Hands in the Dirt

With the cost of living on the rise, Hands in the Dirt by Leah Evans offers a practical and empowering solution: growing your own vegetables. This comprehensive and accessible guide is perfect for beginners and seasoned gardeners alike. Evans expertly navigates the reader through the fundamental principles of gardening, providing easy-to-follow advice on various techniques and methods. Leah Evans opens with a wealth of information on getting started, whether you’re cultivating in small spaces or using containers. She covers the essentials of building rich soil and compost, growing plants from seeds, transplanting seedlings, and practising companion planting. Each concept is presented with clarity, making it easy to understand and implement. The book delves into the specifics of eleven easy-to-grow, nutritious kitchen-garden staples: beetroot, beans, broccoli, carrots, cucumber, herbs, pumpkins, leafy greens, potatoes, courgettes (zucchini), and tomatoes. Evans provides detailed instructions for each plant, from sowing and growing to pest and disease control, ensuring your plants thrive under your care. Additionally, she includes numerous tips for harvesting and troubleshooting common gardening challenges. Hands in the Dirt goes beyond the garden, offering readers valuable insights into the kitchen. Evans includes advice on home cooking with freshly harvested produce, basic preserving techniques, and ingenious ideas for using leftovers. The recipes are simple, hearty, and designed to make the most of your garden’s bounty. Food security is a growing concern in today’s world, and this book teaches the essential skills needed to become more self-sufficient. Hands in the Dirt is a must-have for every novice gardener, those seeking inspiration for their garden, and every home cook looking to bring more nutritious, home-grown food to the table. Embrace the joy and satisfaction of gardening with Leah Evans as your guide, and discover the power of having your own hands in the dirt.