With a book like Groundbreaking Food Gardens, which includes 73 garden plans, it’s obvious that this wasn’t a solo effort. I would therefore like to extend a heartfelt thank you to each and every one of the 72 contributors who took time out of their busy schedules and lives to come up with an edible garden design for this book. I have been incredibly inspired by their passion for growing food and the innovative designs they created. I also appreciate their patience and willingness to answer my many (many!) pesky questions about their experiences and garden plans.
As always, I am very grateful to the fine folks at Storey Publishing for their hard work and continued support — art director Cynthia McFarland; creative director Alethea Morrison; illustration coordinator Ilona Sherratt; and artists Anne Smith, Elayne Sears, and Mary Ellen Carsley, who brought the gardens to life.
This book would not have happened if not for the vision and encouragement of editor extraordinaire Carleen Madigan. And Sarah Guare, my blue-ribbon editor, who took my piles of plans and descriptions and skillfully turned them into this book.
Finally, thank you to my mother, Joyce; parents-in-law, Kamal and Noha; sisters and brothers, Lisa and Jason, Jean-Louise and Nick, Leah, and Tony; and my nieces and nephews, Ryan and Lucy, Sophia and Mya, and Brayden and Jackson, who are always happy to play in the garden.