Seed to table A seasonal guide to organically growing, cooking, and preserving food at home

This beautifully illustrated gardening book might appeal to cookbook fans as well, with a 100-plus-page chapter devoted to garden-to-table recipes, but is likely going to find its most appreciative audience in those who love to dig in the dirt. Chapters cover crop guides, garden planning, growing techniques, soil management, seeds and seeding, and season extension. Filled with lavish photos, the book centers on the idea of growing food for an enriched and enjoyable life--heirloom tomatoes that taste incandescently different from store-bought, and a garden space that is nurturing to body and soul. The gardening information is solid, offering crop information that covers growth patterns, common issues, and suggested varieties. Each is then indexed to recipes, which largely reflect Ghafari's Middle Eastern roots. The cooking chapter opens with drinks and includes snacks, salads, sauces, condiments, sides, and mains. There is also a small section devoted to preserving crops via pickling, drying, and more. VERDICT For his first print book, Ghafari, who created the Urban Farm and Kitchen blog, has written an approachable, deeply useful work for beginner gardeners that is enlivened with recipes and great images.--Neal Wyatt

From the Introduction For years, my interest in food focused predominantly on cooking. I had very little interest in what happened before my ingredients made it to my local market or grocery store. That changed in 2009 when I began participating in a CSA (community supported agriculture) program. It was almost as if I had this epiphany, an awakening of sorts. I still remember the name of the farmer, Andre Samson, from Farnham, Quebec. That first CSA box was somewhat strange. Organic fruits and vegetables that looked nothing like the perfectly shaped, unblemished produce we're all used to seeing at the store. I will admit that it took me some time to deprogram myself and appreciate the beauty in the unique. The vegetables tasted great too. I was hooked. We got into the car, drove to Jean-Talon Market and I purchased my first ever tomato, cucumber, and basil seedlings. For the next three years, I learned as much as I could about urban agriculture and container gardens. After moving to Toronto in 2013 I enrolled in the culinary arts program at George Brown College. I did not intend to make culinary arts a career path but wanted to expose myself to new techniques and practices and learn from my peers. It was this experience that cemented for me the desire to focus on seasonality and self-sufficiency. Up until this point, I was living exclusively in condos with small balconies. I was yearning for more space. It was not until we purchased our first house with a backyard that my imagination took off. So many possibilities. Though small, my urban garden held lots of potential. It was on a particularly tough and exhausting business trip in 2018 that I decided to launch Urban Farm and Kitchen, my gardening, cooking, and lifestyle blog. In an instant, I purchased the domain name and created my first logo. Soon after, I announced it to my Instagram followers. My vision was not quite clear but I knew that long term I would be working towards a garden-to-table initiative or business of some sort. My passion for gardening and seasonal cooking could not remain a hobby forever. I wanted more. It has been a wonderful journey filled with challenges and triumphs. In many ways, I did it on my own. Trying, failing, adjusting, adapting, perfecting. Persevering through failure is not a trait that everyone possesses. Unfortunately, failure in the garden can lead to a sense of hopelessness that can push new gardeners to give up. I don't want that for anyone. There is peace in growing a garden. There is a sense of optimism and wonder, a connection with nature that centers us and makes us appreciate the world around us. My hope is that more and more people experience this joy. Writing this book has been a joy as well. In many ways, it has given me the opportunity to think back and truly appreciate my journey and how I became the person I am today. I hope that this book and the experiences, knowledge, and ideas within it will inspire you and support you in crafting and executing your own garden-to-table vision. Excerpted from Seed to Table: A Seasonal Guide to Organically Growing, Cooking, and Preserving Food at Home by Luay Ghafari All rights reserved by the original copyright owners. Excerpts are provided for display purposes only and may not be reproduced, reprinted or distributed without the written permission of the publisher.