Product Description

Provides readers with detailed information on self-sufficient gardening. Regardless of whether it is 5 acres or a window box, there are ideas in this book for everyone. Self-sufficient gardens are beautiful: a ramble of productivity and a profusion of smells and colours. We've forgotten how beautiful edible plants can be: fat red apples and tendrils of grapes; beautiful red-flowering perennial beans and soft feathery fennel; the wide, bright blooms of passion fruit and the scent of orange blossom on a summer night. It's like a Garden of Eden in your own back yard.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #72777 in Books
• Published on: 1998-04-18
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 164 pages

About the Author
Jackie French

Customer Reviews

It would have helped if you'd said....
Whilst this is indeed an inspirational book - knowing it was Australian may well have altered my decision to buy it! Maybe a small point - but the slight diffference in climate bewteen the UK and Australia does make a difference to the food we can grow

brilliant book to source and use
one of the reviewers before commented on the temperature differences between where he lives in the uk and jackie french living in aussie. obviously the reviewer hasn't read the book. jackie writes in the book that in her neck of aussie there is quite a bit of snow -and she says that most gardens have warmer spots than other parts to attempt to grow plants/trees requiring warmer temps.
this is a great book to have on hand if you want to grow plants/trees that
in times of emergency you can use for alternatives to coffee, flour etc.
i bought this book years ago and recommended it to family.i think there are at least 4 copies in the family now. it's always hunted out each year when i'm planning my garden and i source trees recommended in it to plant.
DEFINITELY WORTH BUYING
ps: to the reviewer that commented on the temperature/seasonal differences: add 6 months to any month mentioned, and if Kiwifruit (semi tropical) can be grown in Invercargill(the southernmost city in New Zealand then i'm sure he would be surprised what he could grow in the warmest part of his garden

Excellent primer on self-sufficiency
This is a book which has decided positives, it is also a book which has a decided negative. Negative first: it's Australian - and I mean no offence, I love Australia, I'm a passionate follower of Australian cricket, but I'm Scottish, and some of the options offered in this book are just a little bit exotic. Having got that out of the road, it has to be said that overall the book would otherwise warrant five stars for its comprehensive analysis of what it means to become self-sufficient, and its ability to motivate and enthuse you to achieve that aim.

It's extremely well laid out, it's written with enthusiasm which is utterly infectious, and it will fill you with dynamism and energy. Just do a little bit of extra research to decide which crops you'll use to replace kiwi fruit (what's wrong with gooseberries, I hear myself ask, or apple, plum or pear trees instead of citrus, raspberries or rose hips instead of vines). Coming up with alternatives to some of the more sun loving crops is part of the joy of using this book. It can metaphorically get your mind out there digging, planting, and nurturing before you've actually got your hands dirty.

The book doesn't just cover growing your own food, it discusses food for free - scavenging crops from hedgerows and woodlands - it even goes on to suggest that you sell or barter your surplus. What about starting a cooperative with your neighbours? And what about growing your own medicinal plants?

Thorough, well written, excellent motivation, and it's easy to work your way round the Australian basics. Could well become a cornerstone of your efforts at self-sufficiency.