There is SO much to learn about the world of gardening. I know that I will always have more to learn and I LOVE that!
What I didn’t love when I first started out as a gardener was not knowing which resource to trust when I needed information.
These are the gardening resources that have helped me learn the most along the way – they are the ones I have come to know and trust.
The Best Gardening Books
This book is always by my bedside. It has highlights and underlines and is a book I will read over and over again. It is EXCELLENT for general gardening knowledge. In addition, the book has chapters on specific fruits and vegetables so you know planting, pruning, harvesting and growing information for each.
Rosemary Gladstar’s Medicinal Herbs
If you are at all interested in herbal medicine, this is THE book for you. To say that Rosemary is an expert in this field feels like a massive understatement. I have several of her books and have had the privilege of listening to her speak at a Mother Earth News conference as well. She grew up learning about and using medicinal herbs. She is the founder of Traditional Medicinals Tea and the list goes on and on. Check this book out!
Rosemary Gladstar’s Medicinal Recipes
If, after reading the book above, you are ready to start experimenting with creating your own herbal remedies, this is an excellent book to start your adventuring.
The Best Gardening Magazines and Websites
Overall, I have probably learned the most about gardening and homesteading from this magazine. I have had a subscription for years, attended the Mother Earth News conference and have purchased the digital archive including all of their past articles. I highly recommend checking out the website or picking up a magazine if you are interested in gardening and/or homesteading of all sorts.
The AgriLife Extension for Your Area (for Texas click here)
I am less likely to remember this resource, but it is always extremely helpful and almost entirely relevant when I do. For example, if you are growing raspberries in Texas and search Google you will find loads of information about how to grow them. However, growing raspberries in Texas is different than in Ohio or Washington or Arizona. Having information about what grows well and how to grow it in your own climate will save you the most headaches along the way.
There have been PLENTY of times that I have searched for information in Google when I’m wanting a quick answer. It seems like 90% of the time I end up clicking on an article from The Old Farmer’s Almanac, and it provides just the information I need. The site is well-organized, informative and to the point. It is excellent for those quick searches on how to harvest, prune or plant a new fruit or vegetable.
For years now I have debated signing up for one of the amazing classes they offer. In the past I had a membership to the Herbarium and it is well worth it. If you are interested in health in any way, you will want to follow all of their social media accounts to gain as much knowledge as you can soak up! A major bonus is that everything on their site is so beautifully done.
The Best Gardening Shows and YouTube Channels
They offer a FREE online course where you can watch a full gardening season at their farm and learn tips along the way. The course is separated into modules so you can pick and choose what you want to watch. The free course is geared towards the beginner gardener, and they offer advanced courses for a fee.
This show is less of a teaching tool for me and more so what I put on for entertainment while cooking. There are fascinating episodes about what others are doing to bring awareness to the slow food movement and grow their own food. If you are a gardening geek like me, then this is a great option for a relaxing show where you will gain a little knowledge along the way.
I will continue to add to this list. Please let me know your favorites in the comments below. The more resources the better! I will check them out, I promise.
Thank you so much for this list! Choosing trustworthy resources is a concern for me. This definitely helps!
Stay cool in the crazy heat! I’m in Central Louisiana and I feel your pain! Lesson learned this year: choose heat tolerant tomatoes.