Two new books to kick-start your gardening year

While your garden lies dormant, this is the perfect time of year to bury your nose in a gardening book to pick up some skills, tips and inspiration for the year ahead. Here are two brand new releases to get you started…

101 Organic Gardening Hacks: Eco-friendly solutions to improve any garden – by Shawna Coronado

The word ‘hack’ may seem a little, well, hackneyed nowadays but in this context it hints at some easy, clever and smart ways to improve your garden, eco-style. Shawna Coronado, one of America’s most creative gardeners, has compiled a phlethora of her own ingenious tricks – from practical time-savers to clever ways to upcycle everyday items in your garden. All are completely organic and environmentally-friendly.

There are pages of easy-to-follow steps, illustrations and photos, all divided into a dozen different categories for easy reference. Find out how to replicate Shawna’s own hacks – creating a garden bench from leftover wood posts, or creating your own blend of organic soil. It’s full of sustainable ideas that you’ll be itching to try this year.

‘101 Organic Gardening Hacks’ is out now in paperback, priced £12.99 (pub. Cool Springs Press).

Buy it here 101 Organic Gardening Hacks: Eco-friendly Solutions to Improve Any Garden

Build a Better Vegetable Garden: 30 DIY projects to improve your harvest – by Joyce Russell, photographs by Ben Russell

Following up from their well-received ‘The Polytunnel Book’, this new tome is full of practical ideas to get the most out of your vegetable plot. Joyce has over thirty years of practical fruit and vegetable growing experience, as well as contributing to several magazines. Her easy-to-follow projects are accompanied by Ben’s clear photographs, plus lists of materials and a relative skills rating.

These DIY projects aims to help you either improve your yields, extend the season, or protect your crops from pests. All will transform your garden into somewhere more productive, attractive and secure.

‘Build a Better Vegetable Garden’ is out now in paperback, priced £16.99 (pub. Frances Lincoln).

Buy it here Build a Better Vegetable Garden: 30 DIY Projects to Improve your Harvest

We have a copy of ‘Build a Better Vegetable Garden’ to giveaway. To be in with a chance of winning, simply share this post on Twitter or Facebook tagging @Goodtrippers and using the #competition – before midnight on 21st February 2017. One winner will be chosen at random by 28th Feb.

Competition time! Win a set of Wild Things books

Do you love taking a dip in Britain’s lakes and secret coves? Running the fells or cycling along hidden country lanes?

We love refreshing ways to enjoy the wild outdoors which is why we’ve teamed up with one of our favourite book people Wild Things Publishing – the people behind the best-seller Wild Swimming – to offer you the chance to win a full set of their brilliant series, worth almost £150!

5 wild books

Wild Things Publishing have created a series of inspirational books and apps to get people back in the wild, exploring the outdoors, experiencing nature and having amazing adventures. The authors write about and photograph their own experiences, spending their summers outside exploring new places to share and their winters writing it all up to produce beautiful books. Their inspiring and beautiful books are a celebration of the simple pleasures in life and will be just what you need to start your own special adventures!

One lucky winner will receive the entire set of nine Wild Things books:

  • Wild Swimming (UK guide) – by Daniel Start
  • Wild Swimming: France – by Daniel Start
  • Wild Swimming: Italy – by Michele Tameni
  • Wild Running – by Jen and Sim Benson
  • Wild Swimming: Hidden Beaches by Daniel Start
  • Wild Guide to the South West by Daniel Start, Joanna Tinsley, Tania Pascoe
  • Lost Lanes – by Jack Thurston (hidden bike rides off the beaten track)
  • France en Velo – by Hannah Reynolds and John Walsh (a journey across France by bike)
  • Only Planet – by Ed Gillespie (one man’s amazing global adventure by all kinds of transport except flying)

 

How to enter

To enter, simply sign-up to the brilliant e-newsletters from both Goodtrippers and Wild Things. Click here to enter the competition and subscribe on the Wild Things website before 5pm (BST) on 6 October 2014 to be eligible. All new email subscribers on the list by the closing date will be entered into the draw with one winner chosen at random. If you already subscribe to the Goodtrippers newsletter, you can still enter the competition by signing-up to the Wild Things newsletter on their website. (See full terms and conditions below)

Good luck!

Wild Things new books 2014

Terms & Conditions:

  • Eligibility requires subscription to both the Goodtrippers and Wild Things e-newsletter
  • All sign-ups must include a valid email address
  • One entry per person
  • The winner will receive the full series of printed books from Wild Things publishing
  • No cash alternative is available
  • This competition closes on 6th October 2014 and the winner will be notified by email within 10 days
  • If we do not hear back within a week we reserve the right to choose an alternative winner
  • Your email address will not be shared with any third parties unless express permission is given

GT + Wild Things logos

5 of the coolest camping accessories

From staycations to festivals, romantic weekends away to family holidays, we all love camping nowadays! No longer just for earnest outdoor types, camping’s renaissance means a wealth of brilliant kit on the market. Here’s our pick of the coolest camping accessories for your next night under canvas… (click on the images to buy direct from the page)

Solar powered tent – £179.99

Can’t bear to be without your camera, phone or tablet when sleeping in a field? We’ll forgive you tech-heads when you arrive on site  with one of these super cool shelters! These 4-man tents, by Bang Bang Tents, come with a 5W solar panel, lithium solar storage bank, and mobile phone/USB charging adaptors. They are also available in some very swanky designs, including Woodstock, Machu Picchu, Butterfly Collector and Fool on the Hill – never again lose sight of where you’ve pitched up!

‘Moomin’ enamel mug – £16.95

Whether it’s for your morning coffee or a hot toddy around the camp fire, you’ll need a cool set of enamel tin mugs. We love these Moomin designs! Matching plates and cooking kit also available.

Glamping lantern bags – £5.69 (for set of 5)

These pretty lanterns will add a magical atmosphere when the sun goes down. Made of fire resistent paper to hold tea lights there’s enough in one pack to dot them around your temporary ‘garden’.

 ‘VW Campervan’ deckchair – £34.95

You could go for one of those ubiquitous canvas fold-up camping chairs, or a squishy inflatable number (but do you really want something else to pump up along with the airbed?!). Why not go old school with a deckchair? Classic, retro and perfect for relaxing back at the tent, this version boasts a VW campervan print design (polka dots, butterflies and ‘beach rules’ also available).

 ‘Cool Camping Cookbook’ by Jonathan Knight – £9.06

Printed on organically-textured, wood-free paper (yes, really!), this cookbook is bursting with rustic, campfire recipes that taste great al fresco from smokey barbequed mackerel to cakes in a tin. It even includes advice on creating your own fire pit and has a whole chapter dedicated to vegan-friendly recipes.

 

All of the Amazon links in this article link to the Goodtrippers Amazon Affiliates site – this is at no additional cost to you (prices are the same as going direct to Amazon) but Goodtrippers receives a small percentage from sales when you purchase using these links. Many thanks for your support.

10 of the best travel books

You can’t go far wrong with choosing a good book as a present. Whether they prefer reading on a Kindle or a good ‘back to basics’ paperback, here are some of the best books around for travel and outdoor fans…

If they love the sea….

Wild Swimming Coast: Explore the Secret Coves and Wild Beaches of Britain
– by Daniel Start

In the depths of winter, it’s nice to dream of hazy summer beach days – salty air, sand in your picnic food, and a bracing dip in the sea. This book, the follow-up to Wild Swimming, takes a look at Britain’s secret coves and wild beaches across Scotland, Wales and England. This isn’t about ‘Kiss Me Quick’ hats, deckchair strewn promenades and fish and chip shops – this is a celebration of rock pooling, catching your own seafood supper, swimming with aquatic beasties, coasteering and enjoying Britain’s wonderful natural coastline and maritime heritage. The book is handily laid-out with information including swimming difficulty, access, nearby food and camping for each location, plus safety tips for new wild swimmers. It’s also peppered with beautiful photography making this a great book to browse through on a cold winter’s afternoon.

If they love camping…

Extreme Sleeps: Adventures of a Wild Camper
– by Phoebe Smith

Being spurred on by a ‘my country’s better than yours’ argument with an Australian, author Phoebe Smith decided she needed to leave her relatively comfortable backpacking routine and get out of the hostels and into the wilds. So began a journey that involved sleeping under the stars at Ayres Rock, staying with a group of Bedouin in Jordan, and wrapping up in reindeer skin in the Finnish Arctic. And it didn’t stop when she came back to the UK – Extreme Sleeps chronicles her nights spend wild camping in the most northerly area of Scotland to southernmost England, proving that the UK could provide as exhilarating an experience as anywhere in the world.

If they’re looking for adventure…

Fodor’s The Complete Guide to African Safaris (Fodor’s Complete African Safari Planner)
– by Fodor’s

Fodor know what they’re talking about so you can expect this book to be comprehensive and inspiring when it comes to embarking on the ultimate adventure holiday – an African safari. The book is crammed with maps and information about the national parks and wildlife areas across the whole continent – from the stunning Victoria Falls to the tropical paradise of the Seychelles. With handy lists covering best wildlife experiences, most luxurious lodges, best locations for meeting the locals and more, this guide is aimed at those who respect local wildlife and cultures but aren’t experienced field guides and so need a bit more about enjoying the safari travel experience.

If they’re looking for a career break…

Gap Years for Grown Ups: Because gap years are wasted on the young
– by Susan Griffiths

The term ‘gap year’ is synonymous with 18 year olds backpacking around the world, partying hard and living off beans and beer for months on end. But there are plenty of older generations with itchy feet and a bit more money (and wisdom) seeking out worthwhile travel experiences. ‘Gap Years for Grown Ups’ provides advice and inspiration for those looking to take the plunge and tackles all the practical concerns (dealing with your property, job, family and relationships), to essential kit, safety on the road, and how to readjust when you return. Inspiration comes from chapters on the different types of trips to take (boat, air, bike), spiritual journeys, travel involving study, volunteering projects and more. They’ll be booking their one-way ticket in no time!

If they’re a foodie…

Food Lover’s Guide to the World: Experience the great global cuisines (Lonely Planet Food and Drink)
– by Lonely Planet

If the massive Christmas dinner hasn’t put them off thinking about food, this book will have them salivating. Lonely Planet cover some of the world’s most enticing cuisines and some lesser known delicacies, alongside sections dedicated to the best food markets, jewish dishes, coffee, and cheese. Gorgeous photography will have your belly rumbling as you read about the expected gastronomic hot-spots of the Mediterranean or southeast Asia, but also the food of the deep south of the USA, Nepalese mountain fare, or where to eat an authentic Maori hangi. History, recipes and restaurant recommendations are punctuated throughout.

If they like ticking off a list…

1000 Places to See Before You Die
– by Patricia Schultz

This no.1 New York Times best seller has been updated to include 25 new countries (including Qatar, the Maldives and Greenland) plus a re-write and review of all the places included in the book. So many places are included, it is a little text heavy but the information is thorough and detailed enough to inspire at least a few trips, and ensure you can’t resist flicking through to read about your own home town or favourite place to see what the author has to say about it. Contact details for accommodation, eating out, events and more are all included making this a great ’round the world’ companion.

If they love good design…

Exotic Retreats: Eco Resort Design from Barefoot Sophistication to Luxury Pad
– by Julia Faiers

Hopefully, regular readers of Goodtrippers will know that eco-friendly accommodation and luxury need not be mutually exclusive. This photography book is full of images of glossy, luxurious eco retreats around the world to prove the point, including locations and contact details if it’s inspired you to make a booking. For real design junkies, architect details are also included. Perfect coffee table fare for fantasy holiday dreamers.

If they love a good view…

501 Must-Visit Natural Wonders (501 Series)
– by D. Brown, A.Brown, A. Findlay

Caribou migration, the Hoodoo Mountains, Madagascar, the Scottish Highlands…they’re all here in this storming book that has plenty of wonderful photography to make you ‘ooh’ and ‘aah’ at how amazing Planet Earth is. Updated for 2013, it provides enough advice and information to encourage you to leave your armchair and explore some of the world’s most awe-inspiring sights. But this book isn’t about serving up the planet for mere entertainment – a serious ecological message is present throughout; help save these magnificent places before it’s too late.

If they’re a bird watcher…

A Supremely Bad Idea: Three Mad Birders and Their Quest to See It All
– by Luke Dempsey

You don’t have to be a ‘birder’ to enjoy this book, although those who do like to spend their free time in the great outdoors with binoculars glued to their face will recognise the fanaticism and mad excitement that the author communicates. Following the escapades of Luke and his friends as they travel across the United States to spot birds (the feathered variety), this funny book is as much about relationships as birding.

If they’re scared of flying…

Flight Free Europe (Time Out Flight Free Europe)
– by Time Out Guides

Europe, with its myriad countries and cultures, is a great continent to explore without having to set foot inside an airport – great news for flying phobes, and for the planet. This Time Out guide is split into short two hour trips, longer day trips, overnighters, and revokes the idea of the Grand Tour (Baltic ferry-hopping or the Orient Express anyone?). It’s not just about trains too with inspiration for boat, bike and walking trips, even a nod to car hire (with ‘green’ car hire options increasing in number).

All of the Amazon links in this article link to the Goodtrippers Amazon Affiliates site – this is at no additional cost to you (prices are the same as going direct to Amazon) but Goodtrippers receives a small percentage from sales when you purchase using these links. Many thanks for your support.

For more Christmas gift ideas see The Goodtrippers Christmas Gift Guide – Part 1