In today's downturned economy, one sector is trending sharply up: backyard vegetable gardening. Americans are staying closer to home - literally tending to their gardens, by the millions. And they're reaching out for help and advice. Doug Oster, popular radio talk show gardening expert and newspaper garden and food columnist, gets more questions about tomatoes than any other vegetable. #2 is garlic, with basil close behind. It's time for a book about these favorites of the American kitchen. With color photos throughout, this book is a balance of easy-to-use organic gardening tips, a little horticultural history, serious and funny cautionary gardening tales...and 30 simply delicious recipes (the gastronomic payoff). No matter if a garden is a loft balcony or a backyard in the 'burbs, Doug leads his readers step by step with his trademark "how I do it" humor and Julia Child honesty...with a bonus prize of all those recipes as a reward for their labors. For beginners and old-timers alike.