Growing Stuff is an ideal companion for anyone wishing to become part of the grow-your-own renaissance. It is packed with ideas to help transform windowsills, balconies, courtyards and gardens into urban oases. Written in an engaging and informal way, this quirky book is a perfect introduction to green-fingered activity, and is sure to convert even wary or novice gardeners to this creative and wide-ranging practice. With easy-to-follow instructions on the basics of growing flowers, herbs, vegetables and more, Growing Stuff not only provides an excellent introduction to the world of horticulture, but also looks at alternative approaches to growing and landscaping. Learn how to make seed bombs, grow carrots in Wellington boots and even construct your own mini polytunnel. It also features wide selection of creative recipes show you how to transform the fruits of your labour into culinary and craft delights. Growing Stuff puts the excitement back into gardening and shows that organic edibles can be grown in even the most unexpected places.
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''The merry band of authors show how the frustrated can channel their enthusiasms by container growing, harvesting wild plants, guerrilla gardening and even horticultural art installations.'' --The Guardian
''Growing stuff is the perfect book for those new to gardening, especially urban growers or others with limited spaces.'' --Rhubarb Reviewer
''Fab guide to, er, growing stuff in teensy city plots.'' --The London Paper
''The merry band of authors show how the frustrated can channel their enthusiasms by container growing, harvesting wild plants, guerrilla gardening and even horticultural art installations.'' --The Guardian
''Growing stuff is the perfect book for those new to gardening, especially urban growers or others with limited spaces.'' --Rhubarb
''The merry band of authors show how the frustrated can channel their enthusiasms by container growing, harvesting wild plants, guerrilla gardening and even horticultural art installations.'' --The Guardian
''Growing stuff is the perfect book for those new to gardening, especially urban growers or others with limited spaces.'' --Rhubarb
''Growing stuff is the perfect book for those new to gardening, especially urban growers or others with limited spaces.'' --Rhubarb Reviewer
''Fab guide to, er, growing stuff in teensy city plots.'' --The London Paper
''The merry band of authors show how the frustrated can channel their enthusiasms by container growing, harvesting wild plants, guerrilla gardening and even horticultural art installations.'' --The Guardian
''Growing stuff is the perfect book for those new to gardening, especially urban growers or others with limited spaces.'' --Rhubarb
''The merry band of authors show how the frustrated can channel their enthusiasms by container growing, harvesting wild plants, guerrilla gardening and even horticultural art installations.'' --The Guardian
''Growing stuff is the perfect book for those new to gardening, especially urban growers or others with limited spaces.'' --Rhubarb
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
By E. Cooper
Format:Paperback
`Growing Stuff: An Alternative Guide to Gardening' came about in a slightly unusual way - it was a collaborative book project based largely on contributions from bloggers and amateur writers (I know, because I'm one of them!). Most of the contributions are project-based; there are instructions for growing carrots in wellies and building your own mini polytunnel, among other things.
At the beginning of the book there are some basic gardening instructions for those who haven't taken the plunge before, and the ethos of the book is that anyone can garden, anywhere, and have fun doing it. Each project is well illustrated with photos.
The book is divided into sections - Getting Started, Fruit & Veg, Herbs & Flowers, Wildlife & Practical Projects, Curiosities & Other Things and Resources. There's a Contents page and a decent Index to help you find your way around. And scattered throughout the book are ideas and recipes for using the things you grow.
If you are a new gardener, or you don't have much space, then you should find Growing Stuff helpful to get you started. It encourages you to make use of things that you already have - so you won't be shelling out money on a lot of gardening equipment that you might not use or have no room to store.
Although the blurb proclaims `for beginners and enthusiasts alike', I wouldn't recommend this book to anyone who has been growing edible plants for a while. There's nothing new here except the approach to putting the book together. Likewise, I think the subtitle of `an alternative guide to gardening' is a bit of a stretch. There is a small section on green gardening, but recycling in the garden, seed swapping, growing veg in unusual containers and making space for wildlife are all becoming increasingly mainstream.
From my point of view, the book lacks cohesion. It's a bit like a scrapbook of projects that someone has put together to go back to at a later date. If you want to treat plants as projects then this may well be the book for you; if you want to treat your outdoor space as a whole garden then I would recommend either 'The Edible Container Garden' or 'Urban Eden' instead.
At the beginning of the book there are some basic gardening instructions for those who haven't taken the plunge before, and the ethos of the book is that anyone can garden, anywhere, and have fun doing it. Each project is well illustrated with photos.
The book is divided into sections - Getting Started, Fruit & Veg, Herbs & Flowers, Wildlife & Practical Projects, Curiosities & Other Things and Resources. There's a Contents page and a decent Index to help you find your way around. And scattered throughout the book are ideas and recipes for using the things you grow.
If you are a new gardener, or you don't have much space, then you should find Growing Stuff helpful to get you started. It encourages you to make use of things that you already have - so you won't be shelling out money on a lot of gardening equipment that you might not use or have no room to store.
Although the blurb proclaims `for beginners and enthusiasts alike', I wouldn't recommend this book to anyone who has been growing edible plants for a while. There's nothing new here except the approach to putting the book together. Likewise, I think the subtitle of `an alternative guide to gardening' is a bit of a stretch. There is a small section on green gardening, but recycling in the garden, seed swapping, growing veg in unusual containers and making space for wildlife are all becoming increasingly mainstream.
From my point of view, the book lacks cohesion. It's a bit like a scrapbook of projects that someone has put together to go back to at a later date. If you want to treat plants as projects then this may well be the book for you; if you want to treat your outdoor space as a whole garden then I would recommend either 'The Edible Container Garden' or 'Urban Eden' instead.
By A. Brown
Format:Paperback
A little basic, but with a couple of really lovely planting ideas, which makes it rather cool.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
4.3 out of 5 stars
3 reviews
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars
Great for the DIY'er or as a gift for someone moving into their first apartment
5 May 2009
By Fern Richardson
- Published on Amazon.com
Format:Paperback
Growing Stuff is not the sort of thing you read cover to cover. Instead, it has about 100 pages of container gardening projects. Things like how to make a cold frame or grow tomatoes in hanging baskets. The tone of the book is conversational and casual. While the instructions and projects are basic enough for beginning gardeners, the ideas are still creative and innovative, so more advanced gardeners will certainly find stuff they'd like to try. Many of the projects that involve edible plants also include recipes. As a special bonus, the book was published in England, so it full of British vocab and spelling, which this Californian (who doesn't have an accent! ;-)) finds amusing.
Here are a smattering of the projects in the book:
--How to Grow Carrots in Wellies (Rain Boots)
--Mini Window Sprout Garden
--Beetroot Box
--How to Make Lavender Pillows
--Grow Your Own Mojito
--Growing a Sunflower Wall for Privacy
--How to Make a Ladybird (Ladybug) House
I really like how each project isn't overly technical. These aren't projects you need an engineering degree to complete. Mostly, the ideas are innovative, not really "hard." Once you read through the instructions (which are often only two pages long and complete with pictures) and the materials list, you probably wouldn't need to refer to the book again.
All-in-all, I think this is a great book for a DIY'er who is looking for neat ideas that don't cost an arm and a leg. People who take their gardens too seriously may not find this book "serious" enough for them. Afterall, they would never be caught dead growing carrots in an old boot. But for the rest of us, there are plenty of fun, easy-to-do ideas to make it worth your while. An especially good idea, I think, would be to give this book as a housewarming gift to a young person moving into their first apartment (flat).
Here are a smattering of the projects in the book:
--How to Grow Carrots in Wellies (Rain Boots)
--Mini Window Sprout Garden
--Beetroot Box
--How to Make Lavender Pillows
--Grow Your Own Mojito
--Growing a Sunflower Wall for Privacy
--How to Make a Ladybird (Ladybug) House
I really like how each project isn't overly technical. These aren't projects you need an engineering degree to complete. Mostly, the ideas are innovative, not really "hard." Once you read through the instructions (which are often only two pages long and complete with pictures) and the materials list, you probably wouldn't need to refer to the book again.
All-in-all, I think this is a great book for a DIY'er who is looking for neat ideas that don't cost an arm and a leg. People who take their gardens too seriously may not find this book "serious" enough for them. Afterall, they would never be caught dead growing carrots in an old boot. But for the rest of us, there are plenty of fun, easy-to-do ideas to make it worth your while. An especially good idea, I think, would be to give this book as a housewarming gift to a young person moving into their first apartment (flat).
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
A top pick for any general lending library
16 Nov 2009
By Midwest Book Review
- Published on Amazon.com
Format:Paperback
GROWING STUFF: AN ALTERNATIVE GUIDE TO GARDENING offers a practical gardener's guide for all spaces, sizes and budgets. Its projects are easy to follow, offer hints and recipes for windowsills, balconies, and full gardens in the city, and pack in entry-level projects and insider tips. Alternative approaches include guerrilla gardening and growing carrots in boots! Color photos throughout lend to a book that is truly a unique standout in the huge world of gardener's guides - and a top pick for any general lending library.
0 of 1 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars
Good book for a beginner
4 Jun 2010
By Tiffany Hite
- Published on Amazon.com
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
The book had creative ways for alternative gardening. I enjoyed the alternative point of view to gardening.
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4.3 out of 5 stars
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