Books The Encyclopedia of Country Living
Books and Publications Average Rating:

Rating: - Covers it all
The Encyclopedia of Country Living is a very interesting and fun book to read. It covers so much, very well written and informative. I've seen it advertised in a magazine that I subscribe to, and while ordering some other items from Amazon, I decided to see if I could order it through Amazon. I was really pleased to see that it was considerbly cheaper, and I qualified for free shipping. Made it even a better deal.

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Rating: - Buy It!
Though there are disparaging reviews about this book, and I can understand their positions, I cannot agree with them. The knowledge in this book is extremely thorough and the slow presentation of information makes it more likely to be remembered when needed than from such books as Back to Basics or Storey's Basic Country Skills. I find that this retention is a great thing so that you do not always have to keep referenceing the book or kicking yourself when you go to buy your first sheep and cannot remember what you are supposed to look for.

I also love the recipes. They are concise, easy to follow, and several are presented on any given page.

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Rating: - How this book began...
What the previous reviewer seems not to realize, is that this book began more like a subscription recipe newsletter than a book. My grandmother subscribed to it in the 70s and she got it a few pages at a time, as Carla wrote it... oft times her subscribers wrote her their ideas/experiences/etc and she included these notes in her "newsletters"... the book kind of grew from this, and that's why it's a huge book where the author seems to take a long time getting to the many points made in the book... there are a lot of points, because she sent out a lot of separate "newsletters" on different topics! And that's also why there are lots of comments from her friends (subscribers) through-out.

This book is a wonderful treasure for any homesteader, and I'm happy to have inherited my grandmother's copy (in a *huge* three ring notebook) as well as a newer bound edition.

Sadly the world lost Carla Emery this week, but I'm sure heaven is enjoying her presence! She was an amazing, fascinating person.

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Rating: - Carla Emery passed away last night
She was a great lady and she will be missed by homesteaders everywhere. I am still in shock so I don't know what to say but I thought everyone interested in her book should know.