The Book that Made Me a Gardener

The Book that Made Me a Gardener. July 2026.

I was a gardener. Or I thought I was. Certainly, I had gardened for years, having created and maintained several gardens. With my usual tenacious commitment, I pored over numerous gardening books, learning everything from soil and botany to the art of composting, and even taking a gardening class, all of which have been very helpful. When a new gardening trend or book happened along, I made sure to know about it. But as it often happens, life has a way of upending previously held philosophies and showing us that new ways aren’t always best. And I did find myself in new territory when an older book showed me what it meant to be a real gardener.

Great Garden Companions

Great Garden Companions by Sally Jean Cunningham is a title that leads one to believe it is strictly about companion planting, and yes, much of it is. Her wonderfully detailed, easy-to-read explanations of companion planting, plus helpful lists, ushered me into a new realm in the gardening kingdom. Under the guidance of this book and a prayer, I planted flowers and herbs in great quantities in our vegetable beds. It was amazing to see the results a few short months later. We are harvesting healthy, full-grown vegetables that aren’t eaten to pieces by bugs. It is not the same garden anymore. This alone was worth the price of the book, but there is so much more going on here.

Sally’s genius lies in her highly readable and charming way of sharing her deep knowledge of how plants feed and improve the soil, leading readers to see a garden as a complete ecosystem with interconnected parts. The best part is finding her processes to be within reach. None of this book comes across as remote, lofty-sounding, or preachy. It is not a dry science lecture either. Instead, we see a woman who truly loves her garden and shares her great knowledge in a down-to-earth way that broadly appeals. Organic gardening becomes an attainable goal. She teaches us to use plants and insects to protect and enrich our crops and care for the soil. Suddenly, the garden became a much more nuanced place for me. My eyes saw what they didn’t see before. I was becoming a caretaker.

Becoming a Gardener

My focus shifted from adding more compost to seeking beneficial plants that would continually enrich the garden. Daikon was planted in our compacted, poor soil, absent of much-needed worms, where it quickly grew tall, its pale pink-lavender flowers decorating the garden while loosening the soil with its long, fat taproot. I remember the thrill of finally seeing a large earthworm making its way along in that area. Red clover was planted near the tomatoes and beans to add nitrogen to the soil, bringing fresh life to a nutrient-poor area. Previously dead areas are now alive with beans and tomatoes, flourishing. Peppermint grows next to the old garden roses, keeping the aphids away. The list goes on and on. The hillside vegetable garden no longer looks scant and scraggly. It is a living, breathing ecosystem full of color and life.

While many of the recommended plants are meant to keep pests away. Sally also details beneficial pests at great length and even offers simple garden plans to attract the right ones, and it’s not just bees. There are quite a few beneficial insects out there. Queen Anne’s lace and yarrow attract bright red ladybugs. I sowed Chamomile and Sweet Alyssum without abandon to attract the highly beneficial parasitic wasps. The results of this method include denser planting, which is better for the garden’s health. As a side note, mass companion planting will give your vegetable plot that cottage-garden look.

Great Garden Companions is the best practical book I’ve read on gardening and has made all the difference. If you are in the early stages of researching and developing a garden, I highly recommend reading and studying this book (read for free here). Her rich wisdom and practicality are assets, and this book is chock-full of it. I walked away with a greater appreciation for the harmony of nature. A garden is more than planting, feeding, and watering. It is a world that has come to life, that has taught me to slow down, to look and listen to the life all around the garden, and to see purpose in each part. Gone is the idea that gardening is strictly planting, watering, and weeding. I am learning to become a true caretaker, and this is where the genuine gardening begins.

Have a beautiful day!