The New Self-Sufficient Gardener [Paperback]

John Seymour (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 21, 2008

This revised edition of an old favorite, first published in 1978, explains how to cultivate and preserve all types of fruit, herbs, and vegetables, in addition to instructions on keeping bees and raising chickens. AUTHOR BIO: John Seymour authored over 40 books, including the DK's best-selling Complete Book of Self-Sufficiency and The Forgotten Arts & Crafts. He died in the fall of 2004 at the age of 90.

Editorial Reviews

Review

I have a small, jealously guarded library of best-ever food gardening books, most of them now out of print, and all authored by gardeners who spent at least as much time growing food as writing. So when one of these classics comes back into print, I m excited. The New Self-Sufficient Gardener by John Seymour is the latest case in point... A fan of deep-bed gardening, his book shows how to get the most out of small amounts of land. All these principles work as well on a hundred-square-foot city garden as on a farm... The result is a book that's loaded with large, engaging color illustrations of fruits, vegetables, composting, whole gardens, greenhouses, chicken coops, trellising, beekeeping, pruning, grafting, and just about every other food-growing activity you can think of. --Sunset Magazine

About the Author

John Seymour, the acknowledged founding father of the self-sufficiency movement, was an active campaigner for the countryside and the environment. Students come from around the world to learn about his lifestyle & philosophies at the centre he established in southern Ireland. He died in 2004. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: DK Publishing (April 21, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0756628989
• ISBN-13: 978-0756628987
• Product Dimensions: 10.8 x 8.5 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (36 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #20,479 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #31 in Books > Crafts, Hobbies & Home > Gardening & Landscape Design > Reference
  • #37 in Books > Crafts, Hobbies & Home > Gardening & Landscape Design > By Technique > Organic
  • #48 in Books > Crafts, Hobbies & Home > Gardening & Landscape Design > Vegetables

More About the Author

John Seymour is the acknowledged founding father of the self-sufficiency movement. Author of more than 40 books, he draws students from around the world to learn self-sufficiency first hand at his farm in County Wexford.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

71 of 73 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Only gardening book I'll ever need August 16, 2008

By C. Ellzey

Format:Paperback

I am an avid reader, and avid gardener. I have bought thousands of dollars of books and this is the first book I have ever felt I NEEDED to write a review for.

This is a wonderful book for the experienced gardener and new alike. The suggestions are practical, inexpensive, and can be applied in any garden. He covers soil, pests, different crops, spacing, garden layout, composting, and more. I checked this book out of the library, but am here today to buy it. It may be the only gardening book you will need (although if you are like me you will add others!).

I love his down to earth way of writing, and practical, useful information.

89 of 93 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Everyone should consider... July 10, 2008

By Lucie Peek

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

the fact that oil prices and food prices have been soaring exorbitantly should by itself be enough to make the everyday person want to consider self-sufficiency. I've been contemplating it recently because I've always loved to play in the dirt. Previously, I have been a 'tomato plants and maybe some herbs' kind of gardener. This year my garden crops have doubled and I have become more and more interested in different types of crops and self-sufficiency ideas. This books is chock-full of ideas and suggestions for just that outlook. Some self-sufficiency guides are nothing more than expensive wishful thinking. Not everyone can afford to put up a $12,500 wind turbine in their backyard. We can't all install geo-thermal heating systems in our houses. Some of us live in the CITY and cannot get away from city zoning laws. John Seymour's book is extremely practical in explanation and suggestion about simply learning how to garden for your own food needs. I learned some brand new techniques for growing potatoes and other root vegetables, and also learned how to get my own fertilizer without having to build compost bins which will probably offend the neighbors. I'm so pleased with this book and so glad that I spent the cash to get it.

35 of 35 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Treasure Trove--Worth its Weight in Heirloom Tomatoes! August 7, 2009

By Living it up VINE™ VOICE

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

After 30 years of having gardens in small yards, crowded yards, shaded yards and "rented" yards we are finally in the position to tend 25 acres of land.

It's ironic that the practices I've learned from the sustainable ag/permaculture/organic gardeners to make the most of my little gardens have now equipped me to grow more than enough food for our family in several small raised beds! This allows us to leave the bulk of our land wild and free for the wildlife that already inhabits it (which also leaves us a lot more time to enjoy the land and wildlife)!

That said, I've been working my way through my "oldies but goodies" garden book collection and picking up revised editions where possible and reading new authors as well to see how I can make the most of every bit of garden space I have in an effort to leave the remainder of my land naturalized.

This edition now ranks as my favorite all-around comprehensive garden book (and that is a high honor because I have some absolutely brilliant and useful books on my shelf). I cannot believe how much valuable information, beautiful illustrations and new-to-me hints, techniques and ideas I've picked up from this book.

On first glance, it looked like it was going to be another book that presented basic information on overall gardening with a little more detail when you get to the nuts and bolts of individual types of plants. Not so! He gives so many detailed instructions, illustrations and ideas for so many plants and techniques that I'm actually a little overwhelmed.

What I love most is that these are tips and techniques that anyone--rich or poor, strong or weak, with great tools or a $1 tree spade, some seeds and a space in the sun--can use to grow a beautiful, nutritious crop of food AND create a healthier, more productive environment as well.

I cannot imagine any gardener not enjoying this book and finding something useful to apply in their own garden.