Food & Gardening

Roasted carrots, potatoes, and other underground staples with rosemary on a baking sheet.

Root Vegetables Explained: The Essentials of These Underground Staples

In Root Vegetables, the latest in Jean-Martin Fortier’s Grower’s Guides, you’ll discover what makes these simple, but nutrient-packed powerhouse crops special, how to tell varieties apart, and why they belong…

Person kneeling and holding soil, focusing on plant care to revive plants in the background.

Why Your Plants Look Tired (and How To Fix It)

This excerpt from Jean-Martin Fortier’s Living Soil dives into common deficiencies, what they look like, and simple ways to bring your plants back to health and keep your garden thriving.

Hoophouse crops thrive in a clear greenhouse, inspired by Pam Dawling's Sustainable Market Farming.

Interview with Pam Dawling, author of Sustainable Market Farming, Second Edition

In this post, Pam Dawling shares practical insights from her new book, Sustainable Market Farming, Second Edition, offering a clear look at its core themes and intentions. Whether you’re new…

A close-up of a ripe red strawberry, showcasing innovative strategies in fruit cultivation.

Innovative Strategies for Small Fruit Growing

In The Berry Grower, Blake Cothron offers a practical guide to growing and marketing organic berries, perfect for beginners and experienced farmers alike. In this excerpt, he shares what inspired…

Hands transplanting herbs into terracotta pots, perfect for growing herbs indoors.

The Benefits of Growing Herbs Indoors

In this excerpt from Your Indoor Herb Garden, Master Gardener DJ Herda shares how growing herbs indoors offers flavor, beauty, and a simple path to greater self-reliance in uncertain times.

A burlap sack spills hazelnuts—a nutty idea—onto a rustic wooden surface.

A Not So Nutty Idea for Food Security

With grocery shelves empty and supply chains shaky it is time to rethink how we feed ourselves. Enter the humble hazelnut. This article by New Society Publishers’ Acquisitions Editor, Rob…

Young lettuce seedlings growing in trays—a market gardener’s guide to the paperpot system.

The Market Gardener’s Guide to the Paperpot System

Transplanting doesn’t have to be tedious—not with the right tools. In this excerpt from Vegetable Garden Tools: A Grower’s Guide, Jean-Martin Fortier introduces the Paperpot system, a game-changing tool for…

Cluster of ripe red tomatoes growing on a vine, unaffected by common tomato pests.

Learn to Spot The Tomato’s Common Enemies

In Tomatoes: A Grower’s Guide From The Market Gardener, Jean-Martin Fortier breaks down the most common pests and diseases that can wreak havoc on your crop—and how to fight back…

Assorted fresh fruits and vegetables for year-round food and easy food storage on a table.

16 Factors to Help Keep Good Food on the Table Year-Round

Planning is central to sustainable farming. In this excerpt from Sustainable Market Farming, Second Edition, Pam Dawling shares 16 key planning factors that support both sustainability and steady production through…

Close-up of hardy green kale leaves with ruffled edges glowing in garden sunlight.

Hardy Greens for Your Garden

In this excerpt from The Food Lover’s Garden by Jenni Blackmore, you’ll learn about some of the best hardy greens to grow (or to look for at your next market…

Person adjusting cables in a hydroponic farm, enhancing food security with fresh lettuce.

Building Food Security Together: The Impact of Community

Discover how the Gabriola Nature Education Society (GNES) and People for a Healthy Community (PHC) are working together to strengthen food security on Gabriola Island. Through collaboration, a new polytunnel…

Close-up of corn plants in a field, showcasing their growth cycle under a clear blue sky.

Understanding The Garden Operation Cycle

In this excerpt from The Garden Tool Handbook, author Zach Loeks explores how, by breaking the gardening year into stages like planning, planting, and harvesting, you can learn to use…

Holiday Cheer, One Bite At A Time: Crafting A Charcuterie Board

Ready to impress at your next holiday gathering? From curing meats to crafting fig chutney and fennel pickles, we’ve got recipes from Pure Charcuterie: The Craft and Poetry of Curing…

A hand planting seeds in soil with lush green plants in the background embodies the essence of a thriving market garden.

How to Grow Seed Crops in Your Market Garden

Packed with practical advice, The Seed Farmer by Dan Brisebois is a guide to everything from choosing seed crops to harvesting and resale. In this excerpt, Brisebois shares smart strategies…

Close-up of zucchini waffles dusted with powdered sugar, served with a small bowl of yogurt and granola. Savor this delightful treat that transforms any breakfast into a holiday feast.

Savor the Holiday with Zucchini Waffles

The book DIY Sourdough: The Beginner’s Guide to Crafting Starters, Bread, Snacks, and More, by John and Jessica Moody The book, DIY Sourdough: The Beginner’s Guide to Crafting Starters, Bread,…

Fresh vegetables, gardening tools, and gloves rest on a wooden surface.

Interview with Robert Pavlis, author of Food Science for Gardeners

Robert Pavlis’s Food Science for Gardeners will help readers harness science to cultivate healthier, tastier fruits and veggies. We asked Robert five questions to learn why his new book is…

A vibrant array of organic food, featuring fresh vegetables and fruits, beautifully arranged on a wooden table outdoors.

What You Need To Know: Is Organic Food Really Better?

In this excerpt from Robert Pavlis’ Food Science for Gardeners, Pavlis clarifies what organic really means, addresses common myths, and explores the differences between local and larger-scale farming.

Unleash Your Backyard’s Potential: A Complete A To Z Of Fruit

Whether you’re a new or seasoned gardener, adding perennial fruits to your garden can be a fantastic way to dramatically increase your harvests. And if you’re dreaming of harvesting fruits…

A beautifully cooked meal of samosas and extras on the table

How to Cook Successfully for Large Numbers of People

Whether it’s a family reunion, a festive holiday meal, or a summer BBQ get-together, cooking for a crowd is all about planning ahead, getting creative, and keeping things organized. These…

How to Harvest and Use Wild Ginger

Did you know that you can forage for many delicious and important plants this early in the season? In Foraging As A Way Of Life, Mikaela Cannon outlines an entire…

A farmer touching peppers on a pepper plant.

Interview with Julia Shanks, author of The Farmer’s Office, Second Edition

Have you ever wondered what sets super successful farms apart from others? Julia Shanks knows (hint: it’s usually related to not fully understanding their finances). Today we asked her three…

Walnuts in the half shell on top of walnuts within their shell

The Easiest Recipe for Walnut Ricotta Ever!

Altering your favourite holiday dishes to make them dairy-free, vegan, or vegetarian might not be as difficult as you think. In The Art of Plant-Based Cheesemaking, Karen McAthy shares vegan…

Cinnamon Buns cooked in a cast iron skillet

The Best Cast Iron Skillet Sourdough Cinnamon Buns Ever

Did you know there are tons more recipes you can use your sourdough starter with? Whether it’s a cold evening or a lazy weekend morning, cast-iron skillet cinnamon buns are…

overhead view of picked garden vegetables

How To Quickly Harvest and Store Your Produce

For Jean-Martin, efficient harvesting is paramount to a successful market business. In this excerpt from The Market Gardener, he shares his years of market farming experience and outlines some commonly…

How Does French Market Gardening Influences Current Gardening Techniques?

Throughout time farmers everywhere have found solutions to extend their harvest and growing season. It feels like a dream that someone could enjoy fresh snow and fresh produce simultaneously, yet…

Why You Need Microbes and Bioinoculants For A Better Garden

Microscopic organisms are as important to plant growth as water and light. In Microbe Science for Gardeners, Robert Pavlis highlights the essential role of microbes in plant biosystems and soil…

An older women on her knees gardening in her garden

Pacific Northwest Planting Calendar for August, September, October and November

Do you know what you should be planting in your garden in August, September, October and November? Linda Gilkeson does! We’ve taken an excerpt from the book outlining what Linda…

August Planting for Autumn Feasting

Planting vegetables in the middle of summer seems wrong – but most temperate gardens can yield a second harvest in autumn. In August, try planting hardy greens along with root…

Strawberries, blueberries and raspberries in a squared bowl.

Can I Add Berries to My Garden or Farm?

Blueberries, raspberries, strawberries, blackberries…All these small fruits pack a big flavor punch, and are one of the most delicious signs of summer. In The Berry Grower, author Blake Cothron demonstrates…

A young man stands among a selection of two-wheel tractors.

11 Benefits of Two-wheel Tractors

With The Two-wheel Tractor Handbook, author Zack Loeks offers a strong case for these multi-use, efficient tools. To get you started, here are 11 benefits to incorporating a two-wheel tractor…

A close-up of a variety of lettuces growing in a garden.

Permaculture for Beginners: Take it Slow!

Using permaculture design techniques in your home garden can seem overwhelming – especially if you’re a new gardener, with a small space. With Permaculture for the Rest of Us, author…

Aerial photo of various crops in a file.

No-till Methods for Sustainable Organic Market Farming – and Gardening Too!

In Practical No-till Farming, author Andrew Mefferd provides a quick-and-dirty guide to transitioning your farm or market garden to no-till methods, including a comprehensive look at the many benefits to…