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Close to the Veg: A Book of Allotment Tales
£3.20
Close to the Veg A truly original book about vegetable growing, written as a personal narrative. Full description
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Additional information
| Publisher | First Edition (4 Nov. 2005), Marlin Press |
|---|---|
| Language | English |
| Hardcover | 288 pages |
| ISBN-10 | 0954798813 |
| ISBN-13 | 978-0954798819 |
| Dimensions | 14.1 x 2.4 x 20.4 cm |
by Amazon Customer
In my time as a journalist on a local newspaper, one of my more pleasurable duties was to review books, which I got to keep if I wished. More often than not I either returned them for other people to read or gave them away to friends and family. A few, however, remained on my bookshelves for future reference and entertainment.
These favoured tomes, invariably, were by little known authors (little known by me at least), non-fiction and on subjects I would, ordinarily, not contemplate – Fermat’s Last Theorem springs to mind – which brings me, via a circuitous route, to Michael Rand’s recent offering Close to the Veg.
At first glance a book about allotment holding may seem to be very frugal fare indeed but not so in this case. First off, this is not just about the many and varied pleasures that the tending of an allotment can bring; it’s also a semi-autobiographical and frequently hilarious, meandering stroll with Mick through life’s tribulations, as well as being incredibly informative on such subjects as organic growing and natural history.
So, if you’re into allotments you’ll love this and if you’re not, you’ll still get much pleasure from it (I bet you’re dying to know about the Swedish Rastafarian), and I guarantee you’ll keep it on your bookshelf . But don’t lend it out to anyone, make ‘em buy their own copy.
Well done Michael!
by Elizabeth Payne
There aren’t many gardening books that make you laugh, but this one does – out loud. Mr Rand, who certainly knows his onions, has written a wonderfully warm, witty and wise account of the struggles and dilemmas we veg gardeners face in our quest for a good harvest. It’s packed with useful advice and tips, all based on personal experience and solid, accessible science, such as planting out asparagus so that it lies shallow in the soil like it grows in the wild – rather than deep as most books recommend – and the truth about comfrey’s supposed properties as instant manure. There’s loads of useful info here for all veg growers, and the author’s depiction of life on the plots will strike a chord with all allotment gardeners.
by R. Otovator
A little heavy on the page filling waffle, mildly amusing in parts but never hilarious. More a historical look at Hampstead Heath and the surrounding area with intermittent practical allotment advice. Not a patch on Digger’s Diary
by Paul Davies
Most books about gardening promise the earth (sorry!), yet achieve very little. Lavish colour illustrations, lists of plant varieties, tables of pests and diseases, and that’s about it.
This book is different. No colour illustrations at all; just a few pencil drawings of the author’s plot. What you get is a truly inspiring and amusing series of anecdotes about the acquisition and development over a period of years, of an allotment in Highgate, North London.
Mr Rand’s style is easy-going, and I found it hard to put the book down. Coming into horticulture in the opposite direction to your usual professionally trained gardening writers, Mr Rand imparts sound advice which will particularly appeal to ragged-trousered enthusiasts, like myself.
A highly recommended and inspirational read.
by Simon Porter
This book is brilliant, packing more useful advice in its pages than many a lavish coffee table manual. And the prose is a joy to read. There are two brief historical chapters out of ten but these are an essential part of the author’s story about how he fell in love with his plot and the surrounding area. If you don’t already have an allotment, this book will make you sign up for one.
by russell cooney
Great value for money