What do you do when you can’t garden? For many of us, gardening is a stress reliever, a hobby, and a friend that we get to enjoy almost every day. But, there are inevitably down days where there is not much to do in the garden. Maybe you purposefully designed a low-maintenance garden… maybe a little too low-maintenance. Or maybe you live in a climate with a long winter. If that is the case, check out our winter gardening blog post for some great ideas to keep your momentum going! However, most of us will find some downtime at some point throughout the year. My biggest tip is to read! Learn! Garden and develop your mind so that the next gardening season is better, more productive, or easier. There are thousands of valuable gardening books in the world but here are a few ideas to get you started.

The Mittleider Gardening Course by Dr Jacob R Mittleider

This book is widely known as one of the most well-rounded educational gardening books available anywhere. Open this book and be greeted with a wealth of knowledge ranging from the basics of where to plant and when to more advanced topics such as winter gardening and home greenhouse construction. Priced just under $30, novice and seasoned gardeners will not regret investing in cultivating their mind with this foolproof course.

Wild Fermentation by Sandor Ellix Katz

Discover creative ways to use your harvest and widen your culinary abilities for preservation with Wild Fermentation. Katz will take you through the details of fermentation. This easy-to-follow guide teaches how to make things like sourdough bread, pickles, and krauts. Along the way, learn the health benefits of consuming fermented foods and how to enjoy having them as part of your everyday diet.

Gardening - An Ecological Approach by Fred Montague

Not only an educational masterpiece but a work of art, this 5-in-1 book features handwritten information and hand-drawn diagrams by none other than the reputable Dr. Fred Montague. Montague has paved the way for garden conservation practices in Utah and other regions. He is an undisputed source of reliable knowledge regarding home gardening, edible gardening, and garden design.

Wheatgrass Sprouts Microgreens and The Living Food Diet

Are you interested in doing some indoor gardening during your off-season? Wheatgrass, sprouts, and microgreens are easy to grow and provide many health benefits. Keep the fresh vegetables rolling into the kitchen and into your diet! This book was written and developed by Living Whole Foods Inc. and contains everything you need to know to get your indoor food garden started and keep it thriving.

Nourishing your mind with information doesn’t take much time or effort. Trying new things and broadening your perspective can only yield positive results in the long run. Reading just one book will give you powerful information that you can use at your disposal. Of all the gardening books I have read and videos I have watched, I can testify that it is sometimes the simplest information that impacts me and my garden the most. You never know what you will learn that will revolutionize your life.

No matter your experience level or interests, there is bound to be something more you can learn to keep improving your mind and garden. Take a look at our books and other media products to see what other things might interest you. Don’t just cultivate the soil this year, garden your mind!

Lara Wadsworth, True Leaf Market Writer

I am a native of Southwestern Michigan, where I also reside, and I love all things plants! I got a Bachelor's Degree in Horticulture and found the first work-from-home job I could get. Now, I spend my days writing for TLM, playing with my dog, eating delicious food with my husband, and plotting my next landscape or gardening move. I believe everyone should get down and dirty in the soil now and then. Happy Gardening!