The Organic Home Garden: How to Grow Fruits & Vegetables Naturally - Softcover

A cornucopia of information.

Once available only at farmers' markets, organic produce is now basic stock at the supermarket. With mounting concerns about pesticides, climate change and consumption levels of fossil fuels, consumers are more careful about how, and where, fruits and vegetables are grown -- and how far they have traveled to get to their table. More than ever, people are deciding not only to purchase organic and local produce, but also to grow their own.

The Organic Home Garden shows in detail how to plant, grow and harvest delicious vegetables and fruits from spring to fall and from seed to harvest.

Since most consumers live in urban and suburban settings with limited space, Patrick Lima explains how to create an organic garden that is both compact and productive. Through step-by-step examples, he shows how to prepare odorless in-ground compost; transform fallen leaves into a valuable soil conditioner; and design, build and plant permanent raised beds. Among the important topics covered are:

• Soil preparation
• Using cold frames
• Selecting seeds
• Transplanting techniques
• Natural pest and disease control
• Multiple harvests fromasingle garden
• Frost protection.

Extensive line drawings and charts plus 50 stunning color photographs illustrate the different gardening steps. For making the most of home-grown fruits and vegetables, 30 outstanding recipes are also included.

Patrick Lima is a noted organic gardener based in Ontario and the author of several books, including of The Art of Perennial Gardening.

John Scanlan's photographs have appeared in many books and magazines.