New Holland Publishers, RRP: $29.95, 304pp
Reviewer: Rama Gaind
This is a bible for first-time gardeners, and an authority to reinforce techniques for established organic gardens.
With this hardback compilation, Don Burke has covered all aspects to ensure a win for all those with green fingers – and others, too, no doubt.
It’s an all-inclusive, wide-ranging guide to creating our own grocery store in our own backyard!
Australia’s foremost expert on backyards, Don goes through every necessary step to set up a blooming, thriving vegie patch.
He tells us why it must be set-up in the full sun, how compost is the single most important element in achieving long-term success with vegetables and how to make our own compost.
What a wonderful opportunity for children to establish their own garden and to learn the origins of food and how to grow it. One happy outcome could see them happily eating vegetables that they have grown themselves.
However, going organic isn’t only about healthy eating – home-grown organic produce is far cheaper than over-the-counter vegetables and the variety can be limitless.
The taste sensation of eating fresh produce will also be greatly appreciated!
Delectable recipes
There are scrumptious recipes for all those freshly-picked organic foodstuffs – like strawberry and mint sorbet, zucchini relish, bread rolls with pesto and oven-dried tomatoes, sultana carrot cheesecake and that vegie patch salad is refreshing at any time. Why not bake a chocolate zucchini cake? Be adventurous, and learn how to make a scarecrow.
Just looking at the collection of beautiful, colour photos will have people scurrying to creative their own gardens!
Don Burke tells us the best way to keep those pests and insects (who love our gardens) away without resorting to dangerous chemicals and pesticides.
This book is inundated with helpful hints: when to pick the vegies, the best way to store them and freeze them, how to dry them and make jellies and marmalades. There is even an organic planning calendar, a guide to the various kinds of chooks to buy and to enhance the organic nature of our backyard.
Looked on as a pioneer of lifestyle television in Australia, Don planted a vegie garden, on his own, when he was six years old.
Don Burke, the life-long passionate gardener, has produced an organic garden gem which is a must for the bookshelf.
