Food grown right, in your own backyard : a beginner's guide to growing crops at home

As the founders behind the Seattle Urban Farm Company, Colin McCrate and Brad Halm have heard it all: My backyard is too small; how can I make space for a garden? Do I really need to buy fertilizer? What on earth is that creature crawling on the tomatoes? My crops took off and the zucchini are in the sidewalk -- who has time to harvest this all?! Food Grown Right, in Your Backyard is a primer for these questions and more. In response to the rising interest in homegrown foods, the Seattle Urban Farm Co. builds vegetable gardens for everyone from busy families to restaurants. Along the way, Colin and Brad teach beginner growers from all walks of life the techniques of organic food production. In this full color, beautifully photographed guide, they prove that anyone can develop a "green thumb," as they show readers how to build a garden from the ground up, explain general garden basics, discuss the best types of crops to try, and much more, including:* Garden size and design for any setting (no matter how small!), including container gardens* Soil types, and watering and irrigation * Plant life 101, and profiles of recommended vegetables, herbs, edible flowers, and berries* Garden tools and time-saving rules* Crop planning, tips on what to do with the harvest, and a garden calendar to keep your garden growing year-round Q&A material, profiles of other beginner gardeners, and step-by-step instructions all come together in this unique, friendly guide that was inspired by the kinds of questions Colin and Brad hear every day on the job with the Seattle Urban Farm Co. "The book is clear, concise, and beautifully illustrated. Even the more technical sections are presented in 'layman’s terms,' so even if you are new to gardening you will understand them. The photographs make understanding the text easy. Additional tables throughout the text also help, including one giving materials for composting. Because of the way the information is laid out, it won’t matter where you live, you will still be able to use the information. If you wish to plant a vegetable garden, this is easily one of the most useful books I’ve seen." -- The National Gardener Full color with instructional photographs and garden-design illustrations Easy, inspiring intro for first-timers who want to grow their own food while saving money and time Written by the founders of the nationally recognized Seattle Urban Farm Co. As the founders behind the Seattle Urban Farm Company, Colin McCrate and Brad Halm have heard it all: My backyard is too small; how can I make space for a garden? Do I really need to buy fertilizer? What on earth is that creature crawling on the tomatoes? My crops took off and the zucchini are in the sidewalk—who has time to harvest this all?! Food Grown Right, in Your Backyard is a primer for these questions and more. In response to the rising interest in homegrown foods, the Seattle Urban Farm Co. builds vegetable gardens for everyone from busy families to restaurants. Along the way, Colin and Brad teach beginner growers from all walks of life the techniques of organic food production. In this full color,... Pt. 3. Garden knowledge: Plant life 101 -- Garden tools : the only 11 tools you'll ever need -- Fertilizing your garden -- Compost -- Essential garden skills -- Know your climate -- Crop planning -- Storing your harvest.;Pt. 5. More garden knowledge: Month by month -- Your garden in winter -- Garden problems and solutions.;Pt. 2. Building a garden: Choosing a site -- Determining garden size -- Designing your garden -- Preparing your soil -- Creating garden beds -- Creating a container garden -- Watering and irrigation.;Provides information on vegetable gardening in one's backyard.;Pt. 4. Crop profiles: Annual vegetables -- Perennial vegetables -- Herbs -- Flowers in the vegetable garden -- Berries. Pt. 2. Building a garden: Choosing a site -- Determining garden size -- Designing your garden -- Preparing your soil -- Creating garden beds -- Creating a container garden -- Watering and irrigation. Pt. 3. Garden knowledge: Plant life 101 -- Garden tools : the only 11 tools you'll ever need -- Fertilizing your garden -- Compost -- Essential garden skills -- Know your climate -- Crop planning -- Storing your harvest. Pt. 4. Crop profiles: Annual vegetables -- Perennial vegetables -- Herbs -- Flowers in the vegetable garden -- Berries. Pt. 5. More garden knowledge: Month by month -- Your garden in winter -- Garden problems and solutions. Easy gardening instruction for saving money and eating better by growing your own food in the city.