The Backyard Homestead; edited by Carleen Madigan - definate buy for beginners
If you are just starting out on your homesteading adventure, or only have an acre or less to homestead on, this is the book for you! It covers the home vegetable garden, backyard fruits and nuts, poultry for eggs and meat, meat and dairy, homegrain grains, easy fragrant herbs, and from the wild. It claims to tell you how to produce all the food you need on just a quarter of an acre, and I think it does a fine job. While it may be elementary for advanced homesteaders, for starters it will be your best 350 page friend. I consider myself somewhere in the middle of beginner homesteader and advanced homesteader, and still felt it gave enough reference information that I will be watching for a cheap copy on ebay or amazon.
I bought it after perusing a copy from the library. I loved the section on growing so many fruit and nut trees in just 30 x 40 feet.
I think I got it when I joined GoodCook.com (yeah I was surprised they had it too!) and didn't pay much.
I'm bummed-I tried to get this book from the library but they didn't have it in our county system. The librarian told me they could put in a request to get it from the state library system( I was excited) then they called back and told me it wasn't available for state loan. Ughhh stupid budget cuts. So I'm going to order it on amazon, can't wait to get it.
For a large (area wise) county with low population I think we have a good library system. Almost anything I've looked for is there. I think you'll like the book and be glad you bought it.
I got this from the library and wanted to add a note-
this book is very much like an encyclopedia. It's easy to read, but really full of information. It's great, but it can be overwhelming to a newcomer. If you're looking for a feel-good-beginners-do-I-really-wanna-have-a-homestead book, I'd start with Jenna Woginrich's Made From Scratch.
This book is fantastic, I just wanted to elaborate a little with my opinion.
yes
Quoting LainieFekula:
I got this from the library and wanted to add a note-
this book is very much like an encyclopedia. It's easy to read, but really full of information. It's great, but it can be overwhelming to a newcomer. If you're looking for a feel-good-beginners-do-I-really-wanna-have-a-homestead book, I'd start with Jenna Woginrich's Made From Scratch.
This book is fantastic, I just wanted to elaborate a little with my opinion.
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- Kristin216
on Jan. 6, 2010 at 6:07 PM