Spring Into Gardening with DK Canada!

Every year I put a lot of effort into gardening – last year I dug up some new plots to expand the space I had in the backyard to do so even!  Still, I don’t know a whole lot about gardening and have relied on trial and error… until now. 

DK Canada has put together a Gardening Boutique full of books sure to have all the information you need to put together a fabulous garden this year.  They seriously have everything from gardening guides with the Canadian garden kept in mind to beautifully illustrated reference books and even some cookbooks to help you reap all the delicious benefits of growing your own fruit and vegetables!  There is literally something for everyone from the expert gardener to the novice and for a limited time you can get 30% off all the books in the boutique!

I was sent a nice selection of books from the Gardening Boutique to review including Organic Gardening Revised, Small Plot, Big Harvest, The Kitchen Garden Cookbook and The New Self-sufficient Gardener.

Organic Gardening Revised by Geoff Hamilton

Fully revised and updated to reflect eco-friendly thinking and techniques, Organic Gardening is a classic guide to growing flowers, fruit, and vegetables the natural, chemical-free way. Whether you want to grow better-tasting fruit and vegetables untainted by chemicals, find natural methods of pest and weed control, or create a garden that is safer for your children, pets, and wildlife, Organic Gardening is your practical, easy-to-follow guide to gardening with, rather than against, nature.

This is a really great over-all reference book.  I found that it had just the right amount of detail for what I wanted.  It was informative but not at all overwhelming so I think as a reference book this would make a great place to start for organic gardening for the beginner but still has plenty of useful information that even an expert gardener might find it of great use.

Small Plot, Big Harvest

Aimed at both urban and suburban gardeners with small plots, who want to be part of the grow-your-own phenomenon, Small Plot, Big Harvest celebrates what the vast majority of people have — a little bit of patio or garden that is precious to them.

With at-a-glance crop planners, step-by-step gardening techniques — such as preparing soil, sowing, planting, watering, feeding, and growing under cover — and instructions and charts showing when to sow and when to harvest, Small Plot, Big Harvest brings foolproof vegetable growing for gardeners with little space.

 This book gives a basic overview of how to pick your garden spot, what tools you will need when to plant etc…  There is even a section that will help you to make the most out of a 3′ x 3′ garden plot with planners for various types of vegetable gardens.  It also goes through specific vegetable, fruit and herbs with all the details you need to ensure you have a “big harvest”.  Also included is a nice little guide full of photos detailing various pests and diseases you may encounter along the way with tips to deal with them.

The Kitchen Garden Cookbook

Featuring delicious seasonal recipes to help make the best use of homegrown produce, The Kitchen Garden Cookbook is packed with imaginative, inspiring ideas to turn your beautiful bounty into delicious dishes. With techniques and expert advice to help you harvest, preserve, and prepare your crops successfully, The Kitchen Garden Cookbook is the fruit-and-vegetable-grower’s perfect kitchen companion.

 This is a beautifully photographed cookbook arranged by season that will answer the question of “what do I do with all this stuff I grew!”  It includes not only recipes for main dishes, desserts, soups and appetizers but also canning recipes.  Picking times, storage guidelines, preservation tips and freezing options are included for many different crops.  I love that this book offers ways to enjoy your efforts now and for months to come.  Great addition to any cookbook library!

The New Self-sufficient Gardener by John Seymour

This revised edition of an old favorite, first published in 1978, explains how to cultivate and preserve all types of fruit, herbs, and vegetables, in addition to instructions on keeping bees and raising chickens.

• Includes over 600 illustrations, many redrawn for the revised edition

• Contains information on drying, storing, and preserving fruits and vegetables

• Explains the “Deep Bed” method, critical to anyone with a tiny urban plot

  This is a wonderful reference for the expert or the novice alike.  I found that the  suggestions held within are practical and can be applied to justabout any garden.  The books covers many topics including soil, pests, spacing, garden layout, composting, and a whole lot more.  This book provides detailed instructions, illustrations and ideas for many different plants.

Elizabeth Lampman

Elizabeth Lampman is a coffee-fuelled Mom of 2 girls and lives in Hamilton, Ontario. She enjoys travelling, developing easy recipes, crafting, taking on diy projects, travelling and saving money!