MrsK Books: The Postage Stamp Vegetable Garden by Karen Newcomb

Saturday, March 7, 2015

The Postage Stamp Vegetable Garden by Karen Newcomb

The Postage Stamp Vegetable Garden: Grow Tons of Organic Vegetables in Tiny Spaces and Containers

ISBN: 9781607746836

Publisher's Synopsis:

This classic gardening bestseller (over 500,000 copies sold) uses ecologically friendly, intensive biodynamic methods to produce large amounts of vegetables in very tiny spaces. Revised for an all new generation of gardeners, the 40th anniversary edition includes brand new information on the variety of heirloom vegetables available today and how to grow them the postage stamp way.

To accommodate today's lifestyles, a garden needs to fit easily into a very small plot, take as little time as possible to maintain, require a minimum amount of water, and still produce prolifically. That's exactly what a postage stamp garden does. Postage stamp gardens are as little as 4 by 4 feet, and, after the initial soil preparation, they require very little extra work to produce a tremendous amount of vegetables--for instance, a 5-by-5-foot bed will produce a minimum of 200 pounds of vegetables.

When first published 40 years ago, the postage stamp techniques, including closely planted beds rather than rows, vines and trailing plants grown vertically to free up space, and intercropping, were groundbreaking. Now, in an ever busier world, the postage stamp intensive gardening method continues to be invaluable for gardeners who wish to weed, water, and work a whole lot less yet produce so much more.

MrsK's Review:

"It's a beautiful day. There's not a cloud in the sky.
The temperature is in the mid-80s.
And there you are in your backyard, picking loads of vegetables from
your own small garden tucked away in the corner of your property."

Gardening, such a joy. Helping things to grow, so fulfilling. Harvesting, knowing the "fruit" of your labor. I love everything about gardening, except the frustrations of yellow leaves, spotted or spoiled flowers-fruit-veggies. I know nothing about gardening other than the joy and appreciation for spring to fall harvests.

Hence the reason to review this book. Not only did the title catch my eye, but the idea that I could "learn" what makes a small garden grow lead me down this path with this book choice. Did you know that you can grow "as many carrots in 1 square foot as you can in a 12-foot row?" Or that "a 25-square-foot bed (5X5) will produce a minimum of 200 pounds of vegetables." All I could think of was wow! Really!

The organization with in this small package of harvested wisdom is formatted for quick referencing:

Arranging the Plants: pgs 11-27 Tips about which type a plant goes in which space, northern exposures, and garden plans
Midget Vegetables: pgs 31-34 Every type available, potting sizes, when to plant, and harvesting time frames
Soil Mixes: pgs 35-42 Types of compost and manures, tips for when to use, and earthworm power
Getting the Ground Ready: pgs 43-49 Methods, crop rotation, soil deficiencies, and re-feeding
Planting Time Clocks: pgs 50-63 Warm/Cool seasonal crops, Zone mapping, moon cycles, spacing, and sowing
Watering Needs: pgs 64-67 The when, how much, and when again
Vegetables and Herbs: pgs 68-164 Recommended varieties plus marginal to excellent ratings, cool or warm seasoned types, tips and tricks for producing bigger and tastier crops, problems, harvesting, and storage tips
Companion Veggies & Flowers: pgs 165-171 Which variety grows best when planted together
Pests, Diseases, & Critters: pgs 172-185 What to use: symptoms-pest-remedy
Composting: pgs 186-194 How-to, what type is best for your area, and including symptoms-problems-solutions
Seed Sources: pgs 195-203

Excellent tips and suggestions. Great tables and planning outlines. What it lacks are the photos... I am such a visual learner. What I gained from Karen's experience will show its worth in the first harvest. At least I do not feel so intimidated by my garden. I feel empowered with new resolution to go outside and sow to my hearts content. I feel that I can combat any type of plant "yuck."

Let the sowing begin....

MrsK

Karen's Blog

Kitchen Gardening with Karen Blog

Meet the Author:

Karen Newcomb has contributed to and co-written eight gardening books with her late husband, Duane. She is a lifetime vegetable gardener, garden blogger, and avid writer, and has been a writing teacher for more than twenty years. She lives in Rocklin, California.

"I received this book from Blogging for Books for this review."

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MrsK's Reading Bio

Reading is important! No questions asked, not even a blink of the eye from any student I grew up with. On the first day of the First grade, we were given our first books. Day two we all read aloud, round robin of course. Day three we were place in our first basal, now known as a lit circle group. Books were so important, publishers designed new curriculum so that every student was reading by the end of the first week. These early readers had images that looked like what we could see in the classroom, beyond the classroom, even on the big screen. Reading is important, throughout history every generation has believed that “Reading” opens up the world for endless possibilities.

I adore the 1950’s Dick and Jane books. Actually, most reading specialists and experienced (45+) educators believe that every student learned to read with Dick and Jane. Since these books are being re-issued, I have heard many parents, grandparents, and students claim that Dick and Jane stories of repetition does teach students to read.

Early influences from my mother influenced my desire to read. I would watch her read and we would go on “secret” excursions to the library. The library became my playground. I owned every book I could carry home, of course they needed to be taken back to their home after visiting with me for a week or two. My first book that I could pull off of the library shelf and read was, Father Bear Comes Home. I only saw my dad on Sundays for a few hours. I would pull this beginning reader off of the library shelf every week. Every week I would try to read the first chapter. Every week I got further in the story. My mom would let me check it out, only if I could read it myself (She didn’t like the illustrations therefore she didn’t want to take time to read it to me). One day, I pulled the book from the shelf and when mom came to get me from the children’s corner, I realized that I had read the whole story. I ran to the check out desk and the Librarian KERCHUNKED the checkout card. My mother, brother and neighbors read. My teachers read. We all read aloud all day long in school. The Priest read aloud every day at mass, even in Latin. Everybody in the Doctor’s office read. People on the bus read. Dad’s waiting in their cars as the Mom’s and children grocery shopped, read. In fact, once you could read and write, Sunset Magazine considered you a reader and sent you mail every day.

Reading is important; I’ve spent my life reading. I’ve traveled around the world and into space through books. My favorite genre is whichever book I have open at the time. Children’s Literature is my passion. Book clubbing is one of the best past times, especially if food is involved. In fact my friends of old are in a book club and we are about to embark on a beach trip to “read” and discuss our newest selection.

My “home-run” book story has helped every student find his or her own “home-run” reads. Every year, I have shared my, Father Bear Comes Home, and every year my students have brought in their “home-run” books. That’s the “diving board” into our Lit. Studies.

In “Growing Up Digital,” Tapscott’s insights into the new generations enthusiasm for the Net reminded me of my generation’s enthusiasm for reading, movies, TV, parties and our driving permits. The Net-Generation, as Tapscott describes, “are learning, playing, communicating, working, creating communities, and enforcing a social transformation.”
N-Geners are interactive “techies” who are always looking for a way to “work it” verses the TV Generation of “Baby Boomers” who started out looking for “how it works.” Reading development is tougher today, society moves too fast to invest their “non-working” free time into a book or even “home work.” Since I stepped into my own classroom, I have seen students being told to read, being forced to read, and threatened into reading. Homework is not any longer the vehicle for students to gain their future lifestyles or careers with. Yet, the Internet does create an enthusiasm for learning. Since I have been enrolled in these courses, I have used the computers in every subject. My students are using the newest technology in the classroom because I am giving them investigative sites to use as they learn from each other and books. I agree with Tapscott, in order to bridge the gap with this up and coming generation we must “live and learn with them.”

FTC Required Disclaimer: I receive these books from the publishers. I did not receive monetary compensation for these reviews. These reviews have been posted in compliance with the FTC requirements set forth in the Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising (available at ftc.gov/os/2009/10/091005revisedendorsementguides.pdf)