Additional information
| Weight | 896 g |
|---|---|
| Dimensions | 245 × 206 × 24 mm |
| signed | Signed |
Please visit www.charlesdowding.co.uk to make any purchases
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Charles Dowding’s No Dig Gardening, Course Book
From Weeds to Vegetables Easily and Quickly
The print version is currently out of stock, though available from all usual online stores in UK, and from Chelsea Green in the US.
It is available to buy in a digital format.
And it is also available as an audiobook, from Audible. In this podcast I discuss the making of the audiobook with Tim Fitzpatrick from Tone Talk Audio who did the recording and editing.
Compared to my other books, this one has much more about no dig, compost and compost making, and using compost. There is also a history of no dig vegetable gardening in the last hundred years. I want you to understand the context, and the reasons why no dig has not been much valued until recently, and why it is now.
Plus there is a chapter on site evaluation and planning your layout, and a whole section on clearing weeds by mulching, with all the associated details.
Although the book is not a manual of vegetable growing, it has two chapters with detailed planting plans for small spaces. These are based on what I grew there in successive seasons together with the results, and how no dig helped to achieve these results. For the 25m2/270ft2 small garden, there are two years’ of planting plans, and tables of the subsequent harvests.
I use the results of my Homeacres trials to help you understand how no dig works, and the value of different composts. I also question and demonstrate the need, or not, to grow vegetables in a different place each year.
This book is based around the written content and photos of my no dig online course. It has 19 chapters, covering the key methods and wonderful results of no dig.
From starting with weeds, to sowing and planting straightaway and cropping soon after that.
You learn how to:
- Use no dig on different soil types
- Ask questions and recognise gardening myths, to save time and unnecessary effort
- Create and look after beds and paths, with a whole lesson on paths and their value.
- Recognise and massively reduce the different types of weeds
- Understand and use different types of mulch or soil cover
- Know the differences between soil, compost and different types of compost
- Make your own compost
- Grow an abundance of vegetables using the no dig method. There are growing plans for one bed and for the small garden, with photos and tables to illustrate the results.
Each lesson is comprehensively illustrated, with time-sequences of captioned photos from Charles’ highly productive gardens. Lessons finish with a multiple choice quiz to consolidate learning.
This is a highly detailed resource for anyone wishing to learn and garden with the no dig method.
There are 85,000 words and 900 photographs.
Font is 10 / 12 pt Pembroke Light.
Please be aware that postage costs for international orders may be higher than expected. We use the Royal Mail app so the costs are in line with their latest prices.
Charles Dowding’s No Dig Gardening, Course Book
Charles Dowding’s No Dig Gardening, Course Book
£22.50
A practical course book written by Charles Dowding – invaluable for anyone wishing to learn the no dig method, and to consolidate what they already know.
Kathy Cosley –
This book is great in terms of information, clarity, the photos are fantastic. The one thing spoiling my reading experience is that it’s extremely hard for me to change the font size. It doesn’t matter what I do in the tools (cog) icon, the only thing I can do is hit the magnifying glass icon, but then much of the page is off screen I can’t move the page around to view what is out of sight. It’s quite annoying; I’m reading with strong glasses and my nose to my screen. Any way you can improve the functionality of font size and page navigation? Thank you in any case for a great book!
Charles –
Thanks Kathy. I’m both happy and sorry to hear this! The platform we work with does not at the moment have this facility. We are looking at other options though.
Anne MacLean –
Would you consider releasing this as an ebook or pdf? Save on printing, warehouse, delivery costs etc. Many thanks Anne, Edinburgh
Charles –
Hello Anne, and this book is available as ebook https://courses.charlesdowding.co.uk/product/charles-dowdings-no-dig-gardening-course-book-1-from-weeds-to-vegetables-easily-and-quickly-digital-version/
Eric Davitt –
Mr. Dowding I just received your course 1 book and after the first 25 pages, I immediately pre ordered your Skills book. I love how you weave cleverness and practicality into the abundance of information in your writing. Thank you for your dedication to teaching others how to grow healthy foods
Karli McCann –
Outstanding book! I’ve been gardening for years, using so many different techniques, and much of the time, with minimal success and LOTS of weeds. (USA zone 6b, clay soil -reclaimed farmland) I was gifted this book by my mom who watches on YouTube and I am amazed by the outcome and the data that you have meticulously collected over the years. The facts don’t lie! I’m having my compost delivered this week and I can’t wait to use the no dig method! Thank you for the pictures and great videos online!
Charles –
Thanks I am happy to read this Karli, and wish you happy cropping, fewer weeds!
Philip Loney (verified owner) –
I started a single no dig bed during lockdown 1 and used the Charles Dowding YouTube channel for guidance. Reading this resource has given me a much deeper understanding of the No Dig principles. As a result I have expanded to 4 beds for the forthcoming season. Each chapter is both thorough and easy to follow. The questions at the end of each section help to consolidate learning. Great value for money. Charles you are an inspiration.
Charles –
Hello Philip
It’s so good to hear from beginners like yourself, who have enjoyed success however small, as stepping stone to growing plenty of food. Thanks for your feedback.
Phil Loney (verified owner) –
Charles is such an inspiration. I started growing vegetables from a single bed in what I guess I should call lockdown 1. Charles was my guide via his You Tube channel. I fell in love with growing my own produce. How did I ever think this was boring? Just finished reading the Course 1 book which I got for Christmas. Now that I really understand the no dig approach I am the proud owner of 4 no dig beds and am itching for next season to get underway. Although Charles you do need to include a chapter on how to negotiate with your partner for a bigger share of the back garden! Look forward to Course 2 in next year’s Xmas stocking.
Charles –
Nice to read this Phil. That sounds a tricky chapter to write!
I am not sure that I shall have time to organise course two in book form this year, because I am writing course three, but we shall see.
Simon Allen –
I have both enjoyed reading this book and, as an experienced ‘no digger’, learnt a lot; Charles explains a lot more of the science that makes ‘no dig’ so effective, and that in turn feeds through to the detail of management practices. Also there’s an amazing range of historic data and photos from over the years of Charles’s practise, including ‘mistakes’ he has learnt from.
Richard –
This really is an excellent book, are you planning on publishing course 2?
Charles –
Thankyou Richard.
Yes, however we do not have time just now, it will be next winter all being well, 2021/22
Sophie B. (verified owner) –
Last week I ordered your book and I’m really excited to receive it and put all new information into practice in my own vegetable garden!! It feels like an early Christmas present to myself and every morning running downstairs to see if it has been delivered already. So my question is how long will delivery to The Netherlands take approximately? Thank you so much in advance and thank you for the inspiration! Kind regards, Sophie
Charles –
Hi Sophie, I am touched and so nice that you are enthusiastic.
We have found the mail quite slow at times this year so I can’t say tomorrow! But I hope this week 🙂 and enjoy the book 😀
Marcel Volmer –
I’am very pleased with your new book.
You showed that almost all vegatables give higher yield using the no dig method. However with two exceptions: I wonder why potatoes and onions give better results using the dig method, compared to the no dig method (chapter 4). Do you have an explanation for these results.
Charles –
I don’t know why. And in most years, onions yield more on no dig – this year was 10.79kg dig, and 12.27kg no dig.
Potatoes are often similar, and in 2020 gave 12.41kg dig, 12.47kg no dig, from 8 seed potatoes each bed
M. volmer –
I found just at amazon.nl (amazon in the netherlands) that that have 9 books available. Bol.com in the Netherlands where I pre-ordered your book could only deliver it at the end of january. I canceled my pre-order there and ordered one at amazon.nl.
Best regards,
Marcel
Marcel Volmer –
Charles,
Is your book in reprint. I cannot obtain it in the Netherlands until the end of January.
Marcel
Charles –
Gosh that is a long time. We just reprinted 6000, of which 5000 for shipping to the US, on a boat now.
I was not aware of a shortage in Europe, because my distributors have stock.
We are shipping from here for sure, and sorry about the shipping cost.
Loraine Zwierzanski –
I am very pleased with your new book. It is well laid out and each lesson is very informative. It is a good addition to my other Charles Dowding books which I regularly refer to. Can you please confirm the answer to lesson 5, question 2 – I thought the answer would be B rather than A and C as published in the book. Am I wrong? Many thanks, Loraine
Charles –
Thankyou Loraine, I am happy to read this and that you like the book.
I am also happy that you are such a conscientious student, because you are right – B is the correct answer!
Which makes me unhappy that somehow the wrong answers found their way into the book. You are the first to comment on it, and we just did a reprint!!
In the online course, the answer is correctly given as B.
Daniel Beets –
Hey Charles don’t you have moles? I have a big problem with moles! Any advice?
Charles –
Had one four years ago and employed a mole catcher, or you can buy traps
Helena Dove –
This book is fantastic, informative and essential. I have been No Dig for 10 years, attended many courses and talks and this book still has so many facts, figures and tips which are exciting and interesting.
Well illustrated and easily laid out, it is a great read but also an essential reference for dipping into when needed.
Tim Stewart –
An essential resource for all those wanting the best from growing food to eat. The hard work should be in the picking, not the weeding. Charles Dowding shows you how you might achieve your goals, with the minimum of effort. A highly recommended text.