Grow Your Garden

Gardening can take many forms. From pots on a windowsill to a backyard homestead, planting a garden can bring enjoyment and relaxation. It can also bring a wealth of benefits to our environment and the many inhabitants living there. Read on to discover some resources that can support you on your gardening journey, whether you’re just starting out, or a seasoned gardener searching for new insights.

For Young Gardeners:

• Harlem Grown: How One Big Idea Changed a Neighborhood by Tony Hillery - This is the true story of how one man created an urban paradise in a vacant lot in Harlem, providing learning and healthy eating for students and their families at a local school.

• The Junior Plant Lover’s Handbook by Molly E. Williams - Learn all you need to know about growing plants in this guide to developing a green thumb!

• Let’s Get Gardening by Radhika Haswani - Packed full of activities and information, this book is a great introduction to young gardeners that covers a variety of gardening topics.

• Michelle’s Garden: How the First Lady Planted Seeds of Change by Sharee Miller - Read the story behind Michelle Obama’s idea to create a kitchen garden at the White House to promote healthy eating.

For Older Gardeners:

• All New Square Foot Gardening: The World’s Most Popular Method to Harvest More Food From Less Space by Mel Bartholomew (find similar titles from Mel Bartholomew available on Hoopla) - This classic gardening book is in its third edition with new photos, illustrations, and information.

• Black Girls Gardening: Empowering Stories and Garden Wisdom for Healing and Flourishing in Nature by Amber Grossman (also available on Hoopla) - Based on Grossman’s Instagram account, this inspiring book contains personal narratives from thirty-one women on a variety of gardening practices and topics.

• Container Gardening: The Permaculture Way; Sustainably Grow Vegetables and More in Your Small Space by Valéry Tsimba - No yard? No problem! This guide will get you started with an organic container garden.

• Epic Homesteading: Your Guide to Self-Sufficiency on a Modern, High-Tech, Backyard Homestead by Kevin Espiritu (find similar titles from Kevin Espiritu on Hoopla) - Founder of the website Epic Gardening, Kevin Espiritu is a master in urban gardening. He covers a range of topics including growing and preserving, bee-keeping, and incorporating solar power- plus more!

• Free-Range Chicken Gardens: How to Create a Beautiful Chicken-Friendly Yard by Jessi Bloom (also available on Hoopla) - This unique book is part manual on raising chickens, part guide to designing a healthy garden for both gardener and chickens.

• Garden Wonderland: Creating Life-Changing Outdoor Spaces for Beauty, Harvest, Meaning, and Joy by Leslie Bennett - An award-winning garden designer, Bennett offers guidance on creating a garden tailored to the gardener’s purpose.

• Groundcover Revolution: How to Use Sustainable, Low-Maintenance, Low-Water Groundcovers to Replace Your Turf by Kathy Jentz (also available on Hoopla) - More homeowners are adopting this alternative to the traditional grass lawn. Learn how to transform your yard into a lower-maintenance, more environmentally friendly landscape.

• How Can I Help?: Saving Nature With Your Yard by Doug Tallamy - A leading expert and advocate on gardening with native plants, Tallamy’s newest book is on the hows and whys of turning your landscape into a native habitat.

• How to Garden When You Rent by Matthew Pottage - This book is another great choice for creating a garden space inside, on your balcony, or in a small yard area if you are renting your home.

• Love Letter to a Garden by Debbie Millman - Experience Millman’s ode to her progression from a child working in her grandparents’ backyard to establishing her own garden. Millman’s illustrations and recipes from wife, Roxane Gay, make this a delightful read.

• Prairie Up: An Introduction to Natural Garden Design by Benjamin Vogt - Create a diverse and beneficial garden using native plants with this easy-to-use resource.

• Shade Garden: Essential Know-how and Expert Advice for Gardening Success by Zia Allaway - Gardening in shady spaces can be especially challenging. This guide explains the various types of shade, how to select the appropriate plants, and plant maintenance.

• The Sustainable Homestead: Create a Thriving Permaculture Ecosystem with Your Garden, Animals, and Land by Angel Ferraro-Fanning - A how-to on establishing a homestead from a self-taught farmer who founded her 6-acre farm after giving up a successful career as a graphic designer.

• Zen Garden Design by Mira Locher - Explore the designs behind the meditative Japanese gardens and landscapes of Zen Buddist monk, Shunmyo Masuno.

These are just some of the many books on gardening you can find at the library. You can also visit the new native plant garden at Glen Allen Library, established by volunteers from H.E.A.R.T. (Henrico’s Environmental Action and Resource Team).