Paul West is a chef, passionate gardener, sustainability advocate and popular media personality. HOMEGROWN features planting guides for the most popular vegetables and fruit trees to grow yourself using whatever space you have, whether it's a balcony, backyard, or nature strip, and shares a year's worth of simple seasonal recipes, from basics such as bread, sauces, pickles and preserves to delicious meals that celebrate fresh produce from the garden. In HOMEGROWN Paul journeys over the seasons, in his garden and kitchen, and shares gardening tips, recipes and other practical inspiration to give you the confidence and know-how you'll need to grow, cook and preserve your way through the year. As he shares in our chat, it’s a ‘book-end’ of sorts and excellent companion to his first book The Edible Garden – Cookbook and Growing Guide, now in its 4th edition.

HOMEGROWN is a joyful book to dip into throughout the year and as Paul says, his hope is that it’s friendly, accessible, conversational and empowering for anyone and everyone of all ages. Yup – building a life around food and community and the many ‘small’ pleasures but collectively ‘big’ things we can each do become that little bit more self-sufficient. I loved meeting and speaking with Paul about HOMEGROWN, his home, family and inspirations, reflections on the bushfires and COVID, and the pleasures of deliciously fresh, seasonal food and good times to be had when family, friends and community grow, cook and get together.

A perfect gift for the holidays and throughout the seasons – a gift that keeps on giving!Ī warm episode to wrap up 2021. We can all give it a go to grow, prepare and enjoy fresh, seasonal food and Paul’s new book HOMEGROWN is a feast for the eyes and of gardening tips, recipes and practical inspiration to do just that.

Climate.scientist kathryn hahi