Allotment Library

[busy_lizzie]

We have just got some money, £160, to start up a little gardening library for our new community allotment building and I have been given the task of choosing the books. Anybody got any good advice on what I should buy? They must include some books that will be suitable for children too, and for people who are beginners.  Would really appreciate your input.  Thanks!, busy_lizzie  ???

[busy_lizzie]

[markfield rover]

The Vegetable and Herb Expert by Dr D.G Hessayon.
Anything by Joy Larkcom. Grow your own veg- Carol Klien
The new kitchen garden -Anna Pavord
The last two are well illusrated.
hope this helps.

[manicscousers]

wish you were a bt closer, busy_lizzie, I've a stack of magazines, mostly kitchen garden and grow your own, I'm trying to move them on  :)
anyway, good luck with your library  ;D

[Belinda]

When I first started with my allotment, and only ever previously as a child having helped my Dad dig his, I found Caroline Foley's book Practical Allotment Gardening extremely helpful and easy to follow. It's a bit old now and she's also done a couple more since, but might be worth looking out for - definately a good beginners book.

I also have the RHS Growing Fruit book by Harry Baker, very clear and concise with excellent diagrams.

[Multiveg]

You could try Freecycle for some books.
HDRA have a wide range of books that are good.

The Compost Book by David & Yvonne Taylor - it is a glossary with some illustrations.

The Kitchen Garden by Andi Clevely - it has a month-by-month guide.

Weeds friend or foe? by Sally Roth, though it does have sat something nice about couch grass (good for erosion control on steep slopes). It has pictures.

[twinkletoes]

My favourite book is The Complete Vegetable Gardener: A Practical Guide to Growing Fresh and Delicious Vegetables (Readers Digest) by Jane Courtier (Author).
Twinkletoes

[kenkew]

Don't be in a rush to buy. Books are expensive.

Put out a request here first and see what happens. I see nothing wrong with using E-Buygumbay to ask for donated books. Any extras you want you can purchase later. How about offering to pay just postage for donated items or a small percentage of the value? Me thinks you'll get a reasonable response from A4A's.
Ken.

[BAK]

busy_lizzie,

a slight change from all the "how to grow" books and mags thus far - what about a book on the history of allotments? Not much appeal to youngsters though.

If I had to choose one it would be the following which is quite readable ...

The Allotment Chronicles: A Social History of Allotment Gardening by Steve Poole, published by Silver Link Publishing, Kettering (£6.99 on Amazon).

[Georgie]

I have a couple of hardback books in good condition which are suitable for children which I'd be happy to send you.  One is Chris Packham's Back Garden Nature Reserve and the other is Junior Nature Guide to Butterflies.The latter includes a number of activities.  I also have a paperback copy of The Observer Book of Weather going spare.  PM me if interested. 

G x

[Pesky Wabbit]

A while ago, when I was asked to produce a shortlist of worthwhile books, I based my selection, not, as would be sensable, on which were the good books, but on the popular and well known books.

The logic behind this move was to avoid criticism. "Why did you chose xxx, when yyy is so much better?"; "Why have we not got a book on growing kiwis or mangos ?"

I stuck to the RHS and the BBC books. Still got the flack, but at least I could fend them off with logic.

In the end we just went around all, and I mean ALL, the charity shops, picking up anything that appeared relevant. Why pay £15.00, £20.00, +, when you can get an older, but similar, book for £0.99 ?


Ps. I wonder how many of Alan T.'s or Carol Klein's books have found their way into the junk/charity shops ?

[Multiveg]

busy_lizzie,

a slight change from all the "how to grow" books and mags thus far - what about a book on the history of allotments? Not much appeal to youngsters though.

If I had to choose one it would be the following which is quite readable ...

The Allotment Chronicles: A Social History of Allotment Gardening by Steve Poole, published by Silver Link Publishing, Kettering (£6.99 on Amazon).

I didn't finish reading that book - it was sooooo boring.

[Multiveg]

Some of the books appear in discount bookshops as well, including Bob Flowerdew's no-dig.. etc. I have loads of books with quite a few from charity shops. I have bought a few from Amazon too. One of the garden centres near me has a cafe with a bookcase of gardening books: they have the RHS series among those on the various flowers with a few on veg.

A while ago, when I was asked to produce a shortlist of worthwhile books, I based my selection, not, as would be sensable, on which were the good books, but on the popular and well known books.

The logic behind this move was to avoid criticism. "Why did you chose xxx, when yyy is so much better?"; "Why have we not got a book on growing kiwis or mangos ?"

I stuck to the RHS and the BBC books. Still got the flack, but at least I could fend them off with logic.

In the end we just went around all, and I mean ALL, the charity shops, picking up anything that appeared relevant. Why pay £15.00, £20.00, +, when you can get an older, but similar, book for £0.99 ?


Ps. I wonder how many of Alan T.'s or Carol Klein's books have found their way into the junk/charity shops ?

[busy_lizzie]

Thanks so much everyone.  All your comments and suggestions are really helpful.  Really generous Georgie, and will PM you about your offer.  :-* :-* busy_lizzie

[jockomorrocco]

i get loads of books from car boot sales(never paid more than £2 )

[Barnowl]

"Allotted Time: Twelve Months, Two Blokes, One Shed, No Idea"

[busy_lizzie]

Just wanted to again thank everyone for their suggestions. Also wanted to say a great big "thank you" to Georgie!  Those books you sent came in the post this morning Georgie and they are fab.  They are really appropriate and I can see them being very well used, particularly by the kids "Greenfingers Allotment Club" we hold on the site. So, Thanks and big hug for being so generous. Intend to send you a cheque for postage as soon as pos. love busy_lizzie  :-*

[Georgie]

Hi Busy Lizzie.  Glad the books arrived safely and that you will be able to put them to good use.  There is no need to reimburse the postage.

G x