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

Rating: - This is my 'desert island' book
If you have to choose only one book for your 'back to the land' bookshelf, make it this one.
I have owned the last three editions of this book, and I have been reading this type of book for over 30 years, now, since I picked up my grandmother's copy of the first 'Foxfire' book. This is the best, most comprehensive book I have ever read. On any topic. And I have read it cover to cover, too many times to count.
I was born and raised in metropolitan Tampa Bay, Florida. Even then, I dreamed of having a farm. I bought this book when my husband was in the military, we were moving every 18 months, and had never owned a house, much less a farm. It gave me something to dream on. I have memorized most of it by now, and my copy is ragged from actually using it to learn from. We now have a very small farm, raising veggies, fruits, goats, ducks, and chickens naturally. 'The Country Recipe Book' gave me the courage to follow my dreams, and enough basic knowledge to figure out how. (Learning to milk the goat, while reading the directions out loud to my husband and 12 year old daughter, was worth every penny I've ever spent on it...).

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Rating: - Do it all book!!
This is a required read for anyone wanting to get back to the Country. It is chock full of information on the old ways of doing things.

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Rating: - The encyclopedia of Country Living
Wow!! full of info, ideas, almost overwhelming! I keep it on my coffee table!

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Rating: - WOW!! SO MANY TOPICS, VERY WELL EXPLAINED!
This is truly a great book! An excellent resource for those of us who like the idea of living "off the grid" and being self-reliant. Covering everything from births at home to making breads from your own home-grown grains, this is a practical reference that is easy to read and very down to earth. Lots of information, but in a easy-to-follow casual style which makes it very easy to apply the knowledge yourself and get a jump on a homesteader's life. Even if you aren't interested in homesteading, the country skills she teaches are practical in emergency situations or during a loss of power. And it is just plain interesting to read!