Estimated reading time: 8 minutes
As the world gets faster and more complicated, a growing group of people are craving a slower, more easy going lifestyle. Homesteading allows you to do just that. You can return to the land, embrace self-sufficiency, and start living the life you've always dreamed of.
Whether you're just getting your hands dirty or you've already embraced the homesteader's life, knowledge remains your most valuable resource. The best way to get that knowledge, even in the digital age where information abounds on the Internet, is in a good old fashioned book.
In this post, we'll tell you about some of our favorite homesteading books.
Homesteading is as much about nurturing the soil as it is about personal growth. The more adept you become at integrating these practices into your life, the more self-assured and sustainable your homestead will be.
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Here are some titles to add to your reading list.
1. Back to Basics: A Complete Guide to Traditional Skills by Abigail Gehring
Drawn from generations of homesteaders' experiences, Abigail Gehring’s “Back to Basics” is a comprehensive guide to virtually every skill you need on a homestead.
With detailed instructions on crafts such as woodworking, sustainable energy solutions, and artisanal soap making, this guide is a treasure trove for enthusiasts who value the depth of heritage and the breadth of self-sufficiency.
2. The Encyclopedia of Country Living, 50th Anniversary Edition by Carla Emery
Carla Emery’s legacy continues in this extensive volume, offering a deep dive into nearly every aspect of homesteading.
The 1000-page book is structured to serve as a season-by-season guide, equipping the reader with skills for crop rotation, animal birthing, and canning produce. It's a fitting tribute to its 50-year history and countless homesteaders served.
3. Homesteading: A Backyard Guide to Growing Your Own Food, Canning, Keeping Chickens, Generating Your Own Energy, Crafting, Herbal Medicine, and More by Abigail Gehring
For those with limited space, Abigail Gehring's “Homesteading” shows you how to make the most of it. Whether you live in an apartment or a house with a small yard, this book proves that urban environments can yield a rich homesteading experience.
The guide covers topics ranging from raising livestock and growing your own food to creating sustainable energy solutions in an urban setting. Gehring's book is a must-have for anyone looking to turn their backyard into a self-sufficient oasis.
4. Self Sufficiency for the 21st Century by Dick and James Strawbridge
The father-son duo, Dick and James Strawbridge, illustrate a modern take on homesteading by integrating traditional methods with the latest sustainable technology.
From solar panel installations to rainwater harvesting systems, this book is a visual guide that prepares homesteaders for today's environmental challenges.
5. A Farmer’s Guide to the Bottom Line by Charles Walters
Charles Walters, the founder of “Acres USA” magazine, emphasizes that successful homesteading can also mean a successful business.
His book serves as a primer on agricultural economics, offering insights on managing costs, maximizing profits, and maintaining the health of your land. It’s an essential read for turning passion into a viable livelihood.
6. The Lean Farm by Ben Hartman
Ben Hartman introduces the principles of lean methodology in the context of farming. Efficiency is at the heart of his approach, aiming to minimize waste across all operations – a philosophy that can benefit plots of all sizes. Readers will find strategies for streamlined processes and smarter work, not harder.
7. The Backyard Homestead by Carleen Madigan
Showing how a modest plot can yield incredible diversity, Carleen Madigan’s book offers step-by-step instructions on producing crops, dairy, and meat.
With a well-organized layout, readers can plan their homesteading activities across the seasons and make the most of every square inch of their land.
8. The Family Garden Plan by Melissa K Norris
Melissa K. Norris’ work is as much about growing food as it is about cultivating values. This guide encourages families to work together to build a garden that keeps the pantry full year-round.
It includes plans and timelines to make sure that every family member can contribute and learn from their shared outdoor space.
9. Polyface Micro: Success with Livestock on a Homestead by Joel Salatin
Joel Salatin shares his experiences and techniques for raising livestock responsibly and sustainably. Renowned for his commitment to ethical farming solutions, Salatin divulges his experience with pioneering management techniques such as mobile animal shelters and rotational grazing.
This guide is the perfect read for homesteaders aiming to adopt practices that honor the land and the animals alike with ethical animal husbandry.
10. The Self-Sufficient Life and How to Live It by John Seymour
John Seymour's comprehensive guide is a deep source of wisdom for the homesteader. It ambitiously covers a broad array of topics.
From tending gardens to rearing animals and making wine, the granularity provided by each chapter weaves a comprehensive narrative of what it truly means to sustain a homestead brimming with life.
More Tips for Filling Your Bookshelf
This list of books is a great place to start if you want to become a more self-sufficient homestead – but it shouldn't be where your journey ends!
There are thousands of other books out there that can give you the knowledge you need to embark on this journey with confidence. Start asking around for recommendations from fellow homesteaders.
Don't know any? No problem! Online forums and social media groups dedicated to homesteading often feature threads where members share their favorite reads.
Another great place to check is your local library. In addition to many of the wonderful titles described above, you may be able to find titles from local writers who might have a more in-depth knowledge of how to homestead in your area.
The Takeaway
Each book on this list serves as a stepping stone toward a resilient and rewarding homesteading lifestyle. They are a compilation of a lifetime's worth of agricultural wisdom, neatly distilled into pages that await your exploration.
Beyond the harvests and yields, these books offer a connection to the cycles of nature, an understanding that truly every homesteader cherishes.
After all, your homestead is more than just a piece of land. It's a place to become self-reliant. May these books help you on your homesteading journey!
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