Homesteading , Survival Gear -

5 Books to Read if You’re Interested in Homesteading

The desire to have your own self sufficient property is a growing trend in America. When you consider the current state of our economy, it may be a good idea to have your own means of providing for you and your family. Learning more about homesteading is the logical conclusion. Just last week, Standard and Poor’s downgraded our government backed securities to neutral. In layman’s terms, this means that there is concern over our nation’s ability to pay back the $14.3 trillion it owes. The worst short term result of this action would be losing the Triple-A rating. This would result in the interest we must pay on our huge debt soaring to astronomical levels. Consider this: Last year we paid $164 Billion, with a B, on interest alone. When you’re dealing with trillions of dollars in debt, a tiny increase in interest could have exponentially damaging effects on our interest payments and could be the first domino in an economic collapse. This is just an indicator, and one of the most recent, of why preparation and having the right survival gear is a good idea.With that in mind we wanted to share with you some of the best books to research homesteading techniques. Whether you’re thinking about buying eight acres out in the country or you simply want to learn how to grow tomatoes in your backyard more effectively, there should be some valuable information for you to glean. 1) The Encyclopedia of Country Living
      – By Carla EmeryThis book was originally written in the 1960’s and has stood the test of the time. It has the answer to virtually any question related to growing, canning, processing and cooking food from gardens to orchards. It also includes personal stories of successes and failures so you can learn from others mistakes. INTERMEDIATE
2) The Self-Sufficient Life and How to Live It
      – By John SeymourFirst published in the United Kingdom in 1975, this is another book that has been around for a while and is still receiving rave reviews. The updated version is filled with marvelous illustrations and drawings that give you instructions on making butter, brewing rose hip wine, sharpening a scythe, building a fence, shearing a sheep, laying out a garden and much, much more. ADVANCED
3) Reader's Digest Back to Basics: How to Learn and Enjoy Traditional American Skills
      – By Reader's DigestReader’s Digest is well-renowned for taking useful information and packing it into short, condensed, easy to read articles. This book doesn’t fail to deliver on this reputation. It contains all of the information you would expect to find but many readers point out that it provides a much easier read. INTERMEDIATE
4) Seed to Seed
      – By Susan AshworthThis book covers how to grow a garden and gather its seeds for future plantings. The gross percentage of American gardeners purchases their seeds from seed banks. However, many of these seed banks have gone out of business and as a result many hybrids of seeds are now unattainable. Put the power in your hands and invest in this book. It is arranged in an encyclopedic format and gets straight to the point. Save your own seeds from year to year to create a self-perpetuating garden. ADVANCED
5) Storey's Basic Country Skills: A Practical Guide to Self-Reliance
    – By John Storey and Martha Storey This book is touted as “information country folk know that you don’t”. It is packed full of information passed down from generation to generation and dates back to our country’s roots. A large amount of focus is placed on gardening, but there is also information covering everything from how to build a stone wall to caring for pet llamas. If you’re a city dweller looking for some great tips for your own backyard, this will prove valuable to you. BEGINNER
There are many books out there, but these ones are consistently recommended by those in the know. They serve as a great addition to your survival gear and will prove invaluable in the event that you actually need to rely on them.---Curtis Familia---

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