“A Book I have read several times and return to relearn the practical advice of this pragmatic gardener.” Ben. 

It is often hard to find gardening books in the bookshop where the author is so experienced that you instantly know the methods therein will work for you.

I don’t think there has been a book so pragmatic and close to the heart of gardening since Mollison’s Permaculture Handbook, (which was not as well lived as this).

Deppe has been through a lot of tough times, and found the solutions out the other side. She knows deeply her area, soils, climate and the plants that do well and their limits. 

In The Resilient Gardener Deppe explains a style of gardening that is super productive and focused on being efficient with the labour you put in.

Importantly she hones in on the need to garden for all weathers, with a view on climate change and what it may throw at you.  

The greatest thing this book gives is the story of someone who has crawled, walked and learnt how to produce enough food for year round supply in any season. This is achieved using a mix of learnt and found techniques, old farm ways, and new science of soils, microbiology and genetics. 

Because of her story and personal experience in the pages, the book is terribly interesting, and easy to read.

If you are planning on feeding yourself and your family from your garden this book needs to be on your shelf. Highly recommended.

The Resilient Gardner, Deppe, Carol, 2010, Chelsea Green Publishing.