Rebel Gardening

April 21, 2023

Vitale, who hosts the YouTube channel the Spicy Moustache, demonstrates how to create an organic kitchen garden in this detailed and useful debut. Vitale addresses new gardeners with urban plots and other small spaces, but his advice is widely applicable and will also benefit readers who have more room to plant or have years of gardening experience. Regardless of whether he is outlining how to build a vertical garden with water bottles or how to harvest microorganisms, he writes about the gardening process in a supportive, interesting, and companionable tone that invites rereading and consultation. The text begins with a brief overview of Vitale's aesthetic and key methods before outlining how to draft a garden plan and then plant and work a productive kitchen garden. The main body of the book consists of sections devoted to growing food, including advice on plants that beginners might wish to consider. The design of the book, with illustrated annotations on the page and scattered vibrant images, is eye-catching. Gardeners will benefit by spending time with Vitale. VERDICT Make space for this volume; it's the kind of book that can hook a reader.--Neal Wyatt

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