Growing Berries and Fruit Trees in the Pacific Northwest: How to Grow Abundant, Organic Fruit in Your Backyard

Food writer Weaver (Orchard House) combines a horticultural guide and culinary treasure chest between the covers of one instructive book. Focusing on fruits and berries—some common (strawberries, apples), other exotic (quince, lingonberries)—the text runs through how to prepare jams, curds, and sauces while starting from the ground up, literally. Highlighting soil maintenance and plant placement, Weaver discusses planting, cultivating, and harvesting, all with an eye to creating preserves. “Unlike vegetable gardens that need to be weeded and watered, fruit trees spend a lot of time taking care of themselves,” she notes, observing that with proper maintenance, these plants can easily thrive beyond the farmer’s lifetime. The catch is, the book focuses on growing in particular regions of the Pacific Northwest where the damp winters and mild summers provide optimal fruit-growing conditions. This makes the book a must-have in those areas, and a non-must elsewhere. But farmers everywhere will learn and benefit from Weaver’s wide scope of knowledge. (Feb.)