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The Family Garden Plan: Grow a Year's Worth of Sustainable and Healthy Food
Live a Bountiful Life
Do something good for your family by learning how to plant a garden that will yield healthy, wholesome food throughout the year.
Melissa K. Norris, fifth generation homesteader and host of the popular Pioneering Today podcast, will walk you through each step of the process, from planning your food crops and garden space to harvesting and preserving the food you grow. Even intermediate to experienced gardeners will discover dozens of new ideas.
More than just practical advice, you’ll learn how gardening can contribute to a sustainable lifestyle and give you a sense of accomplishment, peace of mind, and overall joy.
Make the Family Garden Plan your “grow-to” guide for good eating and greater well-being for you and your loved ones.
224 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 7, 2020
212 people are currently reading
857 people want to read
About the author
Melissa K. Norris
11 books112 followersMelissa K. Norris is a 5th generation homesteader who helps others use old-fashioned skill sets and modern homesteading to grow, cook and preserve their own organic food no matter where they live. She's a Mason jar addict and thinks one can never have too many because everything looks and tastes better when it's in a Mason jar.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 113 reviews
November 3, 2021
Terrific beginners guide to gardening! I love how she tackles growing a garden for your family! My 5 year goal is to grow 100% of the produce for our family and I love this practical guide. I listened to the audiobook and it was very enjoyable!
October 18, 2022
This is Nonfiction/Gardening. At the beginning the author stated that this book was for beginners and for those who have been gardening for years. Well....that's not true. It is in fact for beginners and for those who have just started. This covers the basics on how to get started and how to plan things out. So if you are a newbie, this is the book for you.
I like reading about gardening, listening about gardening and talking about gardening. And let's not forget about the actual "gardening" part and the preserving. So as I listened to this audio, I tagged along for that. However, there wasn't anything new here. I was a little disappointed. It wasn't quite 3 stars for me but I don't mind rounding up because gardening is becoming a lost art. So 3 stars.
I like reading about gardening, listening about gardening and talking about gardening. And let's not forget about the actual "gardening" part and the preserving. So as I listened to this audio, I tagged along for that. However, there wasn't anything new here. I was a little disappointed. It wasn't quite 3 stars for me but I don't mind rounding up because gardening is becoming a lost art. So 3 stars.
January 1, 2020
I've been a fan of Melissa K. Norris for several years after being introduced to her through Lisa Bedford aka The survival MOM; whom highly recommended Melissa’s Pioneering Today Podcast, You should definitely check it out if you're into homesteading, gardening, self-sufficiency, etc!)
I have two of her other books, The Made-from-Scratch Life and Hand Made as well and I was SO excited when I heard she was releasing another book.
I was given the opportunity to read an advanced copy of "The Family Garden Plan" and WOW, I can't WAIT to get my hands on the hard copy!
Not only does Melissa entwine her faith and lifelong love and journey of gardening into this book, but she shares a vast majority of knowledge for everyone. I categorize myself as somewhat of an advanced gardener, but I have no doubt you will learn something new even if you've been gardening for decades and a lot if you’re new to gardening. Literally she can baby step you through but makes it to where you can leap and bound through gardening as well.Not only does Melissa's book have an incredible value, but she also has awesome bonuses for those that preorder! Make sure to preorder before January 7th.
Here are some of my favorite parts of the book:
1. Microclimate descriptions with her home illustration was a favorite for me as it’s easier to visual what she is explaining and I appreciated the opportunity to see how she implemented microclimates on her homestead. I've heard Melissa talk about it on her podcast multiple times but it was helpful to "see it in person".
2. ALL of the charts are also my favorite part of this book. I can't tell you how valuable and time saving this is. I've tried to come up with my own system over the last 2 years and I was just completely overwhelmed and my gardens failed you could say. Having everything I need to track my gardens from beginning to end already done up for me is a huge blessing and something that will give me peace of mind.
If you want to start a garden, no matter how big or small. You need to get your hands on this book. Not only is the book incredible, but the charts and bonuses themselves make this book worth it! I can hardly wait for my hard copy! Melissa K Norris and all of her books have been a God send to me and my family.
I have two of her other books, The Made-from-Scratch Life and Hand Made as well and I was SO excited when I heard she was releasing another book.
I was given the opportunity to read an advanced copy of "The Family Garden Plan" and WOW, I can't WAIT to get my hands on the hard copy!
Not only does Melissa entwine her faith and lifelong love and journey of gardening into this book, but she shares a vast majority of knowledge for everyone. I categorize myself as somewhat of an advanced gardener, but I have no doubt you will learn something new even if you've been gardening for decades and a lot if you’re new to gardening. Literally she can baby step you through but makes it to where you can leap and bound through gardening as well.Not only does Melissa's book have an incredible value, but she also has awesome bonuses for those that preorder! Make sure to preorder before January 7th.
Here are some of my favorite parts of the book:
1. Microclimate descriptions with her home illustration was a favorite for me as it’s easier to visual what she is explaining and I appreciated the opportunity to see how she implemented microclimates on her homestead. I've heard Melissa talk about it on her podcast multiple times but it was helpful to "see it in person".
2. ALL of the charts are also my favorite part of this book. I can't tell you how valuable and time saving this is. I've tried to come up with my own system over the last 2 years and I was just completely overwhelmed and my gardens failed you could say. Having everything I need to track my gardens from beginning to end already done up for me is a huge blessing and something that will give me peace of mind.
If you want to start a garden, no matter how big or small. You need to get your hands on this book. Not only is the book incredible, but the charts and bonuses themselves make this book worth it! I can hardly wait for my hard copy! Melissa K Norris and all of her books have been a God send to me and my family.
July 29, 2022
An excellent basic handbook for growing a garden and caring for your plants and soil. It’s a quick, easy read with something for beginning and intermediate gardeners alike, how to care for each sort of plant, how to stake it, etc. There’s a whole chapter on herbs as well. I’ll definitely be wanting a copy for myself for future reference.
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January 26, 2025DNF. Unnecessary religious propaganda in the intro and bible verses strewn throughout.
May 2, 2024
Absolute treasure trove of useful and practical information whether you're growing a few plants or a whole farms worth. Will be reading this one many times.
January 5, 2020
What a delightful book! I received the digital copy of The Family Garden Plan by Melissa K. Norris and I absolutely cannot wait to own the hardcover so I can physically leaf through this book. The photos are gorgeous and nicely spread out. I loved the verses that begin each chapter and correspond so well with the chapter descriptions.
I am a new gardener; in fact, a brand new gardener. I grew up with parents that had lovely gardens and green thumbs. Even into my early adult years, I did not desire gardening at all. Over the last few years, however, my ideals have changed. I long for acreage of my own, to farm, raise animals and garden.
Finding this book is a gem. I know a little about the basics of gardening but Melissa goes into detail with all of it. There are charts and checklists scattered throughout. It is descriptive. Honestly, I never would have thought to sit down and "plan" a garden. My idea of planning is just doing it. I know about gardening zones but other than that, what planning? LOL. Well, I love how she says to take time beforehand and write down what your family eats throughout the year and to plan accordingly. I mean, it really is a duh moment for me, but again, for a newbie, it's great knowledge.
Since finishing the book, I have sat down and started working on my own upcoming garden for this year. I'm taking her notes and ideas and using them to come up with my first full garden. It won't be large because we are moving later this year/early next year, but I am no longer willing to wait. I think I will use container gardening and maybe a couple of raised beds. I'm excited! I'll definitely be looking over Melissa's book time and time again as I put into practice what she teaches.
For an experienced gardener, I think this is still a book to own. Regardless of your knowledge, it is a keepsake and could even be a coffee table book to bring about discussions with family and friends that visit.
I am a new gardener; in fact, a brand new gardener. I grew up with parents that had lovely gardens and green thumbs. Even into my early adult years, I did not desire gardening at all. Over the last few years, however, my ideals have changed. I long for acreage of my own, to farm, raise animals and garden.
Finding this book is a gem. I know a little about the basics of gardening but Melissa goes into detail with all of it. There are charts and checklists scattered throughout. It is descriptive. Honestly, I never would have thought to sit down and "plan" a garden. My idea of planning is just doing it. I know about gardening zones but other than that, what planning? LOL. Well, I love how she says to take time beforehand and write down what your family eats throughout the year and to plan accordingly. I mean, it really is a duh moment for me, but again, for a newbie, it's great knowledge.
Since finishing the book, I have sat down and started working on my own upcoming garden for this year. I'm taking her notes and ideas and using them to come up with my first full garden. It won't be large because we are moving later this year/early next year, but I am no longer willing to wait. I think I will use container gardening and maybe a couple of raised beds. I'm excited! I'll definitely be looking over Melissa's book time and time again as I put into practice what she teaches.
For an experienced gardener, I think this is still a book to own. Regardless of your knowledge, it is a keepsake and could even be a coffee table book to bring about discussions with family and friends that visit.
December 18, 2019
The Family Garden Plan is going to become one of my staple gardening books; I already know this. It is general enough for a beginner, yet provides a bunch of detail for gardeners who are more advanced. This book is meant to be more than just an informative read. Ms. Norris includes many, many charts and worksheets, covering a wide range of activities: how to calculate your family’s food needs for a year; crop rotation planning; seed starting chart; pest & disease chart; that’s to name just a few of them.
Her writing flows well, with a friendly, personal tone. It almost feels like she IS a friend, providing you some good gardening information. I appreciated that she included sections on edible perennials, fruit trees, herbs, and edible flowers, along with the standard veggies that many of us already grow and are well-acquainted with.
Specifically helpful to me was the extensive chart on how we know the crop is ready for harvest. Sometimes, it seems like a guessing game, especially with something new I’m growing. She provides logical, visual tips to help know when to harvest, not just the number of days that the plant theoretically needs. Also in this chart, she goes into best preserving methods for each crop, and how much quantity a particular volume of fresh produce equates to when it is canned or frozen. So helpful!
In conclusion, I found the book to be one of the best as an overall vegetable gardening book and will get many years of use with it.
Her writing flows well, with a friendly, personal tone. It almost feels like she IS a friend, providing you some good gardening information. I appreciated that she included sections on edible perennials, fruit trees, herbs, and edible flowers, along with the standard veggies that many of us already grow and are well-acquainted with.
Specifically helpful to me was the extensive chart on how we know the crop is ready for harvest. Sometimes, it seems like a guessing game, especially with something new I’m growing. She provides logical, visual tips to help know when to harvest, not just the number of days that the plant theoretically needs. Also in this chart, she goes into best preserving methods for each crop, and how much quantity a particular volume of fresh produce equates to when it is canned or frozen. So helpful!
In conclusion, I found the book to be one of the best as an overall vegetable gardening book and will get many years of use with it.
April 22, 2020
Book was very informative, it didn't have what I was looking for but it gave detailed information about gardening in general, it contains lots of worksheets and cheatsheet that make everything more convenient.
Book is a good guide to gardening but doesn't exactly help you start your garden but gives you a general idea on where to start
Book is a good guide to gardening but doesn't exactly help you start your garden but gives you a general idea on where to start
October 29, 2020
Informative. It sounds just like Norris coming off the page as you'd expect to hear her in her podcast and videos. It's general enough for beginners but challenging and reminding for seasoned gardeners. Helpful worksheets at the end of appropriate chapters. She helps you help yourself for your gardening situation, area, climate, etc.
February 23, 2021
I absolutely love this book! So practical and easy to understand her step-by-step process, but it is also beautiful to look at. I’m starting my first vegetable garden this year and now I feel armed with the information and resources I need to do it well! Can’t wait to see what joy comes of the process and the harvest ❤️
March 10, 2021
SUCH a helpful book! hiiiighly recommend
April 11, 2023
Full of helpful charts and information. All gardens are different, but the general guidelines are universal. Big take-aways: 1) Grow what you eat 2) Plan well and keep notes! 3) Enjoy the fruits of your labor! Excellent resource. Definitely recommend.
December 25, 2019
Lately it seems that I read only homesteading, gardening, and food preservation books. It has been very dry reading until now. In The Family Garden Plan: Grow a Year's Worth of Sustainable and Healthy Food, Melissa K Norris takes a personal approach. She combines her experiences with referenced information to provide a well rounded guide to gardening.
Norris begins by sending the reader on a personal exploration of their own family's likes, dislikes, and needs for one year. She then provides charts to help with planting requirements to reach their goals. Each chapter, from understanding the importance of growing zones and the best crops for that area to proper food storage once your fruits and vegetables have been harvested builds upon the previous.
This book goes one step further then others in this category. The multiple charts, scattered throughout the chapters, make it less intimidating for the novice and more organized for the experienced. I know for me personally it will be much easier to keep records in this format, giving me more time to enjoy the actual garden.
I recommend reading The Family Garden Plan to everyone, whether they have a few container plants on their porch or a growing homestead.
Norris begins by sending the reader on a personal exploration of their own family's likes, dislikes, and needs for one year. She then provides charts to help with planting requirements to reach their goals. Each chapter, from understanding the importance of growing zones and the best crops for that area to proper food storage once your fruits and vegetables have been harvested builds upon the previous.
This book goes one step further then others in this category. The multiple charts, scattered throughout the chapters, make it less intimidating for the novice and more organized for the experienced. I know for me personally it will be much easier to keep records in this format, giving me more time to enjoy the actual garden.
I recommend reading The Family Garden Plan to everyone, whether they have a few container plants on their porch or a growing homestead.
December 26, 2019
I just finished reading The Family Garden Plan and all I can say is thank you! Melissa K. Norris has taken every gardening concept I have ever questioned and put them into easy to understand terms. This book was like walking with a wise friend through her own garden as she shared her tried and true methods with me. Beginning with practical advice, such as where to place the garden and the need to buy more hose the further away from the spigot all the way through to soil amendments and companion planting, The Family Garden Plan is really the only gardening book you will ever need again.
Melissa K. Norris starts with garden planning based on your family's needs and walks you through seed starting, planting, harvesting, pest control, companion planting and so much more, there was not a page or a chapter that passed without an “AHA” moment. I have been gardening for only 3 years now and each year I have been overwhelmed by contradicting or complicated advice. This book has given me the knowledge to start this year's garden with the confidence that the harvest will be abundant. I can tell you one thing: this is one book that will not be on my shelf, only because I will be getting too much use out of it to ever put it there.
Melissa K. Norris starts with garden planning based on your family's needs and walks you through seed starting, planting, harvesting, pest control, companion planting and so much more, there was not a page or a chapter that passed without an “AHA” moment. I have been gardening for only 3 years now and each year I have been overwhelmed by contradicting or complicated advice. This book has given me the knowledge to start this year's garden with the confidence that the harvest will be abundant. I can tell you one thing: this is one book that will not be on my shelf, only because I will be getting too much use out of it to ever put it there.
December 18, 2019
If you're looking for a solid guide on how to begin growing food, The Family Garden Plan is a must-read. In an easy to understand manner, Norris explains every step necessary to grow vegetables and some fruit successfully, including: figuring what and how much of each type of plant to add to your garden, when and how to start seeds, how to transfer seedlings to the garden, what type of garden beds you might want to use, how to care for plants, and when to harvest the crop.
Setting this book apart from many other gardening guides are lots of handy charts, which put information at your fingertips. (I especially love the chart that gives general rules of thumb on how many of each plant you need to put in your garden in order to achieve the harvest size you desire.) In addition, Norris includes worksheets to help you put the book's principles into action. And did I mention that the book is beautifully illustrated with full-color photos of Norris and her garden?
Highly recommended.
Setting this book apart from many other gardening guides are lots of handy charts, which put information at your fingertips. (I especially love the chart that gives general rules of thumb on how many of each plant you need to put in your garden in order to achieve the harvest size you desire.) In addition, Norris includes worksheets to help you put the book's principles into action. And did I mention that the book is beautifully illustrated with full-color photos of Norris and her garden?
Highly recommended.
October 31, 2023
Lots of useful info, though I could have done without the Christian references. The worksheets are useful, and it's very practical. Most importantly, there's a lot of practical stuff about how to harvest and store produce (as in, literally, how to pull up a beet, not just when).
Will probably add this to my collection for next year.
Will probably add this to my collection for next year.
July 17, 2021
A really good resource.
August 1, 2021
I have been following Melissa's podcast and blog for years. She breaks things down into understandable, easy to follow instructions. I love her positivity and encouragement! All of those features are built into The Family Garden Plan book.
This book covers everything a beginning gardener would need to know. The chapters are arranged in a logical sequence, and plenty of information is provided -- from seed starting to harvest to preservation. For experienced gardeners, it's always good to have a refresher, and it's fun to learn something new. For example, I have been vegetable gardening for years but hadn't invested in fruit trees or berry bushes until the past year. I learned how to prune plants, what to look for when harvesting, and how to identify the best areas to plant.
This book covers everything a beginning gardener would need to know. The chapters are arranged in a logical sequence, and plenty of information is provided -- from seed starting to harvest to preservation. For experienced gardeners, it's always good to have a refresher, and it's fun to learn something new. For example, I have been vegetable gardening for years but hadn't invested in fruit trees or berry bushes until the past year. I learned how to prune plants, what to look for when harvesting, and how to identify the best areas to plant.
February 17, 2022
Things I loved about this book: it was written with a Christian foundation. Any "how to" book regarding "dominion taking" that is not grounded in the Word is not something I'm necessarily interested in. I loved her recognition of God as creator and the scripture references in each chapter. I liked how she laid out different techniques & styles for gardening, and the calculating of how to grow a years worth of food for your family.
Things I wished this book had: a little more in detail how to go about planting/ laying out garden plans. How much space each plant will take up, how much is needed to between certain plants, etc.
I'm a very beginner to gardening. And while this book was immensely helpful in some ways, I was truly hoping for a "one stop shop" book so to speak.
Things I wished this book had: a little more in detail how to go about planting/ laying out garden plans. How much space each plant will take up, how much is needed to between certain plants, etc.
I'm a very beginner to gardening. And while this book was immensely helpful in some ways, I was truly hoping for a "one stop shop" book so to speak.
July 4, 2025
A good beginner’s primer on growing your own produce for the year. I picked up several new gardening tips (organic ant killer: borax/sugar mixed in a paste with water, gonna try this weekend!). She also had lots of resources for new gardeners, like charts and tables for the things you should be writing down year to year (crop rotation) as well as good tables of consolidated information on key things to know about plants/planting (direct/indirect seeding, planting time, germination time, harvest time). Would recommend as a good introduction to family food production.
August 14, 2024
As a wannabe gardener who knows nothing, I found this book chalked full of hope and information. Does the author’s advice help one grow a garden? I haven’t implemented any of her tips as of yet, I’ve merely read them. But she is a seasoned gardener with plenty of information to share, and the book is well organized and well written. I am hopeful this guide will help me have success in the garden. I checked this book out from the library but will definitely be buying my own copy.
July 8, 2020
2.5 As an avid gardener I love to check out all the new garden books, for me it was just basic, but what made me cringe repeatedly was photos of her barefoot gardening, I can't even imagine! Unless she has leather soles glued to get feet I can't imagine enjoying thorns, thistles, rattlesnakes, wasps, mud and muck, NOT FOR ME!
February 1, 2022
This is a good, solid gardening book that includes lots of helpful worksheets. I would have to say that I feel this book would be more suited for more of a beginner gardener. A little too simplified for someone who’s been at it for over 10 years, but perfect for someone just starting out or who’s 1-2 years into gardening / preserving.
March 1, 2022
The best teacher in gardening is actually getting your hands in the dirt and starting-I’ve learned so much from my mother in law, mom, gpa, and gma but this book was enjoyable to read and helped solidify things I already knew and I also learned a lot of other great insights-it’s very well written and simple
March 1, 2022
Read via audiobook from Hoopla. Disappointed that it was not narrated by the author.
Great book for beginner gardeners. Would have liked to have heard more about how much to plant per person and preserving the harvest to make it last all year long. It touched on these topics but was not as detailed as I expected given the title.
Great book for beginner gardeners. Would have liked to have heard more about how much to plant per person and preserving the harvest to make it last all year long. It touched on these topics but was not as detailed as I expected given the title.
June 28, 2023
Love Melissa Norris! The worksheet sin this garden planner helped me really get down to the nitty gritty when planning my garden! I use it yearly to help keep me on track! There were a lot of things in here I knew, but I loved learning different ways to do the things I kind of already knew and experimenting with both things I knew and didn't know!
January 1, 2025
This book is fantastic. I listened to a lot of her podcasts. This is extra helpful because it is a workbook. She gave enough information to cover a little more than what I think I need, but enough to feel like I don’t need to go to another source. She has so many helpful charts and then followed by a workbook page. This is something I will use like a gardening bible.
February 27, 2025
An excellent resource both for total beginner gardeners and more experienced plant growers as well. Simple enough to explain the basics, while also diving into detail to continue to be useful throughout many years of gardening. Absolutely worth the read if you're at all interested in edible plants. There's an entire chapter on herbs, both kitchen and medicinal that's especially fascinating.
January 10, 2023
Love Love Love! Melissa is so knowledgeable and relatable; her stuff is impossible to dislike! The Family garden planner that goes alongside this book is incredible as well! It takes the headache out of planning your garden, and everything is right there for you in one place!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 113 reviews