Emma Cooper

Now that Alys Fowler’s long-awaited tv series The Edible Garden is on the air (and I realize I’m behind in episode reviews, but I am trying to catch up!), the book of the same name has also been published. Last year Alys kindly signed a copy of ‘The Thrifty Gardener’ for me, but I haven’t had time to read it. But as I was given a review copy of The Edible Garden I thought I had better get on and read it – and I’m very glad I did.

The book is divided into three main sections. Prior to that there’s an introduction, where Alys explains the concept that she’s exploring in her garden on the tv show – polyculture. She also explains how gardening, especially in this way, can re-root you in your local community.

Part 1: Things to Know, takes these concepts a bit further, then covers foraging, seeds and growing from seeds, and everything you need to know to grow healthy plants.

Part 2: Things to Grow contains the ‘edible directory’, a list of plants you might want to grow, together with enough information to grow them and use them and Alys’ thoughts on each one. She covers all the well-known vegetables and then strays off the beaten track a little to talk about things like orach, tree spinach, chrysanthemum greens, salsola, landcress, amaranth and tomatillos.

There’s also a section on perennial veg, including two I don’t know much about – Mitsuba (Japanese parsley) and myoga (Japanese ginger). I’ll have to look into those!

The fruit section is comprehensive, but the most unusual plant mentioned is the honeyberry, which is not surprising as we’re talking about a book which embraces the idea that people don’t have space for an orchard and a huge vegetable patch. It’s followed by flowers, including edible flowers, and a couple of ideas for hand-picked bouquets you could make if you’ve followed Alys’ planting suggestions.

The final part of this section covers seed-saving, and comes up with the wonderful idea that you can save brassica seed (which is notorious for crossing and hybridizing) and use it for microgreens. Because all brassica sprouts are edible, the fact that your seed will not ‘grow true’ doesn’t matter in the slightest.

Part 3: Reaping your harvest, covers how to harvest and what to do with it. There’s a section on preserving that includes recipes for jams and chutneys, then a home cooking section with more recipes, including one for Jerusalem artichoke soufflé which I intend to try if my JA’s crop nicely this year.

Edible seeds are covered, and there are uses for two invasive weeds – a recipe for Japanese knotweed shoots that should help you keep it under control and a suggestion that you collect and eat the seeds of Himalayan balsam, which can also be problematic.

There’s also a section on fermentation (have you got a glut of chard? Check out the Gundru recipe!), one on herbal teas and a final one on fruit liquers and cocktails.

In ‘The Edible Garden’, Alys has put together a well-researched and informative book which is also inspiring and shows that you can create a beautiful and productive garden, even in a smallish space. This is one that’s going on my bookshelf, as I’m sure I will refer to it in the future!