The 20-30 Something Garden Guide: A No-Fuss, Down and Dirty, Gardening 101 for Anyone Who Wants to Grow Stuff

by Dee A. Nash

This is one of those "especially for now" kinds of books, when food security appears on our basic to-do list. It's about growing food closer to where we live, whether it's on a condo deck, in a backyard or in a community garden. The 20-30 Something Garden Guide gives that active, mostly urban, 20-30 cohort a fun, non-intimidating introduction to the basics of gardening. More than ever, they want to know where their food comes from, and they're hip to the importance of good health and the environment. They may not have a lot of free time or change in their pockets, but if they could find a no-fuss, "here's how you can do it" Gardening 101, they'd go for it. This is that high graphic appeal, fully illustrated, step-by-step projects and essential tips. Garden expert Dee Nash divides her book into four types and sizes of gardens – starting with Farming Your Patio, Balcony or Deck – and giving incremental goals for the first year, and the second and third. With this guide as a basic roadmap, new gardeners can be as creative and out-of-the-box as they want.

Genres: Gardening, Nonfiction

160 pages, Hardcover

First published February 15, 2014

About the author

Dee Nash is the author of The 20/30-Something Garden Guide, a no-fuss, down and dirty Gardening 101 for anyone who want to grow stuff. She is also an award-winning professional writer, speaker and garden coach, born and raised in Oklahoma. She lives with her husband, children, two dogs, two cats and twenty+ chickens on 7.5 acres between the Great American Prairie and the beginning of the deciduous forest. She gardens approximately an acre and grows vegetables, fruit, roses, daylilies, native plants and other favorite perennials, grasses, trees and shrubs.

Dee is a frequent contributor of writing and photography to Oklahoma Gardener magazine. She’s also written for Organic Gardening, Fine Gardening, flower magazine, the Oklahoman, the Oklahoma Horticultural Society’s Horticulture Horizons, and the Daylily Journal.

Dee was a regional blogger for Proven Winners Plants and Lowe’s Corporation. She now writes for Fiskars Corporation on their company website and HGTVGardens.

Dee has a Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism–Professional Writing from the University of Oklahoma with an emphasis in Botany, and she’s a member of the Garden Writers Association, the Oklahoma Horticultural Society and Great Garden Speakers.

Follow Dee online at:
Three website/blogs: Red Dirt Ramblings, the 20-30 Something Garden Guide and http://deenash.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DeeANash
Twitter: Reddirtramblin
Pinterest: Dee Nash
YouTube: Nash Garden

Reviews

[Amanda McGill · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wished it was a bit more simplified if you are dealing with a smaller garden. There was a lot of information on patio or balcony gardens, but not enough on starting a garden.

[M A · Rating 5 out of 5]

Clear, concise, and practical, still with an eye toward a good looking and bountiful garden. Easy to understand and takes the guesswork out of starting a garden.

A local nursery is using it in their beginning gardening classes.

[Quinn Collard · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm trying my hand at gardening for the first time this year, and I've been feeling rather intimidated because I have no idea what I'm doing. This book helped me feel like I have a handle on the basics, and it was really encouraging and full of good reasons to garden.

[Patsy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good for beginners

[Lana. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dee A. Nash's book is great for 20-30 something-year-olds starting their first garden. Understanding the urban living, the book gives ideas for balcony container gardens as well as how to convert lawn into edibles. The garden plans are helpful (great ideas for "sensory gardens"), but the colours are a little confusing (pay attention to the legend!).

The biggest benefit is that it makes gardening and growing things accessible, while sticking to pesticide-free methods. From how to read a seed packet to what sorts of things plants need to how to build a raised garden bed -- this has a little bit of everything. There's also a clear explanation between heirloom, hybrid, and GMO plants.

Those who have a bit more experience may not find as much here, Nash's easy-going style will still likely be entertaining, and it's a good reminder for the basics.

The book is USA focused. Canadian 20-30 somethings will need a little bit of adjusting for fewer frost free days, lower hardiness levels, and different plant and seed sources.

[Cindy · Rating 3 out of 5]

What a great resource for the 20-30 somethings! I've given a copy of this book as a wedding and/or housewarming gift to several young couples and they are thrilled to have practical and useful advice so gardening can be a part of their busy lives.