Plants for a Future: Edible and Useful Plants for a Healthier World: 1

My edition of this was bought from Amazon, though so long ago, I doubt they'll call this a "Verified Purchase"! It was, and is, ruddy excellent. It does two things. First, it provides you with an introduction to permaculture - the idea of a productive garden that you don't have to keep digging up & digging over, and which provides you with useful produce at anything up to 7 levels (I can't remember all of them, but think roots, ground level foliage, the more usual fruit / veg such as strawberries & tomatoes, small shrubby stuff like currant bushes, tree level, if your garden is big enough). Second, it offers you 1,001 (I might not be exaggerating!) plants that will fit various niches, from underground or ground cover, to short and tree-tall; shady, semi-shady, sunny; acidic, ordinary, alkaline-loving. My edition is 20-odd years old, so I imagine the current is only improved.The author is not a scientist as such; he is a practical, hands on gardener who has experimented, Done His Own Research, and then experimented some more over many years. The style is consequently both readable, but also more anecdotal (what he's found out) than evidential (i.e. scientific). Note also that I said "productive", not "food". Edible plants are obviously a large part of this, but we make use of plants for many other reasons. Windbreaks, firewood, comfrey isn't edible, but it's a wonderful bee plant, great for the compost bin, and the author also has an informative & amusing anecdote about clipping himself with a scythe...If you're interested in this, I suggest you also look up Patrick Whitefield. He has a book or two more focused on the concept & execution of permaculture; this is more of a "bible" of useful plants. But if you ARE interested in the topic... This is pretty much a must have book.

Absolutely compelling, readable and important book for gardeners in the UK who want to expand the range of their edible crops. Lots of interesting asides into permaculture but primarily about the plants. Easy-to-read, characterful writing makes this a must-have.

The book is a big compilation of plants, well categorised in terms of functionalities and uses. However, pictures are very few and oblige a non-expert reader (such as myself) to search almost every plant on the internet.

This was bought as a gift from a wish list.The person for whom this was a present is a Botanist and they are very pleased with the book, finding it full of ideas and information as to why plants are so important to the future of the human race. Confirming their own findings in the work they are carrying out. I am rating it as 5 startrs on the feed back from that person as a professional in that field.

This book is a must have for anyone interested in alternative uses for plants. It's a great reference book to have on the shelf. The book is laid out using the Latin plant names first followed by their common names.The book doesn't have many pictures but is written with passion and real hands on knowledge.I would recommend this book.

Item was sent on as a Christmas present.

I should have bought this book ages ago. I find myself dipping into it all the time and coming back to it again and again when other books let me down!Concise, clear, easy to read and understand. I don't know why this book is not on every plant lovers book-shelves!

Great book, great authors, inspirational