Review: Garden to Save the World

We all know how gardens how help us individually but do they really make a bigger difference? In Garden to Save the World, Joe Clark argues that they can have a global effect, improving communities and combating climate change.

If every one of the estimated 22 million gardens in the UK alone were tended with the environment and wildlife in mind, the result would be huge, he tells us.

“Collectively our gardens are so much more powerful than we could ever imagine.”

A self-taught gardener who first learned about plants and the natural environment from his great grandmother, he turned his back on corporate work in 2019 to make horticulture his career. In ‘Garden to Save the World‘, he outlines his gardening philosophy – “When it comes to gardening, not only do I believe in bending the rules, I think it is essential to do so.” – and details how to go about turning your outdoor space, be it a large garden or just a balcony, into somewhere that benefits you and the wider world.

(I was given a copy of the book in return for a fair review.)

The book covers the usual topics – growing food, how to compost, what to plant to attract pollinators, why we should like garden ‘pests’ – with a mix of detailed advice, such as a step-by-step guide to planting a tree, and more general topics as starting points – ‘Express Yourself’ is encouragement to use the garden “to go wild and get creative” without outlining exactly what form that should take. The final section is about the NHS – The Natural Health System – and how to ensure your garden boosts your wellbeing.

Scattered throughout are ‘top tips’ and each chapter ends with a checklist, usually prompts to make notes on that season, what went well and what could be improved. The chart showing the food miles of different produce and Joe’s suggestions for top crops and the best trees for gardens of different sizes were interesting.

Many of the ideas are familiar – using old pallets and recycling sinks as planters – but I was surprised by the advice to use old clothes rather than buy new to garden in as it’s something I’ve always done.

What makes the book different to the countless others published in recent years is the personal element with lots of anecdotes about his own experience, such as ‘rewilding’ his front garden or how his childhood weeding was viewed as ‘bad gardening’.

While there’s little new for the experienced, environmentally aware gardener, it would be a good starting point for those wanting to make their gardening greener or those just starting out on their gardening journey.

We’re told to use the book as “a guide, not a set of definite rules” but he does hope that at the very least we will all plant a tree.

Garden to Save the World by Joe Clark is published by One Boat with an RRP of £20. You can buy it here for £14.68. (If you buy via this link, I receive a small commission. The price you pay is not affected.) Alternatively, you may wish to buy from an independent bookseller here. All prices correct at time of publication of this post.

You can read more of my gardening and garden-related book reviews here.

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