When I started gardening almost three years ago, I also started listening to some podcasts. Those two interests combined when I found Melissa K. Norris. I learned many gardening tips, food preservation tips and, very importantly, seed-saving tips. I couldn’t have learned to save tomato seeds the right way without her.
When I found out she was writing a book, I added it to my Amazon cart right away – four months before the release date. I am so glad I did.
The size of the book is deceitful – in less than 200 pages, Melissa shares how to garden, harvest, preserve food, cook from scratch, make natural cleaning products, prepare for tough times and take care of livestock. She also shares family traditions and weaves personal stories throughout the book to show you how her heart is in this lifestyle. She also brings in her faith to the topics with Bible stories and verses that apply either to the stories she is sharing or the topics in general. The combination of faith, personal stories and tips is not awkward, but it told in a natural voice – almost like she is sitting in your kitchen talking to you over a cup of coffee.
I would recommend this book to anyone who is interested in cooking from scratch, gardening, raising animals, preserving food or using natural cleaning and beauty products. It has it all, along with recipes. I have a lot of this information scattered about my house in different books, cookbooks and pinterest pins, and I am so glad now to have it all in one place.
She includes a planting guide, harvesting guide, list of natural pest control, blanching time for freezing vegetables, seasonal guide to produce and so much more.
Enjoy her book, visit her blog, follow her on Facebook, listen to her podcasts and watch her periscopes – you won’t regret it.