The Self-Reliant Homestead: A Book of Country Skills

by Charles A. Sanders

A hands-on text for country living, this book contains detailed advice on everything from selecting a piece of land to raising livestock, from making wine from home-grown fruits to making fences strong and durable. Here is abundant advice from a real country homesteader, a book equally valuable for lifelong farm-dwellers or for the new-to-the-country city folks looking to set down roots.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1580801145
• ISBN13: 9781580801140
• Release Date: October 2003
• Publisher: Burford Books
• Length: 304 Pages
• Weight: 0.90 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 6.0" x 9.0"

Customer Reviews

Tips and tricks to do things better

This wonderful book has many great ideas for getting things done on a homestead INEXPENSIVELY. The section on inexpensive water storage for emergencies is worth the cost of 10 books! I highly recommend The Self-Reliant Homestead.

Best of its type

This writer captures the essence of homesteading in what is actually a rather short book. You don't need another reference if you want to be a homesteader.

This should be your first book on moving to the country!

I would highly recommend this book to anyone thinking about getting some land and moving to the country. It covers all the basics of farming, raising livestock to building a farm pond.It is written in a style that is conversational and his approach is "this is what has worked for me". Many books on the subject assume that you have some starter knowledge on the subject; this one covers the very basics for people that have grown up in the city or suburbs.

A must have book for homesteaders!

I agree with the 1st reviewer...great book! What I find handy is that after most chapter, the author includes a list of resources for further reading, just in case (not likely!) you find his coverage of the topic lacking. This book is great not just for homesteaders, but for any one who lives, or aspires to live, in the country! It covers some topics not covered in most other books of this type, including attending an auction, Country games and pastimes, tractors, atvs, and firearms, in addition to the "usual" homestead topics of water, food preservation, etc.Buy this book now if you want to live in the country!

A great book!

This book is an absolute msut for homesteaders, weekend gardeners, hobby farmers, etc. Think of this as an up to date version of popular earlier works of this type.Sanders' writing style is easy to read, and the book is chock full of good advice. Use just one or two of his ideas, and you'll more than pay for the price of the book!