Book Review: Gardening by Cuisine

Gardening by Cuisine
by Patti Moreno

256 pages
Sterling, 2013
List price: $18.95

With the second season upon us, we get another chance to grow what we like to eat and "The Garden Girl" Patti Moreno gives us a good guide, showing us how. There are a number of great books out there that provide basics for edible gardening, but sometimes a fresh voice adds harmony to the choir.

Gardening by Cuisine's format is straightforward with no frou-frou. There isn't a single photograph in the book. But helpful illustrations and Patti's conversational style make for easy reading. The layout is practical and she covers just about all that a beginning gardener needs to know to get growing.

Veteran gardeners will learn a thing or two as well and enjoy the recipes that are included with the themed garden plans. There are ten specialized gardens in all, including the Mama Mia Best-Ever Marinara Sauce Garden, the Latin-Caribbean Sofrito Garden, and the Vegan Raw Garden.

Patti has produced videos that expand on each chapter, which are an added value for beginning and seasoned gardeners alike. I like this book for its ease of use and no-nonsense approach. Patti didn't grow up gardening - she's a true city girl - and she shows that anyone who has some garden space can fill it with food for the table.

Patti Moreno is co-creator and host of GardenGirlTV.com, one of the top urban gardening websites in the US. She also produces and hosts the web series, Edible Gardening (HGTV.com). She lives and gardens in Roxbury, MA.

Read more garden book reviews.
Read Kylee Baumle’s blog, Our Little Acre. - See more at: http://www.hortmag.com/gardening-book-reviews/book-review-lawn-gone#sthash.vHUuMhzP.dpuf