The Modern Homestead Garden: Growing Self-sufficiency in Any Size Backyard

I started watching Gary's video's January 2021. I had officially retired and decided I would grow an organic garden, but I needed so much help in taking on this life event. All I had ever grown was tomatoes and a few flowers. Gary's videos were spot on giving me all the information I needed to get going, he is an excellent teacher and my garden here in Dahlonega, GA is doing very well. More importantly I have the motivation and enthusiasm to jump out of bed in the mornings and tend to my vegetables in their various stages. I was delighted to receive Gary's book in the mail yesterday and was so impressed with it's content that I ordered a copy for my daughter Megan. Thank you Gary

Like many longtime gardeners, I know there is always more to learn so I've watched numerous Youtube videos and have followed Gary Pilarchik on social media for several years. I like his down to earth approach and easy to follow suggestions for success. The Modern Homestead Garden is a wonderful extension of those videos and posts, with a more personal feel and gorgeous photos. Gardeners of all skill levels will appreciate this book!

If you are a beginning gardener this book is a must have resource. It is well organized and contains easy to understand graphics. Plus the color pictures are inspirational as well as informative. I love having all of the information about different plants and how to care for them in one easy to read place. In the digital age that we live in, it is so easy to rely on the internet for advice but I love that I don’t have to search through videos or articles to find the answers I need. I couldn’t wait for this book to be released. I watch Gary from the Rusted Garden on YouTube and find his videos to be extremely helpful. His video series guided me to start a garden from seed. I have never had a successful garden until this year and when I look back and think I stated it from seed…I am in awe.

I am a semi-novice gardener (3 seasons) and I found this book super helpful and clearly written. It contains practical tips and is a pragmatic approach to gardening basics. Clear guides to help you get started all the way through to a few favorite recipes for using all that produce. The photographs are so clear and inviting. Pilarchik's simple recipes to help organically control pests and common diseases really helped me through the onslaught of last summer's various challenges (from beetles to early blights). Also he walks you through setting up an indoor grow station and seed starting... which gave me the confidence to pursue that route rather than relying on garden centers & big box stores. His ideas on how to support plants vertically without spending a fortune are much appreciated. I only wish I had come across this book before I bought an expensive "squash tunnel" from a Garden Supply store... which turned out to be both a pain to construct and too flimsy. The Modern Homestead Garden is based on years of experience and knowledge gained by the author who loves to try new methods and approaches.

This is now one of my favorite vegetable and fruit gardening books. It is comprehensive but doesn’t dwell on textbook style minutiae, which makes it an excellent how-to reference for both new and experienced gardeners. The author covers growing techniques for a variety of vegetables and fruits that are suitable for home growers, with helpful information on cool and warm season crops, optimum soil temperatures, days to harvest, etc. Topics addressed include seed starting, organic fertilizers and disease control methods, composting and growing in containers. All of the text is accompanied by gorgeous full color photos that make me itch to get out in the garden. I especially like the author’s laid back approach and recommendation not to be too dogmatic in following his directions, but rather to let experience guide your practice. I highly recommend this book.As an aside, I reviewed this book on NetGalley and liked it enough to purchase my own copy when the review period expired.

I purchased this as a gift for my nephew for his birthday. He is just getting out on his own, and I wanted him to have a book that would give him a good start with small space container gardening. He loves it and can't wait to start reading it. He has some experience gardening with his dad and experimenting on his own, but considers himself a beginner. I skimmed through it as soon as it arrived (just in time), before I had to quickly wrap it up! I was very impressed with the depth of information for a beginners gardening book, and the layout and photos make it all the more appealing and enjoyable to read. I am buying another one for me so we can compare notes as we plan next year's garden. He is hoping to have a little more space to work with by then, and I'm sure this book will give him lots of

This is a wonderful 160 page guide to gardening, growing veggies, and harvesting them. There are chapters to cover the gardening topic from choosing your site, container, or raised bed to seed selection and starting, grow light needs, fertilizers, composting, spacing, and pests to control and how. Several easy to read charts are great quick references, and the quality of color photos are a plus. I would give this book to any gardener that needs a good consice reference. In the chapter on preserving I would have listed the website for the USDA safe canning methods, because there have been several changes for safe food preserving in the last 30 yrs. The Ball Bluebook, the Banadine canning book are also references that can be used. Happy gardening!

Easy and helpful read a layman can follow. Book is full of sound ideas, good pictures and supportive of anyone who would like to grow plants but may be a little timid of doing so.I like the book very much as I do author's videos on YT.

easy to follow step by step instructions. Cant wait to start and put into practice. Thankyou Gary for writing an easy to follow book. It will be a great resource for beginning gardeners through to the expert. Everyone will take something from it. Again thankyou Gary