Gardening When It Counts- A Brief Book Review

Gardening When It Counts- Growing Food in Hard Times
by Steve Solomon

I borrowed this book back in April from our library. I found the title interesting. In the beginning, Steve Solomon talks about how we need to get back to growing our own food as the world slowly runs out of fossil fuels and the world of Cheap Food Fast will inevitably start to crumble and fade. I get it. However, the book never again really touches on that aspect of things apart from the first chapter.

It's okay though. The next impression one gets is that this dude is cocky. Well not cocky maybe, but like he's your old, sometimes abrasive Grandpa telling you to get your head out of the clouds to "get back to work!" That was a little off-putting at first, but you soon learn that this man has earned the right to speak so. I've been wishing for a farm apprenticeship for years--this is as close to one as I can find time for right now. Apprenticeships can be difficult because you're learning what comes as second-nature to your instructor. You have to deal with their personal opinions and biases and figure out what is useful to you and the way you are in the world. I found this book to be a lot like the apprenticeship process: difficult at times, but always worthwhile.

Steve Solomon has been a farmer for years. He started (and has since sold) his own seed company, has gardened in many different environments (he currently resides in Tasmania), and has followed nearly every garden trend possible over the last 30 years or so. Even though he gives his opinions in a nearly cranky way, he does explain well why he does or doesn't like something, leaving you to at least respect his opinion even if you don't agree. After all these many years, he's come down to this: plants need space to grow well.

Ta-da! But wait, I like this bit and I'm not being sarcastic! After spending the last 5 years or so reading books and trying out various forms of urban gardening, square-foot gardening, intensive gardening, etc. this made sense to me. Plants need space to grow well. They need adequate space to establish a good, deep root system. Without this, they don't produce as much fruit. Plants need water, and not just a little bit to get the top soil wet (he's turned me off from my previously much-coveted drip irrigation system). Plants get more when they're properly spaced and don't have to fight for water and much-needed soil nutrients. This was validating. The old-school way of gardening: rows, plants spaced far enough, the way I've been composting, and my watering system has worked far better for our garden output as opposed to the times I've tried intensive planting or square-footing it. And believe me, I loved Gaia's Garden as much as anyone else. It just didn't work as well for me.

I learned loads more about composting, fertilizing, manure, and soil microbes from Gardening When It Counts. The book gets a bit in-depth about soil nutrient ratios. I admit to eventually skimming this bit because I stopped absorbing things myself by this point. G however, loved this part of the book and understood it well. (I love it when he agrees to read a book I've read. It's so nice to have another person to bounce things off of.)

We ended up checking out this book from the library 3 consecutive times. I can't say I absolutely loved it, but I did gain a lot from it. Steve Solomon is definitely a little prickly as a writer. I can see folks not liking this book at all for that. But if you can overlook his curmudgeonly attitude and are serious about producing food for your family, this book will leave you with more than one or two nuggets of gardening brilliance.