First published 2016
Charlotte Mendelson lives what appears to be an ordinary life, but she harbors a consuming secret. In her tiny patch of grotty urban soil, barely six square meters plus a collection of pots, she pursues what can only be called extreme gardening. Her plot looks chaotic and flowerless to visitors, who often laugh when she proudly shows them around. No decorative flowers bloom here, no comfortable seating invites relaxation. Instead, Mendelson has created something far more ambitious: a miniature jungle where she cultivates nearly a hundred varieties of fruits and vegetables. The space defies every principle of economical gardening, demanding enormous investments of time and money for modest harvests. Friends see only weird recycling projects and apparent disorder. But Mendelson knows better. Her cramped urban farm delivers something invaluable: infinite happiness and deep peace whenever life becomes overwhelming. This is gardening as addiction, as evangelical mission, as pure joy.
Genres: nature, memoir, gardening, non-fiction
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: passion-project, unconventional-lifestyle
Setting: Urban
208 pages · Hardcover · Kyle Books