The Backyard Homestead Guide to Growing Organic Food: A Crop-by-Crop Reference for 62 Vegetables, Fruits, Nuts, and Herbs

(Paperback)

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The latest addition to Storey's bestselling Backyard Homestead series, The Backyard Homestead Guide to Growing Organic Food is a one-stop reference for all the key information food gardeners need to grow a healthy, bountiful garden. Author Tanya Denckla Cobb spent years gathering and recording all the key information she needed to run her community farm, including when to start seeds for each type of crop (and at what temperature), how far apart to space seedlings, how to tell when a crop is ready to harvest, and notes on preservation. The book features a comprehensive companion planting guide and an in-depth review of the most effective organic pest control practices, including recipes for how to make your own pest deterrent sprays.

Reviews

"A solid reference guide that's best for established gardeners looking to introduce organic methods and self-sustainability into their practice."--Library Journal
"A straightforward, serviceable guide to an array of vegetables, fruits, nuts, and herbs that can be grown organically by the home gardener."--Booklist
"Anyone can become a steward of a sustainable garden with the help of this comprehensive and superbly organized book. There is a treasure trove of useful information here for gardeners of every experience level."--Barbara Pleasant, author of Starter Vegetable Gardens and Homegrown Pantry
"If it isn't in this book, you don't need to know it."--Ed Smith, author of The Vegetable Gardener's Bible
"Tanya shares her knowledge and resources in such a clear and actionable way. There is useful information here, whether you grow a mini-farm or a simple border of hardy herbs. I really appreciate the afterword where Tanya breaks down what "organic" means as a label and what organic means in our backyards... where we have the most control over what goes into our food."--Renee Brooks Catacalos, author of The Chesapeake Table: Your Guide to Eating Local
"Tanya Denckla Cobb presents a wealth of gardening information in an accessible format, while showing that creating a healthy soil and working with the earth's natural systems are the foundation of a productive, sustainable, and satisfying garden!"--John Jeavons, author of How to Grow More Vegetables
"This fantastic resource will put you on the fast track to gardening success."--Niki Jabbour, author of The Year-Round Vegetable Gardener and Growing Under Cover
"This rich compendium on self-sustaining, organic backyard gardening and food should be on every aspiring gardener's shelf."--Marcia Caton Campbell, Executive Director of Rooted (Madison, WI)
"Whether the subject is earthworms, compost, or the way gardening supports mental health, I'm drawn to the quiet passion that flows just beneath the surface of these detail-rich pages. Unlike the author, I only grow a few herbs and tomatoes for the kitchen. And yet, I found the particulars of raising my favorite vegetables endlessly fascinating and educational."--Ken Haedrich, author of The Harvest Baker and Pie Academy

Author Bio

Tanya Denckla Cobb is is the author of Reclaiming Our Food and The Gardener's A-Z Guide to Growing Organic Food, a professional environmental mediator at the Institute for Engagement & Negotiation, and a teacher of food system planning at the University of Virginia. She co-founded a community forestry nonprofit organization, served as Executive Director of the Virginia Urban Forest Council, and facilitated the birth of the Virginia Natural Resources Leadership Institute and the Virginia Food System Council. At home, she enjoys the restorative energy of gardening and cooking. She lives in Virginia.