Gardening and cooking books are my happy place. I'm a voracious reader (gardener, cook, eater). Sadly, until Grocery Gardening came out, I was getting a bit tired of the formula of most garden/cooking books. Sure, the authors were all well respected, the photography was great and the recipes were good. However they were all the SAME. Grocery Gardening really blew my socks off because the authors took the tired garden/cooking book formula and turned it on its ear.
The first thing I like about this book - and what makes it so timely - is that it was written collaboratively by a group of veteran gardener/cooks who met and worked via Twitter/Facebook. This takes the content to a whole new fresh level. The "ringleader" Jean Ann Van Krevelen - who wouldn't want to follow a woman with a name like that?! - used new technology to seek out the best of the best to make this book great.
The second thing I like about this book, is that it is interesting for a veteran like myself yet approachable enough to be a really great, useful resource for a new gardener. Food gardening (Grocery Gardening!) increased by 7 million households last year so there are a lot of new gardeners out there who are going to want advice!
The third thing I like about this book is that it is fun and concise. The "avatars" of the authors provide cheeky/fun comments that pepper the well organized and streamlined information. It makes the read very personal and gives voice to the authors which, very freely, want you to contact them via Twitter and Facebook to ask questions.
The content, approach and zeitgeist of Grocery Gardening make it a real winner. And if the authors have coined a new term in the process... even better! The concept of Grocery Gardening is so positive and actionable... unlike "recession gardening". Yuck. That makes gardening sound like a necessary evil which it isn't. Gardening is a joy.
So foodies, gardeners and would-be foodie/gardeners rejoice! You've just been introduced to your new gardening best friend - Grocery Gardening. And the fun isn't over when you're done reading the book, because the authors are ready, willing and able to keep the conversation going via Twitter and Facebook.
Maybe other authors out there will step up so gardening/cooking books can be everyone's happy place again!
