Gardening Book Review: How to Grow More Vegetables by John Jeavons

Gardening–Book Review: How to Grow More Vegetables

This book review was accessed thru Energy Bulletin (energybulletin.net) from it’s 3/14/09 Food & agriculture section. The review itself was found at transitionculture.org, 3/11/09.  John Jeavons’  How to Grow More Vegetables is perhaps “The Book” when one talks about  the Sustainable family vegetable garden. PrudentHome has recommended it since we began.

The reviewer begins by acknowledging that How to Grow More Vegetables isn’t a new book but notes that it is one of such  stature that it “… might lay claim to being one of the greatest gardening books of all time.” (We believe that is certainly, at least, one of the greatest!)

Continuing, the review notes that the book “…sets out to teach you to do exactly what the title suggests.”  and the definition of it’s biointensive method of food production supports it’s avowed aim: “The ‘biointensive’ method is an organic agricultural system which focuses on maximum yields from the minimum area of land, while simultaneously improving the soil. The goal of the method is long term sustainability on a closed system basis. It has also been used successfully on small scale commercial farms.”

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The reviewer points to the biointensive method’s split with the past practices of digging and fertilizing large spaces for gardens (row gardening) which included the fertilizing (and watering) of the paths between rows which allowed access to the plants. The paths themselves then required maintenance such as weeding.

A key element in the biointensive method is compost. The book gives excellent instruction in the development and use of this nutrient-rich soil amendment.

The review focuses in on the book’s argument “… that the key aspects of biointensive food production are deep bed preparation, composting, close plant spacing, companion planting, the use of open pollinated seeds, and taking a whole system approach.”

In conclusion, the review points to John Jeavons application of “…the biointebsive concept to what he calls ‘mini-farming’. This is the growing of a range of grains and pulses, on the same system. In ‘How to Grow’…, Jeavons argues that if the U.S. were to convert all the land it currently dedicates to lawns to biointensive food production, something like 97% of the landscape could be returned to natural systems and wilderness.”

Prudent Home would like to point out that in our view the biointensive  method/system is one of low cost, low technology and low effort combined with discreet use of the resources of land, fertilizer/compost, and water to produce a maximum sustainable yield of food from the garden. It doesn’t get much better than this.

If you don’t have a copy of  How to Grow More Vegetables may we suggest that you just click on any of  How to Grow More Vegetables links in this article and order a copy for your family. Also, don’t forget to follow up and let us know what you think of Jeavons’ book.

Until the end of the week, keep your eyes on the horizon as the weather’s changing fast.