Weeds: from Foe to Friend

 "Your book, Working With Weeds, has truly changed everything for me in the garden. Forever grateful" Jacky

Kate is one of Australia’s leading weed experts. Why? Because weeds can do so much for us.

Imagine not having to weed a garden? Ahhh, time for the more fun tasks. No weeds and no poison? Easy! Throw away the herbicides and instead learn to read the weeds. What are they telling you about gaps in the garden? Do you need more mulch or better soil care? Are you mowing the lawn too short? Weed management is not hard when you know your weeds.

Weeds present an opportunity to learn about our soil, our garden and our environment, if only we will pay attention. They provide important soil care, critical insect habitat and even delicious and nutritious free food - yes there are plenty of weeds you can eat. 

Join me on a wonderful journey into the world of weeds, at my talks, workshops and in the book.

Available from authentic online bookshops or at your favourite local bookshop. You can also purchase directly from me. ($40 pick up or $46.50 posted in Australia).

Retailers can source the book wholesale from me or directly from Lightning Source in Melbourne. 

As an organic gardener, Kate has developed a pragmatic approach to weeds and their management. Hence the title - working with weeds rather than against them. It’s an attitude that would serve us well if we want to cease our use of toxic and otherwise harmful chemicals in our gardens.

This is an information-rich book – there are ‘aha moments’ on every page. You can find out:

• What a particular weed will tell you about your soil

• Which weeds will improve your soil

• Which weeds are edible and which are also medicinal, and how to use them (recipes by ROGI’s Sharr Ellson)

• How to deal with dangerous or declared or really pesky weeds without endangering yourself

• In-depth profiles of 41 weeds

This is not the sort of book that you would borrow once and read from front to back, although that would be the first step. Borrow it, and you’ll see what I mean. You will want to own it.

 by Jill Nixon, President, Redlands Organic Growers Inc (ROGI).

I borrowed a copy from Brisbane City Council library. I will be buying my own copy of this as it will be an invaluable reference book for me. It is great for identifying local “weeds” using the numerous plant profiles. There are also great chapters on different ways of managing and using weeds. A good summary of the approach to weeds is the quotation “ nothing grown is ever wasted” ( Jackie French) . This approach means we can learn from weeds, benefit from weeds and use them to our advantage as edibles, companion plants, pollinator attractors and compost additives among other uses! A mine of practical and background information. 

By Symond Russell

by Gail on 07/05/2020 

How to learn to enjoy gardening again. Just love love love this book. So easy to read and so much useful information and recipes. I am now looking at my garden with a new perspective and love and how to reassess how I do things. Thanks Kate

Tim Peisker rated it - it was amazing 

Kate Wall's book is a fantastic read and resource - its full of interesting information on weeds, how to manage them and ideas for putting them to good use. I particularly liked the case studies on dealing with weedy gardens and the successful outcomes achieved. Kate challenges us to view weeds in a different light - as part of a sustainable approach to gardening. The book has inspired me to learn more about the weeds in our garden and those I come across in my travels - highly recommended. 

Heidi Caddies rated it - it was amazing 

Kate has a real knack for explaining the role that weeds play in the garden, how to use them to your advantage and how to get rid of them without using herbicides.