The kitchen garden was once a vital component of the country estate, supplying fruit, vegetables and flowers to meet the needs of the family and their household. A vast range of fruit and vegetables was grown, from everyday crops of potatoes and cabbages to the exotic delights of grapes, peaches and pineapples. The table had to be supplied all year round, and gardeners were expert in forcing, ripening and storage of produce. All sorts of gadgets and technology were employed, from cucumber ...

"Some plants are inherently rare, while others become rare through our actions."Rare Plants explores what makes the world's most uncommon plants so exceptional, and by what means they have become so scarce. From highlands to jungles, many of our most extraordinary plants are vanishing at shocking rates, and this exquisitely illustrated book explores 40 of these mysterious species.Featuring stunning archive images and expert insight from th...

An essential book for all gardeners who want to give a bit more thought into the way they gardenAdvice on gardening in harmony with natureFrom gardening during drought conditions to the best friendly fungiPlus how to make the perfect compostA thoughtful and practical book on how to garden in harmony with nature. A leading National Trust gardener reveals the techniques that work at in grand gardens are just as applicable for all gardeners, ...

Science fiction loves strangeness. It relishes oddities, even when it piles on fear and dystopian loathing. The technical term for a fascination with the strange and alien is xenophilia, just as the term for a terror of the strange is xenophobia. At its core, then, science fiction is...Xeno Fiction. So science fiction seeks out the strange, roams far from home in space and time, looks with avid eagerness upon the ways of the Others, human or alien. It participates, in brilliantly lighted i...

Get the best out of your outside space by calling on your garden 'friends'. Introducing helpful wildlife into your garden will help to control pests, maintain a natural chemical-free balance and encourage your garden to bloom, whether you have a large garden, an allotment or a simple window box.Some plants are great 'friends' and are endlessly useful – sweetpeas are good for regenerating tired soil, for example, while marigolds repel pesky greenfly away from your prized cabbages. B...

Evelin Boots is nobody’s idea of a normal school girl least to herself. Although a high achiever, she is constantly confused by her distressing anxious thoughts. As her mental health declines, it fuels the darkness in the enchanted realm of Mare-Marie. Here its princess, Belleny Vera, must journey outside her solitary confinement to stop the growing evil that’s connected to Evelin. Follow two magical and evocative stories that weave and repel each other to find truth, peace and solace....

An increasing number of Australians want to be assured that the food and fibre being produced on this continent have been grown and harvested in an ecologically sustainable way. Ecologically sustainable farming conserves the array of species that are integral to key ecological processes such as pollination, seed dispersal, natural pest control and the decomposition of waste. Wildlife Conservation in Farm Landscapes communicates new scientific information about best practice ways to integrate ...

In today’s fast-paced world, we’ve never seen people more stressed, anxious, and time poor than we are now. The big question is: how can we help individuals overwhelmed by constant pressures to cultivate a better mindset and cope with daily challenges? How can you transform your mindset and conquer these with ease?In the Time Poor Series: Mindset, we’ve gathered insights, practical tips, and real-life strategies fr...

[Re]Awakenings are the starting points for life-changing experiences; a new plane of existence, an alternate reality or cyber-reality. This genre-spanning anthology of new speculative fiction explores that theme with a spectrum of tales, from science fiction to fantasy to paranormal; in styles from clinically serious to joyfully silly. As you read through them all, and you must read all of them, you will discover along the way that stereo-typical distinctions between the genres within spec...

Winner of the Hugo, Nebula, and Arthur C. Clarke AwardsThis record-breaking novel following a warship trapped in a human body on a quest for revenge is a must-read for fans of Ursula K. Le Guin and James S. A. Corey.**"THRILLING, MOVING AND AWE-INSPIRING." —**GuardianOn a remote, icy planet, the soldier known as Breq is drawing closer to completing her quest. Once, she was the Justice of Toren—a colossal st...

Australian Planting Design identifies and explores all aspects of developing better planting designs on any scale, raising awareness of the essential elements and encouraging readers to look with fresh eyes, to create anew. This new edition guides the reader through all the stages of designing a new garden and helps to visualise the garden through an understanding of space, light, earth form, structures and vegetation. It discusses the choosing of plants, their form and shape, balancing plant...

The Organic Garden redefines what it means to be an organic gardener. This practical and thought-provoking handbook is both a manual of organic practice and a starting point for ethical living.The meaning of 'organic' is changing fast, becoming more and more an umbrella term for all things environmental: from ethical consumerism, waste recycling and self-sufficiency to new trends in wildlife-friendly, sustainable and forest gardening. The Organic Garden shows how these popular new ...