Garden Science

Everyone's guide to using the power of science to produce healthier and tastier fruits and vegetables From garden to fork, Food Science for Gardeners is everyone's guide to optimizing the quality of garden produce and preparing the most delicious and nutritious food possible. Beginning with a high-level overview of food quality and nutrient density, this invaluable resource then takes a deep, but accessible, dive into: • The essential nutrient groups as well as phytonutrients and their anti-oxidant properties • Factors affecting food safety such as pesticides, microplastics, bacteria, and other forms of chemical and biological contamination • The pros and cons of a host of approaches to food storage and preservation, as well as an extensive variety of cooking methods • Gardening techniques for growing nutritious food • A complete section dedicated to the best growing methods for common fruits and vegetables. Whether you're a home gardener, local food enthusiast, or small-scale farmer, Food Science for Gardeners demystifies the science of food, enabling you to put the best quality vegetables and fruits on your plate.

Create your own compost and grow better plants. With breathtaking clarity, Compost Science for Gardeners demystifies composting practices and helps readers determine the best technique for their unique situation. This comprehensive science-based book is your key to building healthier soil and growing better plants. Using plain language and easy-to-follow instructions, this essential resource distills and blends the latest scientific research with the author's many decades of knowledge and experience into manageable form, debunking a host of common gardening myths along the way. Learn about: • The role of composting in the ecological cycle • Compostable materials to incorporate and those to avoid • Browns and greens vs the carbon-to-nitrogen ratio • The full range of composting methods, including cold and hot composting; composting in piles, bins, and tumblers; and pit and trench composting • Keyhole gardening, food digesters, vermicomposting, bokashi, eco-enzyme fermentation, and more • The relative merits and impact on the environment of each composting technique • Using finished compost to improve soil health Anyone can compost. Whether you are a balcony or backyard gardener, market gardener, small-scale farmer, or homesteader, or even if you are simply looking for a way to keep organic matter out of the landfill, this book will show you how to do it simply, safely, and sensibly.