A Woman's Garden

A good survey book for someone who is interested in just getting started in herbs and herbal crafts. Great pictures and examples, but only for the beginner.

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

This is a surprisingly thorough book!

This book profiles various women and their gardens while touching on things like edible flowers, herb gardens, flowers used for dye, and even plants used for skincare. There's lots of information on plants and how to grow your own garden. There's also how-to information for projects like making a raised bed. There's even recipes based on commonly grown edible plants!

This is a great book for people interested in gardening and eating from their garden.

I received A Woman's Garden by Tanya Anderson to preview. I cannot wait until this book comes out. I will be the first person to buy it. I have a lot of gardening books, but this one is destined to become my favorite. It made me want to jump out to my garden and make some of the preparations for next spring. She covers LOTS of subjects: veggies, herbs, edible flowers, crafts, etc. I must have this book. Easy to read and colorful photos.

This is a lovely book that has made me jealous of anyone not living in a concrete jungle. I want to test 'Creating a New Vegetable Garden' despite not having an once of dirt around my home, It was great to read about specific gardens, that yield crops that are used in such great ways (I love the edible flower ice cubes) and also includes recipes. I"m not sure if this is a gardening book, a cookbook, DIY, or a lifestyle book but it's got it all and is a wonderful escape book for me. #AWomansGarden #NetGalley

--My New Go-to Gift for the DIY Maker / Gardener--

I received an advanced review copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley, and here are my thoughts.

If you want to start planting a garden that is a feast for your eyes, and provides materials for food, skin care, medicine, house cleaning and furniture treatment, and beautiful crafts, this book, which profiles several gardeners in the UK, US and Germany, will provide huge amounts of both inspiration and also the instructions to get you going. Soap, candles, bath bombs, and much much more. Directions for a raised bed are included, and most projects use the most "frugal" of construction materials.

Each gardener gives instructions on how to create and grow plants for specific purposes...such as edible flowers, plants that can be used to dye cloth or yarn, as well as garden projects that make growing more productive and also beautiful.

I love having so many different gardeners profiled, because you get to see gorgeous examples of multi-purpose gardens from a variety of sources.

And while there may be individual books that cover some topics in more depth (soap making or plant dyes, for example), this kind of book is the perfect way to get you started in ALL of these activities, with top notch, visually appealing projects that even make me want to make soap (and I've never had the inclination!).

I think this is a perfect book for both a beginner and advanced gardener for the same reason...this book helps you envision your own garden, and gives you the wisdom of several gardeners who are also artists in what they do. The photographs and instructions are top-notch and just pure inspiration.

Absolutely LOVE this book. I have it on pre-order and can't wait to have a physical copy in my hands.

Truly lovely reading, with an insight into different gardens around the world in different climates. Fabulous photography and simple explanations for application, large or small in your own environment. A delightful read.

A Woman's Garden by Tanya Anderson is a very cool book. I think most gardener's would want a copy of this because it's packed with so much great information. Of course there are general gardening tips and how to do it, but there are also recipes and how-to's for skin care using your garden, crafting and creative gardening elements, using your garden to dye fabrics and add color to soaps. I also loved all the recipes for the oils and infusions using flowers and herbs. The book contained lovely photos and full instructions for projects.

This is such a lovely book, so much so that I am going to buy a copy when it is released.

As a gardener, both veg and flowers I am always intrigued to find new ways of utilising what I grow. Many vegetables have various uses and I know the same can be said for flowers. I have in the past used flowers in my homemade candles and soaps but that is all. This book has given me so many more ideas for other things.

Not only is the book full of hints, tips, crafts and recipes, it also gives gardens from around the world. Often I find with gardening books they are specific to one country. This one has gardens from the US, Germany, UK and more. It gives a range of plants and growing conditions as well as introducing different techniques.

Some of the things I am going to be trying when things start growing again are, floral ice-cubes, simple and one of those "why haven't I don't this before" thigs, yes flowers in ice-cubes, that's it simple and obvious when you think about it. Also, an edible flower frittata sounds and looks amazing and I seriously need to make the lavender shortbread, I have been meaning to use lavender in my baking since I read a fictional book about this a while back. Oh, and the herb embedded pasta sounds and looks great aw well.

As well as recipes there are a few growing ideas for structures, crafting ideas for soaps, bath bombs and so many other great things. It is a book that will appeal to gardeners, crafters, making homemade products and for those who bake. I like this book so much that I need to get a copy when it is published.

A fabulous book that has gorgeous photos and is perfect for me and I know several others who would love it as well. I would absolutely recommend this book.

A beautiful book highlighting women gardeners from around the world. The gardens were located from urban areas with smaller land to countryside and larger areas. Really full of information from growing vegetables, herbs, edible flowers, and so much more. There are also sections on making cleaning, beauty, and other products including gorgeous candles. The photos are also wonderful!

Absolutely beautiful photography! This title was well constructed and I enjoyed every page. It does not exactly fit the zone in which I live, but I took many notes and will apply them to my existing landscaping. The recipes were well-written and I liked the versatility of the designs. It's a great inspiration book for those in more temperate climates than mine!

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I ABSOLUTELY LOVED this book! I dug in and did not want to uncover myself from the yummy dirt I had uncovered! There is just something spiritual about being among God's Plants and flowers that truly feed a woman or man's soul! This book has so many wonderful projects to grow and harvest to food recipes beauty ( my favorite is rose petal facial mist ) and MORE! From the beginner to advanced gardeners, he/she will be green with envy to get started and itching for Spring! I would buy this book for any nature lover and would recommend it as well.
I want to thank Netgalley.com & Cool Springs Press for this copy and the chance to share my honest opinion.

A beautiful and informative book about gardening and how to use plants for cooking, skin care, herbal remedies, cleaning products, dying and crafts. I loved the combination of women's stories, gardening advice and instructions for projects, accompanied by gorgeous photographs. It's definitely inspired me to start planning some seed planting when spring arrives!

As I write this, we’re having one of those deceptively beautiful winter days. The kind where the sky is blue and the sun is shining but the temperature never gets out of the 20s. This comes after a run of days of heavy grey clouds and flat, dull light. This sort of deep winter weather always has me looking towards spring and dreaming again of starting a garden. The only problem? I don’t actually know how to garden. I love looking at inspirational gardens, but I always have felt too overwhelmed to start. Which is why I was so excited to get my hands on a copy of the upcoming book A Woman’s Garden by Tanya Anderson of Lovely Greens.

A Woman’s Garden is a celebration of home gardening and inspirational gardens in many varied forms. The gardens at the center of each chapter are in a variety of location throughout North American and Europe, representing a nice range of climates. The book covers eight types of gardens across three themes: edible, health and beauty, and home and crafts.

The edible garden section starts out with a look at a basic kitchen garden, the sort with vegetables and fruits. This particular garden is special, however, because of how much it produces on a scant quarter acre of land. I was even more excited about the garden featured in the next chapter, which focuses on edible flowers. The last chapter looks at culinary herbs. The featured gardener, Rekha Mistry, started with a few small pots but has expanded to a plot in a community garden.

The next two chapters looked at how a garden can be used to support health and beauty goals. Skin care was the first chapter the garden featured is that of the author on the Isle of Man. She encourages experimentation with plant materials, especially when making low-risk items like bath bombs. Herbal medicine was next. This chapter strikes a nice balance between encouraging the use of herbs as medicine and acknowledging the need for training and caution. The featured gardener recommends starting out with herbs that are used in both culinary and medicinal ways. For example, growing mint, which is good for treating upset stomach and in food.

Home and crafts is the theme of the final section of the book. There was another chapter on herbs, but this one focused on herbs that were useful for the home. I found it interesting that there are plants like soapwort that can be used as a natural detergent! This was followed by a chapter that really excited me: plant dyes! I do a lot of crafts (crochet, weaving, etc) and experimenting with natural dyes is on my wishlist. The final chapter was about having a “crafty” garden. I was really glad that this chapter was included, because it addressed the fact that gardening can at times be an expensive hobby. Thee problem with inspirational gradens is that they can often feel out of reach. However, the crafty garden was about how being patient and creative could help a gardener to save money and find uses for things that might otherwise end up in a landfill.

Each of these chapters started with an introduction to a specific woman and her garden. Lots of photographs were included, making it a visual beautiful book, as well as an informative one. This had a grounding effect on the book and made the idea of starting a garden seem more attainable. Afterall, this wasn’t just one woman showing off, but a whole community sharing knowledge.

Information on specific plants was also included in each chapter in the form of easy-to-read charts. One thing I noticed was that some plants were recommended for several different types of gardens. Calendula in particular showed up several times, making me seriously consider plant a small container come spring.

This book contains projects for a wide range of skill levels, time commitments, and land availability. If you like me, and it’s the dead of winter, there’s a recipe for Lavender Shortbread that can be made using dried, store bought flowers (Rose Pistachio Shortbread inspired by this recipe can be found here) and a cleaner that uses orange peels and vinegar. When the weather warms up, I might tackle the edible flower planter in chapter 2. If I had land of my own, I would totally be looking into building the herb spiral in the spring.

Overall, I adore this book. It makes gardening feel approachable and fun. The inspirational gardens gave me a lot to think (and daydream!) about. If you’ve been thinking of starting a garden buy can’t seem to move from an amorphous idea of “some plants idk?” to a real plan, this book is a great read. The projects are there to meet you at whatever level you’re at. Since reading it, I have a better idea of where to start on my gardening journey and more than a few ideas of projects to do when this blanket of snow melts in the spring. Honestly, I’m seriously considering buying a paper copy just to have as a reference/coffee table book. If this sounds like something you’ve been craving too, pre-order your copy of A Woman’s Garden at Bookshop.org or wherever you buy books.

A Woman's Garden offers a wide variety of information on gardens and provides wonderful pictures to go along. In an attempt to become more self-sufficient, my family and I have been working on our garden here and there and I've found great inspiration from this book. The information this book provides ranges from growing fruits and veggies, to using herbs and spices, using plants for dying, and all sorts of hobbies, crafts, and recipes. I gathered so much information that I'm looking forward to implementing in our own garden. This book would make a great addition to anyone looking to be a little greener in any way.

I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving a free copy.

Absolutely beautiful book. I could sit and look at the pictures all day in the winter while I day dream about getting back into the dirt in spring.
This really could be anyone's garden, not just women. With a title like that I half expected it to be focused more on female health or women's history or something but instead found a well rounded garden and herbalism book that anyone can use. Great inspiration for beginners and lots of ideas to try out for people who have already gotten their hands dirty.

I absolutely loved this book. I don't know why it was given this title but I loved all the gardeners profiled and their diverse, beautiful gardens. They each grow a different sort of garden, like one has lots of edible flowers and one grows plants for natural dyes and another focuses on herbs. It's packed with beautiful photos of all of their gardens and tons of projects. I have far too many books and have banned myself from buying more but this is still one I'd be tempted to buy when it's released. It's gorgeous and inspired me to want to do so many more garden projects in my overflowing gardens.

I read a temporary digital ARC of this book for review.

I am a big fan of Tanya’s having followed her Lovely Greens Instagram account for the last 2 years and this book is everything I would have expected from an avid home-gardener and advocate for growing all things edible. With easy garden projects and lots of tips for beginners as well as recipes for eating as well as making your own herbal and botanical skin care this is the perfect guide for anyone looking to get started growing and using edible plants, herbs and flowers. There is also plenty of inspiration from the other women who’s gardens are featured and plenty tips for anyone looking to take their gardening game to the next level. The whole book is beautifully presented with lots of gorgeous photographs and I will definitely be buying a hardback version of this to add to my bookshelf along with the rest of my gardening bibles.

Thanks to Netgalley and Quarto Publishing Group – Cool Springs Press for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

A Woman's Garden: Grow beautiful plants and make useful things by Tanya Anderson
Publisher: Quarto Publishing Group – Cool Springs Press
Genre: Crafts & Hobbies | Home & Garden
Release Date: March 23, 2021

A Woman's Garden: Grow beautiful plants and make useful things by Tanya Anderson is a great resource for gardening plants with purpose. It contains beautiful pictures and suggestions for repurposing items.

I look forward to making my very own Pallet Strawberry Planter!

This is an easy to read guide, filled with great tips and suggestions!

I'm so grateful to Tanya Anderson, Quarto Publishing Group – Cool Springs Press, and NetGalley for providing me with a free copy of this ARC ebook in exchange for my honest review.

Love the strawberry planter idea! So cover really sucks you in on this one because even though it says garden, cover draws you to several ideas and crafts. Enjoyable book outlining several gardens and the hows of using the space you have to create your very own space. Four stars!

A great and very informative book! This is the one garden book I would love to have a physical copy of at home. It talks about edible herbs and flowers and then there are some recipes. Then it talks about plants for skin care, herbal medicine, herbs for the home and more recipes (soap recipe, extracts). I received a free digital copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review

Beautiful book loaded with photographs of herbal gardens. This book is full of different herbal garden plans combined with detailed instructions on how to harvest and use the herbs in various DIY projects ranging from lip balm to tea to natural cleaning recipes.

Immersing ourselves in nature can bring such incredible peace and grounding. But for many of us, escaping the bounds of the city can be daunting. What if we could bring that peace and calm just a few steps closer... maybe as close as our own backyards? What if our little pieces of earth could be turned into beautiful and functional havens?

A Woman's Garden encourages us to do just that. Author Tanya Anderson takes us on a journey of transforming whatever little piece of ground we have into a sanctuary full of life. In this book, you'll meet women from all over the globe who have created gardens of healing, nutrition, and health. Each woman is unique and each garden reflects that uniqueness either in design or functionality. Besides their inspiring stories, you'll also learn along the way, whether it be how to create a herb spire, strawberry planter pallet, or variety of foods.

I loved reading through A Woman's Garden. Each section because a new and beautiful discovery for me. I found myself taking so much away from the women's stories and learning from their gardening techniques. Each garden was different and offered unique elements that I hope to include in my own backyard. This is truly a wonderful book and one that I will reach for often in my own gardening journey.

*Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions are my own.

Now that we own a home, I've been obsessively reading gardening books in hopes of creating an inviting backyard space. My goal for the garden is for it to be both beautiful and useful, and this book was absolutely perfect for that goal. There's such a wide variety of projects in the book that it's never even crossed my mind to think about trying. I absolutely want to try making my own pasta encrusted with herbs. There are other ideas, like dyeing yarn with natural dyes from plants, that I don't think I'll try but I still found interesting.

The photos throughout offer visual inspiration. I love that the author profiled different gardeners and their gardens in each section. All of these gardeners have a blog or other social media platform, so it's a great way to discover even more sources of gardening inspiration.

This book has been one of my favorites out of the gardening books that I've read so far in preparation for spring, and it's been completely different from any of the other ones that I've come across so far. If you're interested in creating a garden space for yourself, then I'd recommend this book.

What a lovely book! Really enjoyed this and happily dipped in and out of it over a few days. Will go back yo it and reread chapters. A real triumph.

2020 was a year of change. For me I was more drawn to my garden and the uses I could make of it. It was, of course, my refuge, a place to sit and read. In 2020 during lockdown I wanted to move towards a healthier way of living. There was so much toxicity about with Covid-19 etc that it seemed the right step to take. This book is idea, not only does it help plan a small vegetable plot, but outline the correct herbs and flowers to plant to help lead a more sustainable and healthy life. It also shows how the same herbs can be used in skincare and for medicinal uses.

As someone who was raised watching my mom garden and then tasting and seeing the fruits of her labor, this book was a walk down memory lane. As a new home owner wanting to follow in my mom’s steps, “A Women’s Garden” helps me to see the vision of my own garden. The book shows different garden styles from women’s gardens all over the world. Each has their own style and special touch, which makes me realize that a garden can be anything you want it to be. I love how author Tanya Anderson gives us ideas for edible gardens and recipes, while also including instructions for design and crafts. If you are a seasoned gardener or dreaming of becoming one, this book is a great choice.
(I received an advanced copy of this book from the publisher for my honest review.)