What do we mean by a good garden? Is it somewhere that’s beautiful or very productive? Author and lifelong gardener Chris McLaughlin has a different definition. For her, the good garden is somewhere that does no harm to the environment but instead gives back.
In her latest book, she outlines how to turn your plot into somewhere that not only nurtures you but also benefits wildlife and the natural ecosystem.
(I was given a copy in return for a fair review.)
From choosing your growing method – there are explanations of everything from permaculture growing to French intensive gardening – to the basics behind good plant choices, The Good Garden is a realistic guide to growing sustainably. She acknowledges that there are many ways of growing and many opinions on methods, while different gardens require different approaches.
“There is never a one-size-fits-all solution,” she says.
There’s advice on extending the growing season – it’s vital to know your first and last frost dates – suggestions for ways of protecting crops from greenhouses to floating covers, and an exhaustive explanation of how to make compost.
Other useful stuff includes ways of determining your soil type, good plants for pollinators and even specific butterflies, and her top tools for hand-weeding – I was glad to see the Hori Hori scored well.
There’s encouragement to keep rabbits and chickens – with reasons why they are a good addition to a sustainable garden – ideas for creating a local gardening community, and a defense of dandelions.
All this information is delivered in an easy, chatty style with a layout that is colourful and well illustrated.
What is important is letting go of the idea of a plot being instant and without blemish. ‘Leave perfection at the gate’ is, she tells us, one of the best pieces of advice she’s been given. We should learn to accept some pest damage, for example, as it shows a healthy ecosystem at work: “Our true goal is to keep pests at acceptable levels.”
Written for the American market, the author is based in Northern California, means some of the detail isn’t relevant for British growers – we’re unlikely to need to plant for hummingbirds – but that doesn’t detract from the book.
And that definition of the good garden? She finishes by saying: “. . . adjusting our definitions of a beautiful and successful garden can not only help heal the planet, but our own minds, bodies, and communities.”
The Good Garden by Chris McLaughlin is published by Island Press with an RRP of £26.
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Thanks for highlighting this book, sounds right up my street 😊
Glad you found the review useful. 😍