From the foremost authority in American gardening comes a must-have handbook for home gardeners who want a productive organic vegetable garden.In their first new book in over two decades, the American Horticultural Society offers indispensable insight into growing a modern edible garden at home, regardless of whether home is in the desert Southwest, the Midwestern plains, or on the shores of New England. Starting with a unique look at the history of vegetable gardening in North America, from indigenous cultures to Victory Gardeners to today’s biodiversity-nurturing growers, Essential Guide to Organic Vegetable Gardening then digs into everything you need to know to cultivate a successful and productive vegetable garden without synthetic pesticides or fertilizers. Includes advice on: Choosing the best design and planting style for your site, from raised beds and row gardens to matrix plantings and food forests Deciding which varieties to plant, from heirlooms and ancestral selectio