadn't even occurred to me.
The following chapters cover specific types of gardening: Containers, Raised Beds, Vertical Surfaces, Indoors, Balconies, Hydroponics, as well as a good Troubleshooting chapter.
The author has also included a nice resource list (with links), aimed at the gardener in North America. There's also a sidebar with metric conversions and an index.
The book is well photographed (many are stock photos, but they are clear and illustrate the plants and techniques well).
Four stars. Full of information.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
August 28, 2019
I originally requested (and was approved for) this book through NetGalley, but they have a habit of archiving books before I get to finish reading them fully. Since it was a book I was interested in reading and I hate having books languishing on my feedback to-do shelf forever, I ordered it through inter-library loan after publishing and have finally fully read it.
This is a well illustrated, thorough book that shows all of the ways you can basically garden even if you're in an apartment or have very limited space. Espiritu covers a lot of subjects besides the basics, such as which recycled materials are safe to grow food in. He also has lots of the basic information on determining your soil type, what plants need in terms of nutrients, garden pests, and much more.
Espiritu goes into great detail about all of the ways you can grow food in an urban environment, including on balconies, on rooftops, vertically, inside, with hydroponics, using microgreens and more. He also goes into a lot of the hurdles you may have, such as HOA rules, weight restrictions on rooftops and balconies, etc.
I especially enjoyed the pictures of urban gardens from around the world in the intro. Parts of the book were way more than I was interested in (like all the different types of grow lights and what everything means, specifics about all steps of aquaponics, etc.) and showed me that some of this is more cost and effort than would be worth it to me, but I appreciated the information. I also got ideas for my own yard (not at all urban) and things I'd like to add or update about my raised beds, balcony garden, etc.
This is a great book to show all the ways you can grow food no matter where you live, with very helpful steps to get you there.
My rating system:
1 = hated it
2 = it was okay
3 = liked it
4 = really liked it
5 = love it, plan to purchase, and/or would buy it again if it was lost
This is a well illustrated, thorough book that shows all of the ways you can basically garden even if you're in an apartment or have very limited space. Espiritu covers a lot of subjects besides the basics, such as which recycled materials are safe to grow food in. He also has lots of the basic information on determining your soil type, what plants need in terms of nutrients, garden pests, and much more.
Espiritu goes into great detail about all of the ways you can grow food in an urban environment, including on balconies, on rooftops, vertically, inside, with hydroponics, using microgreens and more. He also goes into a lot of the hurdles you may have, such as HOA rules, weight restrictions on rooftops and balconies, etc.
I especially enjoyed the pictures of urban gardens from around the world in the intro. Parts of the book were way more than I was interested in (like all the different types of grow lights and what everything means, specifics about all steps of aquaponics, etc.) and showed me that some of this is more cost and effort than would be worth it to me, but I appreciated the information. I also got ideas for my own yard (not at all urban) and things I'd like to add or update about my raised beds, balcony garden, etc.
This is a great book to show all the ways you can grow food no matter where you live, with very helpful steps to get you there.
My rating system:
1 = hated it
2 = it was okay
3 = liked it
4 = really liked it
5 = love it, plan to purchase, and/or would buy it again if it was lost
August 23, 2019
Excellent book in so many ways. So many gardening books have gorgeous photos but unreliable, practical advice. This book has both.
A comprehensive guide to all your gardening challenges with good advice on how to proceed.
I took away one star because the author recommends the use of Neem oil. Be careful with this. Many manufacturers state that this is for organic gardeners when in fact it is, TOXIC TO BEES (at least the brand I bought is). Read the label VERY CAREFULLY before buying this stuff.
A comprehensive guide to all your gardening challenges with good advice on how to proceed.
I took away one star because the author recommends the use of Neem oil. Be careful with this. Many manufacturers state that this is for organic gardeners when in fact it is, TOXIC TO BEES (at least the brand I bought is). Read the label VERY CAREFULLY before buying this stuff.
May 7, 2019
As someone who loves gardening but doesn’t have a whole lot of usable gardening room, I was pretty excited to start digging into Field Guide to Urban Gardening: How to Grow Plants, No Matter Where You Live: Raised Beds – Vertical Gardening – Indoor Edibles – Balconies and Rooftops – Hydroponics. From the moment you open the book and started skimming, I have to admit; I was blown away. It is rare you see a garden book that is filled with gorgeous, usable, step by step pictures on just about everything involving gardening. This may very well be the most down to Earth gardening book, going over building your own raised boxed garden to taking advantage of every little space you have inside and out. They even go through things to help save you money. While the entire book is beautiful and detailed, the most interesting to me was the hydroponics section, which went into more detail than I have seen just about anywhere (including books on the subject). I feel much more comfortable experimenting with this growing method now after reading this book. If you are seriously considering building your own urban garden in your home, condo, or even apartment, I highly recommend getting a copy of Field Guide to Urban Gardening: How to Grow Plants, No Matter Where You Live: Raised Beds – Vertical Gardening – Indoor Edibles – Balconies and Rooftops – Hydroponics.
May 20, 2019
I loved this book so much! It seems to me to be the first book that Kevin Espiritu has ever written. Reads like a seasoned Author who has written many books in their lifetime.
Now to talk about the book - Great pictures to go with Detailed explanations on all things Urban Gardening. I don't live in an Urban
Environment, but getting to read and see how other people in the world garden was such an eye-opening experience.
If you want a Garden and you live in any kind of environment from apartments to a large farm I honestly believe this is a perfect book for you. Even if you don't want to have your own Garden, but would love to just know more on the subject get this guild.
This book covers everything from seed starting, composting, to how to plant your plants and how to best use the location you have. A
one time read is not enough, I will be reading this on and off for years. So much information is hard to digest all in one gulp. I love having a book that I can learn something new even after reading it multiple times.
Extremely excited to see what other books Kevin comes out with.
Now to talk about the book - Great pictures to go with Detailed explanations on all things Urban Gardening. I don't live in an Urban
Environment, but getting to read and see how other people in the world garden was such an eye-opening experience.
If you want a Garden and you live in any kind of environment from apartments to a large farm I honestly believe this is a perfect book for you. Even if you don't want to have your own Garden, but would love to just know more on the subject get this guild.
This book covers everything from seed starting, composting, to how to plant your plants and how to best use the location you have. A
one time read is not enough, I will be reading this on and off for years. So much information is hard to digest all in one gulp. I love having a book that I can learn something new even after reading it multiple times.
Extremely excited to see what other books Kevin comes out with.
February 10, 2022
3.5 stars. I read this book via Libby. I love the Epic Gardening YouTube channel and I love Kevin (and his garden hermit!), but this book didn’t really feel like it was written by Kevin. It’s SUPER basic knowledge and I didn’t really learn much - it’s much more beneficial to watch his YouTube videos where he really explains things in depth. This book just hit the surface and it felt too short - it really needed more photos, diagrams and just more info in general. Kudos to Kevin for taking the time to write this book because, with everything else he has going on, it’s amazing that he found the time to write this book. So good for him! I just think it could use some improvement and more info and I really wish it felt like Kevin was talking to me. He’s witty and so knowledgeable, but I didn’t get either of those things from this guide. If you’ve never seen any of Kevin’s videos and you don’t know anything about gardening, then maybe this is who this book was written for.
November 6, 2020
This was an exceptional summary of gardening tips, tricks, and general information about growing edible foods in urban/suburban areas. While the book didn't totally revolve around apartment/small living space gardening, the tips outlined will work for my current situation. I really liked the images and DIY instructions on creating various indoor and outdoor growing systems. I will definitely have to try out the self-watering 2-liter bottle method! I've had numerous problems growing vegetables on my porch (indirect sun most of the day), as well as my fair share of insect, mold, and parasite issues. Kevin outlined the potential causes as well as solutions to each of these persistent gardening problems. I can't wait to start harvesting my own fresh herbs and leafy greens by growing some plants indoors with the natural light of my home.
May 12, 2019
This book is great! I have been wanting to make an herb garden...and this has so much information about it...from to the soil to the different options of gardening. It's great that it defines what gardening without soil is (hydroponics and aeroponics) and how do to it simply. Those two sound daunting to a newbie at gardening.
And the pictures are so nice and pretty and detailed (like the soil) so you can have an idea on how it will look. It is well written, with lots of information, not quite organic but that's ok. And it has a nice layout that makes it easy to read. I think I want the actual book though instead of the ebook. I want to jump in right away.
Thank you NetGalley and publisher for a copy of this book!
And the pictures are so nice and pretty and detailed (like the soil) so you can have an idea on how it will look. It is well written, with lots of information, not quite organic but that's ok. And it has a nice layout that makes it easy to read. I think I want the actual book though instead of the ebook. I want to jump in right away.
Thank you NetGalley and publisher for a copy of this book!
June 19, 2019
No matter how small your space is you can always find ways to have an urban garden. I have resided beds and containers so I had to see if this book could help me advance more into smaller spaces since my husband always complains about mowing around my gardens. LOL
This book is very detailed and will help you get into the new age of urban gardening, it’s so much better to know where your food is coming from and gardening in any form can help relieve stress. You get great images along with detailed information that will walk you through step by step and if you look up the author he also has a website with tons of information that will help you.
I highly recommend this to anyone that is new or advance gardening.
This book is very detailed and will help you get into the new age of urban gardening, it’s so much better to know where your food is coming from and gardening in any form can help relieve stress. You get great images along with detailed information that will walk you through step by step and if you look up the author he also has a website with tons of information that will help you.
I highly recommend this to anyone that is new or advance gardening.
April 2, 2023
Good and very comprehensive guide to starting an urban or suburban garden. This is basically a condensed version of the info available on his YouTube and Podcast. Included are plenty of graphs with things like planter size to soil volume, grow light info, etc.
Basically, I think this book makes for an engaging "textbook" to go along with the YouTube "class". I can easily see myself using it as a quick reference when planning my balcony garden and for addressing problems that may arise during the growing season. There are lots of photos showing techniques and examples as well. It's not the type of gardening book one would read through front to back. It is, however, an excellent reference book.
Basically, I think this book makes for an engaging "textbook" to go along with the YouTube "class". I can easily see myself using it as a quick reference when planning my balcony garden and for addressing problems that may arise during the growing season. There are lots of photos showing techniques and examples as well. It's not the type of gardening book one would read through front to back. It is, however, an excellent reference book.
June 20, 2019
I have a tiny balcony and have been trying container gardening for several years with some hits, some misses along the way. When I saw this book on NetGalley I jumped at it.
This book was filled with gorgeous photos and step by step instructions. It offered many interesting tips, and handy ideas for things like self-watering pots as well as upcycling things like plastic soda bottles and milk crates into containers.
I'm intrigued by the vertical gardening idea and may try that next year.
*I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book given to me by the publisher, via NetGalley.*
This book was filled with gorgeous photos and step by step instructions. It offered many interesting tips, and handy ideas for things like self-watering pots as well as upcycling things like plastic soda bottles and milk crates into containers.
I'm intrigued by the vertical gardening idea and may try that next year.
*I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book given to me by the publisher, via NetGalley.*
May 24, 2021
A great introduction to gardening in almost any sense, but especially in an urban setting. Lots of pictures showing step by step processes on how to build different set-ups from the standard raised bed to hydroponics. I also love that the author, Kevin, encourages to garden in any way that you can feel good about and works for your situation. Anyone who wants to begin gardening in any setting, this is a great book to help you get started.
I also really enjoy his YouTube channel as well and found it encouraging and informative. I highly recommend it.
I also really enjoy his YouTube channel as well and found it encouraging and informative. I highly recommend it.
April 24, 2022
The information in this book is phenomenal! From container gardening to vertical gardening to even hydroponics (which I know absolutely nothing about) - I thought I had a good foundation but I was shocked to see how much information was missed in my previous research. It's even got me thinking about how I can switch up my original idea to incorporate arches, hanging baskets, microgreens, indoor vs. outdoor, container vs. raised bed and the need to create a harvest schedule. Sounds obvious but believe me, I missed that in my earlier research.
June 19, 2023
Fun easy read with super basic info. The hydroponic section was the most robust which is great if that's what you're into. It's called a field guide but doesn't really feel like one. Feels more like an into to Urban Gardening, a good one, but not really a field guide. I don't want to sound like I'm bashing the book, I learned a lot and thought the little step by step mini projects were really cool and am excited to try them.
My biggest take aways are neem oil fixes all, hydroponics are easier than you think, and gardening doesn't have to be expensive.
My biggest take aways are neem oil fixes all, hydroponics are easier than you think, and gardening doesn't have to be expensive.
May 15, 2024
I’ve skimmed a lot of books on urban or small space gardening, and this is the best I’ve seen. While other books seem geared toward making a design plan and then paying someone $$$$ to make it happen, this book is for actual people who live in an actual city and want to grow something themselves in the little space they have. The projects were laid out in a way that managed to give direction that would help a true beginner without making them feel like a total idiot. Fun to read and good pictures too.
June 20, 2021
Very informative explanation of gardening techniques in an urban environment. I’ve enjoyed watching the author’s YouTube videos regarding urban gardening and this book does a very capable job summing up a lot of info about the topic. Bonus points for lots of beautiful and inspiring photos. That being said, I found Mel Bartholomew’s “Square Foot Gardening” a more valuable gardening resource overall.
May 6, 2022
Great resource
I am not a gardener but I do like the idea of it. I learned a lot reading this. There is information on how to get started what to avoid, and how to identify pests and get rid of them. I have a couple of houseplants and it was good to know why I was having the issues I was having. There are also websites and references to help you start growing what you want. I'm glad I read it.
I am not a gardener but I do like the idea of it. I learned a lot reading this. There is information on how to get started what to avoid, and how to identify pests and get rid of them. I have a couple of houseplants and it was good to know why I was having the issues I was having. There are also websites and references to help you start growing what you want. I'm glad I read it.
May 9, 2022
Terrific book! If you're starting out in gardening and/or you're working with constricted spaces, this is the guide for you. I used his advice to create my raised beds and to decide what to grow in containers on my deck. He covers most of the questions I had in many areas: soil composition, watering, plants for different purposes and areas, etc. I would have given it 5 stars if it was maybe 20 pages longer, with even more details.
June 10, 2023
Have followed Epic Gardening on YouTube for a few years and learn so much every-time. I have fairly big garden so not “urban” and in different usda zone but concepts Kevin covers are awesome still relevant and specifically great content for vertical growing hydroponics (the book offers pretty much a 101, if your into that-which I’m not but learned a ton jf wanted to start), up-cycle uses, Great follow, great book. Amazing gardener!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 89 reviews