A Life in the Garden

“Drawing on a lifetime of organic gardening, Barbara Damrosch collects her lessons learned and wisdom gained into an easy-to-read-and-enjoy overview of kitchen gardening. For the new gar­dener, there is encouragement on top of nuts-and-bolts advice. For every gardener, there is inspiration to face the challenges inherent in a life deeply rooted in and fed from the garden.” —American Gardener

In A Life in the Garden, horticultural icon Barbara Damrosch imparts a lifetime of wisdom on growing food for herself and her family. In writing that's accessible, engaging, and elegant, she welcomes us to garden alongside her. Personal, thoughtful, and often humorous, this book offers practical DIY insights that will delight gardeners, cooks, and small-scale farmers. With a personal and sometimes irreverent tone, Barbara expresses the pleasure she takes in gardening, the sense of empowerment she finds in it, and the importance of a partnership with the real expert: nature.

• To me, Barbara Damrosch is the Julia Child of gardening. ...Barbara was one of the people who made “sustainable” “small-scale,” and “compost” household words. …She practically invented the edible gardening movement.
   
  Phillis Odessey, The New York Botanical Garden, Plant Talk
• One of the most popular gardening personalities in the world.
   
  Dr. Richard Churchill, People, Places and Plants
• Barbara Damrosch has saved from extinction the art of the personal essay. Not since Charles Lamb have we had such enjoyable reading. She makes kitchen gardening an imaginative experience.
   
  Daniel Hoffman, 22nd United States Poet Laureate.
• The Queen of organic growing…a human search engine when it comes to questions about gardening and cooking.
   
  Heidi Julavits, The New York Times Style Magazine
• “This is a wonderfully informed how-to guide on nearly every aspect of backyard veggie growing, though it’s cleverly disguised as simply a leisurely stroll through the garden.” 
  Booklist
• “Damrosch’s wealth of information and easy-to-understand, conversational writing style will appeal to vegetable gardeners of all experience levels.” 
  Library Journal
• “Drawing on a lifetime of organic gardening, Barbara Damrosch collects her lessons learned and wisdom gained into an easy-to-read-and-enjoy overview of kitchen gardening. For the new gar­dener, there is encouragement on top of nuts-and-bolts advice. For every gardener, there is inspiration to face the challenges inherent in a life deeply rooted in and fed from the garden. Damrosch will make you want to grow more, grow better, and enjoy the garden's bounty in every sense.” 
  American Gardener
• “An intriguing, personal volume about her upbringing and life as a food gardener.” 
  Southern California News Group
• “Damrosch is such an engaging, fluid writer, it was easy to forget that I was actually reading. It felt more like sitting down with a friend over a mug of tea and listening to her share her experiences. As I read, I could see, feel, breathe, and taste what was going on in her garden, all through the seasons.” 
  Westchester Daily Local News
• “This is a must for readers who want to grow vegetables, herbs, and fruits.” 
  Library Journal, Best Life + Style of 2024