Author, Valery Tsimba, shares her experience with permaculture vegetable gardening on her 2′ x 22′ balcony in Paris, France. She shows that gardening in an eco-friendly way can result in an abundant harvest even when space is very limited. Written in an easy to understand style, the book presents a new perspective on container vegetable gardening that reflects a profound respect for nature and all the creatures in it.
After explaining the principles and ethics of permaculture, Tsimba describes the process of setting up a vegetable garden in containers according to the principles of permaculture. She covers the basics of container gardening such as the choice of containers and their preparation, tools, soil, composting, plant selection, sowing seed, transplanting seedlings, companion planting, and meeting plant requirements for light, water, and nutrition. The discussion of all these topics include tips for maximizing productivity, biodiversity, and sustainability. Some of my favorites are the “lasagne’ method of increasing soil fertility, the use of the olla for watering, and the chart on the number of years common vegetable seeds are viable.
A second major portion of the book , titled “Growing with the Seasons” provides cultivation techniques for growing 50 specific vegetables, herbs, fruits and flowers in containers. Timba begins with arugula, basil, and beans, continues with beets, cabbage, carrots, and ends with watercress, zinnia and zucchini. Each selection includes both botanic and common names, botanical family, recommended varieties/cultivars, directions for planting and transplanting, and a chart showing the months for sowing, transplanting and harvesting.
Container Gardening the Permaculture Way is a handy guide to having a productive vegetable garden in containers with limited space. The author tweaks the basic principles of container vegetable gardening so that an abundant harvest results along with a positive impact on the environment. Her love for her subject matter comes through on every page and gives the text a personal touch that is both refreshing and inspiring.
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