An expert guide and introduction for the burgeoning locavore movement on growing, preserving, and cooking with heirloom vegetables, by the farmer whom the New York Times called the "Indiana Jones of seeds."

“As an avid gardener, I always enjoy perusing The Baker Creek Seed Company’s catalogue and have had great success growing the excellent rare seeds I order from it. Now Baker Creek’s Jere and Emilee Gettle have written a book that is sure to inspire, educate and inform new gardeners eager to cultivate their understanding of heirloom seeds, the land, and the sustainable good foods we derive from it.”
--Martha Stewart

Tired of genetically modified food? More and more people want to live healthy, organically, and without pesticides. Anyone can start a garden, whether in a backyard or on a city rooftop, but what they need to truly succeed is The Heirloom Life Gardener, a comprehensive guide to cultivating heirloom vegetables.

In this invaluable resource, Jere Gettle, founder of the Baker Creek Heirloom Seed Company, offers his wealth of knowledge to every kind of gardener--experienced pros and novices alike. In his friendly voice, complemented by gorgeous photographs, he gives planting, growing, harvesting, and seed saving tips on amazing heirloom varieties that many people have never seen.

Gettle provides detailed instructions on canning and preserving, and his wife Emilee will share many recipes. Fifty heirloom vegetables are detailed, ranging from asparagus to watermelon. This is more than just a gardening book, it’s a way of life that is perfectly suited for the growing numbers of people who long for real food, produced within their backyards, and a truer way of living.