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Read on for our best books for homesteaders! Perfect for those new to country life or for gifts!
No matter how self-sufficient you may be, there will come a time when you need to read about and learn from the experiences of others. That’s where books come in.
While nothing replaces hands-on experience, learning from the successes and failures of others can help you avoid some pitfalls, speed up your learning curve, and develop a greater appreciation for this lifestyle.
Whether you’re homesteading full-time or just starting out, we’ve gather up the best books for homesteaders to help you build the skills you need to thrive.
Best Books for Homesteaders
1) A Survival Guide. The Prepper’s Pantry
Food is definitely important! The Prepper’s Pantry covers a lot of ground.
This book is a great resource for homesteaders of all levels of experience. It covers everything from food storage and preservation to emergency preparedness.
2) The Backyard Homestead Book for a Self-Sufficient Lifestyle
If you only have a small amount of space, this book is for you. The Backyard Homestead will show you how to turn your yard into a mini-farm that can provide you with all the food and other resources you need to live a more self-sufficient lifestyle.
3) 40 Projects for Building Your Backyard Homestead
This book is perfect for homesteaders who want to get their hands dirty and build things themselves. It includes projects like building a chicken coop, constructing a root cellar, and making your own soap.
4) The Encyclopedia of Country Living
There’s a reason this book has been printed and included on bestseller lists for over 50 years: it’s an incredibly comprehensive guide to all things homesteading. It’s good to have whether you’re a beginner or have years of experience – there’s tips in there for everyone.
5) The Homesteading Handbook
This book is perfect for homesteaders who are just starting out. It covers a wide range of topics like choosing a homestead site, building a shelter, and raising animals. It’s great for anyone trying to stretch a tight budget.
6) Basic Butchering of Livestock & Game: Beef, Veal, Pork, Lamb, Poultry, Rabbit, Venison
One of the more challenging aspects of homesteading is raising animals for meat.
This book is essential for any homesteader who plans on raising animals for food. It covers everything from slaughtering and butchering to food safety and animal welfare.
7) The Rooted Life: Cultivating Health and Wholeness Through Growing Your Own Food
Even if you don’t have a lot of space, time, or experience, you can still grow your own food. This book shows you how, with tips and advice on everything from starting a garden to preserving your harvest.
It’s wonderful for those who are just starting to explore more self sufficient living and the idea of homesteading.
More of our Best Books for Homesteaders
8) Root Cellaring: Natural Cold Storage of Fruits and Vegetables
Having a root cellar is a great way to store food for long-term use. This book is essential for any homesteader who wants to learn all about it. It covers topics like choosing a root cellar site, building a root cellar, and storing food in a root cellar.
9) The Self Sufficient Life and How to Live It: The Complete Back to Basics Guide
If you’re a beginner to the homesteading lifestyle and aren’t quite sure where to start, this is a good book to check out. It’s both inspirational and practical and will help you feel more confident about homesteading. It’s a comprehensive guide that covers a lot of different topics related to living off the land.
10) The Homesteader’s Herbal Companion: The Ultimate Guide to Growing, Preserving, and Using Herbs
This book is perfect for homesteaders who want to grow and use herbs. It covers topics like growing herbs, harvesting and drying herbs, and using herbs for medicinal purposes.
Herbalism is a wonderful skillset to add to your homesteading repertoire and this book is full of great information.
11) The Complete Beginner’s Guide to Greenhouse Gardening: A Month-by-Month Planting Book to Grow 365 Days a Year
This book is perfect for homesteaders who want to grow their own food year-round. It covers topics like choosing a greenhouse, growing plants in a greenhouse, and using a greenhouse for winter gardening.
You can increase the amount of food you’re able to produce by learning how to properly care for a greenhouse, so it’s well worth it!
Pssst! Want to read how we built a backyard greenhouse for only $200?
12) Ball Complete Book of Home Preserving: 400 Delicious and Creative Recipes for Preserving Food at Home
This book is essential for any homesteader who wants to preserve food. It covers topics like canning, freezing, drying, and fermenting food. Preserving food helps you to enjoy the fruits of your homesteading labor all year long.
13) The Practical Permaculture Project Book: Design Your Landscape with Ecosystems in Mind
This book is perfect for homesteaders who want to design their land using permaculture principles. It covers topics like site assessment, water management, and soil fertility. If you’re interested in sustainable living, this is the book for you.
These are just a few of the many great books available to homesteaders. These books will provide you with the information you need to get started homesteading and live a more self-sufficient lifestyle.
More Ways to Learn About Homesteading
Now that you know all the best books for homesteaders, maybe you’re looking for more ways to learn new skills that will help you on your homesteading journey. Here are a few that can help:
1) YouTube Channels: There are many great YouTube channels that offer helpful homesteading tips and tricks. Search for homesteaders on YouTube that share helpful experiences and how-tos.
2) Podcasts: Another great way to learn about homesteading is by listening to podcasts. Some of our favorites include:
3) Blogs: There are many homesteading bloggers out there who share their experiences and offer helpful tips. Check out some of our favorites:
4) Meetup Groups: There are often homesteading meetup groups in most areas. This is a great way to meet other homesteaders and learn new skills.
5) Local Classes and Workshops: Many universities, community colleges, and extension offices offer classes and workshops on various homesteading topics. Check with your local resources to see what might be available near you.
6) Experience: One of the best ways to learn about homesteading is by getting your hands dirty and doing it yourself. Start small with some simple projects and work your way up to more complex ones. There’s no better way to learn than by experience.
Learning is a never ending process for everyone, including homesteaders. As you continue to grow and learn new skills, you’ll also be able to pass some helpful knowledge along to others in the same way.
And don’t forget: