The Productive Garden: An essential guide toward self-sufficiency

Swap your trolley for a trug in this self-sufficiency bible. Written by no-dig gardening guru and one of the 100 Leading Women in Horticulture 2025, Stephanie Hafferty, The Productive Garden provides practical, simple, resourceful and enjoyable ways of creating a more self-sufficient lifestyle. Self-sufficiency doesn’t need to remain a dream. With over 30 years of experience, Stephanie Hafferty shows how easy it can be to grow your own, save money, reduce your consumption, increase resilience and care for the planet – all from your own back garden, allotment or balcony. She does it every day, growing food to nourish herself and her family, and cultivating plants to create everyday household essentials. She also knows how to make a harvest last longer, and how to feed the soil so that it gives back generously, year after year. In The Productive Garden, learn everything you need to know about growing abundant and useful crops, and how to make the most of what you produce. Divided into three clear sections, this book covers: Part One: In the Garden Planning a self-sufficient plot and creating a planting plan that works for your space Effective techniques for making compost, storing water, protecting crops and improving your soil Working with nature to increase biodiversity and control 'pests' Sowing and propagating for year-round harvests Part Two: Seasonal Produce A complete guide to reliable crops and unique varieties – covering vegetables, fruit, herbs and flowers – to ensure productivity across the seasons. Part Three: Using Your Harvests Recipes for a homegrown larder, including preserves, oils, ferments, vinegars, cordials and more Chemical-free cleaners, soaps and fragrances for the home Using produce to improve wellbeing, such as making body care products and herbal remedies Garden crafts, including preserved flowers and flower-pounding techniques As a leading no-dig expert, Stephanie will show you sustainable methods of cultivating a generous and abundant garden, bringing together affordable homesteading with the reality of modern life. Her guidance is brought to life by Jason Ingram’s beautiful photography. Whether you want to start small, have already embarked on a journey to self-sufficiency, or are looking for a complete lifestyle change, this will become your go-to book and essential guide.  Read more