From Seed to Fruit: The Pandemic Gardening Book Paperback – 1 Sept. 2022

This is an easy going read. I finished it in one sitting, which is rare for me to do. It's like I have the voice of the author in my head.I don't know anything about gardening and this book is the first step in getting started. Author talks about having the right mindset and doing research before beginning your garden adventures. You can always do trial and error, but it's even better to equip yourself with some knowledge ahead of time whether it's from reading or asking a more experienced person. This book is a basic guide and a good motivator with a few photos for illustrative purposes.

This book is a great start for home gardeners. It gives a refreshing way to look at the overall concept of gardening from a survival perspective. We need food, we should know how to grow it. I loved the way it addresses the mind, body, and spirit aspects of gardening. Good for all three and there are things you can to with all three to get ready for gardening. I was also pleased with how it didn't focus on any one region or type of gardening. If you have a window box, a back yard, or anything in between, this book can help. Also full of great references on groups/individuals involved in gardening and other resources to fit your situation. Nice job, James!

This is a gardening guide that also reads partially as a memoir. In fact, the story of author James Chen's story of his COVID-19 pandemic story and the lengths he and his wife went through to ensure their family was prepared for lockdowns and supply chain disruptions is so engaging, I often found myself forgetting I was reading a gardening guide. That is not to say that the gardening advice takes a backseat. Chen packs this guide full of the basics of creating a functional gardening and tailoring it to your individual needs and environment. But because you see how Chen and his family accomplished this task, you feel like you can too. Nothing is presented in am overly complex manner. Clear steps lay out how to approach building your own garden. Readers will be inspired both by their newfound information and by the example Chen sets.

Moving to gardening in response to the birth of his twins and the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic, Chen traces the growing popularity of this pastime. Starting as a pseudo-gardening memoir tracing his own journey to growing his own food, the author then expands his coverage to point other aspiring gardeners to the best resources for their particular locations.The section in which he outlines potential scenarios and describes the types of set-ups and potential produce that the land might yield are a particular highlight of the text. The enthusiasm Chen has gained for gardening shines through in every chapter, with every word.Making gardening accessible is a truly admirable goal and From Seed to Fruit is a wonderful starting point.

Chen turned to gardening in order to hedge the risks of the unknown for his family as the pandemic unfolded. He takes an encompassing approach to teach gardening to the reader through planning, preparing, and educating through concepts while providing handfuls of diverse resources. You'll appreciate this one.