15 Must Have Gardening Books (for beginners, homesteaders, and beyond!)
If you’re thinking about starting a garden or expanding the growing space you currently have, there are SO many great resources for gardening and homesteading out there! And while I know I can find a blog post or a YouTube video on most things, I just love to have a good gardening book that I can hold in my hand, look at beautiful pictures, and dog-ear the pages. (Or do you find folding the corners offensive?? ;) I gathered up the books from my bookshelf to share with you some of my favorites. So here are my current 15 must have gardening books for beginners, homesteaders, and beyond!
I’ve grouped them in categories, so that you can easily see whether it’s a book you’re interested in or not.
Beginner or Garden Planning Books
The Family Garden Plan
Smart Start Garden Planner
The First-Time Gardener Growing Vegetables
Herbs and Medicinal Plant Books

The Homesteaders’ Herbal Companion
Growing Herbs for Food and Medicine
The Medicinal Gardening Handbook
Homesteading and Self-Sufficiency Books
The Backyard Homestead
The Resilient Farm and Homestead
The Self-Sufficient Backyard
Permaculture Books

Gaia’s Garden
Perennial Vegetables
Edible Landscaping with a Permaculture Twist
Foodscaping
Year Round Gardening Books
The Year-Round Vegetable Gardener
Growing Under Cover
There are about a zillion more gardening books in the world, but these are some of my faves. I have to say, the Family Garden Plan by Melissa K. Norris is one of my top recommendations, especially if you are new to gardening and looking to grow as much food as you can for your family.