Stories from my Garden

This book shares the wisdom of a gardener and his love and respect for the earth and the plants that grow in it. It conveys the knowledge and experiences that the author, Jon, has gained over seven decades of gardening. Each vegetable in this book comes alive with intrigue and excitement as we learn about its origin, migration, and cultivation, from its native land to our backyard garden. Jon's unique storytelling style reveals plant history and geography in a way that will captivate your green thumb and motivate you to read more. It covers selecting cultivars, soil preparation, planting seeds, harvesting, and preparing the harvest for the kitchen and the root cellar. Whether you're a first-time gardener or a "Master Gardener," this book offers knowledge to grow on.

Plants have their own stories and heritage from God's creation to today. Knowing a plant's background adds an exciting new dimension to gardening, letting gardeners weave history into their experiences. Understanding a plant's past can make a backyard landscape come alive with intrigue and excitement. Think of a plant's history as its pedigree. Some have histories filled with mystery and curiosity, while others tell tales of beauty and romance. From Victory gardens to fruit cellars, plants have many stories to share.

Research underpins the book's empirical approach to gardening. Jon uses stories and insights from friends and family to highlight what works and what doesn't. The book is easy to navigate, from the table of contents to the index. Examples such as ancient manuscripts and 16th-century herbals demonstrate the thoroughness of its research. Jon stresses that experience is the most valuable tool for learning in gardening.

Raised-bed gardening is promoted as an effective way to achieve high yields in small spaces. Jon shares which plants thrive and which ones don't in his raised-bed environment.

The heartbeat of Jon's Garden is soil and compost. Gomer Pile, as Jon's family affectionately calls it, is the composting area. Gomer welcomes everyone walking along the garden path. All green kitchen scraps and yard waste feed Gomer's appetite. Jon says, "It warms my heart to hear my grandchildren talk with Gomer as they give her the top of the carrot they just devoured."