The Small Balcony Garden: Grow a lush, productive garden in any tiny outdoor space

John W Kemp is a garden writer and urban horticulturist who has spent more than fifteen years growing food in small spaces, from a shared sixth-floor balcony in a dense city neighbourhood to a narrow rooftop terrace he still tends today. His writing has appeared in regional gardening magazines and online gardening publications, where his column on balcony growing has become a favourite among city dwellers with more concrete than soil to call their own.

He believes that a meaningful garden is possible in any space a plant can grow in, and that the skills it teaches—patience, observation, and a willingness to try again—belong to everyone, not just those with an acre and a greenhouse. Through his workshops at community gardens and garden centres, John has helped hundreds of new balcony gardeners raise their first tomatoes and their first harvests, and he is a regular speaker at community gardening events in his city.

When he is not writing or teaching, John is plotting next season's crop on his own terrace, saving seed from his best plants, and testing varieties for the next edition of this book. He lives with his family and an ever-expanding collection of terracotta pots in a small apartment—where, he is happy to report, every windowsill is taken.