Hi all! I’ve been MIA for a bit, that’s because (1) Christmas season (aren’t we all so wrapped up in it? Fantastic time of year!), (2) I’ve been taking a course to help me become a better writer (please say some prayers for me because I might just need them, it’s tough work), and (3) my fitness instructor has started cracking the whip (as someone dealing with MS, gotta stay healthy!).
But (!) I have a book review for you. The book is The Family Garden Plan by Melissa K. Norris. She is one of my fave podcasters, you can read about that here. I was lucky enough to be a part of her launch team and got an advance reader copy to review. The release date of the book is January 7, so just right around the corner.
A peek at the cover!
If you’ve been around here for a while, you may know that I am a prolific reader, with many a book in my library. I love gardening books and The Family Garden Plan will hold a place nearby all throughout the growing season. Here’s why:
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 wells, 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. I have on my garden radar to get into edible landscaping and her information will be helpful, I’m certain.
Specifically useful to me is 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. Ms. Norris 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, as I will take the plunge into food preservation in 2020.
What are you reading right now?
No Comments