Soil Mates

Just like people, plants are searching for the perfect companion. Someone who brings out the best in them, makes them feel comfy, keeps the bad influences away. That's right, they're looking for their soil mates, and it's our job as gardeners to help these lovelorn veggies find each other.

In Soil Mates, a sweet little guide to companion planting, you'll learn why broccoli loves rosemary and Potato + Corn = a match made in heaven. And watch out for Celery! Leggy and leafy, she is notoriously easy-going and will happily pair up with just about any veggie, raising a ruckus in your raised beds.

Complete with 20 pairings, preparation techniques and tips, yummy recipes, directions for making your own organic pesticides, and a handy planting diagram, Soil Mates is the perfect partner for your veggie-gardening matchmaker!
So, what is companion planting, anyway? Today's organic gardeners are embracing companion planting as a way to improve the health and yields of their gardens without resorting to harmful chemicals. In a nutshell, it's the idea of grouping plants that in some way benefit one another, whether it's by attracting beneficial mammals and insects and discouraging bad ones; helping improve soil conditions by adding or removing nutrients and minerals or encouraging the production of essential oils. It is a gardening practice with a long history, dating back to North America and the continent's original inhabitants and its popularity is surging thanks to a growing interest in all things green: organic foods, community gardens, self-sufficiency, local farming, and all-around locavoria.