The Family Kitchen Garden: How to Plant, Grow, and Cook Together [Paperback]

Karen Liebreich (Author), Jutta Wagner (Author), Annette Wendland (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 1, 2009

Everyone wants healthy children who choose potatoes over chips and oranges over Oreos, but it isn't always easy to convince a picky child to try something new.

The Family Kitchen Garden integrates the garden and kitchen in a simple, fun way that parents and children can enjoy together. By teaching kids how to garden, they will be more likely to eat what they grow -- what a rewarding way to encourage healthy foods!

Unlike other guides to gardening with children, these are not simple projects just for kids. Rather, the authors believe that kids can do -- and will enjoy -- the same type of gardening that adults do. Part One focuses on the nitty-gritty of gardening with kids: how to keep sessions short, tips on how much to grow, and important safety precautions. Part Two is a month-by-month guide on what to sow, plant, harvest, and eat. Seasonal recipes include nutritious, kid-friendly foods like parsnip chips, rhubarb cake, and homemade ketchup. Part Three is an A-Z guide to vegetables, fruit, herbs, and flowers. Icons note which are plants particularly easy to grow and suitable for young children.

The Family Kitchen Garden is for parents who want to get their kids outside and for families looking for simple ways to lead a healthier life. Grab your kids and get gardening!

Editorial Reviews

Review

“This is an indispensable handbook for starting a family kitchen garden. Growing your own vegetables and herbs will transform both your cooking and the way your children eat.”
(Alice Waters )

“Fun, easy-to-complete projects." (Denver Post )

"This book shows how to get parents and children together in the garden and in the kitchen."

(Cleveland Plain Dealer )

"Monthly tasks and an encyclopedia of vegetables, as well as recipes like a luscious rhubarb cake, make this book as useful as it is irresistible." (Seattle Times )

"Creative activities and healthy recipes." (Library Journal )

“Readers will also find an occasional recipe. Parsnip crisps, anyone? You’ll say yes once you see them.”

(Columbus Dispatch )

The last half of the book is an A-to-Z vegetable, fruit, herb and edible flower guide that would be helpful to any gardener who isn’t satisfied with the amount of information crammed on the back of a seed packet.

(Austin American-Statesman )

"Excellent primer for gardening with kids ... long on useful information and growing plans, and doesn’t rely on tired pinecone critters to entertain." (Kiwi Magazine )

“A garden lets you get back in tune with the seasons and nature, grow some of your own healthy food, and do something for your body and soul.” (New York Daily News )

"This is an introduction to productive gardening than any novice could benefit from reading."

(Gardens Illustrated )

"Helpful to those who need reminders of when to harvest the brussel sprouts and when to start the tomato seeds indoors."

(Columbus Dispatch )

"Knowing that picky kids are more likely to eat what they grow, this book integrates garden and kitchen in a simple way that parents and children can enjoy together." (Michigan Gardener )

"This book is an excellent starting point for families who want to get into vegetable gardening."

(Vancouver Sun )

"The Family Kitchen Garden is a lovely, invaluable resource, which, if implemented, could transform the way we as families spend our time, eat our food and live our lives. Only good can come of this."

(PlantWhateverBringsYouJoy.com )

About the Author

Karen Liebreich is the founder and co-ordinator of the Chiswick House Kitchen Garden in West London. Her other books include The Letter in the Bottle and Fallen Order. She has a history doctorate from Cambridge University and basic horticultural qualifications from Capel Manor.

Jutta Wagner is the crop planner and designer for the Chiswick House Kitchen Garden. She started her career as a horticulturist in Bavaria, and went on to study landscape architecture at the University of Applied Science in Berlin. From 1995 until 2004 she worked for a Berlin design practice specializing in garden history and family housing projects.

Annette Wendland runs the teenage sessions at the Chiswick House Kitchen Garden. She works as a freelance photographer and studied at the London College of Printing. She specializes in architecture, food and nature photography.

Product Details

• Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: Timber Press (April 1, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 160469050X
• ISBN-13: 978-1604690507
• Product Dimensions: 9.8 x 7.5 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.8 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (29 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #476,747 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars Not what I was expecting... August 27, 2009

By M. Buehl VINE™ VOICE

Format:Paperback|Amazon Vine™ Review (What's this?)

This book would be great if you have absolutely no experience gardening and/or your children are old enough to read and you're getting this for them. However, I've been gardening for about four years and have young children (the oldest is 3.5yrs old). I don't feel this book is targeted for gardening with preschoolers and truthfully, didn't see as much as I would've thought given the title, that was geared for children.
Also to note, this book is based on the Untied Kingdom and therefore growing seasons don't match up with the U.S. I did like the fact/concept that the book divides gardening based on the month, however it wasn't that helpful since I live in the U.S.
The book gets three stars because it is BEAUTIFUL and would make a lovely gift for an older child. Great introduction to gardening for children, just not what I was expecting as far as usefulness for our situation and family.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Loved it! December 14, 2009

By L. Abel VINE™ VOICE

Format:Paperback|Amazon Vine™ Review (What's this?)

I really enjoyed this book. Several reviews have focused on the book's "lack" of advice targeted specifically for young kids but the title is "The Family Kitchen Gardener" and I thought it did a great job of including ideas to get everyone in the family involved. The book is written by a British author and so you will need to adjust the planting schedules for North America however the author explains this. After a few chapters on the basics of gardening there is a month-by-month guide on what needs to be done in your garden. Interspersed you will find fun recipes and projects to do as a family. Finally the book includes an A-Z of the veggies, fruits, and flowers mentioned in the book.

I've been gardening for almost a year and have several gardening books in my library. This is definitely one of my favorites and I would recommend for new and old gardeners.

A side note: the majority of the plants discussed in the book are veggies. If you're interested in starting a family flower garden, this wouldn't be for you.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars Not what I was looking for September 13, 2009

By V. Linnean VINE™ VOICE

Format:Paperback|Amazon Vine™ Review (What's this?)

This is a good basic gardening book. One problem is she tries to put too much information in the book. The first section is on preparing the garden and planting. Most of the chapters are only 2-3 pages, and several of the topics (like soil preparation and composting) have entire books written about them. For basic soil preparation, I would highly recommend Teaming with Microbes: A Gardener's Guide to the Soil Food Web.

The next section is a month by month gardening guide, which the author says to wait a month if you live in the US (the author is British). If you live in the Northern US (I live in Alaska), this section is nearly useless. I'm not doing any planting in October through March, not even starting seeds inside. There are a few activities you can do with children (like building a ladybug house) in this section, along with a handful of recipes including items such as peas, kale and rhubarb from the garden.

The final section is a synopsis of several vegetables, fruit, herbs and flowers. There is a page devoted to most items, from arugula (which she calls rocket) to zucchini. This is somewhat helpful, except for the planting and harvesting times which are not appropriate for Northern climates. She does talk about problems, diseases, companion planting and crop rotation.

One thing I do like about the book is she advocates organic gardening practices, including composting and adding mulch to the gardens. I also like the good, basic information.

I was disappointed that there was very little about actually gardening with children. There were mentions of things like pea seeds are large and easy for children to plant, or you may not want children to help pull the little plants for fear of damaging them. As I mentioned, there were a few activities, but this is really not a book about gardening with children. I was also expecting more recipes, but there were only about a dozen in the book.

Bottom line: A good, basic gardening book, but if you want more about gardening with children I would recommend Roots, Shoots, Buckets & Boots: Gardening Together with Children. There are also a number of good books out there with great vegetable recipes. This doesn't have enough to make it worthwhile.

One note: The author did include measurements and temperatures for us Americans as well as the British measurements in the recipes.