Wanna Be a Steader!

The Encyclopedia of Country Living - Review

I noticed that the HSB Front Porch has an advertisement for The Encyclopedia of Country Living by Carla Emery.  A while back, I reviewed this for TOS and thought you might be interested.  Enjoy...

The Encyclopedia of County Living – Review

I have this wonderful dream.  My dream is to live out in the country on a small parcel of land where we can have a couple of horses for our girls, raise my own herbs and a few veggiesÂ…maybe even a couple of dairy goats or alpacas.  I really want to go into this with as few surprises as possible.  I think one way I can knock off many of those surprises is to read The Encyclopedia of Country Living by Carla Emery.

This incredible book has just been updated for the 9^th time!  I just canÂ’t imagine anything about country living that isnÂ’t in here.  The newest edition now has websites and mail-order information.

One the best parts of the book is the very first chapter:  Oddments.  This chapter is a primer on living self-sufficiently and simply.  There are things in here that IÂ’m sure many of us have NEVER thought of:  how climate can effect how you build, there are actually schools of country living, giving birth by yourself andÂ…did you know that itÂ’s legal in 41 states to care for your own dead?!

But this book is also absolutely full of useful and entertaining information that anyone from the city slicker who just wants to grow window herbs, to the back-woods camper, to those who really want to live a primitive, simple life-style can use in daily living.  Carla Emery has thought of everything, assembled it in a very readable format and writes in such a personal, inviting way.  You will find it so hard to put this massive, nearly 900 page volume down.

Homeschoolers and new farm families will benefit immensely from her

information on animal breeding, cleaning fish, selecting the best laying hens, questions to ask yourself before buying a goat, slaughtering/butchering cows and pigs, milking cows and goats, making cheeses, raising and drying herbs, home businesses, bee keeping, rabbit breeding, animal housing and fencing, homemade cosmetics, gardening for everyone from the beginner to the pro.  This list doesnÂ’t even scratch the surface!

I do, however, recommend that a parent monitor while youngsters are reading this.  Carla is not rude or immodest, but she is very frank in dealing with reproductive issues in the animal world.  You need to judge how mature your own children are regarding what they do and donÂ’t know (and what you do and donÂ’t want them to know) about subjects that could effect their modesty.

This is one of the most interesting books I have in my home library.  I cantÂ’ think of anything anyone might want to know about country living that wouldnÂ’t be in this book!

Reviewed by:  Kim Wolf; product reviewer and staff writer for The Old Schoolhouse magazine.

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12:35, 2006-Feb-22 .. Posted by jinyeah3

Very interesting!
Jenette.

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01:25, 2006-Feb-22 .. Posted by kayinpa

I got this book from the library (and had to give it back before I was ready :( ) and loved it. It is definitely on my wish list!

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02:33, 2006-Feb-22 .. Posted by OurLittleHomestead

I love this book, and I bet the library would love it if I actually went out and bought my own copy! :)

Great review Kim!

Lisa

Wonderful!

04:51, 2006-Feb-24 .. Posted by VTLinda

Thanks so much for this great review. Even though it was a serious comment, this ( "legal in 41 states to care for your own dead?!" ) really got my attention (and a grin). Sounds like The book I've been looking for. LOL - no, i'm not trying to secretly bury anybody! But, I am going searching online for it right now! Cheers! ~Linda

Sounds Like..

11:25, 2006-Feb-24 .. Posted by haras

an important addition to any homesteader's library! I'll take a look.

Sarah

The best

03:20, 2006-Feb-25 .. Posted by Trina

this is one of my favorite books.. and you can tell it to... it has been taped together since 6 months after I got it...wonderful resource

Great Book...

10:51, 2006-Feb-27 .. Posted by urbanblogger

I love it! I too had to give it back to the library before I was ready! :)
Emily