"Homesteaders Handbook" by Rich Israel and Reny Slay (ISBN: 978-0913978016) was first published in 1973, and this was the book that really got my off my ass and moving on the desire to one day be a homesteader.
The first thing you will notice about this book is the look of it. It was written on a computer with hundreds of hand drawn little pictures.
After a short introduction that explains the issues that the author's had (a lack on information on running a small homesteading farm), the book gets right to it.
Breaking down the information into 5 different main topics, which I will give a brief synopsis of here.
IN THE GARDEN
The books gets right to work describing how to grow your own food, ranging from herbs to fruits, grains, hay, and cannibus.
The topics are brief and would give someone who knew nothing about growing their own food a good start, and includes such topics as grafting together plants, dealing with pests, and how to find plants in the wild you can use.
IN THE KITCHEN
This section includes a number of recipes, most of which are designed to use food gathered in the first section, as well as a good section on brewing and distilling, and making your own vinegars.
IN THE STORE ROOM
This section starts the bread and butter of the section. It covers ways of preserving your hard gotten gains. It covers the obvious canning, jams and pickles. It also includes steps on how to cure olives, preserve meats, and a neat truck to preserve eggs using olive oil, beeswax and charcoal.
IN THE POULTRY HOUSE
This is the first section on raising animals on a farm, and by the titles, it is clearly poultry. Covering topics from egg fertilization, birth, growth and killing. It covers the standard types, but also include topics on Guinea Fowl, Geese and Pigeons.
IN THE BARNYARD
The last section of the book covers raising livestock, including bees. Covering topics such as breeding, raising and slaughtering.
Over all, an excellent book put together by two people that put a lot of time, effort and love into the work. It is written in clear, simple language that is easy to understand and follow. And while not a complete guide, it give you a very good place to get started.
My only complains is that it does not cover tips for acquiring the land to homestead on, or the home that you will be living it, but that is covered in several other books of the same topics, which I will review later.
Over all: **** 1/2 out of *****
Until next time,
Rev. GH
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