Of all the gardening guides I have ever found, The Organic Gardener’s Handbook tends to be one of the most broad in its scope and specific in its gardening insights. This book, written by Frank Tozer is a winner in its expansive knowledge, its engaging bouts of humor and its helpful charts and guides. Tozer covers so much general knowledge from experienced gardeners that it is quite amazing that any one person could compile such a book. |
| A few crop rotation options |
Rarely do I renew any of the library books that I check out, but I have already renewed this book twice. It covers when, where, how, how much, why and every other question related to seeds, vegetables, gardens, tools and so forth. It covers intensive and less intensive gardening. It covers the many options in rotating crops and in planning out how to plant a garden. Because each area of the country experiences different weather patterns, Tozer finds ways to give advice while still making it universal. He does not say this works for everything, but instead says if your conditions are dry, hot, wet, cold etc. then you might want to consider doing specific things to ensure a successful garden.
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| Crops for different situations |
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| Planting by height |
Frank is quite funny at times. At one point he states that you can drop off your slugs at a competitor’s garden while in another section he mentions the use of compressed wood as one possible material for composting. He then goes on to say that he doesn’t know why anyone would think of composting compressed wood and doesn’t know why he is even writing it!
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| Spring Planting guide |
The various guides that Tozer includes are quite helpful. He explores many facets of crop rotation, planting by size, direct sowing vs. transplanting, how to prepare transplants and when to plant crops in the spring vs. in the fall. By consulting charts and guides, a gardener can find ways to expand the season and grow things that work well for their climate.
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| Fall Planting Guide |
For those who are new to gardening, as well as those who have established crops, The Organic Gardener’s Handbook provides a wealth of knowledge that can be of benefit to anyone who cares to read.
