Down & Dirty: 43 Fun & Funky First-time Projects & Activities to Get You Gardening

It may seem like gardeners belong to a super-secret, esoteric club, made up of members who know all about Latin plant names and mysterious methods familiar only to the serious few. Not true, says Ellen Zachos. She is here to reassure the uninitiated that anyone can have fun in the dirt. As proof she points out the millions who have actually planted something and succeeded in making it grow without a degree in horticulture or vast experience in design and color theory. Anyone can be a gardener.

The secret, Zachos believes, is to start with one small project, make it work (that’s where her expertise comes in!), learn by doing, and move on to another. Easy! It couldn’t be simpler or more fun, and the satisfaction that comes with helping things grow is unbeatable.

Zachos’s broad range of creative projects encourages would-be gardeners to discover the joys of getting down and dirty. There’s something for every taste, from planting a tree to designing a small stonescape to starting a strawberry bed. The projects teach fundamental skills and give beginners the confidence to keep learning. Taken together, they are the building blocks of a beginner’s course in planting, designing, and creating. Gardening is really as easy as that. Spend a few weekends on fun projects that brighten up the home and backyard and learn basic gardening skills in the process. Proficiency in Latin is another matter.

Ellen Zachos is a professional gardener and proprietor of Acme Plant Stuff, a garden and houseplant maintenance company. She is also the author of several books, including Backyard Foraging, Tempting Tropicals, Orchid Growing for Wimps, and Down & Dirty. She lives in New York City and Shohola, Pennsylvania.