The Berry Grower by Blake Cothron

I give this book 9 out of 10 acorns. It's an excellent resource for berry growers at all levels with extensive and thorough information for anyone looking to maximize their small fruit harvest. Blake's knowledge and experience are clear but what I really loved about this book was the hopeful tone for growing resilient (and delicious) produce during a time of climate unpredictability.

The book hopes to encourage urban and micro farmers, or backyard growers, to pursue small fruits with matching vigor and increase community food security through local networks. Blake not only provides a valuable resource for growers wanting a definitive guide to best practices with berries but also does a fantastic job laying out the case for a small-scale profitable organic operation. I'm onboard!

The preface quotes from Bill Mollison and I had to include it here as it just feels so very relevant today:
"The greatest change we need to make is from consumption to production, even if on a small scale, in our own gardens".

This comprehensive guide is split into 3 sections:
Part 1: The Basics
Part 2: Getting to Know Your Fruit Allies
Part 3: Harvesting, Marketing and the Future

I feel that 'The Basics' section could be a fantastic book on its own and is far from basic. With 9 chapters further exploring everything from organic soil fertility to strategic planning, this part of the book gives you a very solid grounding in berry growing. Part 2 consists of 12 informative chapters that cover each berry in further detail, these being: blackberries, blueberries, raspberries, strawberries, juneberries, muscadine grapes, mulberries, gooseberries, currants, figs, tomatoes, and other small fruits worthy of consideration. Each berry chapter delves into the topics of cultivation, pests and diseases, harvesting, marketing and much more besides. Part 3 includes interviews with successful small fruit market growers, and also has a lot of other useful resources to pore over.

There really is a great deal to love about this book and it feels like the sort of book you might refer to for years to come. I certainly intend to!