Mark Diacono Explained

Mark Diacono is a food writer, grower, photographer and cook, who has published 13 books. In 2015, he won the André Simon Food Book of the Year 2014^[1] for his book A Year at Otter Farm, and in 2011 he was awarded Food Book of the Year for A Taste of the Unexpected by the Guild of Food Writers.

He established a smallholding, Otter Farm, near Honiton in East Devon, England.^{[2] [3]} In 2016 Otter Farm was featured on Grand Designs when Mark and wife Candida contracted the build of the farmhouse and adjoining cookery school in steel frame and cob.^[4]

He has a long association with River Cottage, having appeared in the TV series, run courses, written books and led the garden team there.^[5]

Mark is an Honorary Fellow of Liverpool University, was awarded an Honorary Degree by University of Winchester, and has a MSc in Environmental Management and Planning (Distinction) from Oxford Brookes University.

Books

• Veg Patch: River Cottage Handbook No.4 (2009)
• A Taste of the Unexpected (2010)
• Fruit: River Cottage Handbook No. 9 (2011)
• The Speedy Vegetable Garden (2013)
• Chicken & Eggs: River Cottage Handbook No.11 (2013)
• A Year at Otter Farm (2014)
• The New Kitchen Garden (2015)
• Sour (2019)
• Ferment (2021)
• Herb (2021)
• Spice (2022)

Photography only

• Herbs: River Cottage Handbook No. 10 (2012)
• My Cool Allotment: An Inspirational Guide to Stylish Allotments and Community Gardens (2013)

Awards

• James Beard Foundation Shortlist Single Subject, for SOUR, 2020
• André Simon Food Book of the Year 2014^[6]
• Guild of Food Writers

Food Book of the Year (2011)^[7]

• Garden Media Guild

Book Photographer of the Year (2009 and 2013)

• Garden Media Guild: Journalist of the Year (2011)

External links

• Mark Diacono's Otter Farm website

Notes and References

1. Web site: Past Winners of the André Simon Food Book of the Year . 5 November 2016 . André Simon .
2. Web site: The growing pains of Otter Farm . 5 November 2016 . The Guardian .
3. Web site: Property Address: Otter Farm. East Devon District Council. East Devon District Council. 28 February 2018.
4. Web site: Oneal . Paul . 2017-01-05 . Timber-framed farmhouse with adjoining cookery school in Devon . 2022-07-26 . Grand Designs Magazine . en-GB.
5. Web site: Strange fruit: The secrets of the River Cottage garden . 5 November 2016 . Independent .
6. Web site: Past Winners of the André Simon Food Book of the Year . 5 November 2016 . André Simon .
7. Web site: Guild of Food Writers, Stop Press! Awards 2011 – Winners. 5 June 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20161229010859/http://www.gfw.co.uk/stop-article.cfm?ArticleID=503. 29 December 2016. dead.