Help others find good homestead(ing) books

greenspun.com : LUSENET : Countryside : One Thread

I've seen several posts of people wanting to find homestead books, and alot of people have been able to suggest some. I just tried to do a "quick" search on Amazon.com for Reader's Digest and found a whopping 298 entries. Like a lot of us, I'd like to slowly build up a library myself, purchasing what I can when I can find it for a good price (sound familiar?). What I'd like help with is trying to get proper titles (or, preferably ISBN #'s) for proven useful books. If anyone has this info, I'm sure that it'll help out a lot of us. I value experience and wouldn't mind getting the chance to pick your brain for yours.

-- Chris Stogdill (cstogdill@rmci.net), May 09, 2000

Answers

"The Encyclopedia of Country Living" by Carla Emery

no matter what books I have looked in or at, or what I find on the Internet, I always come back to this book!

the "FoxFire" series, for good old fashioned mountain folk living.

USDA Canning on line, print this one out.

and last but not least, just plane old common sense!

-- xrhodes (xrhodes@usa.com), May 09, 2000.


The Homesteader's Handbook to: "Raising Small Livestock" by Jerome (jd) Belanger ISBN 0-87857-075-6 (Hardcoveer) ISBN 0-87857-122-1 (Papaerback) Library of congress # 73-88254

I often refer to this book, tho published in 1974 the information is still current.

-- Hendo (OR) (redgate@echoweg.netm), May 09, 2000.


the encyclopedia of organic gardening 1984[ newer one i have heard isnt as good ,dosnt cover animals]by rodale press, covers plants and some animals. How to grow more vegtables by John Jeavons, and save three lifes by robert rodale.

-- kathy h (saddlebronc@msn.com), May 09, 2000.

Some of our favorites are ,How to grow more vegetables than you ever thought possible on less land than you can imagine, by John Jeavons, Raising Milk Goats the Modern way by Jerry Belanger, and for those who are going to get more than one goat, Harvey Considine's books, Dairy Goat Judging Techniques, and Raising Dairy Goats for fun and Profit, are well worth the price. By the way, I have found the book Grow It! by Richard Langer, to be full of misinformation when it comes to goats. It is almost worse than nothing at all!

-- Rebekah (daniel1@transport.com), May 09, 2000.

The New Organic Grower, by Elliot Coleman ISBN #0-930031-22-9 (first edition, don't know if they change ISBN for new editions)

Encyclopedia of Country Living, by Carla Emery ISBN #0-912365-95-1 Just finished reading this one and can't wait to buy it myself.

The Have-More Plan, by Ed and Carolyn Robinson (even though it is almost 60 years old we have learned alot from this plan. I think it is available through Countryside.)

Chickens in Your Backyard, by Rick & Gayle Luttmann (designed for small flock raisers; easy to read and understand.)

-- Vaughn (vdcjm5@juno.com), May 09, 2000.



Just found this oldie but goodie at the library. Published in 1953 by the NY state historical society so may be hard to find. The Golden Age of Homespun by Jared van Wagenen

-- teresa (teresam@ascent.net), May 10, 2000.

I agree one of my favorites is "Country living", by Carla Emery! I also got to hear Carla & meet her at a y2k meeting! Since I love my herbs for all uses, I have lots of books --but one of my favorites is "The Herb Bible", by Peter McHoy & Pamela Westland. We love to mushroom hunt & one of my favorite books is, eyewitness handbooks on mushrooms--they also have herb book, trees, & plants & etc. We have a huge library but I'd say almost half or more are bought at garage sales & estate sales, used book stores, etc. Since we have the net--I find it really easy to get quick answers on the net--my books are for savoring, when I have more time to enjoy! We love our books & our daughter home schools & finds them helpful for special homeschool projects, also. Happy reading!!!! Sonda in Ks.

-- Sonda (sgbruce@birch.net), May 10, 2000.

For back yard gardening with little space it's hard to beat "How to Row More Vegeatables" by John Jeavons ISBN 0-89815-767-6. Some other books: "The Complete book of Composting" by J. I. Rodale, "The Handyman's Book" by Paul N. Hasluck ISBN 0-89815-203-8, "The Practical Manual of Homesteading" by John Vivian ISBN 0-87857-092- 6, "The Encyclopedia of Natural Insect and Disease Control" by Roger B. Yepsin, JR, ISBN 0-87857-488-3, "Stocking UP III" by Carol Hupping ISBN 1-56731-073-7. Most of these are from Rodale Press or Ten Speed Press. Half Price Books is where I have gotten most of my books, however I have found a lot of others at garage sales, estate sales, and flea markets . Happy Hunting.

-- Chris Engle (engle_c@yahoo.com), May 11, 2000.

Chris, a lot of it depends on what you can stumble across at thrift stores and such, but here are just a few I like and have at hand.

The Self-Sufficient Gardener, John Seymour, 1980, Dolphin, ISBN 0-385-14671-X

The New York Times Book of Vegetable Gardening, Joan Lee Faust, Quadrangle, 1975, 0-89104-030-7 This is a surprisingly good little book, it could easily be the only gardening book for many people.

Better than Store-Bought A Cookbook, Helen Witty and Elizabeth Schneider Colchie, 1979, Harper & Row 0-06-014693-1

Reader's Digest Complete Do-it-yourself Manual,LCCN 72-87867 There are also other very good RD books, on home repairs, crafts, sewing, the classic Back to Basics

Build It Better Yourself by the Editors of Organic Gardening and Farming, 1977, Rodale Press 0-87857-133-7 Great book, I recommend it often.

The Yankee Magazine Book of Forgotten Arts, R. M. Bacon, (Richard M.), 1978, Simon & Schuster (No ISBN or LCCN) another surprise, ranges from things like setting up a woodstove and laying out a driveway to working with draft horses, building a cider press, and weaving baskets. Brief articles, but solid.

Tidings from the 18th Century, Beth Gilgun, 1993, Rebel, 1-880655-03-9/1-880655-04-7/93-84593 This is more of a re-enactors book, interesting, but I wish I'd bought it used.

Wyman's Gardening Encyclopedia, Dr. Donald Wyman, Macmillan, 0-02-632060-6 Not something I'd put high on the list with a limited budget, but snap a copy up used if you can find one, ask for a new one as a gift. Great reference book over the long haul.

Getting the Most from Your Garden by the Editors of Organic Gardening Magazine 1980, Rodale Press, 0-87857-291-0

Rodale's Encyclopedia of Natural Home Remedies, Mark Bricklin, 1982, Rodale Press, 0-87857-396-8

12 Months Harvest Ortho Books, 1975, (no ISBN or LCCN) I've loved this book for years. I don't know what they've still got out, but I've got a bunch of their magazine-sized paperbacks. Some wonderful books including time-saving, container gardening, etc.

There are certainly a lot more, plus all the specialized books on particular crops and types of livestock, etc. There is one book you might come across and by title it will attract most homesteaders' attention. It is called Gardening on Nothing a Year, published in the 30's and I'm too lazy to go upstairs for the author's name. I think it may be an Orange Judd published book. It relates the author's travails with flower gardening/landscaping after she had to let the full time gardeners go and was reduced to hiring a boy to help her once a week. And the stone masons whenever she wanted a new rock garden. In other words, don't spend a lot of money for it. Gerbil

-- Gerbil (ima_gerbil@hotmail.com), May 14, 2000.


I consider all the BACKWOODS HOME anthologies to be priceless!!! Especially the first three. Volume one is the BEST OF THE FIRST TWO YEARS, Volume 2 is THE THIRD YEAR and the next is THE FOURTH YEAR. They can be ordered from Backwoods Home Magazine at P.O. Box 712 Gold Beach OR 97444 or 1-800-835-2418. You can also find out about them at their web site at www.backwoodshome.com

-- Suzy in 'bama (slgt@yahoo.com), May 15, 2000.


Moderation questions? read the FAQ