Review by Booklist Review
While there may be a real trick to growing luscious heirloom tomatoes and a necessary dedication to raising a crop of good-for-you beans, herbs are not quite so demanding in terms of time or space; yet these little garden powerhouses can make a big impact in almost any dish. From zesty sauce staples like garlic and oregano to the more nuanced flavors of marjoram and tarragon, herbs are a must in the kitchen as well as in the landscape. And while Smith's beginner's guide may be a gem of simplicity, it's also chock-full of supplemental information including sumptuous recipes and inventive tips for household applications. Each herb's profile covers the many ways it can be harvested and used, and Smith includes helpful at-a-glance charts summarizing pertinent cultural information such as soil and light requirements, mature height, and planting distances. Perfect for novice gardeners, Smith's compact guide can also be appreciated by experienced hands who want to get back to the basics.--Haggas, Carol Copyright 2010 Booklist
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Library Journal Review
Herb gardening provides an easy foray into gardening for cooks, crafters, and the increasing number of people experimenting with growing their own food. These beginning gardeners need direction, and horticulturalist Smith (The Weather-Resilient Garden) provides it in this primer on the most commonly used culinary herbs. A pictorial table of contents, along with the illustrated back cover, provides quick access to the alphabetical entries, which include information on how to grow, harvest, use, and preserve each herb. Recipes and comments on the healing uses of herbs are included, as they are in a plethora of other herb books. Beginners looking for a wider variety of herbs or a broader work that includes cultivating herbs for natural dyes will prefer Jekka McVicar's exemplary The Complete Herb Book, while readers seeking detailed folklore, legends, and historic recipes will enjoy the first American edition of Nancy Arrowsmith's Essential Herbal Wisdom. Verdict Though not unique, this is a worthwhile introductory work for beginners and those public libraries currently needing an introductory herb book. Recommended.-Bonnie L. Poquette, Milwaukee, WI (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
