Valentine's Day tribute - Joy Larkcom

Joy Larkcom is one of the most influential of all garden writers – ever.  She’s written many books on vegetables and organic gardening, published  both in the UK and in the USA, and her pioneering work in bringing heirloom vegetables to the attention of the big seed companies and so to the gardens of us all has changed the way we grow vegetables and greatly expanded the range of vegetables whose seeds we sow. And if it wasn’t for Joy, those bags of tasty and nutritious mixed baby salad leaves we find in the supermarket probably wouldn’t be there.

She’s recently finished revising one of her most influential books, Oriental Vegetables (I'll let you know when the new edition is published), and at the end of this post you’ll find links to some of her other books on amazon, both in the UK and the USA.

But why is it that I mention all this today, St Valentine’s Day?

Well, Joy’s husband Don Pollard has not been well recently – and I’ve just found out that they actually met on St Valentine’s Day (I’d better not say when…). Don has spent his life fighting for the rights of farm workers and contract farm labourers all over Europe and also specialized in cooking the wonderful vegetables that Joy grew for the constant stream of devoted visitors.

So I just wanted to remind you of the invaluable contribution that both have made to their chosen fields, and to wish them well on the anniversary of the day they first met all those years ago.

You might like to read my profile of Joy from 2001.

And here are some links to Joy’s books:

Creative Vegetable Gardening USA
Creative Vegetable Gardening UK
Grow Your Own Vegetables USA
Grow Your Own Vegetables UK
Organic Salad Garden USA
Organic Salad Garden UK

Comments

[Jane]

I have never met Joy, but from reading her books she comes across as someone who does what she does because it is a passion within her, not because she is a canny media worker.

It is always refreshing to see how someone who has so much enthusiasm - I can't think of a photo of her that I have seen where she has anything less than a broad grin - can properly change the way things are seen.

I have learned so much from reading her books and articles - certainly not something that could be said of many garden writers.

So happy Valentines day to Joy and Don,
J

[judywhite]

Joy Larkcom and Don Pollard are two of my favorite people on earth. The "Larkydons" are a gift - sparky, full of enthusiasm and enthusiasms, passionate, funny, up for everything, including swimming in the freezing Irish sea with wetsuits.

Their kinetic interaction sends sparks into the air, and makes anyone standing nearby feel truly alive. I don't know if they even realize how loved they are, and by so many. I count myself lucky to know and love them, and can't wait to visit in Ireland again soon.

(And that's not even mentioning Joy's essential books, or Don's amazing cuisine - served on cracked plates. Cracked, luscious and essential - that describes the two of them perfectly.)

[Celia Hart]

Joy Larkcom has been my inspiration for my garden for many years. I recommend her books to anyone interested in growing everything edible in an inspiring way. Through her books I discovered Sooke Harbour House on Vancouver Island - and I eventually stayed there and explored the amazing gardens. And all those new and delicious salad crops.