Bill Alexander had no idea his simple dream of having a vegetable garden and small orchard in his backyard would lead him into life-and-death battles with groundhogs, webworms, weeds, and weather; midnight expeditions in the dead of winter to dig up fresh thyme; and skirmishes with neighbors who feed the deer and other vermin. Not to mention the vacations that had to be planned around the harvest, the near electrocution of the tree man, the limitations of his own middle-aged body, and the pity of his wife and kids.

When Alexander runs a cost-benefit analysis, adding up everything from the live animal trap to the Velcro tomato wraps, and then amortizing it over the life of his garden, it comes as quite a shock to learn that it cost a staggering $64 to grow each one of his beloved Brandywine tomatoes. But as any gardener will tell you, you can’t put a price on the unparalleled pleasures of providing fresh food for your family.

From the bestselling author of Woe Is I: A guide to grammar fundamentals that’s sympathetic to the struggling writer and often just plain funny” (The Seattle Times).

Whether you need to improve your skills for work or school, or aspire to the Great American Novel, a grounding in grammar, spelling, and punctuation is essential—not just to make you look like a professional but to communicate effectively in emails, essays, or anything you need to write.

This painless, practical book is filled with short, snappy chapters, crystal-clear examples, and a “playful sense of humor” (The New York Times Book Review)—covering everything from “Pronoun Pileups” and “Verbs That Zing” to “What to Do When You’re Stuck.” With these simple, straightforward tips, you can learn how to sort your thoughts and make sentences that make sense.

Trust the test kitchen experts to guide you through more than 100 foolproof kitchen projects—from pickling and canning to making your own home-brewed ale

Why buy it when you can make it?

Pantry Staples: For the freshest, best results, make your own ketchup, hot sauce, and vanilla extract. For the adventurous, there’s sriracha, harissa, and wine vinegar.

Jams and Jellies: Preserve the seasons with orange marmalade, strawberry jam, and apple butter, while wine jelly and bacon jam are great year-round options.

Pickled Favorites: Get your pickle fix with classics like bread-and-butters and sour dills, plus test kitchen favorites like dilly beans, giardiniera, and kimchi.

The Dairy Best: Making fresh cheeses like ricotta and goat cheese, churning butter, preparing yogurt, and even making soy milk (for tofu) are simpler than you think.

Charcuterie at Home: From artisanal pancetta, prosciutto, pâtés, and terrines to everyday favorites like bacon, chorizo, and beef jerky, our recipes have the carnivore covered.

Learn to stop letting people and situations upset you and start enjoying life in this classic self-help book by a respected pioneer of psychotherapy.

Life can get tough. From unemployment—or overwork—to divorce or remarriage, the challenges of newly blended families, not to mention everyday hassles, stress can feel non-stop. To top it off, technology confronts us with a barrage of seemingly urgent tasks 24/7. It’s no wonder things and people can make you lose your cool. In this landmark book you’ll find a very specific, powerful skill set designed to help you keep any scenario from pushing your buttons—and it works.

Rational-Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT), created by world-renowned therapist Dr. Albert Ellis, provides you with realistic, simple, proven techniques that will significantly reduce your stress levels and help you react effectively, whether the circumstances are professional or personal.

As the proud proprietor and head pastry chef of Tea by the Sea, a traditional English tearoom on the picturesque bluffs of Cape Cod, Lily Roberts has her hands full, often literally. But nothing keeps her busier than steering her sassy grandmother, Rose, away from trouble. Rose operates the grand old Victorian B & B adjacent to Lily’s tea shop. But an aggressive real estate developer, Jack Ford, is pushing hard to rezone nearby land, with an eye toward building a sprawling golf resort, which would drive Rose and Lily out of business.

Tempers are already steaming, but things really get sticky when Ford is found dead at the foot of Rose’s property and the police think she had something to do with his dramatic demise. So Lily starts her own investigation and discovers Ford’s been brewing bad blood all over town. Now, it’s down to Lily to stir up some clues, sift through the suspects, and uncover the real killer before Rose is left holding the tea bag.