- Kate Hanfling, Volunteer
International Plant Appreciation Day
So, this post is sort of a part one. Today is International Plant Appreciation Day and with it being #TuesdayTales and all, we thought we could recommend a few good books. These will get you started in your own garden, provide some relaxation, and of course we’ve got some books to read with the whole family. Tomorrow happens to be National Garden Day as well as #HumpDayHorticulture (what a nice coincidence, right?), so we’ll be spotlighting the National Colonial Farm’s Kitchen Garden and providing a few recommendations on how you can plant your own with the help of the books here. With that said, let’s get to the books!

Below are links to Bookshop.org if you’re interested in purchasing these titles, but you can find these and lots of similar books at your local library. Ours is the Accokeek branch of Prince George’s County Public Library, but DC, Alexandria, Arlington, and Montgomery counties all have robust collections. If you want your purchase to support us, designate Accokeek Foundation as your charity on Amazon Smile and purchase using smile.amazon.com. Enjoy!
For the adult who wants to get into gardening:
Vegetable Gardening for Beginners: A Simple Guide to Growing Vegetables at Home by Jill McSheehy
The Heirloom Gardener: Traditional Plants and Skills for the Modern World by John Forti
For the adult who just wants a good book:
Rooted in the Earth: Reclaiming the African American Environmental Heritage by Dianne D. Glave
The Color of Food: Stories of Race, Resilience and Farming by Natasha Bowens
The Good Food Revolution: Growing Healthy Food, People, and Communities by Will Allen
For the kid who wants to have fun in the dirt:
Dig In!: 12 Easy Gardening Projects Using Kitchen Scraps by Kari Cornell (as of posting this one is on backorder at Bookshop.org but it is available at multiple library systems!)
For families to read together:
Dirt: The Scoop on Soil by Natalie M. Rosinsky (English) (spanish audio version here)
Farmer Will Allen and the Growing Table by Jacqueline Briggs Martin and Will Allen
Yasmin the Gardener by Saadia Faruqi (great for beginning readers!)
Happy reading, and YAY PLANTS!