Book review

We were recently sent a book called "The Allotment Source Book" by Caroline Foley, to review. When I opened it I thought it was going to be a heavy on pictures and low on detail (although admittedly, they are good pictures). But as I read it, I did actually find some useful information which I had not come across before, like a section on allotment forestry.  

The early sections for new allotment holders are very practical (often writers extol the virtues of allotmenting, but don't get over the level of know-how you need to garden well), while the later sections, for instance on allotment law, were actually very good for the more experienced allotmenteer who might even get into negotiations with a local council! Other sections covered the whole range of crops, so not just vegetables but also soft fruit and top fruit, with good guidelines for pruning and an introduction to beekeeping. I would recommend this book to members. If anyone would like to borrow this copy, please email me (richard.weightman@ntlworld.com), otherwise if you want to purchase, follow the contact below - the publishers are offering a 20% discount, so that is £16.00 rather than RRP of £20.00.

Richard

 

The Allotment Source Book
By Caroline Foley

Price £20.00 | ISBN 9781847736642 | Hardback

Allotments are enjoying renewed popularity as more and more people are becoming interested in growing their own fruit and vegetables. However setting-up and maintaining a plot can seem daunting, particularly for the inexperienced vegetable grower. Here Caroline Foley provides a complete reference for everything to do with managing an allotment, from soil and plot organisation to propagation and pruning. Caroline includes a wealth of information on vegetable, fruit and herb varieties as well as invaluable advice on harvesting and storage. Top tips for dealing with pests and diseases are also covered, along with the essential tasks to tackle on a weekly basis in order to keep on top of the plot.

This book is perfect for all types of plotholder, from the non-working person who can spend time every day caring for the plot to the busy parent and worker who only has an hour or two at the weekend. All practices and methods covered are organic, and throughout the book there will be advice from seasoned plotholders and various examples of 3-year cycles. This really is the definitive guide to running a successful and productive allotment.

The Allotment Source Book by Caroline Foley is available from New Holland Publishers.
Enter the discount code Hill at the checkout to receive 20% off and free P&P.
(Offer valid until 31^st March 2011.)