Backyard Self-Sufficiency [Paperback]

Jackie French (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 18, 1998

Provides readers with detailed information on self-sufficient gardening. Regardless of whether it is 5 acres or a window box, there are ideas in this book for everyone. Self-sufficient gardens are beautiful: a ramble of productivity and a profusion of smells and colours. We've forgotten how beautiful edible plants can be: fat red apples and tendrils of grapes; beautiful red-flowering perennial beans and soft feathery fennel; the wide, bright blooms of passion fruit and the scent of orange blossom on a summer night. It's like a Garden of Eden in your own back yard.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Jackie French

Product Details

• Paperback: 164 pages
• Publisher: Aird Books,Australia (April 18, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0947214240
• ISBN-13: 978-0947214241
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.1 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,280,413 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Self-sufficiency without the fanaticism, January 11, 2004

By 

"bungies" (Melbourne, Vic, AUST) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Backyard Self-Sufficiency (Paperback)

This was my introduction to Jackie French's books, and a real breath of fresh air. Finally, a book which gives practical, realistic suggestions for growing food and using what your garden gives, without trying to convert or brow-beat, as so many books in this genre do.

While Jackie acknowledges the positive environmental impact of her fairly unique gardening style, her primary rationale for growing food and using you garden is that it's fun. You get the sense that this book is not just for people who have eschewed modern conveniences and are expecting the imminent collapse of society, but in fact that anyone could do this.

Left me feeling inspired, and gave me several out-loud laughs as well.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best Book on Gardening I Have EVER read, April 1, 2005

By 

marcia landau (West Hills, CA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Backyard Self-Sufficiency (Paperback)

This thin book is so full of helpful, permacultural advice you'll throw away practically every other book on gardening you have. If I could wholesale order any book and hand it out to every person I met, it would be this one. She teaches you how to make olive oil, tofu, homemade shampoos, how to grow all the vegan food you would ever need right in your backyard, including grains and beans, fruit trees, nut trees, how to make flour of nuts and even pumpkins (!). This is truly a book about creating your own life and becoming self-sufficient, while being sustainable with nature. This is not only the best gardening book I have ever read. It is quite possibly one of the best books I have ever read, period.

5.0 out of 5 stars Australian book, great for Californians, November 15, 2010

By 

Jennifer Arrow - See all my reviews

This review is from: Backyard Self-Sufficiency (Paperback)

Just wanted to say that this book is from an Australian point of view, so you'll need an English-to-English translator (LOL) and probably a similar climate. I'm in Southern California, and the recommendations are almost exactly perfect for my climate. Reading this book made me realize that I should be looking closer at Australian sustainability efforts (especially those of the great Bill Mollison) rather than efforts from different climate zones in the U.S. (We're much closer to the Aussie temperatures and rainfall patterns than we are to those of other parts of the U.S. like the midwest, south, Pacific NW or northeast.) ANYWAY, this book is incredibly detailed and informative and highly recommended, and just so you know, when she says "silverbeet" she's talking about what we call "Swiss chard." Enjoy!