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winelovingbooknerd's review
5.0
If you're at all interested in growing herbs of any sort, this book is for you. I was amazed by the vastness of information that it contains. It is split up into 3 parts. The first is all about how to plan and grow your herbs and flowers no matter the region. It even contains information on growing in containers and has holistic solutions for garden pests and plant diseases. Part Two goes in depth on how to harvest, dry and store your spoils and how to prepare different types of botanical medicines. Part 3 is an extensive glossary of dozens of different herbs and flowers with pages of detailed information for each on how to grow and in which zones, type of soil, how to propagate, harvest and use in a variety of different medicines or in cooking with mouthwatering recipes. All of this plus page after page of gorgeous photos.
Thank you to Mariner Books and NetGalley for allowing me to read an advance copy of this book. My review is voluntary and all opinions are my own.
Thank you to Mariner Books and NetGalley for allowing me to read an advance copy of this book. My review is voluntary and all opinions are my own.
annieb123's review
5.0
Originally posted on my blog: Nonstop Reader.
The Healing Garden is an encyclopedic herbal and guide to medicinal plants and herbal medicine by Juliet Blankespoor. Due out 8th April 2022 from Houghton Mifflin Harcourt on their Mariner imprint, it's a substantial 448 pages and will be available in hardcover, and ebook formats.
This is a well written and accessible beginner-friendly guide (with recipes and tutorials) for herb gardening and herbal medicine.The author writes with competence and experience on choosing, growing, harvesting, processing, and using herbs and the active ingredients they contain. The first section (~25%) covers culture, siting, soil building, pest control, and propagation (very useful info here). The chapters in section 2 introduce methods for harvesting and preparing/preserving plant material without destroying active ingredients. The third and largest section contains a survey of active ingredients, safety issues, and a comprehensive herbal with profiles for 32 common herbs from anise hyssop to yarrow.
The tutorials and recipes include tools and ingredients in a bullet style list. Measurements are in American/imperial units with metric/standard measures in parentheses (yay!), followed by step by step instructions. Plant profiles in the herbal chapters include common and botanical (Latin) nomenclature, culture info, habit (size, spread), propagation, medicinal uses, and recipes and tutorials for specific uses.
The book is lushly illustrated and photographed throughout in full color. The author has also included a resource and links lists, bibliography, and index.
Five stars. This would be a superlative choice for public or school library acquisition, community garden/allotment member libraries, or the home gardener's library.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
The Healing Garden is an encyclopedic herbal and guide to medicinal plants and herbal medicine by Juliet Blankespoor. Due out 8th April 2022 from Houghton Mifflin Harcourt on their Mariner imprint, it's a substantial 448 pages and will be available in hardcover, and ebook formats.
This is a well written and accessible beginner-friendly guide (with recipes and tutorials) for herb gardening and herbal medicine.The author writes with competence and experience on choosing, growing, harvesting, processing, and using herbs and the active ingredients they contain. The first section (~25%) covers culture, siting, soil building, pest control, and propagation (very useful info here). The chapters in section 2 introduce methods for harvesting and preparing/preserving plant material without destroying active ingredients. The third and largest section contains a survey of active ingredients, safety issues, and a comprehensive herbal with profiles for 32 common herbs from anise hyssop to yarrow.
The tutorials and recipes include tools and ingredients in a bullet style list. Measurements are in American/imperial units with metric/standard measures in parentheses (yay!), followed by step by step instructions. Plant profiles in the herbal chapters include common and botanical (Latin) nomenclature, culture info, habit (size, spread), propagation, medicinal uses, and recipes and tutorials for specific uses.
The book is lushly illustrated and photographed throughout in full color. The author has also included a resource and links lists, bibliography, and index.
Five stars. This would be a superlative choice for public or school library acquisition, community garden/allotment member libraries, or the home gardener's library.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
wildflowerfieldsforever's review
5.0
I cannot believe how much is packed into this book! Juliet Blankespoor covers it all. You don't need to be a master gardener to understand the information in this book. Juliet breaks it down for all levels of gardening experience. Also, you don't need to turn your entire backyard into a garden (although she shows you how and I dream of this!); there is plenty here for the container gardener. Whether you're here to learn how to grow one or two herbs for culinary use or an entire garden for medicine making, Juliet has you covered.
Once you have your herbs grown, Juliet delves into harvesting and drying methods and then describes the art of medicine making. Once again, the text and the photos and the wisdom shared here makes this attainable for every level of herbalist.
Don't want to grow your own herbal garden, small or large? That's okay. You can still glean so much wisdom from this book! The herbal materials Juliet uses in her medicine making can be found at local farmers markets, herb shops, or online. Check the Herbal Resources in the back for a list of responsible sources if you don't know of any in your own community.
Need an impressive gift? Herbal Compound Butters and Herbal Finishing Salts are quite easy to make and are thoughtful, unique gifts.
I always love when an herbal book breaks down herbs with their medicinal properties and then gives culinary uses for everyday foods. This is such an attainable way to nourish your body with healing herbs! The Healing Garden takes us just a small step beyond the most commonly used herbs for this section. However, I found that these were still very attainable herbs. I cannot wait to try Thai Calendula Chicken Soup or Rainbow Nopales Salsa.
Bonus: The photography is gorgeous and immensely helpful in the how-to sections.
Huge thanks to NetGalley and Mariner Books for the digital ARC of The Healing Garden. I really cannot wait to add a hard copy of this title to my personal bookshelf, as well as introduce it to my herb and garden loving patrons!
Once you have your herbs grown, Juliet delves into harvesting and drying methods and then describes the art of medicine making. Once again, the text and the photos and the wisdom shared here makes this attainable for every level of herbalist.
Don't want to grow your own herbal garden, small or large? That's okay. You can still glean so much wisdom from this book! The herbal materials Juliet uses in her medicine making can be found at local farmers markets, herb shops, or online. Check the Herbal Resources in the back for a list of responsible sources if you don't know of any in your own community.
Need an impressive gift? Herbal Compound Butters and Herbal Finishing Salts are quite easy to make and are thoughtful, unique gifts.
I always love when an herbal book breaks down herbs with their medicinal properties and then gives culinary uses for everyday foods. This is such an attainable way to nourish your body with healing herbs! The Healing Garden takes us just a small step beyond the most commonly used herbs for this section. However, I found that these were still very attainable herbs. I cannot wait to try Thai Calendula Chicken Soup or Rainbow Nopales Salsa.
Bonus: The photography is gorgeous and immensely helpful in the how-to sections.
Huge thanks to NetGalley and Mariner Books for the digital ARC of The Healing Garden. I really cannot wait to add a hard copy of this title to my personal bookshelf, as well as introduce it to my herb and garden loving patrons!
hissingpotatoes's review
2.0
Incomplete index, bibliography and recommended readings are behind a (free) signup on a website instead of included in the book, mentions herbs that aren't given a proper profile. Style and formatting seem more akin to a coffee table book than one meant to be used frequently.
nlkester12's review
5.0
An absolutely gorgeous book that seems like it will have something to offer for any special moment in your life. I can't wait to dig into some of the recipes and herbal guides. The photos are so beautiful and the whole energy and feel of the book encourages soft contemplation and learning.
zaineylaney's review
4.0
I was so interested in this book because it gave me more insight on how to make homeopathic medicine. There is a lot of information on how to grow the plants yourself, and the best herbs to grow in a garden, no matter what the size. This is a sourcebook, and one to keep in your library to reference over and over. Some of these medicine carriers I never would have guessed (like compound butters).
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