Homesteading books?
 

Good Evening Everyone,

I am wondering if there was any books that you would recommend for homesteading. For people like me that have been raised in the suburbs and do not know much about how to live off the land and such.

Thank you so much. I am learning so much here..my poor wee brain is getting a work out :D

check out Storey Publishing, www.storey.com, they carry a good selection of books, and their "bulletins" are an inexpensive how-to for a variety of homesteading topics.

As others recommend titles, remember the ultimate homesteading tip: borrow it through your local library (in stock or interloaned).

Research is great fun, hands on learning is like icing on the cake!

I think anything from Gene Logsdon is good. He has one that is called "Homesteading, How to find new independence on the land". I have had it for years and really think it is good. He has other books that are good also. Also there used to be books advertized in Countryside magizine are good. I haven't looked lately to see if they still advertize them.

You can always read John Seymour's The Self-Sufficient Life and How to Live it--the complete back-to-basics guide and of course there is always scott and Helen nearing books

My recommendation would be the anthologies from Backwoods Home Magazine.

Fox Fire 1 and 4. Maybe some of the others as well.

I found them very interesting.

Here is an old one: We took to the Woods. This is not a how to book. It is an enjoyable read, and very fascinating. What I enjoyed the most about the book is that it showcases a family's life in the north Maine woods, how they did without, and what they made do with. Kind of an eye opener that tells "If they can do it, so can I."

I like all of the Foxfire series. A tremendous amount of wonderful information.

I like books about pioneer life, as well as any study of early American life.

Of course, the books I have suggested are general studies of life as a do-it yourselfer and homesteading.

There are entire volumes written on any specific study: Canning, beekeeping, gardening, livestock, etc.

I have found that many of the best books for learning do not fall into any strict homesteading category: Antique tools, sharpening and honing, old antique books about farming (written in the 1800's), historic barn plans, old construction/house building books, some woodworking books, etc.

These books talk alot about one topic, but lead to new ideas and thoughts for you and your homestead. For instance, the antique tool books taught me about a brace and bits (often called a drill). These hand cranked tools require no electricity, no batteries, can be carried anywhere easily, and allow you to bore alot of holes really fast! While I have no place to build a cabin, I know that an adze needs to be sharp before hewing beams. I understand how to use an adze, and know, if I had to, could hew whatever beams needed.

Sometimes you have to read an entire book just to glean one paragraph of information.

Your local library has a wealth of information, but if you need to buy a book, abe.com is the best place on the internet.

Clove

My personal favorite "Carla Emory's Encyclopedia of country Living" - I can't believe somebody else hasn't suggested it. Great read, just open and read, you don't have to start at the beginning.

Anne

Here is a complete homesteaders list from Blackbird Ridge Homestead who has links to homesteading books on the Barnes and Nobel Site. http://www.geocities.com/RainForest/.../booklist.html

this was my first and I still LOVE it!

A big +1.

Carla Emory spent 30 years researching, writing and updating it. It's a great resource.

Yeap! one of the first ones I bought and here's were I got it.

http://www.carlaemery.com/

additional recommendations for "Encyclopedia of Country Living" and "The Self Sufficient Life and How to Live It".

How about...Practical Homesteading by John Vivian...Country Women by Jeanne Tetrault..( nothing to do with todays modern Countrywomen magazine and not just for women either)..and of course...any of the Helen and Scott Nearing books...the "orgininal homesteaders" why back when. Get you hands on some old 60'70's copies of the Mother Earth Magazines too. That should keep you busy for a while..Good Luck !!

I can't wait to order myself copies of these. They will keep me busy for years!

Thank you so much everyone. Im off to the website for my local library to see if I can get some of these =) If not..then I will find a used one for sale!

Ok..I "ordered" a bunch of books from the library. After I read them any I really like Im going to buy.

I did also get one of the anthologies from Backwoods Home Magazine the 10th year. Is that the correct one or are there more?

Thank you so much for all your help!

All the backwoods home mags and anthologies are great! My first homesteading book was Carla Emery's as well.....it is an AWEsome resource!! I would like to have some of the others that are mentioned too...that's why I keep on haunting used book stores, the friends of the library book store....etc....I have found some great buys that way...oh yeah, flea markets and yard sales too.......... :)

Most libraries have an inter-library loan system where they can borrow books for you from other libraries.

Clove

John E Churchill has some good books.

I go on E-bay and search "homesteading" you can get great deals on some of the books suggested. Also Alibris has the Foxfire books at a fraction of the cost. Good Luck !! I love all those books and hope someday to have them all......I can never resist a great book..lol

Any books by Katie Thear would be useful.

YAY !! I ordered "The Self Sufficient Life and How to Live It". from Alibris and it came today. SO much for cleaning.......feeding.....mucking....ect. Am I the only one who LOVES a good farm book , seed book or (insert animal) magazine. I can get lost in these books. now if I could just get all the animals and people around this place to fend for themselves....

I like Five Acres and Independence, by M.G. Kains. Some of the information is a bit dated, but I like the overall mindset of the book.

Kayleigh

There really isn't any one book that is best. Lots of good books though and any excellent ones. Browse those library book sales... Oldies but goldies.

Cheers

-Walter
Sugar Mountain Farm
in the mountains of Vermont
http://SugarMtnFarm.com/blog/
http://HollyGraphicArt.com/
http://NoNAIS.org

As to the anthology question. The first anthology covers years 1 and 2 of the magazine, then each of the following anthologies covers an additional year. I highly recommend you read them all - lots of good info in them.

The old Mother Earth News magazines (before they ruined a good mag) are out on CDs now - I haven't tried them yet, but I bet they'd be really good reading.

Along with books, have you checked out Countryside and Small Stock Journal, Backwoods Home, and any of the other magazines put out by Countryside (Sheep!, Dairy Goat Journal, Backyard Poultry, etc)?

Check out the barter board here, too, for books for sale or to post your requests when you know what books you want to buy.

I just got the Storey's Country Living Handbook (I think that is what it's called) and really like it. It has short articles about everything, which is good as I tend to be a little ADHD and hate long books! I am going to try a few of the others that were listed too.

We have one titled Country Wisdom & Know How It is from the editors of Storey Books. It has just about everything in it...A ton of information! We got it from the local Tractor Supply, I believe. They normally have a bunch of different books - and some that are more specific.

I am a city boy looking for the farm experience (thus don't know so much) butI am finding The Self Sufficient Life and How to Live it by John Seymour REALLY entertaining and informative

"The Self Sufficient Life and How to Live It" by John Seymour is fantastic. I have another book he wrote entitled "The Forgotten Arts and Crafts" - not quite as good from a homesteading standpoint, but an excellent book nonetheless. It's almost worth getting the book just to read his account on trying to clean a chimeny - if I can remember to do so, I'll bring in the book and type in his description.

carla Emery's Encyclopedia of Counry Living has more information in it than most other books. I highly recommend it.
Stocking UP is another good book. It is about food preservation.
I would check Amazon.com as sometimes people sell used books there at reasonable prices.

Readers Digest put out a book called "Back to Basics" that we liked. It's a great starter. My DH read it and now swears that he could so build me a log cabin!

I'd also suggest Amy Dacyczyn's "The Complete Tightwad Gazette". I know it sounds funny to suggest a book about how to be frugal, but you'll need those extra pennies when you're on the farm! It also has several recipies and ideas that are very practical.