This book reads like the biggest mess of mistakes imaginable. Yet, with love and determination, this odd couple manage to pull off a full-service CSA that includes, meat, milk, grains, and all the vegetables needed to feed local families for a whole year. Artisan Cheese Making at Home by Mary Karlin ~ Though she does have a lot of advanced recipes in here, I still think this is a good guide to getting started with cheesemaking (especially if you hope to progress to more advanced recipes). For those of you just dipping your toe into homesteading, these beginner homesteading books are a great place to start. They don’t dive deep into any particular topic, but instead give you an overview that’ll allow you do do a little bit of everything. I’m going to give you a peek into my homestead library, and take you through all my favorite books and resources, broken down by topic.

The future of our world depends on the next generation’s ability to become more self-sufficient and to take this goal seriously. To ensure that this goal is achieved, it’s important for parents and educators alike to promote the principles of self-sufficiency in young people. Having the ability to manage money is not only a key factor in becoming financially independent, but it’s also essential for one to become self-sufficient. Self-sufficiency is the ability to rely on oneself and be able to support yourself with no outside assistance. The importance of self-sufficiency and its connection to community support networks has become increasingly important in modern society. Self-sufficiency refers to a person’s ability to care for their basic needs without relying on outside help or resources, but this doesn’t want not working with others. They’re a good way to find new plants, and with recipes, they really inspire you to get out there and find the wild foods. Like Animal, Vegetable, Miracle, this is one of those books I re-visit annually to push myself to try new things and appreciate our alternative lifestyle even more. I don’t think any homesteading bookshelf is complete without this little gem within fingers reach whenever you need it.Using completely non-traditional farming methods and working with nature, Sepp has built one of the most beautiful bio-diverse places you can imagine. With ponds and streams and lupine filled ancient grain fields, his farm is a veritable paradise on earth. In addition, it also helps to build a sense of community among neighbors, not just a sense of self. A community that is self-sufficient can survive and thrive even in the face of economic difficulties and social challenges. Importantly, self-sufficiency is not only important in times of crisis but also during times of relative peace and calmness. The Self-Sufficient Life and How to Live It (2003). London: Dorling Kindersley. (with Will Sutherland) We’ve raised a lot of animals over the years, but by far my favorite creature to tend was always the bees.

Perennial Vegetables by Eric Toensmeier ~ Covering more than 100 types of perennial vegetable, this will really open your eyes to unique food crops that you can plant once and harvest for a lifetime. We grow more than 30 Perennial Vegetables on our homestead, even though we’re in a cold zone 4, and it’s thanks to this book. The Jam and Marmalade Bible ~ Written using the European school of preservation. Less a “canning” book, and more a really detailed technique book for making spectacular preserves. Solar energy is a renewable source of energy that can be used to power homes, businesses and even entire countries. It also helps us understand which areas of the world are most vulnerable regarding essential goods or service shortages. While the world has been growing increasingly more connected through trade, we still have many countries that are self-sufficient in their own personal resources. The Permaculture Handbook by Peter Bane ~ Also covers most of what you’d need to know to get started, but brings it to life with practical examples and a more accessible writing style than edible forest gardens.Just like charcuterie, cheesemaking can be simple and easy…or it can be incredibly complex and detailed. Preserve It Naturally~ This is the manual that comes with an Excaliber dehydrator, and it includes temperatures and timetables for dehydrating almost anything under the sun. No prepared food recipes, but exactly what you need to put up fruit and produce from the garden (meat and jerky too). Believe it or not, charcuterie is another form of lacto-fermentation and with a little dedication you can craft your own prosciutto, pancetta and salami at home. Beyond these specific fermentation guide books, I’d also recommend any of the cookbooks by Olia Hercules. She’s a Ukrainian author and though she writes about Ukrainian cooking, that’s something you just can’t do without covering a lot of home fermentation recipes (and other food preservation topics). The HAM Radio License Manual ~ A study guide with questions that’s specifically designed to help you study for the HAM radio test. It doesn’t do the best job of explaining what’s going on, see the book series above for that, but it does go through all the possible questions to help you learn the right answers (like an SAT study guide).

If you think you don’t have enough room to grow sufficient food on your postage stamp property, this book is for you. Two single guys buy a duplex on a run-down lot in town and turn it into a garden of eating. How can that not be an interesting read? We’ve been making homemade beer for more than a decade, and have literally hundreds of batches under our belts. Still, there are a few homebrewing books that we refer to again and again.How to Brew by John Palmer ~ A really good basic intro, including all the steps. I love this one because it explains why you do each step, as opposed to other books that just provide the steps with no context or rational. It provides a solid foundation, that will allow you to design your own recipes later since you’ll understand the principles of brewing beer at home. Betsy Matheson keeps it simple and practical, as you can easily follow along with the process of new DIY projects like building greenhouses, garden beds, root cellars, solar systems, rainwater irrigation systems, and beehives. Brewing Classic Styles by Jamil Zainasheff and John J. Palmer ~ This contains one recipe for every classic beer style: IPAs, Porters, Lagers, Sour Ales, Milk Stouts and many more. Really, any style you’d want to make, you’ll find a recipe here. Each recipe has won awards at brewing competitions, and it’s the perfect base if you want to try developing your own recipes (or just make a great beer in any style). Pressure Canning for Beginners and Beyond by Angi Schneider ~ Hands down the best pressure canning guide book available, with really creative recipes as well as old favorites. Self-sufficiency and sustainable living are two concepts that go hand in hand. Self-sufficiency is the ability to rely on one’s own independent resources and skills to sustain life, while sustainable living is an approach that focuses on minimising waste and consumption of natural resources.