I’m writing this March news blog whilst on a short holiday in Scotland, visiting my son Ruairi who lives near Stirling. So it’s not a garden update – I’ll write that later next week when I am back in Wales. I have written a garden-themed blog recently, all about growing green manures. Read that here.
My younger son Theo has been at home looking after the cats, ducks and seedlings whilst I’m away. It is a long drive from my village in Wales to my son’s village in Scotland: takes about 9 hours, with breaks for food or cups of tea. I’ll be driving home via Sterling (for petrol), then onto the motorway until I reach Tebay Services, which is about half way. Then it’s onto much busier motorways. I am always glad when I come off the motorways and am back on rural roads again – much slower, but pleasanter!
The Productive Garden
With the publication of The Productive Garden in just a few weeks, I am excited to start seeing reviews and extracts published in magazines and online. It is all starting to feel very real!
The Productive Garden is published in the US on March 24th and in the UK and worldwide on March 26th. Find out more about the book here.
The book includes how to grow veg, edible flower, fruit and herbs. This year’s series for Dalefoot is about growing herbs, with seasonal advice and recipes too. Read the latest blog (for free) here.
PRE-ORDERS ARE OPEN NOW!
UK pre-orders https://geni.us/Productivegardenuk
US pre-orders https://geni.us/ProductivegardenUS
Signed copies direct from the author (me!) are here.
Giveaway with Burgon and Ball
I’ve collaborated with Burgon and Ball for a giveaway bundle – a copy of my book, plus some excellent hand tools. Find out more here.
Permaculture Association “Campfire” Webinar on March 17th
Join me online on March 17th at 6:30 for a webinar with Q&A on the topic of water – specifically looking at water in home gardens, allotments and market gardens.
The event is free for members of the Permaculture Association. Tickets for non-members are £6
Book your place here. Members also need to book their free tickets via this link.
Masterclasses
The first dates for the 2026 series of Masterclasses are online now, with more dates and topics to follow soon. Tickets are only £10. More info here.
I also offer online and in-person consultancy, including edible garden design, and mentoring. Contact me for more information.
Podcasts
Recently I have been invited onto two podcasts, to discuss my gardening career and more.
Through the Garden Gate – listen to it here
View from the Potting Bench – listen to it here
Book Reviews
Review copies of The Productive Garden are on their way across the globe! I’m thrilled to have received these lovely reviews.
This is by Susan Bewley for Budget Earth. Read the full review here.
A review in the March edition of Kitchen Garden magazine.
The Productive Garden has been listed as one of the Recommended Reads for March in Gardens Illustrated Magazine.
I am delighted that the book is being received so well 🙂
Read extracts from The Productive Garden
Extracts from my new book The Productive Garden (all different!) are in the March issue of Kitchen Garden Magazine, 28th February issue of Amateur Gardening Magazine, and also online in the Garden Folk Mag March issue (this is free to read here.)
A review from my daughter!
It was a lovely surprise to read this review on Instagram from my daughter Caitlin. I had sent her one of the extra-early copies of my book. I thought I’d share it here as it gives a glimpse of life growing up with a mum who was growing a lot of veg!!
I had a really exciting delivery in the post today – my Mum (@stephaniehafferty)’s new book, hot off the press!The Productive Garden is available to pre-order now, and fully launched in the US on 24th March, and in the UK on the 26th.First, I am just so incredibly proud of my Mum!! I’ve watched her work so hard while bringing up three children on her own, starting several small creative businesses (sea glass jewellery was a favourite), home educating us (and teaching us outside in nature), all while maintaining a flourishing garden that I have so many happy memories of – bright, colourful, buzzing summers spent wondering around our garden when I was a little girl – barefoot, a bit muddy, munching on fennel or nasturtium leaves, spending slow evenings in the hammock under the apple tree drawing birds and flowers, or poking little slugs through the gaps in the chicken wire to feed our ducks and chickens.
With my obvious bias aside, The Productive Garden is genuinely incredible. It is a truly pragmatic and hopeful book that I will be legitimately using all year round. The book emphasises throughout that ANYONE (really anyone) can create a productive garden for food and biodiversity, or just for general enjoyment, no matter what kind of space you have (even just a windowsil), or level of knowledge and experience, or your budget.
My mum’s personality comes out really genuinely – she wants everyone to feel a little bit more confident being self-sufficient, and kinder to themselves and to nature throughout their journey, whatever it might book like. When I’m reading the pages I can hear her voice in my head, calmly explaining, firm but encouraging when things don’t go quite right, lifting me up when things go well, and holding my hand all the way.
I hope others get the same joy and sense of calm out of this book, and can share a bit of her knowledge and passion with the people around them!
