VEGANIC is simply a combination of the words vegan and organic. Also known as livestock-free growing. It is the healthiest way of producing food – for the planet, for the animals, and for our own health. It is not a new fad but has been practised efiiciently at commercial scale for decades. But by a very small number of growers. I feel passionately that we need to expand veganic growing massively as part of our challenge to feed the world and fight climate change.

Aged six, I was first given a tiny piece of garden where I grew radishes and lettuces. I haven’t stopped growing my own food since! Everything about it is good for you and I have been writing about this for many years in various magazines and books.

In 2018 Permanent Publications released The Vegan Cook & Gardener which I co-authored with my daughter Ella Bee Glendining. In it I describe in detail the  whys and hows of growing your own food veganically, whatever the size of your plot/garden. We also present a series of seasonal recipes based on what you grow.

Extracts from the book are used in the Garden Advice section I have produced for the Vegan Organic Network

If you’d like to find out more about the book, or order a copy, just click on the cover.

And if you’re interested in self-sufficiency here’s my top 5 favourite books on the subject: https://shepherd.com/best-books/self-sufficiency

I am a keen supporter of The Vegan Organic Network – the only organisation in the UK solely working for food to be grown the veganic way. 

It’s a guarantee that food is grown in an organic way with only plant based fertilizers, encouraging functional biodiversity so pesticides are not necessary. No chemicals, no GMO and no animal by products in any part of the chain.

Veganic food is resilient to the largest problems facing humanity i.e. environmental destruction, pollution of the sea and air and soil erosion.

Veganic otherwise we are dependent on animal agriculture, chemicals, pesticides and herbicides.

Since 2020 The Vegan Organic Network has been hosting regular Veganic Gardeners’ Question Time shows on Facebook and YouTube. I have been thrilled to be on the panel for many of these. Here’s an example: