The backyard homestead guide to growing organic food A crop-by-crop reference for 62 vegetables, fruits, nuts, and herbs

Published previously under the title The Gardener's A--Z Guide to Growing Organic Food (2004), but with new material, this is a straightforward, serviceable guide to an array of vegetables, fruits, nuts, and herbs that can be grown organically by the home gardener. Range is not extensive--no Swiss chard, mustard greens, or citrus, for example--but entries cover a lot of ground: where to site, soil and water needs, heights and spacing, pollination needs, pests and diseases, pruning needs, and compatible and incompatible plant neighbors. Especially useful are storage requirements, given in each entry, and the book's emphasis on building soil. Though not essential here, illustrations might have been welcome.

Cobb (Reclaiming Our Food) is an environmental mediator and food-systems planning instructor. Her book's opening pages extol the sustainable, practical and stress-relieving virtues of gardening. The "For Starters" chapter details how to plan and maintain a self-sustaining garden. It includes tidbits about composting, soil balance, and managing essential bugs. Other chapters cover vegetables, fruits and nuts, and herbs. Each crop is presented with clear instructions on planting, determining the proper soil, understanding water and temperature needs, and storing. Readers will also learn about companion and incompatible plants, ideal times to harvest, and pests and diseases. There are tips for identifying and preventing common garden problems and advice about gardening without chemicals. The final chapter compiles allies and companion plants into an easy-to-read chart that lists the plants they help and the insects they repel or attract. Additional resources, such as recommended readings and metric conversion charts, appear at the back of the book. VERDICT A solid reference guide that's best for established gardeners looking to introduce organic methods and self-sustainability into their practice.--Whitney Bates-Gomez