What do you think?
Rate this book
The Creative Vegetable Gardener
For decades, gardeners have approached vegetable gardening the same planting in square or rectangular beds or in straight rows, keeping vegetables separate from flowers, and definitely not mixing perennial plants with annual ones. According to these old rules, every insect must be killed, the garden must be tidy, and nothing should ever be allowed to go to seed. It’s time to break the rules! Today’s gardeners are re-envisioning the vegetable garden as a creative, playful space where the beds may be circles or spirals, beneficial insects are invited to the party, flowers for cutting grow right next to annual vegetables (which might be chosen for their curb appeal as much as their flavor), and a bit of “untidiness” simply creates a garden that more closely mimics the natural world.
With The Creative Vegetable Gardener, lifestyle editor and master gardener Kelly Smith Trimble encourages readers to widen their focus, be playful, and imagine a vegetable garden that reflects their own unique aesthetic and offers a meditative sanctuary as well as a source of fresh, homegrown food. From seed selection to garden layout and regenerative gardening practices, gardeners of all levels will find Smith Trimble's liberating advice a pathway to making the garden a place of nourishment for the soul and creative spirit, while also feeding the body.
With The Creative Vegetable Gardener, lifestyle editor and master gardener Kelly Smith Trimble encourages readers to widen their focus, be playful, and imagine a vegetable garden that reflects their own unique aesthetic and offers a meditative sanctuary as well as a source of fresh, homegrown food. From seed selection to garden layout and regenerative gardening practices, gardeners of all levels will find Smith Trimble's liberating advice a pathway to making the garden a place of nourishment for the soul and creative spirit, while also feeding the body.
239 pages, Unknown Binding
Published January 1, 2022
6 people are currently reading
147 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 64 reviews
August 23, 2022
Do you want to plant in circles and spirals instead of rectangular beds? Do you want to mix your flowers and vegetables? Would you like a vegetable garden in your front yard, rather than the back? Permission granted in this innovative book with a fresh perspective by Kelly Smith Trimble. Packed with full-color photos, inspiring sidebars and lots of guidance on everything from the benefits of gardening, to garden design, botany basics and “good” vs “bad” insects, this book has something to offer all levels of gardeners.
As a novice gardener, I appreciated her guidance on rethinking the rules because I often get caught up in trying to do things in just the right way, or in thinking that I did something wrong if a plant doesn’t thrive. She encourages the reader to not just plant a garden for the benefit of food (which is a big one) but also to connect with the practice of gardening and exploring the medicinal, mental and psychological benefits that blossom when you are gardening for you. She gives suggestions on how to find your personal gardening style, how to stretch growing seasons and gives ideas for companion planting. In addition to vegetable gardening, she shows us the benefits of floral gardens and how flowers can be used, both aesthetically or for health benefits.
There is really a lot to take in here, and one read through isn’t enough. She also explains how your personal gardening style is always evolving and it’s more of a journey than a set of tasks to complete. I know I’ll be referring to this book often on my journey.
Thank you to NetGalley and Storey Publishing for the digital ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review. Publication date is February 28, 2023.
As a novice gardener, I appreciated her guidance on rethinking the rules because I often get caught up in trying to do things in just the right way, or in thinking that I did something wrong if a plant doesn’t thrive. She encourages the reader to not just plant a garden for the benefit of food (which is a big one) but also to connect with the practice of gardening and exploring the medicinal, mental and psychological benefits that blossom when you are gardening for you. She gives suggestions on how to find your personal gardening style, how to stretch growing seasons and gives ideas for companion planting. In addition to vegetable gardening, she shows us the benefits of floral gardens and how flowers can be used, both aesthetically or for health benefits.
There is really a lot to take in here, and one read through isn’t enough. She also explains how your personal gardening style is always evolving and it’s more of a journey than a set of tasks to complete. I know I’ll be referring to this book often on my journey.
Thank you to NetGalley and Storey Publishing for the digital ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review. Publication date is February 28, 2023.
June 9, 2022
This is one of my new favorite gardening books! As an avid gardener I read a lot of garden books but I love that this one has such a creative, playful take on it. Who says gardens need to be in straight boxes and rows? Who says you can't put veggies in a front yard flower garden? This book is packed with great photos, fun inspiration and tons of real garden information. I knew most of the info but it would be priceless for new gardeners for that alone. The photos and ideas make it priceless for those of us who are experienced gardeners but still love new inspiration. Highly recommended.
I read a temporary digital ARC of this book for review.
I read a temporary digital ARC of this book for review.
July 12, 2022
As soon as you see the first pictures of beautiful spiral vegetable gardens, veggies interplanted among flower beds and foodscapes in front yards, you’ll know this is a unique gardening book. Kelly Trimble starts her book with a frontispiece that says “Grow for Joy” and you know this isn’t the usual how-to-grow vegetables book after the amount of sun, USDA zones or how to interpret fertile bag numbers.
So many people decided to take up vegetable gardening during the pandemic — many have continued with their new hobby while others were frustrated. The others didn’t have Kelly’s sage advice “learn from what you’ve killed” or that a garden can be more than just veggies — add pollinators, perennials, or ornamentals and even edible weeds!
The book is beautifully illustrated and has “real people” gardens to salivate over. The chapters have joyous titles and there are a lot of little boxes with informative asides (like botanical drawing or yoga in the garden). I found so much that was unique in the presentation that I was “reading for joy” while planning how to “grow with joy”. 5 stars! This is both an instructive book and would make a great gift book in the spring.
Thank you to Storey Publishing and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review!
So many people decided to take up vegetable gardening during the pandemic — many have continued with their new hobby while others were frustrated. The others didn’t have Kelly’s sage advice “learn from what you’ve killed” or that a garden can be more than just veggies — add pollinators, perennials, or ornamentals and even edible weeds!
The book is beautifully illustrated and has “real people” gardens to salivate over. The chapters have joyous titles and there are a lot of little boxes with informative asides (like botanical drawing or yoga in the garden). I found so much that was unique in the presentation that I was “reading for joy” while planning how to “grow with joy”. 5 stars! This is both an instructive book and would make a great gift book in the spring.
Thank you to Storey Publishing and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review!
June 27, 2022
This is a gorgeous book! As a novice gardener, there is plenty of factual info for me to dig into, but this book provides so much more than that. It’s like left brain meets right brain for gardening.
I appreciated the botany lesson as much as I loved the mindfulness and yoga content. This is a gardening book that feeds your creative spirit and all your senses. The sections about real life gardeners were a nice addition. The repurposed container garden on a fence was especially inspiring.
This would be a great gift for a gardening enthusiast, anyone with an interest in art and beauty, and those who care about sustainable living.
Thank you to the publisher and Net Galley for an advance copy in exchange for my honest review!
I appreciated the botany lesson as much as I loved the mindfulness and yoga content. This is a gardening book that feeds your creative spirit and all your senses. The sections about real life gardeners were a nice addition. The repurposed container garden on a fence was especially inspiring.
This would be a great gift for a gardening enthusiast, anyone with an interest in art and beauty, and those who care about sustainable living.
Thank you to the publisher and Net Galley for an advance copy in exchange for my honest review!
March 1, 2023
In her second book, Smith Trimble expounds upon Vegetable Garden Wisdom with The Creative Vegetable Gardener. Full of beautiful photos, garden wisdom, and practical advice this is a gardening book that feels accessible. A master gardener, Smith Trimble still writes like your neighbor: practical, approachable, and understanding of the desire to break out of the mold of perfection. All levels of gardener can revel in this book, from seed selection to deciding on your garden layout, and feel good about the creation of their gardening space as a place of refuge for the soul. Fresh and full of gardening joy, this book is a must for the gardening section of any library.
August 3, 2022
In the interest of full disclosure, I received an advance copy of this title in exchange for an honest review!
My experience as a gardener consists largely of helping/watching my mother garden, keeping houseplants in my series of small apartments, and dreaming of one day having a garden of my own. And I was pleasantly surprised to find that I am not excluded from the target audience of this book. This book is for gardeners in every stage; experienced gardeners looking to switch things up, all the way down to people who have never planted a start or seedling in their lives and are looking for a place to start.
Timble is a studied, well-practiced, passionate and thoughtful author, whose knowledge on the subject of gardens and gardening extends well beyond "plant this here, do that there." Their love for gardening encompasses endless aspects, ones that I myself had never considered to be elements worth incorporating. It was refreshing to see so many different aspects of gardening, so many forms and layouts and design elements through the garden spotlight segments, interwoven photos, and well-written descriptions.
This is a book that you can flip through over and over again and pull away something new every time. I found myself both wanting (and needing) to take extensive notes in order to process the depth of knowledge contained within, which is, I think, a great compliment to a book that wants to be a resource for people. It's also very easy to get lost in Trimble's excitement to share everything they've learned, which makes this a book with great re-readability, also a perfect thing to have in a resource book.
I particularly loved the first chapter, teaching you the standardized rules of gardening, and why/when to question them; the suggestions on how to bend and break the rules in ways that still lend well to your garden was a particularly thrilling part, as I myself have never thrived much in sticking to regiment or structure. Trimble's passion for the "naturalness" of nature - even in manmade natural spaces like gardens - pervades the entire text from start to finish and makes this a joy to read.
As a hopeful future green thumb, this book is not one to skip. As a seasoned wrangler of nature, this resource may make something that feels rote and numb come back to life and feel refreshing, and I would suggest you not skip out on this text, either.
My experience as a gardener consists largely of helping/watching my mother garden, keeping houseplants in my series of small apartments, and dreaming of one day having a garden of my own. And I was pleasantly surprised to find that I am not excluded from the target audience of this book. This book is for gardeners in every stage; experienced gardeners looking to switch things up, all the way down to people who have never planted a start or seedling in their lives and are looking for a place to start.
Timble is a studied, well-practiced, passionate and thoughtful author, whose knowledge on the subject of gardens and gardening extends well beyond "plant this here, do that there." Their love for gardening encompasses endless aspects, ones that I myself had never considered to be elements worth incorporating. It was refreshing to see so many different aspects of gardening, so many forms and layouts and design elements through the garden spotlight segments, interwoven photos, and well-written descriptions.
This is a book that you can flip through over and over again and pull away something new every time. I found myself both wanting (and needing) to take extensive notes in order to process the depth of knowledge contained within, which is, I think, a great compliment to a book that wants to be a resource for people. It's also very easy to get lost in Trimble's excitement to share everything they've learned, which makes this a book with great re-readability, also a perfect thing to have in a resource book.
I particularly loved the first chapter, teaching you the standardized rules of gardening, and why/when to question them; the suggestions on how to bend and break the rules in ways that still lend well to your garden was a particularly thrilling part, as I myself have never thrived much in sticking to regiment or structure. Trimble's passion for the "naturalness" of nature - even in manmade natural spaces like gardens - pervades the entire text from start to finish and makes this a joy to read.
As a hopeful future green thumb, this book is not one to skip. As a seasoned wrangler of nature, this resource may make something that feels rote and numb come back to life and feel refreshing, and I would suggest you not skip out on this text, either.
July 22, 2022
The first thin I notice when I started this book was the vibrant and beautiful pictures on every page that instantly draw you in.
There is something about gardening that feels so good and calming, from the weeding, watering and most of all the harvest. Kelly really brings her passion and love for gardening through her writing and made me want to race outside and tend to my garden.
Her knowledge of plant life, gardening techniques and the natural world is really shown through the pages and was really easy to digest. I learnt a lot of things that I did not know as an amateur gardener that I really appreciated learning.
After reading this book, I personally want to take up floral arrangements using my own flowers and have a spiral garden. I highly recommend this book to both a seasoned gardener and a beginner as there is a lot of ideas and information that everyone can appreciate.
There is something about gardening that feels so good and calming, from the weeding, watering and most of all the harvest. Kelly really brings her passion and love for gardening through her writing and made me want to race outside and tend to my garden.
Her knowledge of plant life, gardening techniques and the natural world is really shown through the pages and was really easy to digest. I learnt a lot of things that I did not know as an amateur gardener that I really appreciated learning.
After reading this book, I personally want to take up floral arrangements using my own flowers and have a spiral garden. I highly recommend this book to both a seasoned gardener and a beginner as there is a lot of ideas and information that everyone can appreciate.
September 7, 2022
I really enjoyed this beautiful book about the basics of making a beautiful garden. It's got loads of photos that are really helpful to see how pretty a free and natural garden can be. It has tips at many levels so will appeal to beginning garden dabblers all the way through to expert gardeners.
January 8, 2023
I will freely admit something: I have a black thumb. But I’d love to have a little garden and to grow some of my own food so when I saw this book on NetGalley I grabbed it thinking it could help me to do that. While this book is quite a gardening reference filled with information on what to plant together, how to create a garden to fit your space and needs, etc it is not a book for a gardening newbie like myself. But if you’re a gardener with the desire to expand your knowledge with some creative new ideas and information then I think this book could help you with that.
*Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the e-arc I received.*
*Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the e-arc I received.*
April 25, 2023
This is a must-have for any home library and for anyone interested in gardening at home. The pictures are beautiful and Trimble's approach is full of whimsy and accessibility. She is a fount of knowledge and she shares it expertly here. I've never read a gardening book that excited me before as much as this one has.
June 10, 2022
A sweet gardening book with some inspiring ideas on incorporating vegetable plants everywhere and anywhere. As someone that got a degree in Horticulture, I was excited to see a bit of a Botany lesson, some entomology sprinkled in, and guidance on sustainable growing. I found myself wishing for more inspirational photos and while there were many photos, the composition of many of them with the distracting foreground blurriness didn't pull me in like I had hoped.
All in all, a nice book to add to your collection of gardening books when you're getting a start in growing vegetables.
All in all, a nice book to add to your collection of gardening books when you're getting a start in growing vegetables.
August 5, 2022
A thorough book about being a Vegetable Gardener, is a new look at how the garden should look like and how they should behave. Most garden books tell you to grow vegetables in single rows and space between the plants, but this book gives you permission to grow your vegetables together with flowers and other plants that not only benefit the vegetable plants but help attract good insects to the garden and help keep down pests
I like that the book talks about size, color and aspects of plants that should be grown together. How to rethink what to use as mulch and to eliminate weeds, not with insecticide but by cutting off the top of the plant and allowing the roots to become organic matter. I love the idea of using flowers and other plants to enhance the garden and I like that Trimble talks to other gardeners that have try this new approach and how it not only helps the plants they are cultivating but helps bring peace and happiness to the gardener. I like that Trimble talks about all the ways you can arrange a garden, what to use for structures. when to start growing certain plants, what parts you can eat and how to cultivate seeds. Just a lot of wonderful information for gardeners who want to do something different with their gardens. Lovely change.
What I found very interesting, is that I started to leave certain weeds up too because the bugs loved them and left the plants alone. It also seems that by using leaves in the fall for mulching the plants the soil looks better and the plants seem happier. Maybe I found this book for a reason.
The book is well illustrated and have many photos to enhance what the author is talking about, It help me a lot. For a short book there is a lot of information so go through so go slow and don't hurry the process and you won't miss anything. A worthy book for a gardeners library.
I want to thank Storey Publishing, Storey Publishing, LLC and NetGalley for an advance copy of this great gardening book.
I like that the book talks about size, color and aspects of plants that should be grown together. How to rethink what to use as mulch and to eliminate weeds, not with insecticide but by cutting off the top of the plant and allowing the roots to become organic matter. I love the idea of using flowers and other plants to enhance the garden and I like that Trimble talks to other gardeners that have try this new approach and how it not only helps the plants they are cultivating but helps bring peace and happiness to the gardener. I like that Trimble talks about all the ways you can arrange a garden, what to use for structures. when to start growing certain plants, what parts you can eat and how to cultivate seeds. Just a lot of wonderful information for gardeners who want to do something different with their gardens. Lovely change.
What I found very interesting, is that I started to leave certain weeds up too because the bugs loved them and left the plants alone. It also seems that by using leaves in the fall for mulching the plants the soil looks better and the plants seem happier. Maybe I found this book for a reason.
The book is well illustrated and have many photos to enhance what the author is talking about, It help me a lot. For a short book there is a lot of information so go through so go slow and don't hurry the process and you won't miss anything. A worthy book for a gardeners library.
I want to thank Storey Publishing, Storey Publishing, LLC and NetGalley for an advance copy of this great gardening book.
June 20, 2022
In this hands on, visually stunning book, ideas are given to help kick start and executeyour own gardenin plans. Trimble starts us on our journey by helping us "rethink the rules" so many of us have been taught over the years and get out of the same old rut we've been stuck in.
She takes us not only through garden layouts, but covers edible flowers, leaf arrangements, how we can learn from our mistakes, and SOOOO much more! Way more amazing information is given in this beautiful book than I can even begin to cover here! One of my favorite aspects of the book are the visually stunning photos included with each idea.
I will use SO much of what I've learned from this book and not only apply it to my own home garden but in my classroom with lessons of science and gardening projects.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
She takes us not only through garden layouts, but covers edible flowers, leaf arrangements, how we can learn from our mistakes, and SOOOO much more! Way more amazing information is given in this beautiful book than I can even begin to cover here! One of my favorite aspects of the book are the visually stunning photos included with each idea.
I will use SO much of what I've learned from this book and not only apply it to my own home garden but in my classroom with lessons of science and gardening projects.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
September 6, 2022
I’ve had pretty good sized vegetable gardens in the past but I don’t do it often as it can be pretty intimidating thinking about designing and maintaining it.
THE CREATIVE VEGETABLE GARDENER by Kelly Smith Trimble has been an inspirational source for the garden areas I’ll be planning for next year. Gardens don’t have to be just square or rectangular plots , they can be spiral, round and just free-form. They don’t have to be strictly vegetables only, they can be mixed with flowers for cutting. They don’t have to be boring, they can be beautiful.
This book is full of colorful pictures that really make want to get my hands dirty! She has tips for the novice gardener through to the expert. I plan to refer to this book for inspiration and insight for years to come.
Thanks to NetGalley and Storey Publishing for this ebook in exchange for my honest review. 5 stars!
THE CREATIVE VEGETABLE GARDENER by Kelly Smith Trimble has been an inspirational source for the garden areas I’ll be planning for next year. Gardens don’t have to be just square or rectangular plots , they can be spiral, round and just free-form. They don’t have to be strictly vegetables only, they can be mixed with flowers for cutting. They don’t have to be boring, they can be beautiful.
This book is full of colorful pictures that really make want to get my hands dirty! She has tips for the novice gardener through to the expert. I plan to refer to this book for inspiration and insight for years to come.
Thanks to NetGalley and Storey Publishing for this ebook in exchange for my honest review. 5 stars!
June 15, 2022
Loved it! Creative and diverse look at different ways to grow a versatile garden. A ton of different methods and a wealth of information!
What did I like? Every time I pick up a new garden book I feel like I absorb a bit more. This book was definitely fun! I made a huge wishlist of things to try. I want my garden to give off a fun yet beautiful vibe!
Would I recommend or buy? I would love a copy for my shelf! The book gives a ton of hints on watering and when to sow seed indoors then transplant. I also want to try the straw bale planting. Just a fun filled book with lots of great things to try!
I received a complimentary copy to read and voluntarily left this opinion. Fantastic book!
What did I like? Every time I pick up a new garden book I feel like I absorb a bit more. This book was definitely fun! I made a huge wishlist of things to try. I want my garden to give off a fun yet beautiful vibe!
Would I recommend or buy? I would love a copy for my shelf! The book gives a ton of hints on watering and when to sow seed indoors then transplant. I also want to try the straw bale planting. Just a fun filled book with lots of great things to try!
I received a complimentary copy to read and voluntarily left this opinion. Fantastic book!
July 11, 2022
Reading The Creative Vegetable Gardener is like sitting with an old friend in their garden and talking about the path they took to get to their lush paradise.
My parents grew up during the depression and a vegetable garden was a necessity. There was one way to garden and that was in neat, tidy rows. I carried on the tradition through many decades of my adult life. In the past decade or so I've begun to mix things up and I think the biggest takeaways I learned from this book is: there are no rules, expect the unexpected and most importantly - have fun! Beginning and experienced gardeners alike will benefit from the tips and tricks in this book.
I was given a digital copy of The Creative Vegetable Gardener by Kelly Smith Trimble in exchange for an honest review.
My parents grew up during the depression and a vegetable garden was a necessity. There was one way to garden and that was in neat, tidy rows. I carried on the tradition through many decades of my adult life. In the past decade or so I've begun to mix things up and I think the biggest takeaways I learned from this book is: there are no rules, expect the unexpected and most importantly - have fun! Beginning and experienced gardeners alike will benefit from the tips and tricks in this book.
I was given a digital copy of The Creative Vegetable Gardener by Kelly Smith Trimble in exchange for an honest review.
August 9, 2022
What a treasure of a book! The Creative Vegetable Gardener is part gardener's bible and part interactive workbook for people seeking to expand the way they relate to the world around them. As Kelly put it, "Growing your own food is about expression of freedom, but it can also be about freedom of expression." The book is full of history and resources for gardeners of all skill levels–anyone could pick this book up and learn something. But the activities focused around meditation, play, and personal growth are what resonated most with me. I also really loved getting a peek into unique gardens around the country, and it's worth noting here that the photography is gorgeous! I'll be getting this one for my own shelf and giving it as a gift when it comes out!
August 10, 2022
Grow for joy are the first words in this book, and it nicely sums up the suggested gardening method of the book. There are lots of books and magazines out there that will tell you how to plant the maximum number of veggies in a square foot, or how to build raised beds, or how to landscape beautifully. This is not regimented that way. This book is about growing the things that you want to eat in whatever type of space you have. It's less about organic pest control, and more about balancing the soil, organisms, and insects. Don't have time to weed every day? No problem, pulling weeds is meditative. A wholistic look at gardening for the earth and the body, mind, and spirit of the gardener. This is my style of gardening!
June 21, 2022
I really enjoyed this book. The author shares her own gardening journey with one of the most helpful lessons being it’s ok to rethink the rules - to think outside the box. As a gardener myself I loved this so much.
The author shares tips on plant selection, how to prepare the ground and soil, troubleshooting issues and more. I like the balance of beautiful imagery, plant information and even the mindfulness component.
This really is a beautiful book and I will use it often as a reference with my own garden!
The author shares tips on plant selection, how to prepare the ground and soil, troubleshooting issues and more. I like the balance of beautiful imagery, plant information and even the mindfulness component.
This really is a beautiful book and I will use it often as a reference with my own garden!
June 15, 2022
Love this book, I just takes all the rules and must/must not do out of gardening, and turns into a fabulous zen experience. It works in a way of doing what come naturally and and by following the flow, making happy gardener and garden. There is lots of information in this book, lots to good work practices and lots of good feeling in creating a happy and productive space.
July 20, 2022
If you know nothing about gardening, like me, but would like to try and have some... let's say carrots, but you don´t know where to start, then this book is exactly what you need.
Very informative, colorful, and packed with positive energy.
I want this book on my shelf in paper now!
Very informative, colorful, and packed with positive energy.
I want this book on my shelf in paper now!
June 16, 2022
Fantastic and fun. I loved the photos for inspiration and there is a lot of information here for new or seasoned gardeners.
August 23, 2022
This is a beautiful book! As a new gardener, I really appreciated all of the pictures and stories and information.
September 5, 2022
I enjoyed this book, it he!ped me to realize I could garden different in my small space.if you like to garden this book is for you.
October 5, 2022
It's a joy for eyes and there's plenty of interesting and useful hints and ideas. I loved it.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine
November 5, 2022
If you tend to follow the rules laid out in many gardening books, you might approach gardening as a bit of a chore. But Trimble's latest offering shows readers how to find ways to bend the rules and take a more creative, joyful approach to gardening, using both head and heart to design a food landscape that meets your particular needs and dreams.
Trimble suggests we rethink the rules of gardening: garden beds don't need to be straight rows or rectangular raised beds, perennials and annuals can grow side by side, plantings can be mixed, and some herbs and vegetables can be used as living mulches. She reminds the gardener to work with nature, choosing native plants and allowing space and resources for beneficial insects and pollinators. Above all, she wants gardeners to experience abundance: not just of the food produced in the garden, but of good health, joy, calm, play, and connections with others.
This delightful full-color book includes many photos as well as profiles on other gardeners along with their design ideas, small charts on things like pairings for companion planting or the medicinal properties of food plants, and tables on plant families and life cycles. While it could benefit from a brief bibliography that would offer titles with more information on some of the topics covered, overall this guide offers ideas for readers who are ready to put a more personal stamp on their gardens.
Thank you, Storey Publishing and NetGalley, for providing an eARC of this book. Opinions expressed here are solely my own.
Trimble suggests we rethink the rules of gardening: garden beds don't need to be straight rows or rectangular raised beds, perennials and annuals can grow side by side, plantings can be mixed, and some herbs and vegetables can be used as living mulches. She reminds the gardener to work with nature, choosing native plants and allowing space and resources for beneficial insects and pollinators. Above all, she wants gardeners to experience abundance: not just of the food produced in the garden, but of good health, joy, calm, play, and connections with others.
This delightful full-color book includes many photos as well as profiles on other gardeners along with their design ideas, small charts on things like pairings for companion planting or the medicinal properties of food plants, and tables on plant families and life cycles. While it could benefit from a brief bibliography that would offer titles with more information on some of the topics covered, overall this guide offers ideas for readers who are ready to put a more personal stamp on their gardens.
Thank you, Storey Publishing and NetGalley, for providing an eARC of this book. Opinions expressed here are solely my own.
July 6, 2022
The Creative Vegetable Gardener
3.5 Stars
What I love about this book is its creative and diverse ways to make your own garden uniquely your own. It throws traditional gardening out the window. As I have moved from the countryside with acres of space, to the city (living in a fishbowl) with limited space and closer neighbors, I found some useful tips to emulate in my garden. I look forward to seeing how my vegetables and perennials grow together.
This book takes a look at the history of gardening and looks at different ways of growing a garden for your individual needs. This book is packed with a wealth of information! So much so that I was completely overwhelmed. This is a complete gardening encyclopedia; I found it easier to break the sheer amount of information and white pages into more bite-sized pieces. The beautiful cover drew me in, but I found myself disappointed in the photos throughout the book. While there are many photos, the quality is poor. They were not professional. The composition was off, the photos were blurry or out of focus and, for me, they dragged the quality of this book down. Almost like the cover was false advertising. Due to the photography, I'm not sure I'd recommend purchasing this book other than for reference purposes. I'm a very visual person and am disappointed. I'd recommend checking this one out at your local library.
Thank you, NetGalley and Storey Publishing, for providing me with a digital ARC for an honest review.
3.5 Stars
What I love about this book is its creative and diverse ways to make your own garden uniquely your own. It throws traditional gardening out the window. As I have moved from the countryside with acres of space, to the city (living in a fishbowl) with limited space and closer neighbors, I found some useful tips to emulate in my garden. I look forward to seeing how my vegetables and perennials grow together.
This book takes a look at the history of gardening and looks at different ways of growing a garden for your individual needs. This book is packed with a wealth of information! So much so that I was completely overwhelmed. This is a complete gardening encyclopedia; I found it easier to break the sheer amount of information and white pages into more bite-sized pieces. The beautiful cover drew me in, but I found myself disappointed in the photos throughout the book. While there are many photos, the quality is poor. They were not professional. The composition was off, the photos were blurry or out of focus and, for me, they dragged the quality of this book down. Almost like the cover was false advertising. Due to the photography, I'm not sure I'd recommend purchasing this book other than for reference purposes. I'm a very visual person and am disappointed. I'd recommend checking this one out at your local library.
Thank you, NetGalley and Storey Publishing, for providing me with a digital ARC for an honest review.
January 15, 2024
I've been looking for a gardening book that will help me to create a vegetable garden from scratch. And I thought this book will be the one.
If you're living in the US, the book will be amazingly helpful to select and integrate which kind of vegetables you can plant, based on your area and climate. It includes information about complementary plants, that will contribute to a reduce consumption of reasources. As well, it offers suggestions on garden planning, so your garden will be, not only, useful, but beautiful. Some of the designs are gorgeous. Honestly, I considered renting an urban garden, just to be able to recreate on of those designs.
Unfortunately, the book has been narrowed to an specific country (even though, it has such a pletora of climates), which forces you to investigate what can you plant and when, considering your regional climate caracteristics. And, from an european point of view, most people don't have enough space to have an artistic garden, or a plot at all. So, if you're considering this book for your balcony garden, I believe there are better titles you can read.
Overall, the book covers its purpose, if you're completely new to gardening and you have time and space to invest in it. Please, consider your region whenever you're looking for a gardening book, it'll make your life easier.
If you're living in the US, the book will be amazingly helpful to select and integrate which kind of vegetables you can plant, based on your area and climate. It includes information about complementary plants, that will contribute to a reduce consumption of reasources. As well, it offers suggestions on garden planning, so your garden will be, not only, useful, but beautiful. Some of the designs are gorgeous. Honestly, I considered renting an urban garden, just to be able to recreate on of those designs.
Unfortunately, the book has been narrowed to an specific country (even though, it has such a pletora of climates), which forces you to investigate what can you plant and when, considering your regional climate caracteristics. And, from an european point of view, most people don't have enough space to have an artistic garden, or a plot at all. So, if you're considering this book for your balcony garden, I believe there are better titles you can read.
Overall, the book covers its purpose, if you're completely new to gardening and you have time and space to invest in it. Please, consider your region whenever you're looking for a gardening book, it'll make your life easier.
November 20, 2022
Intriguing but hard to pin down
This book is a quirky mix. Part philosophy, part spirituality and part ecological gardening. How interesting and useful readers will find it may depend on their personal tastes, beliefs and where they are in their lives and gardening journeys.
The way the book is laid out didn’t really fit with the ‘60 ways’ in the title for me. Perhaps the title lead me to expect a more formulaic approach but there was no count of the number of ways in the book itself. This isn’t that important but I’ve no idea how many ideas were actually presented.
The book is a gentle read and is structured to support the ‘cultivating joy, playfulness and beauty’ in the title. I found useful ideas, information, connections and reminders that gave me food for thought. But for me the way the content is laid out misses some important connections and reduces the overall potential impact of the book. Don’t let my views out you off as we’re all different.
I was given this book from the author via netgalley only for the pleasure of reading and leaving an honest review should I choose to.
This book is a quirky mix. Part philosophy, part spirituality and part ecological gardening. How interesting and useful readers will find it may depend on their personal tastes, beliefs and where they are in their lives and gardening journeys.
The way the book is laid out didn’t really fit with the ‘60 ways’ in the title for me. Perhaps the title lead me to expect a more formulaic approach but there was no count of the number of ways in the book itself. This isn’t that important but I’ve no idea how many ideas were actually presented.
The book is a gentle read and is structured to support the ‘cultivating joy, playfulness and beauty’ in the title. I found useful ideas, information, connections and reminders that gave me food for thought. But for me the way the content is laid out misses some important connections and reduces the overall potential impact of the book. Don’t let my views out you off as we’re all different.
I was given this book from the author via netgalley only for the pleasure of reading and leaving an honest review should I choose to.
January 11, 2023
A fresh take on a gardening book with no pressure or guilt, just the notion that if it brings you joy, you should probably consider it!
Beautiful pictures, creative and playful put together in order to explain to the reader that growing in a garden need not be complicated.
Some really great pieces of advice in this and my absolute favourite is "learn from what you have killed" because it's such a down to earth, author reader connecting piece of advice. I've done this many times but to have someone just say it means that the level of perfection to be measured against is only what we bring upon on ourselves and that yes, we may try and fail and simply you must try again!
The information in this book is simply priceless and I so wish it had been my first true gardening book because there is just no pressure to be the best at a new found hobby, there's no superior experience over the reader, it's good old fashioned, plain old gardening!
With thanks to netgalley and the publishers for my free ARC in return for my honest review, I enjoyed it immensely!
Beautiful pictures, creative and playful put together in order to explain to the reader that growing in a garden need not be complicated.
Some really great pieces of advice in this and my absolute favourite is "learn from what you have killed" because it's such a down to earth, author reader connecting piece of advice. I've done this many times but to have someone just say it means that the level of perfection to be measured against is only what we bring upon on ourselves and that yes, we may try and fail and simply you must try again!
The information in this book is simply priceless and I so wish it had been my first true gardening book because there is just no pressure to be the best at a new found hobby, there's no superior experience over the reader, it's good old fashioned, plain old gardening!
With thanks to netgalley and the publishers for my free ARC in return for my honest review, I enjoyed it immensely!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 64 reviews