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The Heirloom Gardener: Traditional Plants and Skills for the Modern World
“Part essay collection, part gardening guide, The Heirloom Gardener encourages readers to embrace heirloom seeds and traditions, serving as a well-needed reminder to slow down and reconnect with nature.” — Modern Farmer
Modern life is a cornucopia of technological wonders. But is something precious being lost? A tangible bond with our natural world—the deep satisfaction of connecting to the earth that was enjoyed by previous generations?
In The Heirloom Gardener , John Forti celebrates gardening as a craft and shares the lore and traditional practices that link us with our environment and with each other. Charmingly illustrated and brimming with wisdom, this guide will inspire you to slow down, recharge, and reconnect.
Modern life is a cornucopia of technological wonders. But is something precious being lost? A tangible bond with our natural world—the deep satisfaction of connecting to the earth that was enjoyed by previous generations?
In The Heirloom Gardener , John Forti celebrates gardening as a craft and shares the lore and traditional practices that link us with our environment and with each other. Charmingly illustrated and brimming with wisdom, this guide will inspire you to slow down, recharge, and reconnect.
264 pages, Hardcover
Published June 22, 2021
121 people are currently reading
628 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 76 reviews
April 25, 2021
This is definitely a book to preview before buying, as it's not really what you'd guess from the title. It's more along the lines of essays about a range of old garden wisdom, arranged alphabetically. While I agreed with the author about most of what he said (okay, maybe all), I didn't really learn anything new and didn't feel that inspired. I'm not sure who the best audience is, perhaps someone new to old fashioned environmental wisdom? It's a lovely read with sort of woodcut two-color illustrations, but not really a book that will teach you skills.
I read a temporary digital ARC of this book for review.
I read a temporary digital ARC of this book for review.
May 23, 2021
Such a lovely, relaxing and thought-provoking book about where we are and how we got here as stewards of the soil and plants as gardeners and foragers. But it's far more as the author examines ethnobotany and sentimentality, what it means to be an artist and crafter, how to enjoy a lifestyle which is mindful of choosing the foods we eat and preserving gardening techniques and passion. The author is a horticulturalist and ethnobotanist and shares his wealth of knowledge, experience and remarkable insight in this beautiful book which also includes nostalgic illustrations. He defines heirlooms and gives wonderful examples including gardening, of course. Each short chapter in alphabetical order is about a craftmanship, skills, vegetables and fruits, community, growth and preserving.
As the author says, it is time to capture these ideas and share them or they will be lost entirely. As a master gardener, forager and amateur horticulturalist, I agree wholeheartedly. We need not live as though we are in a bygone era but we can certainly adopt methods which make so much sense. I wish we would slow down and engage with the soil, nature and weather. In this book, the author includes my favourite quote by Louis Nizer, "A man who work with his hands is a laborer. A man who works with his hands and his head is a craftsman; but a man who works with his hands and his head and his heart is an artist."
Not only do connecting and creating with your hands feel great physically and mentally, it is important for eating better, learning about what grows best in our area, maintaining tradition and teaching. It is healthy for our land. Growing what we eat can give such joy. So does preserving it. Reaching for homemade pickles, jams and dehydrated mushrooms in our -40s C winters gives me pride and joy. I also live part time in the Mediterranean where on one walk I can pick wild herbs, many fruits, mushrooms and nuts (my favourite is chestnut which is also described in this book)...nothing gives me greater satisfaction. As yet, no GMOs, either.
Amongst the topics include botanizing and herbaria...yes! Love the idea of kids starting herbaria and going on nature walks. The author says many kids now can only identify ten flora and fauna. I saw a child recently who pointed at a goose and did not know what it was. Heartbreaking. Another topic is cordials. My favourite is elderflower. He talks about fiddleheads, foraging, indigenous plants, quince, raised beds (my husband built several for me which included a seating area all around for comfort), rosemary, Victory Gardens, Xeriscaping (very important in areas of severe drought such as mine), wreaths and yarrow.
This book really resonates with me, right up my alley as a gardener, crafter, reader and cook. You need not be a gardener to enjoy it...all you need is curiosity and a corner to curl up in.
My sincere thank you to Timber Press and NetGalley for the privilege of reading this fabulous book.
As the author says, it is time to capture these ideas and share them or they will be lost entirely. As a master gardener, forager and amateur horticulturalist, I agree wholeheartedly. We need not live as though we are in a bygone era but we can certainly adopt methods which make so much sense. I wish we would slow down and engage with the soil, nature and weather. In this book, the author includes my favourite quote by Louis Nizer, "A man who work with his hands is a laborer. A man who works with his hands and his head is a craftsman; but a man who works with his hands and his head and his heart is an artist."
Not only do connecting and creating with your hands feel great physically and mentally, it is important for eating better, learning about what grows best in our area, maintaining tradition and teaching. It is healthy for our land. Growing what we eat can give such joy. So does preserving it. Reaching for homemade pickles, jams and dehydrated mushrooms in our -40s C winters gives me pride and joy. I also live part time in the Mediterranean where on one walk I can pick wild herbs, many fruits, mushrooms and nuts (my favourite is chestnut which is also described in this book)...nothing gives me greater satisfaction. As yet, no GMOs, either.
Amongst the topics include botanizing and herbaria...yes! Love the idea of kids starting herbaria and going on nature walks. The author says many kids now can only identify ten flora and fauna. I saw a child recently who pointed at a goose and did not know what it was. Heartbreaking. Another topic is cordials. My favourite is elderflower. He talks about fiddleheads, foraging, indigenous plants, quince, raised beds (my husband built several for me which included a seating area all around for comfort), rosemary, Victory Gardens, Xeriscaping (very important in areas of severe drought such as mine), wreaths and yarrow.
This book really resonates with me, right up my alley as a gardener, crafter, reader and cook. You need not be a gardener to enjoy it...all you need is curiosity and a corner to curl up in.
My sincere thank you to Timber Press and NetGalley for the privilege of reading this fabulous book.
July 20, 2021
⭐⭐
Not really what I was expecting. I thought this would be more of a "how to" for Heirloom Gardening, however it was more alone the lines of essays about certain plants, and things like that. 🤷🏻♀️
**ARC Via NetGalley**
Not really what I was expecting. I thought this would be more of a "how to" for Heirloom Gardening, however it was more alone the lines of essays about certain plants, and things like that. 🤷🏻♀️
**ARC Via NetGalley**
November 3, 2025
This audiobook is narrated by Timothy Andrés Pabon. Timothy does a good job drawing the reader in. Nonfiction stories can be hard to narrate and I think Timothy struck a nice balance with this essay style format.
This isn't really a how to on gardening. Nor does it offer heirloom anecdotes that are helpful to modern hobby gardeners. This isn't really a guide about gardening. It's more a position being argued by the author via a series of connected topic essays. Honestly, I was disappointed and a little frustrated when I understood the format and structure of this wasn't the guide I was expecting. Yet, I found myself interested in the essays regardless. I think this is interesting and important. Just not gonna necessarily offer information that helps the average gardner. This might function well as a sort of coffee table book but as an audiobook I'm unsure of who I'd recommend this too.
Thank you to John Forti, Hachette Audio, and NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to and review this audiobook. All opinions and viewpoints expressed in this review are my own.
This isn't really a how to on gardening. Nor does it offer heirloom anecdotes that are helpful to modern hobby gardeners. This isn't really a guide about gardening. It's more a position being argued by the author via a series of connected topic essays. Honestly, I was disappointed and a little frustrated when I understood the format and structure of this wasn't the guide I was expecting. Yet, I found myself interested in the essays regardless. I think this is interesting and important. Just not gonna necessarily offer information that helps the average gardner. This might function well as a sort of coffee table book but as an audiobook I'm unsure of who I'd recommend this too.
Thank you to John Forti, Hachette Audio, and NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to and review this audiobook. All opinions and viewpoints expressed in this review are my own.
October 5, 2021
3.5 stars. The title is a bit misleading, as this book doesn't really detail much about plants or skills, but is actually a neat little collection of short essays by Forti about various subjects in the historical/traditional gardening realm. Good reading.
October 22, 2025
I want everyone in my life to read this book!! I found it super interesting and compelling, but I was already sold on the message before I read the book, so I'm biased. I think the combination of showing why heirloom gardening matters socially, environmentally, ethically, and culturally works really well. I also was fascinated by all the old traditional things you could do with these plants, I didn't realize how much of common plants can be eaten -- not just the part you grow it for.
Some parts of the book drag a little, that's to be expected for a book that serves a bit like a reference book. I think the book would be better if it either leaned more into being a call to action book -- more focused on showing the importance of heirloom gardening and all the cool lagnaippe benefits -- or more of a reference guide -- more tutorials, instructions, further reading guides, etc.|
Highly recommend!!
Thanks to NetGalley for the free copy, all opinions are my own.
Some parts of the book drag a little, that's to be expected for a book that serves a bit like a reference book. I think the book would be better if it either leaned more into being a call to action book -- more focused on showing the importance of heirloom gardening and all the cool lagnaippe benefits -- or more of a reference guide -- more tutorials, instructions, further reading guides, etc.|
Highly recommend!!
Thanks to NetGalley for the free copy, all opinions are my own.
January 6, 2022
Joy! Joy! I just loved everything about this. This beautiful series of reflections on the history and multi-cultural meaning of various plants is just so relaxing and thought-provoking to read. The uniquely designed book cover and the lovely woodcut illustrations just add to the experience. A book to keep and enjoy.
June 26, 2022
Really 3.5 stars. I agree with and am intrigued by almost all of these topics, especially given my proximity to almost all of Forti’s works. That said, parts of this were repetitive and didactic, and by the end of this collection I found myself annoyed with his style. This is a great snapshot of some concepts and plants though.
February 1, 2025
I loved this book. Reading it felt like touring around my grandfather’s garden on the Cape. So much of home, sharing knowledge and values through storytelling. I read it in ebook version but I will purchase a hard copy to reference and continue enjoying.
December 12, 2025
Author’s Impact: John Forti, author of The Heirloom Gardener: Traditional Plants and Skills for the Modern World is a nationally recognized garden historian, heirloom specialist and ethnobotanist. John Forti blows the dust off time-honored yet underused horticultural practices, artisanal foods, and garden remedies. John teaches with a historical world-view and a unique sense of place, which has engaged audiences with centuries of lifestyle choices, as well as a view to a more sustainable future. For twelve years John was a horticulturist for the Plimoth Plantation Museum, where he restored, recreated, and taught from colonial gardens, Olmsted firm landscapes, and Native American. John developed a successful lecture series and Historic Seeds Program, which helped the museum become an internationally honored public garden site. John Forti himself is an award winning heirloom specialist, garden historian, ethnobotanist, garden writer, and local food advocate.
Theme: In The Heirloom Gardener: Traditional Plants and Skills for the Modern World, John Forti celebrates gardening as a craft and shares the lore and traditional practices that connect us with each other and our environment.The main themes of The Heirloom Gardener: Traditional Plants and Skills for the Modern World are perserving history, community connection, respect for nature, and slow living. The book highlights the importance of perservibng old plants and gardening techniques that have been passed down through generations. The book promotes and documents the cultivation of traditional heirloom plant varieties and practices occitated with them. Fortis writing connects modern gardeners to the knowledge and gsardening btechniqes of past generations.
Forti also mentions how gardening is a way to connect to one's community, sharing practices and knowledge with each other. Supporting your local farmers is also a way to connect to your community. The book introduces a mindful approach when gardening, using sustainable practices and respecting the naturel environment. John Forti himself said…
“When we think of our yard as a habitat, and we plant that out—whether it’s with the native perennials we’re planting, or food crops—we’re bringing back more of the life that is appropriate in our yard. So the birds that were always there in the yard, but have been disappearing. Or the fireflies. Or the pollinators. So it’s participating in actively rebuilding some biodiversity from our own backyard.”
The demand for traditonalk gardening methods enforces a slower pace of life, which encourages others to appreciate the process of growing food rather than just the final product. John Forti is a garden historian and heirloom specialist and ethnobotanist, and a longtime leader in the slow-foods movement.
Synopsis: Chapters are organized alphabetically from A to Z and include personal essays on trees, herbs, and plants, including angelica, sage and elms as well as concepts important to nature craft like distillation, and preserving gardens. Along the way, readers get advice on cultivating not only their gardens, but honing culture and craft.
“I created it as a series of essays. And I think it works for the way we are in the culture today, because it's hard to pick up a huge book and read end-to-end. So I thought by making essays of all different lengths, some short, some long, some fun, some thoughtful, some artful, some about plants, some about skills, I could build out as I submitted different essays and figure where the book would go. And so, it turned into The Heirloom Gardener, which they borrowed from my Facebook blog that has been going for about 10 years.”
The Heirloom Gardener: Traditional Plants and Skills for the Modern World is a beautifully illustrated guide that connects the readers with time-honored practices of growing heirloom plants and gardening. Written by John Forti, the book compinds gardening knowledge with practical advice on cultivating and preserving heirloom varieties of vegetables, herbs, and flowers. Forti, a skilled gardener and advocate for biodiversity, expalains the importance of saving seeds and passing on gardening knowledge from one generation to the next. This book covers a wide range of topics including the history and significance of heirloom plants, soil health, sustainable gardening practices, techniques for seed-saving and tips for growing a variety of traditional crops in modern environments. Through lessons and stories from the past, The Heirloom Gardener: Traditional Plants and Skills for the Modern World also explores the historical relevance and culture of these plants, encouraging readers to reconnect with their gardening roots.
“Rich with anecdotes, practical how-to instructions, and gorgeous illustrations, the book serves as both a guide and a celebration of heirloom gardening, aiming to inspire a return to simpler, more sustainable gardening practices while honoring the traditions and wisdom of previous generations. It is perfect for gardeners of all levels who wish to cultivate not only plants, but also a deeper connection to the earth and the heritage of gardening.”
Why is this book life-changing for me? This non-fiction informative book was not my first choice, or my second. This is not a book I'm normally drawn to, but lately I've been having a weird temptation to begin gardening. My step dad was the one who recommended this book and brought it to my attention. He read it himself, loved it and learned so much information for our own garden. This book helped provide an opportunity for me to reconnect with the natural world and with gardening traditions that go back generations. Exploring heirloom plants and learning the history behind them, I understood a richer understanding of how their gardens and food have evolved. Gardening, especially the kind provided in the book, encouraged a slower pace of life and mindfulness. Focusing on heirloom plants and sustainable practices provided me a sense of calmness and purpose. This book helped me to step away from the fast-paced, stress filled world. Reading this book really empowered me to want to grow heirlooms, not only enjoying tastier, healthier food but also could involve me in the conservation of plant varieties that might otherwise be lost. This book introduced me to a new interest and hobby in my life. It also made me realize how much our world has changed and how this has negatively affected our communities, making me want to try old ways.
Recommendations: The Heirloom Gardener: Traditional Plants and Skills for the Modern World can make and impact in several ways, especially for people interested in deeping their conntection to nature, recovering traditional garndneing practices, and embracing sustainable living. This book offers more than just gardening advice; it provides a map to a more sustainable, meaningful, and connected life. It encourages readers to rediscover ancient traditions, grow in ways that help the environment, and cultivate both relationships and plants with a deeper sense of purpose. These principles can be transformative not only in the garden but in how we approach the world around us. The Heirloom Gardener: Traditional Plants and Skills for the Modern World appeals to a wide variety of readers, particularly those interested in gardening, sustainability, and traditional practices. Whether you are an experienced gardener, a person looking to start their first garden, or someone simply interested in growing your own food and preserving biodiversity, this book offers valuable and practical advice and insights. It appeals to those who want to live more sustainably, learn about traditional gardening practices, or explore the cultural significance of heirloom plants.
This is my second deep book of the year. The first book was Girl in pieces by Kathleen Glasgow, a fiction book about a mentally ill girl going through life. I plan to read Rebal girl by Kathleen Hanna, a memoir of the legendary front woman of Bikini Kill and Lem Tigre. I am not sure what my next fiction book will be, but I am looking for an eye -catching book.
http://www.jforti.com/biography.html
https://farmerish.net/an-interview-wi...
https://www.seacoastonline.com/story/...
Theme: In The Heirloom Gardener: Traditional Plants and Skills for the Modern World, John Forti celebrates gardening as a craft and shares the lore and traditional practices that connect us with each other and our environment.The main themes of The Heirloom Gardener: Traditional Plants and Skills for the Modern World are perserving history, community connection, respect for nature, and slow living. The book highlights the importance of perservibng old plants and gardening techniques that have been passed down through generations. The book promotes and documents the cultivation of traditional heirloom plant varieties and practices occitated with them. Fortis writing connects modern gardeners to the knowledge and gsardening btechniqes of past generations.
Forti also mentions how gardening is a way to connect to one's community, sharing practices and knowledge with each other. Supporting your local farmers is also a way to connect to your community. The book introduces a mindful approach when gardening, using sustainable practices and respecting the naturel environment. John Forti himself said…
“When we think of our yard as a habitat, and we plant that out—whether it’s with the native perennials we’re planting, or food crops—we’re bringing back more of the life that is appropriate in our yard. So the birds that were always there in the yard, but have been disappearing. Or the fireflies. Or the pollinators. So it’s participating in actively rebuilding some biodiversity from our own backyard.”
The demand for traditonalk gardening methods enforces a slower pace of life, which encourages others to appreciate the process of growing food rather than just the final product. John Forti is a garden historian and heirloom specialist and ethnobotanist, and a longtime leader in the slow-foods movement.
Synopsis: Chapters are organized alphabetically from A to Z and include personal essays on trees, herbs, and plants, including angelica, sage and elms as well as concepts important to nature craft like distillation, and preserving gardens. Along the way, readers get advice on cultivating not only their gardens, but honing culture and craft.
“I created it as a series of essays. And I think it works for the way we are in the culture today, because it's hard to pick up a huge book and read end-to-end. So I thought by making essays of all different lengths, some short, some long, some fun, some thoughtful, some artful, some about plants, some about skills, I could build out as I submitted different essays and figure where the book would go. And so, it turned into The Heirloom Gardener, which they borrowed from my Facebook blog that has been going for about 10 years.”
The Heirloom Gardener: Traditional Plants and Skills for the Modern World is a beautifully illustrated guide that connects the readers with time-honored practices of growing heirloom plants and gardening. Written by John Forti, the book compinds gardening knowledge with practical advice on cultivating and preserving heirloom varieties of vegetables, herbs, and flowers. Forti, a skilled gardener and advocate for biodiversity, expalains the importance of saving seeds and passing on gardening knowledge from one generation to the next. This book covers a wide range of topics including the history and significance of heirloom plants, soil health, sustainable gardening practices, techniques for seed-saving and tips for growing a variety of traditional crops in modern environments. Through lessons and stories from the past, The Heirloom Gardener: Traditional Plants and Skills for the Modern World also explores the historical relevance and culture of these plants, encouraging readers to reconnect with their gardening roots.
“Rich with anecdotes, practical how-to instructions, and gorgeous illustrations, the book serves as both a guide and a celebration of heirloom gardening, aiming to inspire a return to simpler, more sustainable gardening practices while honoring the traditions and wisdom of previous generations. It is perfect for gardeners of all levels who wish to cultivate not only plants, but also a deeper connection to the earth and the heritage of gardening.”
Why is this book life-changing for me? This non-fiction informative book was not my first choice, or my second. This is not a book I'm normally drawn to, but lately I've been having a weird temptation to begin gardening. My step dad was the one who recommended this book and brought it to my attention. He read it himself, loved it and learned so much information for our own garden. This book helped provide an opportunity for me to reconnect with the natural world and with gardening traditions that go back generations. Exploring heirloom plants and learning the history behind them, I understood a richer understanding of how their gardens and food have evolved. Gardening, especially the kind provided in the book, encouraged a slower pace of life and mindfulness. Focusing on heirloom plants and sustainable practices provided me a sense of calmness and purpose. This book helped me to step away from the fast-paced, stress filled world. Reading this book really empowered me to want to grow heirlooms, not only enjoying tastier, healthier food but also could involve me in the conservation of plant varieties that might otherwise be lost. This book introduced me to a new interest and hobby in my life. It also made me realize how much our world has changed and how this has negatively affected our communities, making me want to try old ways.
Recommendations: The Heirloom Gardener: Traditional Plants and Skills for the Modern World can make and impact in several ways, especially for people interested in deeping their conntection to nature, recovering traditional garndneing practices, and embracing sustainable living. This book offers more than just gardening advice; it provides a map to a more sustainable, meaningful, and connected life. It encourages readers to rediscover ancient traditions, grow in ways that help the environment, and cultivate both relationships and plants with a deeper sense of purpose. These principles can be transformative not only in the garden but in how we approach the world around us. The Heirloom Gardener: Traditional Plants and Skills for the Modern World appeals to a wide variety of readers, particularly those interested in gardening, sustainability, and traditional practices. Whether you are an experienced gardener, a person looking to start their first garden, or someone simply interested in growing your own food and preserving biodiversity, this book offers valuable and practical advice and insights. It appeals to those who want to live more sustainably, learn about traditional gardening practices, or explore the cultural significance of heirloom plants.
This is my second deep book of the year. The first book was Girl in pieces by Kathleen Glasgow, a fiction book about a mentally ill girl going through life. I plan to read Rebal girl by Kathleen Hanna, a memoir of the legendary front woman of Bikini Kill and Lem Tigre. I am not sure what my next fiction book will be, but I am looking for an eye -catching book.
http://www.jforti.com/biography.html
https://farmerish.net/an-interview-wi...
https://www.seacoastonline.com/story/...
August 26, 2025
I've been following John Forti, the Heirloom Gardener, on Facebook and Instagram for a few years, and I always enjoy his posts, which range from seasonal markers to info on native plants and their significance in American history and society to tips on kitchen and garden craft. I got his book as a requested gift and have slowly been reading it over the past couple of months.
The chapters, A to Z, are short essays and are illustrated with woodcut drawings. A perfect nonfiction read to supplement the various novels I usually am reading simultaneously. I learned a lot and found reading this book to be so relaxing, enriching, and soul-satisfying.
The chapters, A to Z, are short essays and are illustrated with woodcut drawings. A perfect nonfiction read to supplement the various novels I usually am reading simultaneously. I learned a lot and found reading this book to be so relaxing, enriching, and soul-satisfying.
February 1, 2022
Angelica, apple cart, artisanal skills, bee balm, biodiversity, botanizing & herbaria, chestnut, cordials, dandelions......... wuttahimneash, Xeriscaping, yards, yarrow, zinnia, zucchini.
If these sound like interesting short essay topics to you, I highly recommend this book. If you’re looking for some kind of how to primer on heirloom gardening this isn’t for you.
If these sound like interesting short essay topics to you, I highly recommend this book. If you’re looking for some kind of how to primer on heirloom gardening this isn’t for you.
March 6, 2024
This book is clearly written by an anti science crackpot. I agree that we need more sustainable, local agriculture. However, he rejects evidence based practices in favor of ideological based nonsense. Organic food is not healthier, it is a marketing ploy that would significantly reduce the food available to feed the world. Over a third of the world population would starve if all agriculture was organic, not to mention the necessary increase in arable land that we simply do not have.
There is very little useful information in this book, and time spent on his diatribes about technology being bad would be better spent educating on growing plants or processing the fruits of that labor.
The author also insists on using unnecessarily gendered language which annoys me. There are also the pages needlessly taken up by stock art patterns. Did he consider the trees that gave their lives to print such useless pages? I think not.
Technology and science are not your enemy, capitalism and the wastes inherent in that economic system are. He is for throwing out the baby with the bathwater when it comes to agricultural science. We currently have more than enough food to feed the world, the problem is how it is distributed to the masses. The problem is who is profiting off of our basic needs and abusing our bodies in the process. This book contains very little of the "traditional plants & skills" promised. I love a home garden, I love reconnecting with the planet, but I also believe there is a time and place for pesticides, herbicides, genetic engineering and other wonders of modern science.
There is very little useful information in this book, and time spent on his diatribes about technology being bad would be better spent educating on growing plants or processing the fruits of that labor.
The author also insists on using unnecessarily gendered language which annoys me. There are also the pages needlessly taken up by stock art patterns. Did he consider the trees that gave their lives to print such useless pages? I think not.
Technology and science are not your enemy, capitalism and the wastes inherent in that economic system are. He is for throwing out the baby with the bathwater when it comes to agricultural science. We currently have more than enough food to feed the world, the problem is how it is distributed to the masses. The problem is who is profiting off of our basic needs and abusing our bodies in the process. This book contains very little of the "traditional plants & skills" promised. I love a home garden, I love reconnecting with the planet, but I also believe there is a time and place for pesticides, herbicides, genetic engineering and other wonders of modern science.
September 5, 2021
I first became acquainted with John Forti through his Facebook posts, which were a preview of the book he was finishing.
The Heirloom Gardener is a collection of Forti's essays. He covers topics that range from individual herbs and plants to subjects such as foraging, jack o' lanterns, distillation and xeriscaping. Each one is a thoughtful explanation of his work as a historical gardener, whether at his job, or on his own homestead. He discusses how he uses and preserves plants with the nonchalance and warmth of the guy next door who just loves to share his garden with you.
The topics are arranged alphabetically, and give the reader a lot of information. I found myself keeping a list of the plants I would add to my herb garden next season, along with the note, "Forti." I figured that would suffice to remind myself next spring.
Gardening is this man's life's work. Most of us aren't going to spend the amount of time at it that he does, but he brings to mind a friend whose raised beds provide him with enough produce to can and preserve for the rest of the year. In Forti's case, he distills, he cans, he dries... he follows methods of preserving that have stood the test of time, and that have their roots in the needs of the people raising those plants, be it for medicine or sustenance. He also supplies instructions that are very direct and easy to follow.
What you come away with is the writing of a gentleman who loves to garden, loves plants and love to share information. It's a wonderful book!
The Heirloom Gardener is a collection of Forti's essays. He covers topics that range from individual herbs and plants to subjects such as foraging, jack o' lanterns, distillation and xeriscaping. Each one is a thoughtful explanation of his work as a historical gardener, whether at his job, or on his own homestead. He discusses how he uses and preserves plants with the nonchalance and warmth of the guy next door who just loves to share his garden with you.
The topics are arranged alphabetically, and give the reader a lot of information. I found myself keeping a list of the plants I would add to my herb garden next season, along with the note, "Forti." I figured that would suffice to remind myself next spring.
Gardening is this man's life's work. Most of us aren't going to spend the amount of time at it that he does, but he brings to mind a friend whose raised beds provide him with enough produce to can and preserve for the rest of the year. In Forti's case, he distills, he cans, he dries... he follows methods of preserving that have stood the test of time, and that have their roots in the needs of the people raising those plants, be it for medicine or sustenance. He also supplies instructions that are very direct and easy to follow.
What you come away with is the writing of a gentleman who loves to garden, loves plants and love to share information. It's a wonderful book!
August 29, 2021
Overall, just ok. The embossed cover and the fantastic block prints throughout add a lot, and the artwork is probably why this is three stars instead of two. This is a collection of short essays in alphabetical order (from Angelica to Zucchini) regarding plants, some growing practices, a little of an underlying political current. I was quite pleased with some of the poetic writing (such as describing old ways of doing things as sometimes being 'ways so old that only the wind and the trees can pronounce them' p 156) and very displeased with other choices of wording, such as this reference on 116, 'We have all met earnest native-plant Nazis eager to tell us why we must grow only natives. I will never be that much of a purist about anything.' Really? You had a whole thesaurus to help you find a strong word meaning purist and you still chose Nazi? Completely uncalled for and it put me off the book for a bit. The book was for me, like many have noted, not really what I expected. It doesn't really contain practical knowledge unless you are completely new to even the ideas or desire to grow your own food or make liquers from the herbs in your yard. I wish I would have borrowed this from the library instead of buying it.
May 5, 2021
A perfect book to read as the days are getting longer and the greenery is starting to sprout.
A lovely collection of history and useful information about gardening, foraging and being outdoors.
I can't pick a favorite part, but there were so many chapters and sections that reminded me of being a child roaming the fields and bush, picking flowers and plants to bring home. I learned so much new information and expanded knowledge of some plants I was familiar with.
I loved the images in the book. It would be a delightful coffee table book and a great gift for any gardener. I'm deffinatly getting a copy for my Grandpa.
A lovely collection of history and useful information about gardening, foraging and being outdoors.
I can't pick a favorite part, but there were so many chapters and sections that reminded me of being a child roaming the fields and bush, picking flowers and plants to bring home. I learned so much new information and expanded knowledge of some plants I was familiar with.
I loved the images in the book. It would be a delightful coffee table book and a great gift for any gardener. I'm deffinatly getting a copy for my Grandpa.
March 1, 2022
This book did not grab me...while I like the offering of disparate thoughts on various plants, food, concepts, I often wanted more documentation of some of Forti's statements, and in fact found some of them to be incorrect. It's not true that "we wouldn't need a single nuclear power plant in America if we didn't use clothes dryers." It IS a common misconception, but that doesn't mean it should be passed on to readers. Other claims? No notes or bibliography, so readers just don't know.
I found Forti to be a little preachy, although I'm sure he didn't mean to be. I may well like him better when I hear him speak at the New Hampshire spring symposium.
I found Forti to be a little preachy, although I'm sure he didn't mean to be. I may well like him better when I hear him speak at the New Hampshire spring symposium.
May 8, 2024
Each chapter was like a poem to gardening with lots of great tips woven throughout.
November 24, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley and Timber Press for providing an eARC of this book. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.
This is an enjoyable read about gardening, particularly in America. The author skillfully weaves together vivid tales about memories of gardening with different gardening-related activities and some interesting information on ethnobotany, the disconnect between people and land and the history behind the use of particular plants in medicine, tonics, skincare, food, cleaning and much more. I particularly enjoy how each chapter builds on the different things that you learn throughout the book, and I found myself taking notes of activities that I fully intend to do, such as making a herbarium, and writing down quotes and definitions of words that I hadn't encountered before in my commonplace journal. And I came away with new ideas about how to use local ingredients in my own cultural context, complete with looking up recipes! I also loved the illustrations.
However, sometimes it felt like the personal anecdotes were both more compelling and more convincing than the philosophical argument, and some moments made me physically cringe. I especially dislike the use of the phrase "We have all met earnest native-plant Nazis eager to tell us why we must grow only natives. I will never be that much of a purist about anything." which was in a chapter on Indigenous plants which I felt was very weakly written and this particular phrase felt carelessly used and off-putting particularly since the book also makes the claim that "there is nothing political about taking care of the earth". Whilst I am willing to concede that this book is not an academic text in the traditional sense, I think that discussions on the view of gardening as feminine would have benefited from including an ecofeminist perspective, and generally feel that embracing sociopolitical philosophies more explicitly would have helped with parts that felt repetitive.
I think this book is an interesting read for someone curious about the prevailing attitudes regarding horticulture and gardening in the USA, and there is plenty to take away in terms of activities like foraging, cooking, herbaria, wattling, etc, with interesting and charming anecdotes to boot. If you're hoping for philosophical commentary that has a lot of sociopolitical analysis, this isn't the right book for that.
This is an enjoyable read about gardening, particularly in America. The author skillfully weaves together vivid tales about memories of gardening with different gardening-related activities and some interesting information on ethnobotany, the disconnect between people and land and the history behind the use of particular plants in medicine, tonics, skincare, food, cleaning and much more. I particularly enjoy how each chapter builds on the different things that you learn throughout the book, and I found myself taking notes of activities that I fully intend to do, such as making a herbarium, and writing down quotes and definitions of words that I hadn't encountered before in my commonplace journal. And I came away with new ideas about how to use local ingredients in my own cultural context, complete with looking up recipes! I also loved the illustrations.
However, sometimes it felt like the personal anecdotes were both more compelling and more convincing than the philosophical argument, and some moments made me physically cringe. I especially dislike the use of the phrase "We have all met earnest native-plant Nazis eager to tell us why we must grow only natives. I will never be that much of a purist about anything." which was in a chapter on Indigenous plants which I felt was very weakly written and this particular phrase felt carelessly used and off-putting particularly since the book also makes the claim that "there is nothing political about taking care of the earth". Whilst I am willing to concede that this book is not an academic text in the traditional sense, I think that discussions on the view of gardening as feminine would have benefited from including an ecofeminist perspective, and generally feel that embracing sociopolitical philosophies more explicitly would have helped with parts that felt repetitive.
I think this book is an interesting read for someone curious about the prevailing attitudes regarding horticulture and gardening in the USA, and there is plenty to take away in terms of activities like foraging, cooking, herbaria, wattling, etc, with interesting and charming anecdotes to boot. If you're hoping for philosophical commentary that has a lot of sociopolitical analysis, this isn't the right book for that.
October 24, 2025
This is a difficult one to review. I was really intrigued by the title and wanted to love this book - but I didn’t. It’s a mishmash of ideas about organic gardening, sustainable farming and ecological stewardship, peppered with occasional lists of plants that I didn’t find particularly helpful without more context or detail.
Although the synopsis described it as an essay collection, the subtitle “Traditional Plants and Skills for the Modern World” suggested a more substantial exploration of the subject. I expected deeper research and stronger evidence to support the author’s opinions. For someone genuinely interested in heirloom plants, this book doesn’t go into enough depth and doesn’t offer practical guidance. However it feels too brief and too light on science to convince a sceptical reader as it provides only snap-shot overviews on selected topics.
While I strongly feel that herbalism and traditional medicinal use of plants have its place and need more scientific exploration, this book focuses too much on this, rather than wider aspects of heirloom plants, but without providing the evidence base. I drink my share of peppermint and camomile tea, but sadly not every disease can be cured or prevented with a tisane, flower petals or herbal brew. John Forti makes some unbalanced, oversimplified and unproven statements which can be dangerous out of context.
That said, “The Heirloom Gardener” is an easy and engaging read. If you’re curious about traditional concepts rather than looking for depth or detailed instruction, it might still be worth a glance.
Audiobook
The book is narrated by Timothy Andrés Pabon whose calm voice fits the content and is pleasant to listen to. I finished the book more or less in one session as it made good background listening. One disadvantage of the audiobook was that I missed out on the illustrations – I love the prints on the cover and understand there is more art spread throughout the book.
Thank you to Hachette Audio, NetGalley and John Forti for an advance listening copy of this book.
Although the synopsis described it as an essay collection, the subtitle “Traditional Plants and Skills for the Modern World” suggested a more substantial exploration of the subject. I expected deeper research and stronger evidence to support the author’s opinions. For someone genuinely interested in heirloom plants, this book doesn’t go into enough depth and doesn’t offer practical guidance. However it feels too brief and too light on science to convince a sceptical reader as it provides only snap-shot overviews on selected topics.
While I strongly feel that herbalism and traditional medicinal use of plants have its place and need more scientific exploration, this book focuses too much on this, rather than wider aspects of heirloom plants, but without providing the evidence base. I drink my share of peppermint and camomile tea, but sadly not every disease can be cured or prevented with a tisane, flower petals or herbal brew. John Forti makes some unbalanced, oversimplified and unproven statements which can be dangerous out of context.
That said, “The Heirloom Gardener” is an easy and engaging read. If you’re curious about traditional concepts rather than looking for depth or detailed instruction, it might still be worth a glance.
Audiobook
The book is narrated by Timothy Andrés Pabon whose calm voice fits the content and is pleasant to listen to. I finished the book more or less in one session as it made good background listening. One disadvantage of the audiobook was that I missed out on the illustrations – I love the prints on the cover and understand there is more art spread throughout the book.
Thank you to Hachette Audio, NetGalley and John Forti for an advance listening copy of this book.
April 10, 2021
While interesting, this wasn't what I thought it was going to be. I thought it would have more information on different varieties of heirloom plants, maybe where to buy them, how to take care of, and preserve them for future generations. However, this book is an A-Z style guide of different plants, gardening and horticultural practices, and traditional goods and skills. Each section, about their individual topic, contains enough information to fire up someone's interest in the topic, but personally leaves me wanting more. I loved the woodblock illustrations, though. It really gave the whole book a more traditional vibe.
Overall, I would recommend this more as a primer for people just starting to dip their toes into the world of heirloom gardening and traditional crafts. It gives some valuable information about what types of herbs, flowers, and trees could be found in an heirloom garden, but also some ideas on how to arrange and upkeep it in a traditional way. There is a lot of information in this book that I can see being lost for future generations without people writing books such as this one. So, even if it isn't quite what I thought it was, it contains a lot of valuable information.
Thank you to Timber Press and Netgalley for providing me with an eARC of this book. However, all thoughts and opinions in this review are my own.
Overall, I would recommend this more as a primer for people just starting to dip their toes into the world of heirloom gardening and traditional crafts. It gives some valuable information about what types of herbs, flowers, and trees could be found in an heirloom garden, but also some ideas on how to arrange and upkeep it in a traditional way. There is a lot of information in this book that I can see being lost for future generations without people writing books such as this one. So, even if it isn't quite what I thought it was, it contains a lot of valuable information.
Thank you to Timber Press and Netgalley for providing me with an eARC of this book. However, all thoughts and opinions in this review are my own.
May 20, 2025
This isn’t a how-to garden guide. It’s a beautifully curated collection of essays by John Forti, a garden historian, slow cooking advocate, and all-around heirloom evangelist. From herbs and canning to foraging and xeriscaping, John’s writing invites readers to slow down, reconnect with nature, and embrace the old ways.
I first discovered John during a garden tour at Strawbery Banke in Portsmouth, NH -- a tour I joined begrudgingly (thanks to my wife, who, as usual, was right). What I expected to be a snoozefest turned out to be a masterclass in storytelling, history, and horticulture. That day made me a Forti Fan. I followed him on Facebook and soon after discovered his book.
The Heirloom Gardener carries the same charm and wisdom. I’ve bought it 5–10 times as gifts and replacements for copies I’ve loaned out and told friends and neighbors to keep. There's something special about John's essays and the slower, intentional way of life he champions, which the world needs as more of us try to escape constant digital distraction and the multitasking monster.
His essays are thoughtful, the illustrations by Mary Azarian are gorgeous, and the whole book is beautifully put together. It belongs on your coffee table or next to your herbal tea stash.
Highly recommend if you're craving depth, calm, and a break from digital chaos.
I first discovered John during a garden tour at Strawbery Banke in Portsmouth, NH -- a tour I joined begrudgingly (thanks to my wife, who, as usual, was right). What I expected to be a snoozefest turned out to be a masterclass in storytelling, history, and horticulture. That day made me a Forti Fan. I followed him on Facebook and soon after discovered his book.
The Heirloom Gardener carries the same charm and wisdom. I’ve bought it 5–10 times as gifts and replacements for copies I’ve loaned out and told friends and neighbors to keep. There's something special about John's essays and the slower, intentional way of life he champions, which the world needs as more of us try to escape constant digital distraction and the multitasking monster.
His essays are thoughtful, the illustrations by Mary Azarian are gorgeous, and the whole book is beautifully put together. It belongs on your coffee table or next to your herbal tea stash.
Highly recommend if you're craving depth, calm, and a break from digital chaos.
July 30, 2025
I was so excited for this book when I bought it for myself for my birthday several years back (yes this review is several years late. Sorry), but I was (and remain) so disappointed by it.
It's essentially nothing more that a very small wannabe encyclopedia / dictionary. Except unlike good encyclopedias / dictionaries on topics, it has hardly any content at all- and paltry depth to the content it does possess (3 pages max, for most topics, of the most surface level drivel possible); it's mostly just the author's own musings and memories about each topic, and lots of anti-scientific complaining, with a small scattering of historical or medical facts here and there, and a few quotes, illustrations, and the like scattered about. No sourcing or bibliography, either, by the way. Nothing to back up any scientific, medical, ecological, or other claims he makes at all. You just have to take his word for it on top of everything.
It's not at all what's actually promised by the title or the description; both are incredibly misleading about the book's contents. I find the author's FaceBook page far more useful than the book, frankly (and at least FaceBook has an excuse for the brevity). Though honestly his personality isn't much better there, either; much like in the book, he's too far up his own nonsense on FaceBook to be of any legitimate use there, either.
It's essentially nothing more that a very small wannabe encyclopedia / dictionary. Except unlike good encyclopedias / dictionaries on topics, it has hardly any content at all- and paltry depth to the content it does possess (3 pages max, for most topics, of the most surface level drivel possible); it's mostly just the author's own musings and memories about each topic, and lots of anti-scientific complaining, with a small scattering of historical or medical facts here and there, and a few quotes, illustrations, and the like scattered about. No sourcing or bibliography, either, by the way. Nothing to back up any scientific, medical, ecological, or other claims he makes at all. You just have to take his word for it on top of everything.
It's not at all what's actually promised by the title or the description; both are incredibly misleading about the book's contents. I find the author's FaceBook page far more useful than the book, frankly (and at least FaceBook has an excuse for the brevity). Though honestly his personality isn't much better there, either; much like in the book, he's too far up his own nonsense on FaceBook to be of any legitimate use there, either.
February 13, 2023
This book was a gift from my very dearest friend, Tina, so I truly wanted to love it. So – bummer that I didn’t. ☹
I will give it this – the woodblock illustrations were frameworthy and the simple color layout of the book (green & dark brown for the illustrations) was soothing and lovely.
I imagine that the chapters were written as stand-alone essays, and I suspect they would be much more effective that way. Reading them one after another in quick succession may have minimized their impact. A lot of the content seemed recycled, with very little that felt original or authentic. Other than the author talking about some of his homemade recipes I really didn’t feel that he was bringing much new content to the reader. Overall, I guess my impression was that this is more of a pretty coffee table book than a serious read, which is interesting because Tina gave it to me because she had read many quotes from it on one of her favorite social media pages. Puzzling.
One takeaway, though, that in itself made the book worth reading was learning that Zucchinis have both male and female flowers and learning how to differentiate them. Now I understand why so many of my zucchini flowers drop without setting fruit. Revelation!
I will give it this – the woodblock illustrations were frameworthy and the simple color layout of the book (green & dark brown for the illustrations) was soothing and lovely.
I imagine that the chapters were written as stand-alone essays, and I suspect they would be much more effective that way. Reading them one after another in quick succession may have minimized their impact. A lot of the content seemed recycled, with very little that felt original or authentic. Other than the author talking about some of his homemade recipes I really didn’t feel that he was bringing much new content to the reader. Overall, I guess my impression was that this is more of a pretty coffee table book than a serious read, which is interesting because Tina gave it to me because she had read many quotes from it on one of her favorite social media pages. Puzzling.
One takeaway, though, that in itself made the book worth reading was learning that Zucchinis have both male and female flowers and learning how to differentiate them. Now I understand why so many of my zucchini flowers drop without setting fruit. Revelation!
September 27, 2021
A little book to help us reconnect with nature and our planet. We have lived in an industrialized area for so long that most of us can't remember how to interact with nature and live in symbiosis with it.
The author takes us through the art of gardening, cultivating, and living closer to mother earth. Through these topics addressed alphabetically, he shows us how to treat and use plants, cultivate the earth and get the most out of nature. How to reconnect. Nature has so many treasures and is so diverse that we barely need anything that the industrialized world makes us think we do. Our bodies and minds have been suffering for too long from this lack of contact with nature. It is time to relearn, step by step, how we can nurture the earth and ourselves.
This book is a great encyclopedia of nature, and maybe it could be a staple to have for everyone wishing to expand their horizons and start gardening and taking care of their heirloom.
It is nicely written, with the heart, and kind of engaged too.
Special thanks to Netgalley and Timber Press for sharing an audio copy of this book with me in exchange for an honest review.
The author takes us through the art of gardening, cultivating, and living closer to mother earth. Through these topics addressed alphabetically, he shows us how to treat and use plants, cultivate the earth and get the most out of nature. How to reconnect. Nature has so many treasures and is so diverse that we barely need anything that the industrialized world makes us think we do. Our bodies and minds have been suffering for too long from this lack of contact with nature. It is time to relearn, step by step, how we can nurture the earth and ourselves.
This book is a great encyclopedia of nature, and maybe it could be a staple to have for everyone wishing to expand their horizons and start gardening and taking care of their heirloom.
It is nicely written, with the heart, and kind of engaged too.
Special thanks to Netgalley and Timber Press for sharing an audio copy of this book with me in exchange for an honest review.
November 6, 2025
This work is a mix of essays and gardening guides that have an entry for each letter of the alphabet. The author celebrates gardening and uses his background as a historian to discuss traditional gardening, native plants of America, and crafts adjacent to gardening.
I have mixed feelings about this one. There were some wonderful entries that included informative gardening practices and fascinating information about heirloom plants. I loved these, and they were what I was expecting from the entire work. But a lot of the entries were essays that often ended up being the author lamenting over the loss of heritage crafts, gardening, nature, and biodiversity. I get this and agree with what the author was saying, but I wasn’t expecting to have it brought up so often (in most entries) and to have to go through the call to action just as often.
This was an interesting read, it just wasn’t exactly what I expected as a gardener. If you’re interested in history, plants, and social commentary, you may enjoy this one. My thanks to NetGalley and Timber Press for allowing me to read this work. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.
I have mixed feelings about this one. There were some wonderful entries that included informative gardening practices and fascinating information about heirloom plants. I loved these, and they were what I was expecting from the entire work. But a lot of the entries were essays that often ended up being the author lamenting over the loss of heritage crafts, gardening, nature, and biodiversity. I get this and agree with what the author was saying, but I wasn’t expecting to have it brought up so often (in most entries) and to have to go through the call to action just as often.
This was an interesting read, it just wasn’t exactly what I expected as a gardener. If you’re interested in history, plants, and social commentary, you may enjoy this one. My thanks to NetGalley and Timber Press for allowing me to read this work. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.
May 9, 2022
This was a fun jumping off point for us to find out about specific plants and uses of plants ect… I enjoyed the art style but did wish it had included a photo of specifics with the plants and such written about since the art was not meant to help in actual identification or instruction. We had to look things up elsewhere for accurate identification since we are new to much of the plants. The author was not exactly where we sit on the subjects touched upon but that is normal as we are at neither end of the spectrum of this subject matter but I do wish I had someone close in community to learn more gardening and plant identification from… this book feels like a person in community sharing their thoughts and experiences with us… I liked that. It was a great encouragement throughout that a small doable step forward is important and since I overthink and get overwhelmed it was an encouragement.
June 11, 2025
The Heirloom Gardener is a love song, an ode to the beauties of the natural world around us and the simple but beautiful life that comes when we tend it.
Arranged in alphabetically titled chapters that speak of such topics as “Zinnias” and “Foraging,” the essays in this book describe a life spent in the natural world. Whether Forti is writing about Jack-o-Lanterns or yarrow, you can guarantee he will leave you with both useful knowledge and food for thought. These essays are deeply meditative, contemplative, and, most importantly, readable.
Get this book for the gardener in your life. Get it for reading yourself, sitting in your victory garden, sipping lemon balm tea.
An absolutely EXCELLENT read.
5 stars.
Arranged in alphabetically titled chapters that speak of such topics as “Zinnias” and “Foraging,” the essays in this book describe a life spent in the natural world. Whether Forti is writing about Jack-o-Lanterns or yarrow, you can guarantee he will leave you with both useful knowledge and food for thought. These essays are deeply meditative, contemplative, and, most importantly, readable.
Get this book for the gardener in your life. Get it for reading yourself, sitting in your victory garden, sipping lemon balm tea.
An absolutely EXCELLENT read.
5 stars.
November 7, 2025
It reads more like a collection of essays than a practical “how-to” guide—and it’s clearly tailored to an American audience, which makes it fall a bit flat for this European listener. Over here, most of these lessons are the sort of basics you pick up in primary school or from your grandmother while peeling potatoes. The result is repetitive, and a little shallow in execution.
On the audiobook front, though, full credit to the narrator—engaging, warm, and perfectly paced. Still, a quick Google search suggests much of the book’s charm lies in its illustrations, which might explain why the audiobook feels like it’s missing half its personality.
• NetGalley audiobook arc review •
On the audiobook front, though, full credit to the narrator—engaging, warm, and perfectly paced. Still, a quick Google search suggests much of the book’s charm lies in its illustrations, which might explain why the audiobook feels like it’s missing half its personality.
• NetGalley audiobook arc review •
October 20, 2021
More of a reference book, yet well-written, for example: YARROW . . . PLANTS ARE STORYTELLERS that draw us into the natural world, and some of the botanical revelations can be formative. Once when I was little, I cut my leg while chasing a dragonfly through a nearby field, and in response, some old Yankee neighbors introduced me to yarrow. They matter-of-factly plucked some yarrow leaves and handed them me to crush in my fingers and hold against the cut. I was amazed: the bleeding stopped immediately. I had witnessed magic from the natural world.
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