Kathy Slack once bought into the whole consumer culture. Working in advertising, being at the head of global strategies to figure out what the overarching story of margarine and cat food were, she was at the top of her game. But she was not happy. Worse, she became increasingly sick as the years flew by and no amount of shiny, expensive distractions seemed to be helping. One day she stopped working, literally and metaphorically.

What brought her back to life was her garden. Specifically growing food. Over the months she was signed off sick, she found that of all the things she tried, growing her own fruit and vegetables was the one, consistent thing that allowed her to feel calm and grounded. This prompted a revolution in her life and sense of purpose, which is ostensibly what this book is about.

Using the structure of a growing year, she takes us through the story of how she shook off the corporate life for one thinking of what to do with courgette gluts, and how that helped her mental health.

As someone whose mental health is and always has been somewhat shaky, I really appreciated the lack of evangelising in this book. Slack is very clear that this is what helped her, and that it doesn't mean it will help you (gardening only ever added to my anxiety, for example). She is also very good on the multiple things she did try and in acknowledging that she had the privilege of time, money and supportive loved ones to help figure things out. I admire her honesty.

Kathy Slack worked in a high powered advertising job until one day, depression hit. She was very poorly, but gradually found a way back through growing vegetables. This is an uplifting story. It's one woman's ode to the power of growing and making the most of your life - the veg patch was a way to something far bigger. A very good read. Kathy can now be found writing articles for magazine and hosting supperclubs.

"The vegetable patch was becoming a daily haven. It offered safety and comfort and peace. An escape."

Having been a reader of Kathy Slack's blog- Tales from the Veg Patch, first assumptions was that this was to be a story of the a life in the year of her garden. But this is so much more.

Opening her heart, Kathy Slack tells how the vegetable patch helped save her from a serious breakdown and depression. Candidly written and very moving she describes the lows and very lows when she could no longer continue her role in the world of advertising and ultimately found solace and understanding by growing vegetables and nurturing the small patch of land that gave her hope, salvation and a future.

Being someone who understands when the 'fog ' descends and can paralyse you some days, the role of green therapy- biophilia ; our predetermined need to connect with nature can truly help restore our minds and bodies in the direction of recovery.

This is a beautiful and moving book- covering a twelve month period through which Kathy tells her personal story of struggling to make sense of life and being but also describing the year of growing sales and vegetables and the seasonal changes and harvests.. It is also peppered ( no pun intended) with lovely recipes,

This is a book that many will relate - the challenge of finding yourself - your self worth and not being defined by status and materialism and recognising the power of the outdoor world and in Kathy's case a vegetable patch that truly rescued her.

Highly recommended and thank you to Kathy for telling her personal story