Product Description

This book is for vegetable gardeners and nature-lovers everywhere. It is a 'grow your own' manual, a recipe book, and a store of fascinating observations about natural history in the garden. The author writes a deeply personal account of the changing year based on his first-hand experience and a real affection for his subjects and locality. Journeying week-by-week through the vegetable and fruit growing calendar, this mix of practical advice, humour and information on and around the plot satisfies armchair gardeners and full-on nature enthusiasts alike. Thought provoking, inspiring - occasionally challenging - this is a book that can be taken to bed as an end-of-day muse; or get dogeared and dirty as an essential aid to cultivating and cooking home-grown food.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #40895 in Books
• Published on: 2008-09-26
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 224 pages

Review
'Much more than a vegetable gardeners book, it is a grow your own manual for nature lovers, food enthusiasts and anyone who loves to work with the elements.' --www.ecohomeandgarden.co.uk

'Brimming with an infectious passion for the outdoors life 'Dirty Nails' awakens the reader to the year-long joys of nature and the possibilities of self sufficiency, whether they live in the country or the urban jungle.' --www.funkyfogey.com

From the Author
Special thanks in producing On The Plot must go to my dear friend Tony Benge. He and I spent many absorbing hours shooting the instructional photos which are a feature of this book. Plus the publishers and designers who, I hope you will agree, have done a beautiful yet unpretentious job of packaging it all together in such an inspirational and mouth-watering fashion. I truly hope you enjoy reading and applying On The Plot in the garden and kitchen where you live as much as I had fun writing it. With my very best wishes, Joe.

About the Author
'Dirty Nails' has been writing about wildlife since boyhood. His weekly gardening column has been a popular feature of the Dorset and Somerset based Blackmore Vale Magazine since February 2002. With a naturalists' eye for the world around him, and wearing his heart always on his sleeve, the author thrills to the extraordinary and the mundane in equal measure. Past life employment has included being a teacher, international photo-journalist, forester, and groundsman. He now earns a living as a wildlife consultant and writer. His first book, How to Grow Your Own Food, was published in 2007, Spring Hill (How To Books).

Customer Reviews

Review by Connie Cross
With his own dynamic turn of phrase and fantastic attention to detail, Dirty Nails again excels in his second book. A real cult figure who deserves to be widly read and universally recognised as a gardener par excellence.

Great book, adding to the previous one
I have to repeat what I said for Dirty Nails first book. I am hooked, I will be buying the next one too. This book is a must any gardener. Not only is it a great read it is also it packed full of information for all levels of gardeners. What is really wonderful is the inclusion of wildlife stories and snippets. It reminds us that gardening is not a chore in any way; it is a wonderful blessing. We must remember when we are digging the plot or planting the seed, that being out in the open at one with nature is one of the world's sweetest pleasures. Take time to smell the flowers, take time to make a friend with a robin, pause for a cup of tea. Thank you Mr. Dirty Nails.