Best homesteading book?

[Joan1969]

Hi to all,

Title says it all. Just wanted to get some opinions about the best all-around book about homesteading and/or self-reliance.

Thanks,
Joan

[Fae]

I started out with Carla Emery's Encyclopedia of Country Living but now I have a library plus I subscribe to Backwoods Home Magazine, Country Living, Mother Earth News, Grit and Hobby Farms. Some of these my children get for me as gifts. I get a lot of information from all of them but, I get lots of great info right here on HT. There are some really smart folks here and they are glad to share their knowledge. Just ask.

[Helena]

If you can get your hands on any of the Mother Earth News and Countryside magazines from the 70's up to around the late 80's they are a wealth of information. Books..there are so many really good ones. My first favorite is one that I actually hand in my "other" hand when starting to milk goats.. Practical Homesteading by John Vivian..Country Women BOOK..by Jeanne Tetrault..excellent..( not from the fancy magazine that is out today)...Hard Times in Paradies..by David and Micki Colfax ..a modern family of homesteading "adventures. .." Wilderness Mother by Deanna Kawatski..Living in British Columbia ..a good read...Raising Small Livestock by Jerome Belanger..Any of the Woods Woman books by Anne LaBastille..although not homesteading..several books by her and her life in the Adirondack wilderness..and The Simple Living Guide..by Janet Luhrs. These give you an insight of homesteading life from different points of view and "green" living. Come and visit my "library"..I'll put the coffee on for you !!

[45n5]

i really like this book

The Self-sufficient Life and How to Live It

[WolfWalksSoftly]

I would have to say the best all around book would be The Encyclopedia of Country Living.

[CesumPec]

I agree that Carla Emery's is a very good book. Read it cover to cover and leave a book mark on the things you want to come back and try later.

[Joan1969]

Thanks so much to everyone. I've gone ahead and put Carla Emery's book on my Amazon wishlist, and I'll look over the rest, especially the magazine suggestions.

Have a great day,
Joan

[Matt B]

There are A LOT out there, for sure. I've just decided (this weekend actually) that I'm just going to pick one and use it for a couple of years. Using it as the de facto guide in homesteading. I've chosen Storey Publishing's "The Backyard Homestead" as its centered around smaller homesteads. I have ~5 acres here, 2 - 2.5 are going to be worked, the other will be a yard and entertainment space for the kiddos.

[WolfWalksSoftly]

Here is a link for the PDF Download for The Encyclopedia of Country Living, if you like. Look under general Survival.

http://urbansurvivalsite.com/ebooks/

[lonelyfarmgirl]

Carlas book is a great starter book, but it lacks some things. Like others, it was my first homesteading book.
the self sufficient life and how to live it is also good. I have it, but again, VERY limited.

If you were liimited to one only, carlas book is the best choice because of the wide range of topics it covers.

[bsflower13]

The best all around book I've found is Storeys "Basic Country Skills"
It covers everything from running plumbing to butchering a cow.

http://realfoodfreedom.blogspot.com/

[Wags]

Encyclopedia of Country Living is one of the best reference guides out there.

Backyard Homestead, isn't bad - but it can be a bit simplistic and they barely mention Nigerian Dwarf dairy goats, which are the perfect dairy animal for small spaces.

You can purchase Mother Earth News 1970-2011 on searchable DVD for $60. If you watch it goes on sale periodically for $40.

[lisa's garden]

Originally Posted by 45n5

i really like this book

The Self-sufficient Life and How to Live It

I liked that one too.

[KEW_Farms]

The Foxfire Series are a great resource. If you were the last person on earth, these books would get you through it. Kind of surprised no one has mentioned these yet. You can get the reprint editions.