I am so overdue on writing this post. I have been feeling pretty cruddy the last couple of weeks so I am behind on stuff. But, today is the day! This book rocks and I need to tell y’all about it.

So I met Celeste via email when I was setting up interviews on an article I was doing for a client. It took me a while to realize she was the same Celeste Longacre that writes for The Old Farmer’s Almanac. Duh! Just so happens I made the connection the same day her book arrived in the mail.

This book is not what I was expecting. I sort of expected a cookbook of sorts, but Celeste’s Garden Delights is so much more. It is sort of a diary/how-to guide on self-sufficiency. There are recipes, for sure, but many of them are about preserving foods from the garden.

The book starts out with the garden plan. Here she discusses seeds, no-till garden and planting in pots. From there she goes into her monthly garden calendar. This thrilled me because her growing season is similar to mine, and since I am having a hard time adjusting to gardening in the north again, I found it very helpful to see what I should be doing each month.

And I am behind. Again. But I digress.

Just as exciting to me were the chapters on cooking, preserving and fermenting. I am now anxious to make bone broth in my crock pot.

This book isn’t just about gardening. Celeste also includes a section called Other Voices. Here she interviews various experts on sustainable living topics like soil health, aeroponic gardening, holistic farming, beekeeping and so much more.

I got through this book in one sitting, but it will certainly not be the only time it will be read. This is going to be one of those books that I wear out. I so love Celeste’s style of writing because it makes you feel like you are talking to a friend. Makes me feel like I really missed out when I declined her invitation for a phone call. Sort of hard to explain that you have a phone phobia to a potential interview for a client. :/ But oh well. The interview went really well and I am thrilled to have another book to add to my Favorites shelf. And, in a way, I feel like I made a new friend as well (Celeste and her PR lady Beth are just the nicest people ever).

Anyhow, check out this book! You won’t regret it. I promise.