Gary Pilarchik has been gardening for most of his life. His grandfather taught him about vegetable gardening in first grade, and it ignited a passion that has been with him ever since. Gary started his YouTube channel, The Rusted Garden, in 2011 as a way to enjoy himself and teach others about gardening. He has since grown his following of dedicated subscribers, and started a second channel, My First Vegetable Garden, a few years later to cater to first-time vegetable growers. His belief is that a garden wants to give, vegetables want to grow, and everyone can have a successful garden. Providing information and options in his videos, Gary's goal is to educate viewers so they can make informed choices about their gardens. He enjoys meeting gardeners from around the world through his social media reach and responds to every question and comment people leave for him. Gary sees vegetable gardening as a global hobby that brings people together across cultures and geographical boundaries.

Dr. Chiara D'Amore is the Executive Director of the Community Ecology Institute, a non-profit organization working to cultivate communities in which people and nature thrive together. She holds a PhD in Sustainability Education and MS in Environmental Science and Engineering and teaches courses related to climate change, civic ecology, experiential education, and research design. She worked as an environmental consultant for over 15 years serving clients such as the United Nations and the US Environmental Protection Agency. Dr. D'Amore also holds Master Gardener and Permaculture Design certificates.

"As this vivid, panoramic, accessible book impressively details, nature is a storehouse of food, medicine, beauty, history, peace, community, and more. By making these essential connections tangible through the elevation of edible gardens, this work provides a solid grounding for realigning our trajectories with the world around us -- and enjoying the bounty in the process!"--Randall Amster, J.D., Ph.D. Co-Director of Environmental Studies at Georgetown University

"What if we traded every unused lawn in America for a vegetable garden, food forest, and place of nourishment and connection for both people and wildlife? Change starts at home, and Growing an Edible Landscape shows us how to transform our own backyards and communities from the ground up. Filled with practical advice on everything from planting on a budget to working within restrictive covenants to foraging for native and naturalized edible species, authors Gary Pilarchik and Chiara D'Amore encourage readers to think big but act in small, manageable steps. 'Without a happy gardener, you can't have happy plants, ' they write, telling beginners what we all wish we had heard when we first started: Don't worry about perfection. Don't overwhelm yourself by taking on too much at a time. Learn from the land and what it has to offer, and don't be afraid to make mistakes. There is much to learn from this book and an endless bounty of culinary and spiritual rewards for those who take its lessons to heart."--Nancy Lawson, author of The Humane Gardener and Wildscape

"If you have been hoping to get closer to nature, Chiara and Gary's guide to filling your life (and your yard!) with beautiful, delicious and sensory delights of nature will set you on your path. Urban, suburban, or rural, gardener or novice, there is a practical and clear plan to follow to make your edible landscape dreams come true!"--Bevin Clare, Professor, Herbalist, and Nutritionist, Maryland University of Integrative Health

"While the book focuses mainly on edible landscapes, it also has some fantastic garden design and planning information, making it a realistic option for front-yard edible gardening." --Budget Earth