Taking A Tour Of Amy Pennington's Apartment Garden
I was born with a brown thumb, but that doesn't stop me from trying to grow things, especially things I can use in my kitchen. That's why I was so excited to get a copy of Amy Pennington's latest book, Apartment Gardening. As the subtitle suggests, this DIY guide is packed with plants, projects and recipes for growing food in your urban home.
Amy's first book, Urban Pantry, was a big hit, garnering rave reviews from all sorts of sources including Gwenyth Paltrow's Goop. Amy's straightforward conversational style makes both books seem as if you're getting great advice from a smart, savvy friend.
Reading the book, I've picked up tips on herbs I'm going to add to my teeny patch of soil I call a garden. Lovage is on top of the list, along with Nigella, which is also known as black cumin. I'm going to give chervil another go. And it might just be the year that I plant peas, so I can harvest the pea vines. Amy makes these things seem possible, especially if you follow her advice on amending soil, rounding up unusual containers and, later in the growing season, collecting seeds for replanting the following year.
When harvest time rolls around, Amy's got all sorts of suggestions on how to show off your herbs and vegetables. Let's hear it for the Thyme-Roasted Chicken Legs with charred onions, seared pork chops with fennel blossoms and fig-lovage relish, lemon verbana ice. Plus, there are recipes for herbal salts and lip balm and herb-spiked simple syrups.
But before any of that happens, I'm looking forward to getting my hands in my newly bolstered soil.
Here's a quick video tour of Amy's own apartment garden.
Tracy Schneider on April 11, 2011 at 08:20 PM
I adore Amy Pennington. Can't wait to get a hold of her new book!
Rose Strong on April 12, 2011 at 02:57 PM
Lovely little balcony garden! Even with all my space I do have my terracotta pots filled with herbs & small things near the cooking source! Inspiration!
Janna on April 12, 2011 at 06:27 PM
Great video Leslie! Amy is a sweetheart; even her humor comes out. I'm really looking forward to getting my copy of Apartment Gardening in the mail.
Derica Spieker on April 13, 2011 at 07:11 PM
Way to go, Leslie! Show the people that gardening is not only for those who live in the suburbs. Good choices you got there! Lovage and black cumin seeds can be great as spices, right? Ooh, now we know what dishes you're gonna cook from now on. Btw, have you considered including plants that can be made into tea?
House for sale on January 02, 2012 at 01:49 AM
Amy and her books are the best! This book can come in handy especially for those who are a little too tight budgeted to hire a gardener.
home renovations in perth on January 17, 2012 at 10:50 PM
Amy Pennington's Apartment Garden is a nice little starter book with some unique concepts. I was hoping for more on garden containers and a little less recipes, but it would help new growers.
flights to Manila on January 29, 2012 at 09:14 PM
Amy really knows how to setup her garden beautifully. I love her herbs and flowers. Thanks for sharing the tour with us!