Spring is a tough time to get a lot of reading and book learning done, with all of the hands-on homesteading action that's taking place. Still, I like to pick out a few books, read a few pages each night, and boost my homestead knowledge and inspiration. This winter/early spring I read a few great books that I wanted to share. The Nourishing Homestead by Ben Hewitt One day this winter, I opened our mailbox to find a copy of The Nourishing Homestead, sent by the awesome team at Chelsea Green. I honestly think I squealed in delight. I have really enjoyed some of Ben Hewitt’s other books, such as The Town that Food Saved, and knew that he was a real-deal homesteader. After reading The … [Read more...]
The Sugarmaker’s Companion :: Book Review
When we began making black walnut syrup last winter, we wished for a go-to guide to help us with the process. We knew from talking with local friends that black walnut sap was drinkable and very tasty; surely if we boiled it down we’d come up with an edible product! After a season’s worth of tapping and boiling down sap, we discovered that black walnut syrup is DELICIOUS. And, we discovered a book that I wish we had when we first began - The Sugarmaker’s Companion: An Integrated Approach to Producing Syrup from Maple, Birch, and Walnut Trees, by Michael Farrell. Chelsea Green, one of my favorite publishers, sent me a copy to review, and I began reading from cover to cover. What makes … [Read more...]
Edible Landscaping with a Permaculture Twist :: Book Review
Maybe you've heard about Permaculture, but you're not really sure what it is. Or perhaps the words Edible Landscaping make you drool, but you don't know how to start creating one. The book Edible Landscaping with a Permaculture Twist by Michael Judd is a user-friendly, project packed introduction to these topics that will leave you inspired to create your own edible backyard! Chapters focus on subjects including: Herb Spiral, The Ultimate Raised Bed Fungi!! Growing Specialty Mushrooms Hugelkultur, Mounds of Fertility Earthen Ovens My own family has been creating Permaculture systems here on our homestead. For instance, we've begun to experiment with building swales and … [Read more...]