The Amateur Gardening editor says weather extremes are "wreaking havoc" on our gardens. Storms, droughts and heavier rainfall means we have to change how we grow fruit and vegetables. There are new pests and diseases and new regenerative styles of gardening to deal with them.
Nowadays, every week in the winter we seem to have a new named storm, and every summer there are hosepipe bans. Coping physically and mentally with this requires some resilience. This means a mindset change so the 'perfect' plot that you see on TV or in magazines is no longer the goal. The book suggests being realistic and enjoying making compost, getting close to the land and plants by using hand tools, relishing the satisfaction of reusing and recycling and growing for health.
Enhancing biodiversity, natural pest control, saving money and the right plant for the right place is among themes for this feel-good guide.
Perennials are the big winners for climate change savvy gardeners. Kale, field beans, beets, asparagus fruit bushes, herbs (generally), oca, Jerusalem artichoke, horseradish and cardoons are among recommendations.
Stoddart acknowledges a debt to John Seymour, Alys Fowler and Charles Dowding and this forms a worthy addition to that pantheon.
The joy of the book is that the author has a 'don't worry' solutions-based approach to climate change anxiety that helps readers feel better about what they grow.
