March 2023 Books Read
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Most of the books I read this month were focused on gardening and foraging. Each book had something that I could use toward growing food in my small backyard. It was also a tool used in teaching my son how to garden and identify plants while out hiking. I snagged most of these from the local library and will most likely have more from the library in my posts moving forward. It’s a great place to find a variety of books to read for free. Make sure to stop by your local library to see what they have.
My favorite book of the month was a paperback fantasy book that you'll find toward the end. I've already ordered the next book in that series. The author has a ton of great books out there.
Herbs: essential know-how and expert advice for gardening success by Stephanie Mahon
This book focused on different herbs and how to grow them. It talked about the variety of herbs, how to tend to them at different times in their lifecycle, and about the best types of soil to plant them in.
I picked this one up because no matter what I do, I always have trouble getting lavender to grow from a seed. It’s one of the easiest herbs to tend to when grown but starting it has been a pain. This plant can grow in crap soil and is a hardy plant. I planted a mostly grown lavender bush last year and it did fine. The seeds though, nope.
This nonfiction read helped me understand where I was having the problem and how to alleviate it. The lavender seeds I planted after reading it are now sprouting. This book is great to have on hand for anyone growing herbs whether it be inside or outside.
Description:
Discover a wide variety of herbs you can grow successfully at home. Ideal for first-time gardeners, Grow Herbs contains everything you need to know to grow a wide variety of perennial and annual herbs. Learn how to sow, grow, harvest, and propagate your plants, with advice on caring for home-grown herbs as well as tips on making the most of store-bought pots. Explore a huge variety of herbs available to home gardeners with a wide-ranging directory, including popular herbs such as mint, basil, and sage as well as lesser-grown options like shiso and bergamot. Packed with practical, jargon-free know-how, this easy-to-use guide has everything you need to know to help your garden Grow.
https://www.amazon.com/Grow-Herbs-Essential-Know-how-Gardening/dp/0744048133/
Cooking with Mushrooms: A Fungi lover’s guide to the world’s most versatile, flavorful, health-boosting ingredients by Andrea Gentl
This was a fun one that I saved recipes from and went out and bought. It talked about the different tastes, textures, and styles of cooking used with mushrooms. It also shared how to store them through dehydration methods and more. I was fascinated with some of the storage methods used including turning the mushrooms into mushroom powders. This fun cookbook is something I plan to use more now that I have a copy. Highly recommend it to any of those who enjoy cooking and exploring other foods to cook.
Description:
Named a Best Cookbook of 2022 by Bon Appetit In her extraordinary first cookbook, Andrea Gentl brings to her subject equal parts knowledge and technique, along with a unique passion and sensibility. From sprinkling adaptogenic powder over granola to reinventing schnitzel with king trumpets, Cooking with Mushrooms expands our ideas of how to use mushrooms as both a food and a flavor, a seasoning and the star of the plate.
Here are a variety of mushroom broths to make you feel better. Breakfast recipes like Soupy Eggs with Chanterelles. Mushroom Larb or a Crispy Shiitake “Bacon” Endive Wedge Salad makes the perfect lunch. Mushroom Ragu or a Roast Chicken with Miso Mushroom Butter can change the dinner game, and a Maple Mushroom Ice Cream will transform your ideas about dessert.
The dishes might sound familiar—lasagna, risotto, a bourguignon, brownies—but the ingredients and flavors are as unexpected as they are delicious. In all, Cooking with Mushrooms features nearly 100 recipes that unlock the powerful flavors and health-giving properties of the world’s most magical ingredient.
https://www.amazon.com/Cooking-Mushrooms-Health-Giving-Properties-Ingredient/dp/1648291503
DIY Mushroom Cultivation: Growing Mushrooms at Home for Food, Medicine, and Soil by Willoughby Arevalo
This was quite an interesting read. I won’t lie, I’m a bit obsessed now with mushrooms. You can forage for them and grow them. It’s a lot of fun to identify them and read the fun facts listed for them.
This book inspired me to buy a mushroom log that is now resting in my yard against a fence. It won’t grow any mushrooms for about a year, but I look forward to when it does. This book covered many ways of growing mushrooms and explained the lifecycle of a mushroom. It discussed how important fungi are to the planet’s ecosystem and even led to me picking up a few more books with related topics that will appear later down the road in my reviews.
This book gave an easy method of growing things and a deep scientific version of growing them. The scientific method is not for me, but I loved gaining new knowledge to use in growing mushrooms with a bit store bought help in the future. Worth checking out.
Description:
"Offering clear and comprehensive instructions for low-tech growing for a range of budgets, interests, and scales, this book offers practical inspiration and a sense that "hey, I can do this!" –— DANIELLE STEVENSON, owner, DIY Fungi
DIY Mushroom Cultivation is full of proven, reliable, low-cost techniques for home-scale cultivation that eliminate the need for a clean-air lab space to grow various mushrooms and their mycelium.
Beautiful full-color photos and step-by-step instructions accompany a foundation of mushroom biology and ecology to support a holistic understanding of the practice. Growing techniques are applicable year-round, for any space from house to apartment, and for any climate, budget, or goal. Techniques include:
· Setting up a home growing space