Cover Image: The 30-Minute Gardener

The 30-Minute Gardener

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Member Reviews

As someone who has a black thumb, I thought this book might be able to help. What I liked most about the book was how it focused on enjoyment and let you know what tasks needed to be done according to the season. I've referenced it in each season since reading it the first time to update my knowledge. A very helpful book for new gardeners and many good reminders for those who are avid gardeners.

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I found this book helpful in clearing my feelings of being overwhelmed in my garden. In sitting and reading this, it’s become a little easier to not try to do everything all at once. I think this is a good book for someone who has moved into a home with a yard and feeling like they don’t know where to start. As I understand it, start in a corner and set a timer. As you go, you’ll understand what your garden/yard is going to be. We are given chapters on what to do for each season. Though, the winter chapter is possible in some places, those in the upper parts of the northern hemisphere will have difficulties due to the ground being frozen solid and occasionally several inches of snow. But this could be a good time to plan your garden or plan changes to it. Quick reading with sections of recommended plants depending on the time of year and where your garden faces. I want to add this book to my collection of gardening books as a reference guide and something to pick up when I get stressed about what my garden is doing.

Thank you Timber Press for the copy.

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I really enjoyed this book for a number of reasons such as the beautifully taken and curated photographs and the overall lesson on how taking a short piece of one's day can both improve your own well-being and that your garden can be an expression and reflection of that. I was reminded that taking just half an hour a day to garden is essentially an act of mindfulness and that mindfulness is key to wellness. I would recommend this book to both gardening enthusiasts as well as hobbyists and pros. There's something for everyone. Thanks to Netgalley and publisher for this e-arc!

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This was the perfect book for me! I love gardening and want to be able to do it better. This book has so much to offer, from those with an interest in gardening, beginner gardeners and master gardeners. The emphasis is on enjoying spending time in your garden, as well as hints to work in it every season. I very much enjoyed the pictures, too. The most helpful tip I read was to have mulch around a plant, to help keep it moist, but to form a grove around it so that water will not just pour off of it like a mountain. What an outstanding book! I enjoyed it very, very much!
I read this book, compliments of the publishers, and the thoughts expressed are my own.

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This is a lovely book but was not what I expected. I thought by the title that it would be about gardening projects and chores that take just thirty minutes. Instead it is a rather introspective book on why you should spend thirty minutes a day in your garden. Eloquent text is accompanied by lots of photos of the author’s garden and a few stock photos. There is general advice about gardening in all seasons, mostly flower gardening.

It’s a great book for people who like reading about gardening but not necessarily great for gardeners with short attention spans who are looking for quick, productive things to do in the garden in only 30 minutes. Ironically, that’s the opposite of the point of the book.

I read a temporary digital copy of this book via NetGalley.

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The 30-Minute Gardener: Cultivate Beauty and Joy by Gardening Every Day by Greg Loades is currently scheduled for release on July 11 2023. Are you ready to discover your garden’s unexpected gifts? All it takes is a daily practice. This book describes what dedicated time spent in the garden every day can create for readers: a moment of solitude in a busy world, a welcoming space to enjoy with family and friends, and an increased connection to nature. In this guide you’ll find advice on tasks like pruning a rose bush and planting bulbs, inspired ideas like adding a green roof or laying a patio, and hints on how to sit back and enjoy your accomplishments.

The 30-Minute Gardener is a wonderful reminder of taking things in small doses and enjoying the fruits (sometimes literally) of our hard work. I thought the pictures were well chosen, and match the text well, and broke up the text in just the right spots to give my eyes and mind a break. The text was well written, and I enjoyed the conversational tone of the text. I am very much the kind of gardener that has great plans and vision, but when it comes to the daily weeding and upkeep rather falls down on the job for reasons- too hot, too tired, too buggy, a good book needs reading, or whatever. I read this book in hopes that it would provide me the tools and motivation to do better this year. I like that Loades includes the important details the gardeners might think they already have a handle on (like hardiness zones), and describes them with enough detail and information for newcomers to understand, but it never felt condescending or trite for even very experienced gardeners. I found myself nodding as I recognized impulses that I share with the author (like getting impatient and wanting to plant a little to early for me area) but I also got a great deal of little hints and encouragement on how to make getting out there in the garden, even in the colder months, part of a healthy daily routine. I also liked that they emphasized a low stress approach in regards to weeds, and things that will take several weeks of attention. It is much easy to get out there and do what you can, when you can, without the guilt and stress that often creeps in when we look too hard at what needs to be done. I also thought some of the suggestions- like a simple garden diary in some form is great, because it helps you see how the small changes and growth really have made a difference when you cannot see it in the moment.

The 30-Minute Gardener is a nice and thoughtful read, and a helpful resource for gardeners of all skill levels that need a little help staying motivated with changes and upkeep in a garden.

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I have high hopes that this book with its beautiful photographs and great writing will continue to inspire me and other readers to dive into gardening and treasuring outdoor spaces

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Thank you to the author, Timber Press and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. My apologies for the delay in posting this, I had spotty internet during my holiday and missed the publication date.

As with the author's book on cottage gardens, this book is beatifully photographed and gets you itching to get outside and get to gardening. However, I found it quite a bit more prose and less practical than I expected. While the prose was well-written and the book not only personal, but also personable and the author very likeable, I was hoping for more practical help in getting to grips with a garden. The structure of the book was not easy to follow, and while I enjoyed it as a book about the author's experiences in gardening, I felt it did not provide the clear guidance that the blurb promised.

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The 30-Minute Gardener by Greg Loades is a superb book about learning one's garden, listening to it, reveling in it and being in it. One can learn a lot in thirty minutes a day from season to season. My first assumption was this book would be mainly about "working" in the garden thirty minutes a day for the sake of maintenance. But that's not really what it is. Garden chores are part of it, of course, but there is so much more. To me the book is about extending your home into your garden, only better. Though peaceful, gardens can be busy places with so much to experience every day.

I am a master gardener who lives in two countries on different continents, one with a hardiness zone 2a (only 85 frost-free days per year with deep snow on the ground for six months) and in zone 8b in the Mediterranean. Worlds apart. Obviously the latter is a gardener's dream! But the former in Canada has its beauty, too. When in Croatia we spend nearly all our waking hours outside, mostly in our delightful garden which brings such joy. Countless pinch-me moments. It forces us to inhale deeply and just be. I plunk away on my laptop as we inhale nature around us and watch animals stroll by in what we call our outdoor office. As we are so in tune with it we know when the newest rosebuds unfurl, watch tiny figs grow, marvel at evergreen olive leaves and run our fingers through aromatic lavender. We are learning which insects and birds gravitate towards which plants. We need to be comfortable in our gardens and pay attention. This is the premise of the book.

One can glean so much happiness from learning where plants are happiest. The author mentions being rebellious in ways...planting what we love and pushing the sun/soil requirements without being foolish about it and forcing sun-loving plants to grow in dark shade. He also gives examples of how to practically work the garden (seeding, moving plants, the art of watering, preparing ground, mulching, revamping patios, harvesting) without it being a chore. I like that he discusses growing food (talk about gratifying!) and experimenting. The sections on winter gardening will not apply to everyone (no such thing in my zone 2a home) so these short parts are more of a dream for those who live in cold climates. And the photography is glorious! The magnificent roses particularly grip my heart.

Those who may be overwhelmed by their overgrown garden, think they lack a green thumb or only have a balcony available, this book is for you. In fact, it's for anyone for any stage of gardening, even experts who merely need to be reminded of the power of nature and beauty.

My sincere thank you to Timber Press and NetGalley for providing me with a digital copy of this stupendous and inspiring book. I adore it!

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I am a newly sprouted thirty-minute gardener with effusive, rambunctious thanks to Greg Loades and his beautiful, informative, and entertaining THE 30-MINUTE GARDENER. With pictures, encouragement, practical advice for those of us timid about garden design, making mistakes and having to transplant mistakes, Loades demystifies and makes possibly a daily relationship with nature, no matter the season, the challenge (I'm talking about you poison ivy), and the size of the project. With rare genius and poetry, Loades offers ways to make the gardening fun and the daily celebration of the sprouts, the quiet place to enjoy, and have confidence in your ability to grow and thrive along with your garden. I received a copy of this book and these opinions are my own, unbiased thoughts.

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This book was a how-to of sorts, with personal stories by the author. It tells what garden tasks should be done in each season. It also covers how to transplant things, how to separate things and even how to take cuttings from bushes, so that you can have new plants for free or buy using seeds. The photos are absolutely magnificent.

I was slightly disappointed that this mostly focused on flowers. I’d been hoping for more info on veggies and fruit. There was a little about it, but not a lot.

I’d recommend this book to anyone looking to clear out an overgrown yard, or just trying to better manage the time in their garden. It’s easy to read with loads of info.

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I really enjoyed this little book and learned plenty as I flipped through! It's colorful and attractive to keep your attention, and the information is clear and well-laid out. In a world with a million gardening books, this one definitely still has a place.

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The weather has warmed and time to get outside. The thoughts of summer BBQs and pool parties get you through the work week, but then you look at your yard - do you see a paradise, a personal oasis from the world? Or do you see endless hours of mowing, watering, pruning? In his new book, Greg Loades walks you through a way to cultivate a 30-minutes a day gardening habit that will have you finding daily respite.

I've always enjoyed being outside but I haven't always been a gardener and often have a love-hate relationship with my yard. I picked up Greg Loades's book because I was hoping to find tips on how to get to only 30 minutes of gardening a day. However, this book is more about starting a gardening habit. So if you are wanting to get outside more, find enjoyment in your yard, and connect to nature, then this book would be great for you.

As a new gardener reading this book, you should keep in mind a few things - some Loades mentions and others I think he should have.

One, remember that geography matters. Loades is in England - the multiple mentions of courgettes should clue you in since in the U.S. we call the summer squash zucchini. If you are in the northern portions of the states then your climate might be similar to his. However, for me in the deep south, I would have to shift some of the things he mentioned up a few months (we don't grow beets in the summer in the South - we plant them in either April or September).

Two, the size of your yard also matters. He advocates using a manual-powered push mower but does recognize for large yards that it isn't feasible. It can take me 2 hours to mow and that isn't even mowing my entire property. Watering my garden which is just a small portion of my front yard took 45 minutes.

Three, some projects in the garden take time to set up so you are going to want to spend more time doing them than 30 minutes a day - it takes me 15 minutes to get the saw and extension cord set up when I cut bamboo which has taken over about half of my property. I tackle this project when I have a few hours to devote to it.

That being said, Loades gives some great advice for getting started in the garden even if it does seem overwhelming. During the first year of the pandemic, I saw how much progress could be made with just 30 minutes a day. I cleaned the English ivy out of my side yard by going out every day and pulling it up for 30 minutes.

Another piece of advice that I wholeheartedly agree with is treating your gardening as an experiment. My failed attempts at gardening such as the time (also during that first year of the pandemic) I built a raised bed with cement blocks and filled it with expensive soil only to have the bamboo that I thought I had dug out re-grow. I decided that I just wouldn't ever have a vegetable garden after that (I had grand plans of adding 7 or 8 raised beds in that area of my yard). But then, as Loades advises, I started viewing my garden as a science experiment. As I'm a scientist so this came naturally to me. It looks a lot like trial and error but no experiment is truly a failure if you can learn something from it.

If you liked me rambling about my garden adventures in this review, then you will probably like Loades's book. Garden people can't help but talk about their gardens. And Loades shares plenty about his own garden adventures.

There are also plenty of pretty pictures of beautiful plants. The chapters are short so you might consider starting your 30-minute gardening habit by sitting outside reading a chapter or two of this book.

Chapters 4 through 7 are focused on the season. As this book comes out at the end of spring, you might want to skip winter and spring and start right with summer as Loades provides suggestions for seasonal tasks that you might want to do. And then read the chapters for Fall, Winter, and Spring so that you will be prepared as we enter those phases of gardening.

While this book is geared for the new gardener, as someone who already has a 30+ minute garden habit I found validation in my methods as I had already discovered many of the things Loades includes in his book. So whether you are just getting started or wanting encouragement on her journey, you will find The 30-Minute Gardener useful.

My review will be published at Girl Who Reads on Saturday, May 13 - https://www.girl-who-reads.com/2023/05/the-30-minute-gardener-by-greg-loades.html

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Any book that I can read to help with my garden, I will! This is such a unique and fun way to change the way you garden. As gardening season is getting started this year, I am excited to implement some on these new techniques and mind set.

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I thoroughly enjoyed reading The 30-Minute Gardener by Greg Loades! Thank you Timber Press and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this ARC.

The 30-Minute Gardener is a beautiful introduction into gardening and carving time out in our busy lives for it.

My absolute favorite parts of this book is the vivid photography and the lovely poems speckled through out.

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I adored this book. The format was inviting and the whole book evoked joy.

Greg gave a gift for busy people who think gardening has to be put in a less priority just make it a short jot instead of a marathon. Many of us work this way in our gardens either because of energy, time, finances, etc. but Greg puts it all out there and gives inspiration, ideas, and encouragement.

I would like to thank NetGalley and the publisher Timber Press for the opportunity to read Greg Loades book The 30-Minute Gardener.

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Gorgeous photography inside and out warms garden-lovers souls. Even gardeners starting with brambles are encouraged to dig in and savor their garden time without stressing about the work needed to achieve their vision. The 30-Minute Gardener contains some how-to and plant recommendations but its main value to me is developing the habit of meditative work in my garden and enjoying my garden as it is as well as for what it will become.

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A few things I loved about this book was the entire concept of 30 minutes a day. We love being outside anyway, so instead of thinking the garden is a chore or so much work to do, in thinking we can overcome and be successful with consistency and “finding peace in the repetition.” The photos of the flowers just are inspiring as ever to get started. Counting down the days until planting season is here.

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I always find these books hard to review because I would like to try to utilize things in a time that I don't know I may have before its release. I liked what I've had a chance with, I hope to get use with it before my window closes. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an opportunity with this title.

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I am a new and excited gardener, but I've found winter to be incredibly frustrating. This lovely book offered some great ideas for how to keep up the garden practice even when digging in the dirt is not possible. I'm excited to take on more of the projects and ideas as the weather gets warmer. This is a lovely companion to a more in-depth guide to gardening with lovely little tips for keeping a practice.

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