The purpose of gardening intensively is to harvest the most produce possible from a given space. More traditional gardens consist of long, single rows of vegetables spaced widely apart. Much of the garden area is taken by the space between the rows. An intensive garden minimizes wasted space.

We feel better when we are surrounded by nature. Gardening is a mindfulness practice and eases stress levels. Harvesting your own produce from your garden provokes the release of dopamine.

“It's about maintaining a happy, healthful connection with the soil, without the toil.” Some of the lessons Bills teaches is to plant only what a gardener can comfortably tend, to put the right plant in the right place, to make the most of small spaces, and to deal with weeds simply and effectively.

A good intensive garden requires early, thorough planning to make the best use of your time and space. Before planting, you must consider the interrelationships of plants, including their nutri- ent needs, shade tolerance, above- and below- ground growth patterns, and preferred growing seasons.