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A hand picked selection of excellent books on self sufficiency by the best authors
We've rated
them on the basis of how useful we find them. Following the link to to Amazon
does not commit you to buying but you can find more details on the individual
book, other people's reviews etc. If you buy from Amazon via the links
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New Complete Self-sufficiency: The Classic Guide for Realists and Dreamers
By: John Seymour
Make the break, realize the dream and start living "the good life". Packed with comprehensive information on all the practical details, from ploughing fields to milking cows, as well as information on how to create an urban organic garden and harness natural energy, this second edition aims to be a useful handbook for realists and dreamers alike.
Well - it is brilliant and a 'must have' The original inspired me many years ago and this edition still inspires. It's not so much the technical information as the underlying faith that you can do it and have a better life.
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More Scenes from a Smallholding
By: Chas Griffin
After his first book, what better than a second. Really is a good read and he tells it how it is with a smile.
This book continues from the first but it also adds more depth. By the time you've read them both you'll feel you really know Chas
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Scenes from a Smallholding
By: Charles Quentin Griffin
I've read Chas Griffin's column in the HDRA magazine for years and it was with joy that I saw he'd finally written a book.
Chas Griffin has a style of writing that immediately puts you at ease and a sense of humour that is apparent from the opening line of "As many as two people (possibly three) have recently suggested that I should consider publishing a collection of articles". Yet hidden away in the text are nuggets of sensible advice and proven strategies for those who might wish to up sticks and head off into the depths of darkest Wales (or anywhere else for that matter) in search of the Good Life.
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Vegetable Growing Month by Month
By: John Harrison
OK, I'll come clean and declare my interest! I wrote this and I'm a bit biased. Well extemely proud of it to be truthful and it is a bestseller.
It's aimed firstly at the new vegetable grower but there are tips and tricks that I think will help even more experienced gardeners. It's not a coffee table book, no full colour photographs or exotic ideas, just basic advice I'd give to another grower on the allotment.
Go on - it's not expensive and you won't be sorry! At 256 pages it's just over 2p a page!
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Low Cost Living
By: John Harrison
Like many people we were influenced by John Seymour's classic self sufficiency book and Tom & Barbara in the Good Life. Sadly, we never quite made enough money to buy those 5 acres in the countryside.
We did learn to live frugally and although much of what we learned is common sense, a lot of it isn't obvious. Recently there has been a resurgence in the desire to be self sufficient, take control and live a greener life.
Discover the benefits of growing your own fruit and vegetables, raising chickens, making butter, cheese and bread, and brewing your own beer. Save energy, save on your bills. Harvest food for free and avoid waste. Play the supermarkets at their own game and get the best deals.
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The Self Sufficient-ish Bible
By: Andy and Dave Hamilton
It's strange how a book can point up the generation gap. I read John Seymour's "Complete Self Sufficiency" in my 20's and it had a massive influence on my life and views.
I wasn't too keen on the style of the book, too much graphic design and full colour photos for me but my daughter, who is in her twenties, loved it. The generation gap.
That reservation aside, this is a book I would recommend. It's full of ideas, some great, some not so great but all interesting and thought provoking at least. It's a book that everyone will get something out of. As the blurb says "An eco living guide for the 21st Century"
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Grandma's Ways for Modern Days
By: Paul & Diana Peacock
Half of this book is recipes, which is fine but it purports to be "Relearning Traditional Self-sufficiency - Gardening, Cooking and Household Management" and in that it fails to make the grade.
Some sections, like making butter and cheese, convinced me the authors really haven't done it for real. That's a shame really as there is some good information in the book although it's sparse. I'm afraid it's a bit of a bandwagon book and neither fish not fowl
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