Posts Tagged ‘planting’

During WWII, it was estimated that nearly 20 million Americans maintained Victory gardens to grow vegetables, fruit, and herbs.  Eleanor Roosevelt was the first, and Michele Obama the second to make an example of White House lawn.  Today, urban farming is all the rage for a multitude of reasons.  It’s cheaper, it’s fresher, and the carbon path doesn’t get much shorter than going from your own yard to your own table. 

SMALL-PLOT, HIGH-YIELD GARDENING is a book that delivers on its promise.  It is the dream of every home gardener to have vine-ripened tomatoes and Meyer lemons at one’s fingertips.  Sal Gilbertie’s book features step-by-step basics for gardening organically in small plots for maximum production.  Readers are led through the entire gardening process:  from sourcing seeds and preparing soil to planting, cultivating, and harvesting.  Easy to follow, the book advises on Practical Vegetable Groupings and how to feed your garden for only 12 cents a day.  Highlighting handy Productivity Tips throughout and discussing everything from mulch to insects, SMALL-PLOT, HIGH-YIELD GARDENING guarantees success.

Alone worth the price of the book are the detailed garden plans reflecting a variety of sizes and purposes.  See page 223 for hand-drawn garden arrangements from 8’ by 4’ to 3,000 square feet.  Readers will find a lay-out for a 20’ x 20’ soup garden, along with suggested plans for a raised-bed garden, a cold-frame garden, and a winter garden.  In addition, the appendix includes a fascinating look at the financial investment versus financial gain from the produce yielded, making a very strong argument for home-grown.  Finally, a detailed listing of seed and plant companies along with helpful resources make SMALL-PLOT, HIGH-YIELD GARDENING a foolproof tool. 

SAL GILBERTIE is a third-generation gardener and herb grower.  He operates Gilbertie’s Herb Gardens in Westport, CT, established by his grandfather in 1922.  Today, it is the largest herb grower in the U.S.  Visit www.gilbertiesherbs.com.  He is available for interviews and speaking engagements.