Friday 21st April was uniquely special for Charles and myself. Two very exciting events happened quite by chance on the same day: our book arrived at the publishers and Charles was featured on BBC Gardeners’ World. Life has been so busy since that it has taken a week to be able to find the time write this post 🙂
Our publishers, Permanent Press, released gorgeous photos on social media of our book. It was quite a challenge focusing on other tasks over the weekend, with the anticipation of delivery on Monday, wondering what it would look like ‘in real life’ and looking forward to holding a copy.
Meanwhile, Gardeners’ World were busy promoting the evening’s programme on Twitter, with the help of Monty’s dog Nigel. We were delighted to read the BBC describing Charles as “legendary”!
Neither Charles not myself own a tv, so we had arranged to visit a friend to watch the programme. Charles’ part was filmed at Homeacres on 10th August 2016; we were looking forward to seeing how they had edited a whole day’s filming into around 6 minutes.
We thought it was great – loved Monty’s introduction, calling Charles a “guru” (!!) and afterwards, explaining that he has been convinced by Charles’ work. The programme included footage of Charles with Geoff Hamilton back in the 1980s, when a whole episode of Gardeners’ World was filmed from his then garden, an 8 acre organic no dig market garden. Fun to see Charles as a young man, too! You can see the programme on You Tube here.
The feedback has been fantastic: lots of discussion and a massive increase in people wanting to find out more about no dig. I had the briefest appearance on the programme too, captured here in a screenshot by my daughter. There’s been a lot of interest in this little bed, people wondering whether it was made just for the programme and then removed. I’m happy to say that it cropped until mid-winter and recently we planted potatoes in it. Charles and Ed made a video about creating and planting the bed here.
We were thrilled when the courier arrived on Monday afternoon and we could finally see the result of all of the work done by ourselves, the editors, proofreader, designer, indexer, etc. The book was much bigger than we’d anticipated (it is so full of information, photos, ideas…) and looks lovely.
There were a lot of boxes, we were so glad it was a dry day!
After carrying all of these boxes into the conservatory for storage with the help of Finn, Charles’ helper who took these photos, it was time to start signing copies for all of the pre-orders and package them, ready for the post office the following morning. The envelopes Charles had bought were a fraction too small which created a bit of a problem initially, solved when we worked out a way if making larger envelopes using the existing ones and packing tape. (Larger envelopes have arrived now!)
By 6 pm, our hands were getting tired and the champagne was calling us – also, we hadn’t properly looked through the book yet! So we drank champagne and have a first real look at our new book. We love it 🙂
No Dig Organic Home and Garden has received some really wonderful feedback, I’ve hardly stopped smiling all week thanks to the many kind, enthusiastic responses to our book. It was a best seller on a certain online store one day after being published and today is also #2 in Organic Gardening (#1 is Charles’ Diary) Copies has gone to the distributor in America, we have been sending them worldwide too. We are so delighted with the sales, it is fantastic.
The best way to support authors is to buy direct so if you would like a copy, please consider buying from Charles’ website here. We can sign it for you, too! Alternatively, the book can be bought from the publishers. Both ways support everyone who has worked to produce the book. (Some online retailers have policies which means that they get most of the proceeds.)
Thanks for sending the signed copy so quickly, Steph – it’s great, rich in detail and will be so useful as a reference for many years to come. And wonderful to see your message getting out there more widely. You so deserve it. Thank you both!
Thank you Ruth, so happy to hear you are enjoying the book, too!
The book looks fantastic. Well done both of you. Will you please save a copy for me when I come down for my course with you on the 1st July. They seem to be flying off the shelf!!
We’ll save you one. Looking forward to seeing you in July!
Received my copy, its full of lovely things, I was also impressed how you sent it out in a cardboard envelope, the starting piece for a no-dig bed. Many thanks. 😁
Thank you and so glad you are enjoying it 🙂
Proud of you dear friend 🙂 XX
Thank you Diane – I am very proud of everything you have accomplished too 🙂
Thank you 🙂 Actually I’m proud of all I accomplish too. Hope you’re proud of yourself too 🙂
We can have a mutual being proud-ness!
I’m thrilled with my signed copy which arrived 2 days after posting. Lots of new-to-me information although I have all of Charles’ books and do a few of Steph’s storage techniques. Very information dense I volunteer at Ryton Organic Gardens as a Master Gardener and Master Composer for Leicestershire promote no-dig to my clients. I’ve announced the book to our Biopdynamic compost preparation day yesterday here in the East Midlands. The references to the preparations and Biodynamic growing in it are most appreciated.
Well done both of you!
That is lovely to hear. Glad you are enjoying it and many thanks for telling people about the book, we really appreciate it!
I was very excited to receive my book which my husband had pre-ordered as a late Christmas present. We also refer to you as Guru Steph and Guru Charles. Harry went on one of your courses and came back and gave our rotavater to a friend that remains traditionally rooted in digging.
Thanks Julie! I hope you enjoy the book 🙂
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