First, I need to state, I cannot garden and I thought this book might be a fun way to explore gardening...and it was.
Rebel Gardening is clear, concise and easy to follow. From choosing what to grow to growing in small or vertical spaces, there is something for all types of gardeners...even non existant ones like me. that need everthing explained from scratched.

I came across this author through charles dowding and pleased to say I love this book! It is visually aesthetic and packed with amazing content.

Rebel Gardening is an enthusiastic and up to the minute guide for urban gardeners written by Alessandro Vitale. Due out 11th April 2023 from Watkins Publishing, it's 272 pages and will be available in hardcover and ebook formats.

In times of increasing food insecurity and distrust/boredom with the incredibly limited selections available to most people who live in urban areas, coupled with the psychological and health benefits of being in contact with growing plants and having more control over our food as well as the sense of accomplishment that comes from being more self sufficient, it's easy to see why more people are making a conscious choice to garden. People in urban areas face more challenges finding space to grow anything as well as challenges associated with water and light conditions. This book gives a lot of really creative solutions to those problems (and more).

The focus throughout is on regenerative and supportive gardening; to heal the planet, support life (including our own), and improve food security. There is such a wealth of experience and information contained in the volume that doesn't fit into precise pigeonholes. The author has included links to his social media presence at the very beginning of the book so that readers can see videos of the techniques he talks about. He is also a supporter of open pollinated heirloom (non-hybrid) seeds and promotes the use of organic controls, no dig beds, JADAM techniques, and permaculture. It's also incredibly enthusiastic and the author's passion about gardening comes through very clearly in the text.

The book is well photographed (many are stock photos, but they are clear and illustrate the plants and techniques well).

Four and a half stars. Full of information. This would be a superlative choice for public and school library acquisition, home use, allotments/gardening groups, smallholders (with or without urban locations), and similar. The language and spelling are UK English (marrow, aubergine, etc), but will pose no problems in context for readers elsewhere. Tutorial and recipe lists have measurements given in metric units with imperial (American) units in parentheses (yay!).

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

This is a fantastic gardening book for new gardeners but experienced gardeners are likely to learn something too, especially with the international organic gardening techniques that he highlights. Vitale goes into all the steps in setting up your garden even in urban environments and focuses on doing it frugally and sustainably. He also talks about pests, watering, companion plants, compost, and tons more. He gives lots of instructions for projects too, and real photos of him and his garden are featured throughout.

The one area that didn’t work for me is that in his quest for sustainability he uses quite a lot of containers I wouldn’t consider optimal, especially for organic gardening. Not only does he use lots of plastic containers with no talk about how plastics degrade and are taken up in the soil, but he recommends planting food crops in old tires (lined with plastic). I commend him for reusing materials and caring for the environment, but I personally would not feel great about using those materials to grow food and wish he’d at least discussed the topic for new gardeners who might not know about potential health risks. Those of us growing for children or pregnant women need to be especially mindful of the risks.

That said, I adored the book otherwise and really appreciated his unique perspective.

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

I'm keen gardener and I think this is an excellent book for gardener at any level: well written, easy to follow, informative.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this arc, all opinions are mine

I hope to do some gardening this spring and I couldn’t wait to get to review this book, REBEL GARDENING by Alessandro Vitale.

This book really breaks down how to grow your own healthy food no matter if you have a yard to work with, or a rooftop, or even only a windowsill. Gives insight into the various planting methods and tells you how to sow, start, and save seeds and describes the various different types of seeds to choose from. This book covers everything you need to know to get started growing your own garden, and even gives tips on how to preserve your harvest. 5 stars!!

I’ve done gardening before but it’s been a while so I was happy for the refresher and the new ideas. I can’t wait to get my hands dirty and get some seeds started!!

Thanks NetGalley and Watkins Publishing for this ebook in exchange for my honest review.

A gardening book for a gardener at any level! Even as an experienced gardener, I learned several things from REBEL GARDENING. An inspiring book that will make you want to start your own garden wherever you are - even on a balcony or inside your home. The book shows multiple ways to get started with several cost-effective methods. It's rather empowering to know you can grow your own food even in such little space. Looking forward to buying my own hardcopy and am very happy to have come across the author/gardener, Spicy Moustache. It's evident he deeply cares about nature and the earth and wants others to experience the power of food sovereignty and connecting back to the earth by being a rebel gardener. It even has a recipe to make vegan honey!

Thank you to Watkins Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC!

Extremely helpful for new gardeners! I will be using some of his tips in my personal garden this year! Definitely some new info learned!!

I have a small urban garden and I wanted to learn more about permaculture so this was right up my street. There are four sections - defining your small space, what to plant and how, maintaining your garden, and top plants for beginners.
It's a hefty book - 260-odd pages, then references. It's very densely packed with useful information including on things like no-dig methods that might save you buying multiple books.
It's encouraged me to draw up a garden plan, so let's see if I implement any of the other ideas after that.

You might know him as Spicy Moustache, from YouTube or TikTok. Alessandro Vitale has created the perfect beginner’s handbook titled Rebel Gardening. A perfect title, if I say so myself.
This is a beginner’s handbook for organic urban gardening. If you have seen Vitale’s videos on social media, you know how empowering and motivational a gardener he is. Rebel Gardening brings us all the action. Not only is the book put together in the best way, but the instructions or guides to create your garden are also helpful.

Rebel Gardening is full of vital information to give your garden its own spotlight. The education and knowledge shared are impressive, there is no gatekeeping, only useful information.
From techniques to the tools you need, and any other things you might need to build it is all explained. For every item you will need, the diagrams show just how to do things. From your own irrigation system to saving seeds. Alessandro Vitale has taken the time to motivate you into having your own organic urban garden. If you think you don’t have the space, he will help you realize you can still have your own garden. Worried you don’t have a green thumb on you, the guidance provided will get you to see that you do.

In fact, a fantastic book for anyone interested in growing their own garden or even expanding on an existing one. Rebel Gardening will motivate you without a doubt. You don’t have to grow fruits or veggies, the guide also teaches you to grow herbs and flowers. It discusses solutions that may arise like how to protect your garden from pests and what animals might help your garden.

I love this book! It’s visually gorgeous! The book is full of good information: how to create your gardens from pots, recycled items, raised gardens, etc How to prepare the dirt. How to plan your space. How to plant. How to make compost, and fertilizer. Ideas of plants to grow indoors all year round. Various ways to create trellises and greenhouses. There is something in this book for everyone, no matter if you live where you only have a little balcony, a rooftop, or a backyard! Shade, sun, or a mix of both.

I’m a beginner gardener and learned a lot from this book! It’s giving me the itch to start planting!

I’m obsessed!

I never thought I would say that about a simple gardening book but there was nothing simple about this masterpiece. Told in a way that is both attractive and beneficial to both newbies and experienced gardeners, Rebel Gardening is a treasure within the gardening community! It covers everything from the basics of seeds, composting, mushrooms, curating soil, and preservation of harvest. That last one is so important for sustainability!!

I’ve always been intrigued by urban gardening. Although my family owns a decent size property, it’s important to be able to afford a level of sustain any environment. This book is a requirement in your gardening arsenal of knowledge!

This amazing book contains a wealth of information about all aspects of urban gardening, regardless of space constraints. The author explains in very clear terms a number of gardening methods and plant choices that will work in almost any urban space and setting. It is a valuable reference book I will return to again and again.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Coolest gardening book I have seen. So many people think of urban gardening as sacrificing whatever little room you have to big pots and hanging fixtures…Vitale smashes that to bits! His sections on no-dig, Jadam natural gardening, and permaculture make this book stand out among the rest. He gives you a roadmap to a sustainable, attractive, live-in, tiny Eden that can feed you, your community, and protect the environment. All the information you need is covered…from the basics of successfully starting an urban garden to topics like seed saving/sovereignty, mushrooms, composting, making your own soil amendments, and preserving your harvest. This book is going to be the #1 recommendation for anyone asking about how they can craft food security and resilience for themselves. Excellent!!!

Thank you, NetGalley!

Wonderful well rounded guide for new gardeners.. I was pleasantly surprised by how much information was packed into this book. I've never read a gardening book that included information about growing mushrooms. I will definitely be coming back to this book for reference. Thank you to the author, Watkins Publishing, and NetGalley for the advance copy.

I received a copy of this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This is a very thorough guide!

This book breaks down ways to create, maintain, and enjoy an urban garden. This book covers things like understanding your space, utilizing your space best, choosing your plants, keeping your plants healthy, and growing your own food. There's lots of tips for first time gardeners and lots of information. This is the first time I've heard that tilling is bad for soil so it's definitely left me with a lot to think about. The book also includes a lot of information by vegetable and gives types on preparing them.

Overall a good find!