As the season slowly changes, the days darker and colder, it is the perfect time to educate myself on things I might encounter in the growing, harvesting and raising animal seasons. Here are some of my favourite homesteading books to sit down with in this "slower" time of year!
Homesteading Books I Love
I love looking for ways to improve my practices and learn new skills that can be perfected in the winter or decide what is better left for someone else with more expertise! You could say spring, summer and fall are seasons of action but winter is a season of education.
I have an entire library of great homesteading books which cover everything from ways to garden, cooking and baking from scratch, raising livestock, herbal remedies, identifying wild plants and so much more!
I have a lot of books that I love but here are some of my favourites.
The Backyard Homestead
When I first started homesteading I wanted a book that shared a glimpse into all areas and aspects I might be interested in or would prove useful. The Backyard Homestead edited by Carleen Madigan was a great one for that. It explains how to make the most of your small space, ways to start seeds, what kinds of produce to plant, what to do after harvesting, growing grains, collecting maple syrup and of course raising your own homestead animals.
Once I knew which things I wanted to explore more in-depth I bought books that focused on those areas. I also have the follow-up book Kitchen Know-How and Farm animals which goes into more detail about cooking everything from scratch and raising your homestead animals. Check out our upcoming class with local veterinarian Dr Carleigh to learn more about how to are to your homestead animals.
Bernardin Complete Book of Home Preserving
One of the first things I delved into was canning.
I remember my mom and grandma canning all the time and though I don’t remember being a part of it, I wanted that for my kids. So I purchased Bernardin Complete Book of Home Preserving which has a wide variety of canning recipes. Whenever I have a large amount of a particular fruit or vegetable being harvested, I go to the index and see what recipe options I have. Sometimes I try a new one and sometimes stick with an old reliable one I have done before.
The reassurance that these recipes have been tested and approved is important. As long as I follow the instructions, my family will be safe from any potential illness non-approved recipes might cause.
Bread Making - Crafting the Perfect Loaf from Crust to Crumb
I also wanted to get into bread making so I found the book Bread Making Crafting the Perfect Loaf from Crust to Crumb by Lauren Chattman, which delves into the art and science of making bread. I love the question-and-answer section as it typically asks and answers my inquiries. This book is a treasure chest of great recipes, tips, pictures and information to start your bread journey.
The next best thing is to sit through a bread class to immerse myself in the process and see it happening, giving me the visual examples necessary to bake bread.
Books by Joel Salatin
Any of Joel Salatins books are an amazing wealth of information.
He is a man on a mission to do things more sustainably even when it is against common practice. I particularly like his book The Marvelous Pigness of Pigs, which encourages people to let their animals be guided by their instincts and let them be animal they were created to be!
The Artisan Herbalist
I look forward to diving into this book about medicinal uses for herbs. My family rarely gets sick but I want to be proactive and grow beneficial plants and herbs for times of need. I have recently purchased The Artisan Herbalist by Bevin Cohen which touches on a large variety of herbs, explaining their history, how to use them and their benefits.
I am looking forward to a tincture workshop that will share further information about using these great herbs.
The Independent Farmstead
One of the newest books in my library is called The Independent Farmstead by Shawn and Beth Doughtery, (who also worked with Joel Salatin). “Farmstead” is what you call a homestead that makes money from what is being produced. This book will provide me with the knowledge to enhance our current practices and help us create more nutrient-dense food; improve pasture management and expand our sustainable farm.
Stop In and Borrow a Copy Today!
If you’re curious, stop by the marketplace to ask some questions and peruse my collection. Want to check out my Homestead library for yourself? We are more than willing to share because books should be read by as many people as possible!
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