Recommended Reading
I’ve always been one to hoard books. I learned how to sand, build, stain and hang shelves just so that I could store more books. It’s a beautiful, material thing to own directly from the brain of an expert, writer, chef or artist that you admire and wish to learn from. It beats an army of open tabs or printed 8x11 online articles any day in my opinion. However the caveat to this is Kindle books and the like which I can understand is a great way to streamline your book collection. Like I said I’m just a book hoarder. Also I’m not in the market for more charging cords. SO now that I’ve beaten you over the head with my paperback value system, I’m going to share with you the books that have influenced the way I see cooking, farming, gardening and living. Click on the book title to find ways to buy.
by Janet Greene, Ruth Hertzberg and Beatrice Vaughan
This step by step instructional gives you as much or as little information as you need. If you just want to make some jam for a cheese board or you’re looking to preserve a seasons worth of tomatoes through various methods, this book covers it all. The troubleshooting guidance is amazing as well. A true investment, you’ll be slappin’ post-it notes between the pages in no time.
by Michael Pollan
Please excuse my dirty book (these are actual pictures of my books in all their second hand, used to prop up a drink on the couch, glory. See, can’t do that with a Kindle.)
In his 5th book Michael Pollan writes about how our dietary guides and practices have changed significantly, and not in our favor. The truth of larger forces telling us to eat what they want to sell, versus what’s healthy, is balanced with a simple guide to personal responsibility over our diet and ultimately health. If where your food comes from and why it’s marketed to you has never been on your radar, this book will illuminate and educate.
by George Nash and Jane Waterman
This book makes me smile whenever I crack it open. The authors have a genuine, approachable voice that leads you through the ideology and joy of homesteading. They cover absolutely everything but don’t be intimidated, this book can be enjoyed by someone learning to grow their first tomato. The message is whether you’re starting your own farm, or planting a few herbs by your doorstep, you can take back a part of your livelihood, free of depending entirely on outside sources to nourish you.
by John Seymour
This is one of my “pretty books.” It has beautiful, botanical illustrations throughout that pull you in to learn. Everything from soil conditions, bed building, propagation, pests, harvesting and storing is thoroughly explained. It’s an extremely valuable book that I consistently use during the growing season to troubleshoot issues. But besides that if you’re a novice gardener looking to nerd out on a cold, rainy day, this book is a great addition to your collection.
by John Seymour
If you were given 10 acres of land, an axe, a sleeping bag and this book, you’d be prepared to live off the grid. In this book you’ll find EVERYTHING for homesteading and oh yeah gardening too. This is another nerd-out resource to indulge your whimsical farm life dreams where churning butter makes you sweat with contentment and plowing a field with a horse is just another day. But seriously, reading this book opened my eyes even more to how the material experience of living is not something to be taken for granted. Money can buy much of what’s made in this book but without learning some skills to provide for ourselves, we end up with only the skill of opening our wallets.
