In today’s downturned economy, one sector is trending sharply up: backyard vegetable gardening. Americans are staying closer to home – literally tending to their gardens, by the millions. And they’re reaching out for help and advice. Doug Oster, popular radio talk show gardening expert and newspaper garden & food columnist, gets more questions about tomatoes than any other vegetable. #2 is garlic, with basil close behind. It’s time for a book about these favorites of the American kitchen. With color photos throughout, this book is a balance of easy-to-use organic gardening tips, a little horticultural history, serious and funny cautionary gardening tales…and 30 simply delicious recipes (the gastronomic payoff). No matter if a garden is a loft balcony or a backyard in the ‘burbs, Doug leads his readers step by step with his trademark “how I do it” humor and Julia Child honesty…with a bonus prize of all those recipes as a reward for their labors. For beginners and old-timers alike.