On Today’s Podcast Episode, Harold and Rachel Talk About Building A Homestead Library. They Dive Into Why You Might Want One, How To Get Started and Build One, and Book Suggestions In Many Categories.
The Modern Homesteading Podcast, Episode 248 – July 14, 2024
Listen To The Podcast
Listen and Subscribe On Your Favorite Podcast Player
Spotify | Apple Podcasts | Amazon Music | Pandora | Pocket Casts | Castbox | Anchor | YouTube | RSS | Get Ad-Free On Patreon
The Why: Importance of a Homestead Library
- Self-Sufficiency:
- Access to knowledge and information is crucial for self-reliance.
- A well-rounded library can reduce dependency on external sources.
- Resource for Problem Solving:
- Books provide solutions and alternatives to common homesteading problems.
- Helps in emergency situations when internet or power might be unavailable.
- Learning and Growth:
- Continuous learning is essential for successful homesteading.
- Expands skills and techniques in various areas such as gardening, animal husbandry, and food preservation.
- Passing Down Knowledge:
- Physical books can be a legacy for future generations.
- Encourages family and community learning and collaboration.
2. The How: Steps to Building Your Library
- Start with Essentials:
- Identify key areas of interest and necessity for your homestead.
- Invest in foundational books on these topics.
- Budgeting and Acquiring Books:
- Set a budget for building your library over time.
- Look for second-hand books, library sales, and online resources.
- Curate and Organize:
- Create a system to organize books by category and accessibility.
- Use bookshelves, labels, and a cataloging system to keep track of your collection.
- Digital Resources:
- Supplement physical books with e-books and online resources.
- Ensure you have backups for digital content.
Categories of Books to Include
- General Homesteading
- Rachel’s Book Recommendations
- The Independent Farmstead by Dougherty’s:https://amzn.to/3W7eOAj
- The Ultimate guide to Homesteading, And Encyclopedia of Independent Living by Nichole Faires: https://amzn.to/3W5d4r9
- Harold’s Book Recommendations
- The Encyclopedia of Country Living by Carla Emery – https://amzn.to/3W4hOxi
- Rachel’s Book Recommendations
- Gardening
- Rachel’s Book Recommendations
- Trees: Tree Crops: https://amzn.to/3W8EkUH & Coppice Agroforestry by mark Krawcxyk:https://amzn.to/3W5Eeht
- Eliot Coleman: The New Organic Grower: https://amzn.to/3XHVZEZ
- Square Foot Gardening by Mel Bartholowmew: https://amzn.to/3LamfAc
- Plant Propagation by Alan TooGood : https://amzn.to/4cJeBJ4
- Harold’s Book Recommendations
- Rodale’s Ultimate Encyclopedia of Organic Gardening – https://amzn.to/3XMYXbb
- The Living Soil Handbook by Jesse Frost – https://amzn.to/4eEsRV4
- Rachel’s Book Recommendations
- Permaculture
- Rachel’s Book Recommendations
- The Holistic Orchard by Phillips:https://amzn.to/45LTxzl
- The Resilient Farm and Homestead by Ben Falk: https://amzn.to/3XLxAhG
- Harold’s Book Recommendations
- The Permaculture Handbook: Garden Farming for Town and Country by Peter Bane – https://amzn.to/4csaaCK
- Edible Forest Gardens (2 volume set) by Dave Jacke – https://amzn.to/3W51j3Z
- Rachel’s Book Recommendations
- Animal Husbandry
- Rachel’s Book Recommendations
- Avoid the Vet: How To Keep Your Birds Healthy and Happy Kelsey Publishing LTD: https://amzn.to/4bvkw3j
- Storey’s Guides: https://amzn.to/3W6tS0W
- Keeping Poultry and Rabbits on Scraps by Claude Goodchild & Alan Thompson: https://amzn.to/3VMoBdE
- Harold’s Book Recommendations
- The Home Butcher: Simple, Modern Techniques for Processing Beef, Lamb, Sheep & Goat, Pork, Poultry & Fowl, Rabbit, Venison & Other Game by James O. Fraioli – https://amzn.to/3W7hiyH
- Rachel’s Book Recommendations
- Hunting, Fishing, and Trapping
- Harold’s Book Recommendations
- The Complete Guide to Hunting, Butchering, and Cooking Wild Game: Volume 1: Big Game by Steven Rinella – https://amzn.to/3znBzXz
- The Complete Guide to Hunting, Butchering, and Cooking Wild Game: Volume 2: Small Game and Fowl by Steven Rinella – https://amzn.to/4eFPc4R
- Harold’s Book Recommendations
- Food Preservation
- Rachel’s Book Recommendations
- Salumi by Michael Ruhlman & Burain Polcyn (they have other books): https://amzn.to/3W5xbW1
- Ball Complete Book of Home Preservation: https://amzn.to/4ePAQiq
- Fermented Vegetables by Kristen K. & Christopher Shockey: https://amzn.to/45QM6XA
- Wild Fermentation by Sandor Katz: https://amzn.to/3VO8Cvx
- Food Drying with an Attitude by Mary Bell: https://amzn.to/3VRlscz
- Harold’s Book Recommendations
- Everything Worth Preserving: The Complete Guide for Food Preservation at Home by Melissa K. Norris – https://amzn.to/3zCf69e
- The Art of Fermentation by Sandor Ellix Kat – https://amzn.to/4cJ14kK
- Rachel’s Book Recommendations
- Self-Sufficiency and DIY
- Rachel’s Book Recommendations
- Haynes Repair Manual for your vehicle: https://amzn.to/3L7596f
- Readers Digest Complete Guide to Sewing Book: https://amzn.to/4eJONyd
- Back to Basics- Reader’s Digest :https://amzn.to/3W48r0z & https://amzn.to/3L6Trss
- Practical projects for Self-Sufficiency by Chris Peterson and Philip Schmidt: https://amzn.to/3znT2iB
- Reader’s Digest New Fit-it-Yourself manual: https://amzn.to/4eKoGXT
- Harold’s Book Recommendations
- New Complete Book Of Self Sufficiency Hardcover by John Seymour – https://amzn.to/3L7OjV6
- Rachel’s Book Recommendations
- Foraging
- Rachel’s Book Recommendations
- The Wild Wisdom of Weeds: https://amzn.to/3W48AB9
- Harold’s Book Recommendations
- The Forager’s Harvest: A Guide to Identifying, Harvesting, and Preparing Edible Wild Plants by Samuel Thayer – https://amzn.to/3XGH5Pk
- Rachel’s Book Recommendations
- Herbal Medicine and Natural Remedies
- Rachel’s Book Recommendations
- The Encyclopedia of Herbal Healing by Balch:https://amzn.to/4coInTD
- The Herbal Apothecary by JJ Pursell: https://amzn.to/3zkNeq8
- Gut and Psychology Syndrome by Natashia Campbelle McBride: https://amzn.to/3RQEMFJ
- Harold’s Book Recommendations
- Encyclopedia of Herbal Medicine New Edition: 560 Herbs and Remedies for Common Ailments by Andrew Chevallier – https://amzn.to/45Luso9
- Rachel’s Book Recommendations
- Cooking and Recipe Books
- Rachel’s Book Recommendations
- Nourishing Traditions by Sally Fallon:https://amzn.to/4eILaIJ
- Gluten Free Artisan Bread in Five Minutes a Day & The New Artisan Bread in Five Minutes a Day: https://amzn.to/4eNJIEV & https://amzn.to/4brvczZ
- Seed to Table by Luay Gharfari: https://amzn.to/3zpFmUl
- Rachel’s Book Recommendations
- Survival and Preparedness
- Rachel’s Book Recommendations
- The Survival Medicine Handbook Doc Bones and Nurse Amy:https://amzn.to/4cFPero
- Where there is no doctor: https://ia601902.us.archive.org/24/items/WhereThereIsNoDoctor-English-DavidWerner/14.DavidWerner-WhereThereIsNoDoctor.pdf
- Where there is no vet: https://gh-f.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/where-there-is-no-vet-bill-forse.pdf
- Where there is no dentist: https://archive.org/details/Where_There_is_no_Dentist
- Harold’s Book Recommendations
- Robinson Crusoe (Illustrated): The 1719 Classic Edition with Original Illustrations by Daniel Defoe – https://amzn.to/3XHywUq
- Rachel’s Book Recommendations
- Homestead Planning and Design
- Rachel’s Book Recommendations
- Silvopasture by Steve Gabrile: https://amzn.to/3L5Ve15
- The Resilient Farm and Homestead by Ben Falk: https://amzn.to/3W6JuSg
- Harold’s Book Recommendations
- Introduction to Permaculture by Bill Mollison – https://amzn.to/3zpnPM1
- Rachel’s Book Recommendations
- Homesteading Inspiration
- Rachel’s Book Recommendations
- Ten Acres Enough by Edmond Morris: https://amzn.to/4cI5eZT
- One Woman Farm by Woginrich: https://amzn.to/4cJKAZp
- Harold’s Book Recommendations
- Paradise Lot: Two Plant Geeks, One-Tenth of an Acre, and the Making of an Edible Garden Oasis in the City by Eric Toensmeier – https://amzn.to/4cLy2Ri
- The Good Life: Helen and Scott Nearing’s Sixty Years of Self-Sufficient Living by Scott and Helen Nearing – https://amzn.to/3L5T01F
- Rachel’s Book Recommendations