Books & Literature

Book Review: Homegrown, by Paul West

LIFESTYLE: Join River Cottage Australia host Paul West in his garden and kitchen as he shows you how to become that little bit more self-sufficient.

Author Paul West makes having an edible produce garden look easy.
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This is best described as a “life cycle of consumption” book, from growing, to harvesting, to cooking, to eating. As such, Homegrown includes multiple recipes based on the season’s harvest. The life cycle journey continues as author Paul West then addresses what to do with waste, how to seed, how to raise seedlings, how to compost, and how to preserve.

The book is best directed at a city slicker moving to the country, someone who loves the idea of being sustainable and doing their part for the environment, or a keen gardener looking to expand their current skill set. Anyone who wants to learn the skills infrequently taught either at home or school, as a result of food production, generational and urbanisation changes, would benefit from reading this book.

It is author West’s second book about growing produce and cooking it. For those who have read the first, it does differ from The Edible Garden Cookbook & Growing Guide as there is less emphasis on sharing with the community, with the focus being on self-sufficiency.

The ideas he presents are both economical and not overly complex to grasp. Yet as planning is required, the book is divided into the four seasons of the year. Each season has planting notes, suggested garden projects, and a list of recipes based on the season’s harvest. Reading it from end to end will give you the knowledge, however you will need to reference it at the start of each season as it is chock full of information.

His writing style is instructional, and it feels like he is talking to you in the same way he successfully hosted River Cottage Australia. With a wealth of knowledge and a lot of passion, this book is several genres in one.

Finally, the review cannot be complete without sharing some thoughts on at least one of his recipes.

OKONOMIYAKI (JAPANESE CABBAGE PANCAKES), PAGE 184

The instructions for West’s version are easy to follow and unlike the traditional version (which includes harder to get ingredients like bonito flakes or tenkasu), all ingredients are found in most supermarkets—or in this case, the live produce is from your garden!

The outcome is fairly similar in terms of looks, however it did taste a little dry, despite following the recipe as per the quantities required. Ensuring the cabbage is very finely shredded is essential. The great news is that this is an enjoyable snack for any time of the day and easy to adapt to your own taste. For parents, it is an excellent recipe for the school lunch box as the pancakes can be eaten cold.

Reviewed by Rebecca Wu

This Review is the opinion of the reviewer and not Glam Adelaide.

Distributed by: Pan Macmillan Australia
Released: November 2021
RRP: $17.99

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