The First-Time Gardener: Growing Vegetables: All the know-how and encouragement you need to grow - and fall in love with! - your brand new food garden (Volume 1)

by Jessica Sowards

You’re excited to plant your first vegetable garden—but where to start? In The First-Time Growing Vegetables , you’ll find the answers you’re looking for.

*Winner of the GardenComm 2022 Media Awards Silver Award of Achievement in the Photography/Book General Readership Category*

Homesteader Jessica Sowards, the warm and energetic host of YouTube’s Roots and Refuge Farm, is the perfect teacher for new gardeners, offering not just know-how but inspiration and time-management tips for success .

Before you sink your hands into the soil, she’ll answer all those questions rolling around inside your
 
There are no stupid questions here. Everyone has to start somewhere, after all. Not only will you learn how to prepare, plant, and tend your first vegetable garden , you’ll also
 
Jessica wants your first food-growing experience to be a positive one, and she’s prepared to go the distance to make sure tending the earth becomes your new favorite hobby.

A single growing season is all it takes to fall in love with growing your own healthy, organic, nutrient-dense food . With Jessica as your guide, you’ll soon discover all the satisfactions, challenges, and great joys of growing your own food garden.
This book is part of The First-Time Gardener’s Guides series from Cool Springs Press, which also includes The First-Time Growing Plants and Flowers and The First-Time Raised Bed Gardening . Each book in The First-Time Gardener’s Guides series is aimed at beginner gardeners and offers clear, fact-based information that’s presented in a friendly and accessible way, including step-by-step instructions and full-color illustrations throughout.

Genres: Gardening, Nonfiction, Adult, Cookbooks, Research, Reference, Self Help

176 pages, Paperback

Published March 2, 2021

Reviews

[Alicia Bayer · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a gorgeous, helpful, encouraging book not just for first time gardeners. It's packed with beautiful photos of the author's own gardens and lots of info.

There were a few areas where I wished there was more info, like Sowards recommends straw and hay (less so) as mulch but she also says she is an organic gardener and I have never been able to find any straw or hale that wasn't treated with Roundup and/or other really problematic herbicides and chemicals (see https://www.the-compost-gardener.com/... and https://simplysmartgardening.com/best...).

There were a few other places where I wish she had included more information (like other ways of creating beds like lasagna gardens and no-till gardening and a little less focus on killing bugs even with organic methods) but those are small things and this is still one of my favorite new gardening books that I've read in a while (and I read a lot of them). Sowards' cheerful attitude, beautiful photos and clear knowledge all create a book that's a real delight.

I read a temporary digital ARC of this book for review.

[Jasmine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jess has been the biggest source of inspiration as well as the most well spoken and practical teacher. Her passion ignites my own for homegrown food. She sparks wonder and amazement in the garden. Love all her content and I will support her forever

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

I learned a ton from this book and will continue to reference it for years to come. The photography contained is stunning! Fingers crossed that I have a bountiful first vegetable garden 🤞

[Annie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Originally posted on my blog: Nonstop Reader.

The First-time Gardener is a beginner+ guide to vegetable gardening by Jessica Sowards. Due out 2nd March 2021 from Quarto on their Cool Springs Press imprint, it's 176 pages (print edition) and will be available in paperback and ebook formats.

This is an information dense but also upbeat and accessible guide for readers planning and creating their first vegetable gardens. There's a lot of general garden siting/building/planning information, so this is also a valuable resource for readers looking for info on growing flowers, herbs, and other non-veggie crops. There's also a sister volume with the same layout from the same publisher releasing roughly the same time which is flower specific in focus.

The book has a logical layout: a short (easily understandable, not too technical) intro on botany and some good advice about the willingness to learn and keeping notes is followed by step-by-step chapters on siting and planning, soil building, seeds and plant material, implementation, seasons, garden management, harvesting and planning for next year. The author is very upbeat and encouraging and I found myself smiling and nodding along at places reading the text.

The photography is simply gorgeous. Nearly every page has full color photographs and illustrations.

This was a useful resource. It would make a superlative choice for public or school library acquisition, community garden groups, home library, and for homesteaders and home gardeners. Five stars.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

[Erik Fazekas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kniha od mojej obľúbenej youtuberky z kanálu "Roots and Refuge Farm".
Musím povedať, že kniha je napísaná prekvapivo dobre a hlavne zaujímavo. Je naozaj pre začínajúcich záhradkárov a farmárov, ale podáva to veľmi zaujímavým spôsobom. Dokonca aj mne, čo už mám tie najzakládnejšie základy odskúšané metódou pokus-omyl, táto kniha ešte vždy niečo ponúkla a veľa vecí objasnila. Porovnávam to s podobnou knihou Huwa Richardsa, ktorá ma vôbec neoslovila.

[Amy Harris · Rating 5 out of 5]

I came to know Jess through her IG and then YT channel. She has taught me so much over this past year! This book is absolutely gorgeous and comprehensive for any gardener. Well written and packed full of terrific information, I know this will be a book that will get tons of use as I expand my garden this year.

[G. M. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I learned something new on every page and I feel much better about starting my first garden in our new home. The one thing that's missing here is what to do with my garden and plants at the end of the season. There are some tips for individual plants, but it would have been nice to learn general rules about what to do to prepare for the winter (if anything).

[Kristen Nickels · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve done some variety of gardening for the past 10 years but am in a bit of a rebuilding year and was recommended this book by a serious gardener friend. I don’t know that I would recommend it to someone who is brand new to everything gardening, as I think they will be left with some questions. BUT, the brevity of this book is much appreciated and great for a beginner, as opposed to so many resources which are dense and easily overwhelming. So in that way, definitely recommend. Overall a good resource that I’ll hang on to for future reference.

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wherever you are in your gardening journey this book is a must read. The beautiful pictures and inspirational writing is so lovely. She has done a wonderful job of giving an accessible overview of gardening as well as providing tips that even a seasoned gardener can use.

[Leah · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a practical & beautiful book, not just for first time gardeners. I have no doubt that I’ll be going back to it time & time again throughout the season, and over the years. It is full to the brim with deas, helps & inspiration.

[steffy ✿ · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a blessing it is to be able to learn from Jess. This book is truly a gem and filled with so much great information and encouragement. I learned so much and will definitely be turning back to it often!

[Katerina Molchanova · Rating 5 out of 5]

Warning: this book is causing SERIOUS addiction.
I picked it up by chance in the store for fast and fun reading, and now I'm completely hooked: I already have my gardener journal, I ordered seed catalogues and started to plan my garden. Before reading it the thought of the garden was "maybe some day"...
It's very well written, straight to the point, has beautiful pictures, and is super motivating (and no pressure to be perfect!). I reference back immediately after I finish and I'm pretty sure I will reread it multiple times. Love it

[Caroline Reynolds · Rating 5 out of 5]

I learn a lot from the Roots and Refuge vlogs, so when Jessica mentioned her book, I bought it immediately! This book is an amazing resource for anyone that is wanting to try gardening but has no clue where to start. I can't wait to start gardening soon!

[Megan Meisberger · Rating 5 out of 5]

Perfect for a beginner.

[Kasey Werner · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was so down to earth, so practical, and so helpful! I started following Jess on her YouTube channel, and her book has as much of the sweetness & realistic advice that her channel does. I’m a second year gardener, and so glad I picked up this book! It’s so motivating & inspiring to keep me going on my gardening journey.

[Ginger Burke · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've had a little vegetable garden for years and have learned a little more each year. This book was recommended by a friend, and I checked it out at the library. It has so many good things in it that I ended up buying a copy to refer to. She covers so many subjects in this book that are helpful: finding the right space, when/what to plant, when to water, troubleshooting diseases, mulching wisely, harvesting, growing in all seasons, and enjoying the process. Added bonus is that she is funny and it's easy to see her personality in her writing.

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

“There are few things in life quite as thrilling and rewarding as a seedling breaking through the soil, tiny fruits forming on plants, and a plate of food that you grew yourself. This will be a journey, and you will never fully arrive.”

I Have So Much To Say.

I started watching Jess’s YouTube channel “Roots and Refuge Farm” when I first decided to make a garden this year because I was looking for ideas for vertical gardening in small spaces. Her channel quickly became a favorite of mine and I’ve been hooked ever since. Her incredible homestead is in South Carolina and she vlogs all of her experiences with homesteading to inspire and teach others. She is incredibly selfless and an absolute inspiration to so many people. Myself included. She has inspired me to venture further into the idea of sustainable living. 🐓🌱🐝

This book is a great read for anyone thinking about starting a garden. She covers it all. From creating the garden space, to seeds vs. starters, to what soil to use, and when to harvest. The information and tips she shares are so valuable. She’s such a down to earth person showing the realistic side of all of the work that goes into gardening and the mistakes made along the way. Highly recommend!

[Worthy Pegram-Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve read a few gardening books as I prepare to start gardening this spring. I’m the type of person that likes knowing not only how to do something but WHY to do something in a particular way (or why not). I found that this book does a much better job at exposing the “why” behind things than other gardening books, which I really enjoyed. If I could redo it, this is the book I’d actually read first when starting my gardening adventure. Took a star off because I do feel like this book would be much better with more infographic images. There generally aren’t that many pictures and it’s about 50/50 for whether the image is even related to the nearby text. If this book had more reference images and maybe some charts or graphs about temperatures, frowning times, succession growing, etc. it would easily be 5 stars; but unfortunately all of the information about individual plants comes in a block of text without any way to quick reference important information.

[Ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jessica Sowards’ book for growing vegetables is a lovely primer for those who dream of starting their own backyard garden. This easy-to-navigate gardening guide features full color pictures alongside Jessica’s encouraging garden wisdom and her tips for growing a full harvest. She covers topics including soil health, pest management, heirloom varieties, and harvesting. Anyone who is a fan of Jessica’s YouTube channel will enjoy this book. Even though I’m no longer a beginner gardener, I found this book to be informative and helpful.
#TheFirsttimeGardenerGrowingVegetables #NetGalley

[Lauren · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book, it is very informative. I've only had a garden for the last two years and most of the information I've used had been from Jess and her Youtube channel, Roots and Refuge. This book is just an expansion of all of her knowledge from YouTube and I will be buying this when it's released. The pictures in this book are gorgeous and make me very excited for my garden this summer. This book would be great for gardeners new and old because of all the great information.

[Tami (agreatbook) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I encourage new gardeners (like myself) to check this book out. It’s chock full of the “why” behind all things garden and is written in a friendly, approachable way. It almost feels like a friend or favorite aunt gently guiding you through the steps of something new.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely gobbled up this book! Beautiful photographs, wonderful information for new gardeners and excellent reminders for those with experience. Jess has a beautiful way with words and so clearly explains each process without overwhelming the reader. I devoured this book in just 2 days and I was so sad to come to the last page, Jess writes as if she's sitting with a coffee in her hand and we're just talking about all the possibilities of gardening and where to begin. From teaching about the importance of soil quality and nutrition, to when to harvest the fruits of your labor- it's all carefully and easily explained. I've followed her YouTube channel for over a year now, and I love that she so openly shares life, her faith, her garden and her precious family with all of us. I love seeing all of their photos in the garden sprinkled throughout the book- that's a very Jess thing to do.

As a school librarian, I read a lot. There were some teeny corrections for the editors I would like to address. Page 65 has a typo and even though there are beautiful photographs on each page, there are dead areas/blank white spots on some pages. This could have been filled with more photos, I'm also being conscience of bleed lines and margins in printing here, however, there is space to give us just a bit more on specific pages. (give us ALL the eye candy - wonderful photographer who really captured the beauty Jess and her family have created) Would've loved to see Jess end her book with, "I bless you" like she does in her channel at the end of every video- but I will absolutely read this again and again!

[Dorine · Rating 4 out of 5]

First, let me preface this review with the fact that I didn't read every word in this book. I enjoy the author's vlogs a lot, so I bought this book for a friend who is new to vegetable gardening. That said, I gently browsed through it as thoroughly as I could without bending it up before giving it away.

I wanted to be sure I was passing on the right book to my friend to encourage and inspire her. This book definitely does that for newbies.

It's the perfect book for a budding gardener. Including just the right amount of information to get you started, this book also doesn't overwhelm with too much detail. It gives you incentive to try, without getting you bogged down in the details.

My only criticism is that the fonts used could have been better. Some scripted quotes are hard to read. Then, there are other areas where a lot of white space was left when the font could have been larger to make it easier to read. Just a few tweaks with the layout and this book would be perfect.

The words and spirit of this book are beautiful. Jessica Sowards eloquently breathes beauty and encouragement into why we garden, daring us to take a chance and to be different. For that reason alone, seasoned gardeners will enjoy reading this and take away a tidbit or two.

For more gardening inspiration and book reviews, visit my blog, TheZestQuest.com.

[Doreen Prentiss Gabriellini · Rating 4 out of 5]

The First-time Gardener: Growing Vegetables: All the know-how and encouragement you need to grow and fall in love with yo ur brand new food garden by homesteader Jessica Sowards. The name might sound familiar as she host the popular You Tube’s Root and Refuge Farm.
This book us chock-a-block full of information. While it is informationally dense it does so in and accessible and upbeat way. There is a ton of general garden information. As with all “first-time” things there is a learning curve. Sowards makes it seem within the readers reach to achieve a first time veggie garden. FYI: there is a companion volume with the same layout from the same publisher which specifically focuses on flowers.

The book has a easy layout. There is an introduction to botany and some very good advise about planning and keep notes followed by a step by step sequence of chapters on where, how, what and when to start your garden. There is also information on soil building, seeds and plant material, implementation, seasons, garden management, harvesting and planning for next year.

The author is very upbeat and encouraging. The photography will have you wishing your garden would be as gorgeous. Nearly every page has full color photographs and illustrations.

I would like to thank Ms. Sowards, Quarto Publishing Group – Cool Springs Press and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion

[Ning · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such an informative and helpful book for first time gardeners. I love Jessica and her enthusiasm for the garden. Her garden tours are what dreams are made of and make me jealous of her space. I found her channel last year when we bought a house and I was looking for information on putting a small garden in our backyard. Little did I know the rabbit hole I would fall into after binging on her garden tours.

Anyway, back to the book. It's a really lovely book with great information for beginners. The section I found most useful included the section on pest control, as well as the planting time guidelines. But what I love most is that her positive attitude to encourage you to try comes through in this book. I can almost hear her voice reciting the wisdom and encouragements as I read the book.

I will keep dreaming of the day I will have an amazing space for a large garden that I can grow full of food and flowers, but until then I will flip through this book and keep watching her youtube channel.

The only negative information is that if you are looking for super in depth information on any one topic, this book won't be for you. Instead, it covers a wide range of topics from soil preparation, to seed starting, to transplanting and harvesting for a lot of variety of vegetables and seeds. It's a great book for a beginner gardener just starting out.

[Shannon Rohrer · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars.

I've been watching Jessica Sowards' YouTube channel (Roots and Refuge Farm) for a few years now; maybe not every video, but enough to realize two things:

1) This is someone who is very knowledgeable and passionate about gardening, and 2) This is an incredibly authentic person, which I find is becoming increasingly rare in this world.

So when I realized she had written a book about growing a food garden--and as someone who has developed a passion/love for gardening myself over the past four seasons--I knew I had to have it.

This book didn't disappoint. Every page feels so alive with Jess's passion for growing things. All of the information is given in this positive, encouraging way and with such great understanding of not only gardening, but of how to introduce it to newcomers in a way that won't overwhelming them. I felt like I could hear every sentence in Jess's own soft, southern drawl, which only served to keep me interested all the more--because as I've said, she's such an honest, authentic human being. When you hear her talk about gardening, when you read the words on the page and look at all the beautiful pictures of flowers and food she's grown, it's like sitting down to a nice, hot cup of tea with an old friend.

Absolutely recommended to anyone passionate about growing their own food, newcomers or veterans. Completely worthwhile.

[Megan Boggs · Rating 5 out of 5]

An absolutely gorgeous introduction to the world of gardening.

It is very easy to become lost in gardening section of your local nursery, home improvement store, and bookshop. One contradictory method insisted upon after another will make your head spin and cause many a gardener to give up before they even begin.

While Jessica Sowards touches on everything from weeding, watering, and harvesting nothing is overwhelming. There is no inaccessible gardening jargon keeping newbies like myself out of the garden. I truly felt as if I was sitting down for a chat with an old friend while reading this book. It is peppered (see what I did there?) with encouragement throughout to inspire you to keep going even through the drought, pests, and sunburn.

If you are looking to get your hands dirty or know someone who is this is the perfect gift for yourself or them. I know I will be referencing this book for years to come.

[Meghan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was received as an ARC from Quarto Group - Cool Springs Press in exchange for an honest review. Opinions and thoughts expressed in this review are completely my own.

Jessica Sowers did an amazing job breaking down the importance and steps to growing your own vegetable garden. I also learned quite a bit like how the ecosystem and atmosphere affect the growth and flavor of the vegetables and how that is crucial when growing veggies. This book is perfect for the novice gardeners and I loved right away how her language use was so welcoming and she said it herself that there were no stupid questions or wrong answers which made me not only want to read more but learn more about growing so I can potentially get my own garden started. Our community is full of gardeners and veggie lovers that I know this book will do very well in our collection.

We will consider adding this title to our TX Non-Fiction collection at our library. That is why we give this book 5 stars.

[Elizabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had never heard of the author before picking up this book. The book has beautiful photos and is formatted nicely. The author gives great, accessible advice and encouragement for a first time gardener. I feel like it fell short of my desires only because I’m the type of person who wants to delve into the nitty gritty details. I wanted the whole book to read like the last few chapters with more specific advice.

If you’re a first time gardener who is feeling intimidated to even begin to think about how to begin, this is an easy place to start.

If you’ve moved past your first year garden, or if you’re feeling comfortable and want more in-depth or technical advice, this is probably not for you.

I picked up this book halfway through my first gardening season, and it had some helpful advice, but there are definitely areas I already feel I need to research more about, and some of the chapters were decisions and steps I had already moved past.

[Rev · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I requested this book from the library, I didn't realize it had been written by Jess of Roots and Refuge. I watch their YouTube videos all the time to live vicariously through them since I'm not in the position to homestead yet.

There was a wealth of information in this book, including how to plant, when to plant, how to harvest, and even a bunch of natural remedies to pests. When I do start growing my own food, I want to do it as naturally as possible, so that is a wonderful resource. I loved how the information was conveyed because growing food has been such an intimidating aspect of homesteading for me I didn't even get around to starting this year. But there's always next year, and I'll definitely be buying my own copy of this book for future reference.