How to Become a Gardener, Ashlie Thomas
How to Become a Gardener, Ashlie Thomas
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How to Become a Gardener
Find empowerment in creating your own food security

Author: Ashlie Thomas

Narrator: Tamika Katon-Donegal

Unabridged: 4 hr 38 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 04/18/2023

Categories: Nonfiction, Gardening

Includes: Bonus Material Bonus Material Included


Synopsis

Take charge of your family’s food security by learning how to grow your own fruits, vegetables, and herbs—and right along with them, you’ll nurture your own inner strength, too.

Food insecurity affects millions of people worldwide. Without access to well-stocked stores or nutritious, fresh foods, those living in “food deserts” face more hunger and health issues than communities where a diversity of food is plentiful. With the inspiration and knowledge found in How to Become a Gardener, self-reliance and food autonomy are within reach for anyone willing to get a little dirt under their nails and dig in.

Author, health coach, and food security advocate Ashlie Thomas of The Mocha Gardener (@the.mocha.gardener) serves as an experienced and encouraging guide on your journey toward self-empowerment through the cultivation of your own homegrown harvests. With a spirit of respect for others, for nature, and for community, Ashlie walks you step by step through not only the practical ins and outs of gardening—from seed starting to making the harvest—but also through the personal challenges and lessons found within the act of gardening itself. Regardless of whether you only have space to grow in a few pots or you have enough room for multiple raised beds or an in-ground garden, you’ll find freedom and wellnessthrough the food you grow, along with patience, compassion, and perspective.

How to Become a Gardener focuses on: What makes a space a garden and how to get one started  How gardens can be a symbol of resilience in challenging times  Finding what motivates you to grow and using it to cultivate nutrient-dense, homegrown harvests  Why reclaiming your food authority is one of the most empowering things you can do for you and your family  The importance of finding personal freedom by growing your own garden-to-table food How the garden grows you just as much as you grow the garden
How to Become a Gardener is about growing food, yes. But it’s also about finding your strength through gardening, reclaiming your food authority, discovering your motivation, and learning that no matter what your garden yields,it’s always worth the wait.

Reviews

Goodreads review by Christy

Ashlie provides a gentle introduction for new gardeners along with her best tips for success (and advice for how to manage failure). She uses stories to make her point, which are engaging and make for a delightful read.......more

Goodreads review by Annie

Originally posted on my blog: Nonstop Reader. How to Become a Gardener is a no-nonsense, well written, beginner accessible guide to getting started with food gardening and improving personal and community food security written and curated by Ashlie Thomas. Released 1st Nov 2022 by Quarto on their......more

Goodreads review by Lauren

Thanks to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for this ARC! I loved this book. It was structured so well, the images were beautiful and the tables were informative. I loved how the author emphasized the "why" of gardening, not just the how and the community aspect of gardens was really great to......more

Goodreads review by Pauline

How To Be a Gardener is possibly one of the most useful gardening books that I have come across, particularly for a complete beginner like me. It’s written in an easy to understand style, which again is good for the inexperienced among us. I really liked that the author included the reasons why people......more

Goodreads review by Susan

As someone who owns quite a few gardening books, I have to say I enjoyed How to Become a Gardener: Find Empowerment in Creating Your Own Food Security. The book is well-organized, allowing you to pick wherever you want to go and start, making it an excellent choice for beginners and experts. While t......more


Quotes

“Ashlie's book speaks to the exact philosophy I myself adhere to – becoming a gardener, rather than simply learning how to grow plants. This is a small but crucial distinction that she carries throughout her book, laying out a step-by-step process to reclaim ownership over the food you consume – by growing it yourself! A must-read for those looking to walk the path of a gardener.”—Kevin Espiritu, Epic Gardening, author of Field Guide to Urban Gardening and Grow Bag Gardening

“This is book we need right NOW. There are many books that answer the question of how to garden, but few that show us how to become a gardener! It’s more than just growing things; it is also honoring our symbiotic relationship with all of nature, down to the tiniest bug. Ashlie serves as our knowledgeable guide in exploring both, in this beautifully written and illustrated book.” —Kamili Bell Hill, @plantblerd

“Bursting with encouragement, information, and heart, woven together through colorful photography, Ashlie has written an inspiring roadmap that will guide you to become a conscious and grateful steward of your burgeoning garden, both inside and out.”—Meg Cowden, @seedtofork, author of Plant Grow Harvest Repeat

“How to Become a Gardener covers the basics of how to start a garden from scratch for the first-time gardener, provides advice and emotional support to help through the challenges, and dives into the philosophy behind why gardening can transform our lives in the most beautiful of ways. With this book we can not only transform our lives and take control of our health, but also overcome food insecurity and create resilient communities. Unlike many gardening books, Ashlie is inclusive of our most vulnerable communities, making this book a true solution for many who are often left out of the conversation. To grow our own food is to begin the transformation of ourselves and our communities. How to Become a Gardener is the tool of empowerment that is needed by so many to begin this transformation.”  —Rob Greenfield, environmental activist and author of Food Freedom

"Absolute must read! This book perfectly highlights the value of food security and health. It gives the tools to empower anyone to change their lives through food. I will be recommending this book to all of my patients!" —Cierra Allen-Dixon, MD

“Ashlie's book is a timely, in-depth look at gardening as a way to fight food insecurity and provides encouragement to grow in any environment, with limited space to meet cultural food needs. She offers a thoughtfully written, well-researched beginner's guide to gardening as a means to equalize access to healthy nutritious foods. Her book is truly a blueprint for increasing access to healthy foods and combating the food swamps so prevalent today.”—Claudia Weekes, MS RD LD, @theorganizedhomemaker