The Green Gardening Handbook: Grow, Eat and Enjoy

by Nancy Birtwhistle

Going green in the garden has never been easier with Nancy Birtwhistle’s sustainable, eco-friendly tips that will help you make the most of your space, and what it can grow. Whether you have a sprawling garden, a modest patch of grass or just a spare windowsill, The Green Gardening Handbook has over 100 tips will help you embrace the joy of growing and eating from your own garden.

This beautifully illustrated guide is packed with advice on everything from composting, clothing and basic equipment to seasonal recipes and guides to freezing, storing and preserving that will help you save money and reduce waste. This practical book from the former Great British Baking Show winner and Sunday Times bestselling author of Clean & Green and Green Living Made Easy is for anyone, green-fingered or not, looking to discover the delights of growing and eating food they’ve grown themselves.

‘Getting out in the garden helps us stay healthy – and it helps our planet too. Mother Nature wants you to succeed, plants actually want to grow – those seeds are there patiently ready and waiting. All we need to do is just have a go.’ Nancy x

Genres: Gardening, Nonfiction, Nature

336 pages, Hardcover

Published July 11, 2023

Reviews

[GONZA · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had already read an earlier book by the author, but it was more feasible for me because unfortunately I do not live in an English cottage surrounded by a garden. That said, however, if you do find yourself in this fortunate position and wish to grow flowers and a vegetable garden without negatively impacting the environment, this is the book for you.

Avevo giá letto un precedente libro dell'autrice, che peró era per me piú fattibile perché purtroppo io non vivo in un cottage inglese circondato da un giardino. Detto questo peró, se voi invece vi trovate in questa fortunata posizione e desiderate coltivare fiori e un orto senza impattare negativamente sull'ambiente, questo é il libro che fa per voi.

I received from the Publisher a complimentary digital advanced review copy of the book in exchange for a honest review.

[Kirsty · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a well thought out book, with hints and tips not just for the beginner gardener, but also for more advanced gardeners. I learnt about keeping basil going by rooting in water - something I had no idea that could work.
This book also proves that you don't need acres to have a productive garden.
The book is split into seasonal chapters, making it easy to follow.
I enjoyed Nancy's enthusiastic writing style and her recipes.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Sophie Crane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this cover to cover ...couldn't put it down. Crammed with green recipes and budget tips for everything encountered in running a home. Well done Nancy!

[Zarina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review originally posted to my blog: https://www.pagetostagereviews.com/20...

Watching Instagram stories of Great British Bake Off champion Nancy Birtwhistle for practical cleaning tips and easy recipes is one of the favourite parts of my day. Who knew you could clean oven racks with tough food stains by leaving them overnight in damp grass? Or that you can create your own laundry detergent with ivy cuttings from the garden? Her knowledge is incredible and we are so lucky that she is sharing all her wisdoms with us. Nancy's advice is simple to follow, cheap and, most of all, green. Meaning that it's much better for our planet. And after focusing her first few books on tips for a greener house – in her latest one she turns her hand to gardening.

The Green Gardening Handbook is practically laid out by focusing on the four seasons – starting in early spring and concluding in late winter. Each of the sections talks about different tasks to undertake during that season, what produce to plant and eat, and even includes tips on how to manage a glut (when you have an abundance of a certain product) alongside yummy recipes to make the most of seasonal produce. Nancy's advice is incredibly useful, whether you've grown the food in question with your own bare hands, or you're stocking up from local shops.

I'm currently living in a flat in London, which only has a tiny, pigeon-filled balcony. There is not much opportunity here to do some gardening and get my fingers properly dirty. And yet, The Green Gardening Handbook has inspired me and given me some wonderful ideas for what I can do in such a limited space. From maximising yield from supermarket herbs to being more conscious about eating seasonally; stocking up and filling my freezer and spice cupboard with produce when it's in abundance to get me through the rest of the year.

It doesn't matter where you live, what space you have available, or even how green (or not green) your fingers currently are. There is plenty of amazing advice in Nancy's latest book to inspire anyone to enjoy the delights of growing something for yourself and using every aspect of it. Whether that's understanding how to best store produce to keep it fresh for a long time (I love her guide for this, which shows carrots can be kept in the fridge for 6 months!), getting more bang for your buck (such as her tip to boil discarded lemon peels in a kettle to freshen up both the kettle and the sink you pour the water into), or how to make natural insect deterrent.

I am hoping to move to a house with a garden later this year. Having read The Green Gardening Handbook, I feel I have such a strong foundation in place for the opportunities my future garden can bring and I'm already looking at potential houses with different eyes. And, when the time comes, I'll undoubtedly revisit some of my favourite sections – such as her crop guide, companion planting, and making an insect hotel – to really make the most of the space.

The Green Gardening Handbook by national treasure Nancy Birtwhistle is genuinely amazing. I read a lot of zero waste and gardening books but few have been as insightful, practical, and accessible as hers. Nancy is the green guru, whether it's for cleaning, baking, or gardening. And with The Green Gardening Handbook she has done it once again. It's a book I will be gifting to many friends and family members as everyone needs Nancy's wisdoms in their lives!

4.5 stars

[Vanessa · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Green Gardening Handbook by Nancy Birtwhistle was excellent and a great book to get my teeth into especially as I have just moved house. This book is beautifully illustrated guide is packed with advice on everything from composting, clothing and basic equipment to seasonal recipes and guides to freezing, storing and preserving that will help you save money and reduce waste. I loved it.

[Rayanna Tie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very good, introduction to gardening book. Would make a lovely gift for anyone starting out. Reading it all through in one go got a little tedious, but I think it's much more intended to be dipped into throughout the year and for that it will be brilliant.

She includes various recipes and diy instructions, which I think is great. And get advice is very down-to-earth and practical. It's a bit like a long chatty letter from an aunt with all of her gardening tips. Very personable.

[Carolyn Bell · Rating 5 out of 5]

“The Green Gardening Handbook” by Nancy Birtwhistle @nancy.birtwhistle YAY a new Nancy Bible ! I just love her style and way of thinking. This book has great hints and tips for the lesser experienced Gardener like myself .
This book was released on 2nd March 2023 in UK and 11th July in Canada

[Kay Parsons · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love a recycler, and Nancy Birtwhistle is at the top of the list! I'm new to gardening, and I have found her guidance invaluable. It's easy enough to convert her advice to living in the Adelaide Hills; and with AI, easy enough to expand on any single idea to suit my environment. I took copious notes before returning the book to the library! (Might have to get my own copy to keep. . .)

[CenReads · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great guide gardening, also proof that you don’t need a huge garden to grow your own vegetables. The illustrations are stunning , . Written in a way that it’s easy to follow.
Nancy takes you on your gardening journey from beginning to end.
Highly recommend this book for any avid gardener

[Annarella · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting and full of ideas. It's more suited to whoever can apply this ideas in a garden but some are very useful even if you just have some small vases
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

[LondonFrog · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nancy is such a gem. Her words inspire me to make healthy choices for my family and the planet — in the garden and everywhere else. Looking forward to reading her other books. I checked out this one from the library but will likely purchase it soon to have around as a reference.

[Dawn With-whippet · Rating 5 out of 5]

brilliant
recipes for everything from eco aphid repellents , parsnip chocolate cake , tomato sauce , pickled cucumbers and stinky nettle plant feed .
tips on all manner of fruit and veg growing as well as tool care and cleaning your greenhouse

[Odette Lattimer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you for the advanced copy.

What a gem this is, it's like a seasonal bible!

So we'll put together, perfect for all my needs.

Highly recommended

[Vanessa · Rating 2 out of 5]

This would be a good book for a new gardener but it didn’t excite me. Several of the tips had already been published in her previous books. I found it very repetitive.

[Alissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed how the chapters/ sections are broken up, along with the recipes sprinkled in throughout the book.

[Allie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Some great tips!

[Johanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very enjoyable. This and Clean and Green are my favorites by Nancy. Lots of good ideas. A bit limited if your climate varies wildly from the UK, but even though I live somewhere that gets significantly hotter, I found a lot of the information to be very actionable.