Terrible. Maybe this book was geared toward commercial producers (which would make the title VERY ironic), but there was practically no salvagable advice for the average backyard gardener.


Bottom line: Avoid at all costs unless you are HIGHLY technical and want an "engineered" garden.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC, provided by the author and/or the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

The title of this one is a bit misleading. While ONE of the end-goals of the information presented in this book is to help gardeners and small-scale farmers grow more vegetables in a small space with less water, it's certainly not presented as the main one. The main one would be: building soil health in a natural and sustainable way, to lengthen the longevity of our soils, reduce the need for artificial and harmful fertilizers and pesticides, and then, YES, to increase yields. Don't get me wrong, I found this book to be hugely informative and important. But for novice gardeners who are just getting their green thumbs in the dirt, I think a lot of this book would go over their heads - it's incredibly in-depth, scientific, and dense.

TL;DR: Great, well-researched and hugely important information, but needs a more accurate title.

This book illustrates a wonderful ideal for those with a bit of land who would like to live as sustainably as possible on a vegan diet. It has the tone of being a one-size fits all solution, but I felt like there are gaps for those who live in an apartment, have health or mobility issues, or who cannot dedicate the time needed to maintain their mini-farm. For those with the time and space, it seems like a fantastic resource. It is based on Ecology Action's ongoing research, and is full of all the charts and suggestions you could ask for.

Thanks to NetGalley and Ten Speed Press for the opportunity to read and review How to Grow More Vegetables, ninth edition, by John Jeavons. How to Grow More Vegetables should possibly be named How to Grow More Crops. This gardening instructional guide covers soil preparation, creation and upkeep; composting; soil fertilization and nutrition; planting with seeds and/or plants; companion planting; crop rotation; insect control; garden charts, plans and tools. The book is based on the GROW BIOINTENSIVE Method of gardening and is a more complex instructional gardening book than I need, but is still very helpful; 4 stars.
*I received a complimentary copy of this book for voluntary review consideration.