Book Review: Rebel Gardening

Reviewed by Brett Kerley

Vitale, Alessandro. Rebel Gardening: A Beginner’s Handbook to Organic Urban Gardening. Watkins Publishing, 2023 Pages: 272 ISBN: 978-1786786913 (hardcover)

Vitale opens the book with a heartfelt introduction to his philosophy — that gardening in the city is not just about growing food, but about taking back control of what we eat, reducing food miles, and building resilience. He frames “rebel gardening” as an act of empowerment: anyone can do it, anywhere, with almost no budget!

From there, the book moves into practical, step-by-step guidance:

• Planning Your Space: Whether you have a balcony, patio, or just a sunny windowsill, Vitale shows how to map out light, choose containers, and maximize vertical space. Creativity is encouraged. Think repurposed buckets, pallets, and DIY trellises. This is great for downtown dwellers or even in seniors complexes.
• Soil and Compost: He explains how healthy soil is the foundation of a thriving garden and gives small-space solutions like worm bins, bokashi composting, and DIY soil mixes.
• Plant Selection & Care: Includes dozens of easy-to-grow crops suited to containers or raised beds, with tips for succession planting so you always have something ready to harvest.
• Pest & Disease Control: Companion planting, natural sprays, and encouraging beneficial insects take center stage instead of chemical solutions.
• Seasonal Gardening: Advice on sowing calendars, extending harvests, and saving seeds.
• DIY Projects & Recipes: From homemade fertilizers to “vegan honey” from dandelions, these extras add fun and deepen the gardener’s connection to the plants they grow.

• Comprehensive for Beginners: Covers all the essentials without overwhelming readers.
• Creative & Budget-Friendly: Many ideas for reusing materials and growing with minimal costs.
• Empowering Message: Frames gardening as an act of resilience and environmental action.
• Visually Inspiring: Photography makes the projects look doable, even for first-timers.

Vitale’s London-based examples assume a longer season that in Edmonton’s Zone 3-4 climate. However, his approach can be adapted successfully:

• Season Extension is Key: Vitale mentions cloches and covers. In Edmonton, this might mean using row covers, cold frames, or mini-greenhouses to gain extra weeks on both ends of the season.
• Choose Cold-Tolerant Varieties: Choose short-season tomatoes, greens, and root crops. Kale, spinach, and radishes do very well here and can be succession-planted.
• Containers Work Wonders: Edmonton’s unpredictable hail makes container gardening appealing. Pots and planters can be moved under shelter during a storm.
• Composting in Cold Weather: Vitale’s compost tips can be applied year-round here, but in Edmonton insulated bins or trench composting keep microbes active longer.
• Pollinator Support: His emphasis on edible flowers and biodiversity fits perfectly with our local need to support bees and other pollinators during the short summer.

For members who only have a balcony or patio, Rebel Gardening offers a practical roadmap to turning that space into a productive, colourful oasis despite our challenging climate.

Alessandro Vitale, known online as Spicy Moustache, is an urban gardener and educator originally from northern Italy. He learned traditional organic gardening from his grandfather. When he moved to London, he transformed a small backyard into a thriving food garden. Through his popular social media channels, he teaches millions of followers how to grow food in small spaces using sustainable, inexpensive methods. Rebel Gardening is his first book. It shares his philosophy of reconnecting with the soil and empowering people to turn even the smallest urban spaces into productive gardens.

Rebel Gardening is more than a gardening manual. It’s a manifesto for growing food, building resilience, and bringing biodiversity back into cities. For Edmonton gardeners, this book should be paired with local planting guides and frost-date charts. It gives you the “why” and “how” while you adjust the “when” for our short season.

Highly recommended for beginners and anyone looking for a fresh burst of inspiration this coming growing season.

This book can be borrowed from Edmonton Public Library or purchased from local or online bookstores.