Kitchen Garden Estate: Traditional Country-House Techniques for the Modern Gardener or Smallholder (National Trust Home & Garden)

There is something for every type of gardener in this lovely book. The depth of the research which has gone into the narrative is evident on every page, many of which also include fascinating snippets in the form of recipes or illustrations. A thoroughly enjoyable read which leaves you knowing a lot more than you ever thought you would about gardens and how productive they can be.

I loved this book. It's generally informative, yet everything is given context and the historical elements are fascinating. I hope we see more from this author, perhaps a species specific history?

Perfect condition. As well as enjoying the read I'm sure it will be used for years to come as a reference.

Subtitled "Traditional country-house techniques for the modern gardener or smallholder". There is absolutely no detailed information on how to actually do anything. No techniques are fully explained.At best a "pot boiler" for the "hatted lady" visitor to the National Trust country house gift-shop, but of no use whatsoever to the practical gardener.

the book is in good condition with dust cover and a good buy

Fantastic service, was out of book but got in more and still got there for Christmas for present and very well received.

I bought this hoping it would help me start gardening with my children. It is not a huge help for that. That said, I can’t think of another book I have enjoyed reading more... I found it absolutely fascinating and couldn’t put it down. Having not been particularly interested in history or gardening, I was so inspired by this book I began volunteering for the National Trust and gardening is probably my number one hobby (and we got chickens!) it is really well researched and written and the subject matter is so interesting. It gives a valuable perspective on sustainability!

Kitchen Garden Estate documents life on the country estates looked after by the National Trust. The introduction briefly traces the development of estate management over the centuries, and how the Trust now sees their role for educational purposes, their restaurant/cafe supplies and wider community involvement.The bulk of the book is devoted to highlighting the produce an owner would expect from their country estate. This is much wider than what initially springs to mind. Not only are the usual fruit and vegetables; herbs and flowers; orchards and bees explored, the wider estate and its provisioning in the form of dairy and other farm production; game; fish (in the form of fish ponds and lakes); fowl (poultry and dovecotes), plus hops and vineyards are included. These form the book's main chapters.Each section documents the full range of produce which an estate might be expected to provide. These are richly illustrated with historical documents and pictures; photographs; and stories of how particular foods reached our shores or those associated with particular estates managed by the Trust.There's also plenty of recipes for you to try. Some of these are today's fare found in the Trust's cafes and restaurants which you may have sampled already, like the well-known Apple Scones at Erdigg. Others have an older flavour and origin, such as the recipe for Woodcock Soup taken from Lady Wentworth's recipe book (from around 1730) found at Dunham Massey.Kitchen Garden Estate is described on the back cover as both an inspirational and practical guide. If you're looking for a full how-to manual for your allotment or small holding, this probably isn't what you're looking for. However, if you want a fascinating glimpse into the history of estate management at some of our most famous country houses, which is richly illustrated and contains techniques and recipes you'd like to try at home, then this is the book for you.