The Encyclopedia of Country Living, 40th Anniversary Edition: The Original Manual for Living off the Land & Doing It Yourself

If you are considering homesteading or becoming more self sufficient, this is one of the first books you are going to want to have on your bookshelf. I currently have an older copy of this book in trade paperback. The physical book is the size of a large city phone book and so I wanted a copy for my Kindle. Carla Emery has meticulously assembled information about nearly every aspect of country living by getting the information from hands on experience and other old timers such as farmers, ranchers and homesteaders who live it. You will find nearly every aspect of practical knowledge gone into in great detail, everything from finding and acquiring a piece of land to how to build on it, raise animals, how to grow your own food, and prepare it for storage for the colder months. She also has a substantial section on cooking on wood burning cookstoves. This was of particular help to me when we bought our log home and I had not the slightest clue on how to make that cast iron monstrosity in my kitchen do what I wanted it to do! There is probably a whole lot more information in this book than anyone will want to know, but there is certainly something for everyone. I would recommend this book for anyone who is considering becoming more a self-reliant lifestyle or at least attempting to preserve some of the information and pioneer know-how that our grandparents and great grandparents had. This is like having a very handy and experienced neighbor that is fully of good advice and know how to help you get your bearing when you are new to homesteading, or even if you have been at it a while. Whether it is just by growing your own food or you really are a bit of a prepper, this book is very good to have on hand.

I grew up in the suburbs with TV dinners and frozen vegetables. A year and a half ago, we purchased a farm with the intention of trying to live off the land as much as we could. This book was recommended to me by a local librarian when I was looking for books written about homesteading. Pros: This book is massive. I am constantly referring to it. I learned how to make bread using this book. By the way, the recipe for Carla's White Bread is really good. It is a constant companion when I'm working on my garden and need to check on something. It is full of recipes, interesting stories, all the basics of living from the land but without making you feel stupid for not knowing. The author is down to earth, likeable and interesting. I have learned so much from this book. In fact, we bought this copy because we kept renewing the library copy because we loved it so much. If you are just starting out at homesteading, this is THE book to get. Cons: This book is massive. There is a ton of information in here and it can be overwhelming. It works great as a reference guide whenever you have a question. Even though it is massive, it can't teach you everything you need to know. The chapters on farm animals only provide the basics. Summary: I can't recommend this book enough. You'll want to supplement with other books if you start raising a lot of animals, but this is the place to start if you are interested in learning about living more self-sufficiently.

This book has everything, and I do mean everything. I am a bit surprised by some of the negative reviews. Yes, the paper is a bit thin, but if they used premium paper this book would cost a fortune. And yes there are no pretty pictures...Sorry, you actually have to "read" the book. There are a few drawings and such, but all are in black and white. There is no way I could read this book cover to cover, so I usually skim through it when I'm in the mood to read up on some new things or when I'm looking for something specific. There are funny stories and interesting notes such as the recipe for camel, and some really good information on soil composition and how to hunt for mushrooms. Since I raise goats, I jumped over to that section to see how accurate the information is. Most farming or homesteading books tend to give the basics and skip over the details when it comes to goats. Goats in this book are combined under the title Goats, Cows and Home Dairying. I could get into a lot of boring (if you aren't a goat person) details, but suffice it to say, I found most of the information very accurate. And there is a lot of it. Which I was happy to see. There were a few things I do differently, but that doesn't mean that what this person does is wrong. For instance, she writes that she lets her buck stay with her herd year round. This means that female goats will be bred indiscriminately, which most people don't want. Plus, it means that a doe could be bred more often than you like. If you are just raising a bunch of random dairy goats for both meat and milk, then this plan is probably fine for you, but we don't want babies born in the dead of winter and I DON'T want to be milking goats in January where we live. So our boys stay separate. This part could be a little more detailed. I assume from this that the book is the same throughout. Lots of information, some of it specific to the author or other contributors she notes throughout the book and some could use a little more detail. Some of it has maybe too much detail. (Like, do we really need the recipe camel?) I like this book because of the variety of information. It is a one-stop shop and has more information than any other book I've read thus far. Plus, I find it very interesting what this author and others do on their farms. I also have Storey's Basic Country Skills. Between the two, you have more knowledge than you'll know what to do with. I recommend buying this book if you are seriously thinking about living off your land in the country. It will be something you refer back to time and again.

I've had hours of enjoyment flipping through the various topics covered in this quaint volume of rural lore. It is amazingly comprehensive, and decidedly unscientific in its approach. If you are looking for a technical guide to "off the grid living," then you may be disappointed. If you'd enjoy wasting away a hot summer afternoon chatting with the old fellow down at the Farm Store, then this gem is full of wisdom that you can appreciate.

Decades ago I purchased this book when it was a primitive spiral bound monster. Over the years that copy came apart and was lost over time, so I purchased a newer copy that is put together differently. Living in the city, I'm not likely to ever need all of the information contained in this book, but so many parts of it are still valuable. I'm a firm believer that many of the older methods are still the best methods and save a great deal of money. While we were in our home state (WI) over the holidays, I was telling an old friend about this book and just had a copy of it sent to her as a thank you for the wonderful meal and hospitality her and her husband provided during our visit. I'm hoping to have a few backyard chickens soon, so this book is likely to be a valuable resource for that venture too. It has helped me in the past with gardening and canning information too. I keep mine on my bookshelf along with many other go-to books. My copy says "sixth printing of ninth edition, 1998". Unless someone is trying to be totally self-sufficient, they're not likely to need everything contained in this book, but anyone trying to grow, can or raise anything on their own will find this wonderful book beneficial.

The writer of this book is amazing! I bought this one as a gift for a friend with a farm; my copy is the 35th anniversary edition which I've had for 4 years. This book can tell you anything from how to can food to how to raise animals to how to make your own vinegar (I did that one and it worked wonderfully!) to anything else you need to know about farm or country living. The writing style is down-home and comfortable, conversational while still giving you the information you need quickly and simply. This is a great reference tool for anyone who is interested in growing food or learning self-sustaining techniques. You don't have to be a dyed-in-the-wool full-on farmer to get useful information from this book; I live in the city on a somewhat small plot of land, and I find myself going back to this book time and again about anything and everything. Keep it in a handy place because you will be pulling it out time and again to consult it. When you were a kid, did your Momma have a giant book that had earned a permanent place on the kitchen counter? A book that she would run to as her first source of information about everything? A book that seemed chock full of the kind of wisdom that is earned only by experience and can only be passed down by whispered word of mouth (such as tips for making the enviably best pie crust in the county)? For my momma, this sacred book was The Joy of Cooking. It had any recipe and insider knowledge on any dish you could want to make. This book can be that for you. Clear a spot on your counter when you order it.

I simply love this book. It has the wit and wisdom of someone who has lived the life, and we get to share that life over a cup of coffee while kids run in the yard. There is ample resource within the pages of this behemoth work to keep any home gardener, homesteader, prepper, etc., busy for years. As one with a lot of pre-existing practical knowledge in the type of things covered in the book, I can say with some assurance that the way Emery portrayed the various tasks, issues, techniques, and helps that she spent a lifetime writing are based in actual hands-on experience, true-to-life, situations, and are actually workable solutions to most of the issues covered. The updated links and references are helpful in an age where web addresses and other contact information changes rapidly. If there is one complaint, it would be that the text is smallish for bi-focal eyes, but the book is already HUGE and increasing font size would make it a two-volume work! I own this on both Kindle and bound versions and it is now my go-to resource for many of the activities that my wife and I do around our homestead,

This book is amazing! I was surprised by how large it was when it arrived. It's HUGE! The ODDMENTS chapter at the beginning alone was worth the price of the book, but it is loaded with practical, useful information throughout. Especially if you live off the grid or in a remote area (which I do). Or if you are a "back to the land-er" (which I am). Or if you just want more self reliance or self-sustainability in your life. This book would be invaluable in a grid crash, natural disaster, or any other instance or emergency that might cut you off from modern utilities and everyday conveniences that we depend on and have come to take for granted. Heck this could save you even if it's a matter of - you can't pay your gas or electric bill!

This is a must have for any homesteader, or anyone looking to do projects around the property. Has everything you can think of. Easy book to navigate through, the articles are very informative. You will definitely learn something and definitely build your knowledge toward "country" living. I highly recommend this book if you are into self sustainability, or just looking for quick information when interent isn't around. Its very thick, and informative.

pas encore lu, lais c'est sur si je dois aller sur une ile déserte, c'est le premier objet que je prendrais

Pleased with my purchase from this seller. Came promptly and well packaged from the USA

Bon ouvrage pour travailler son autonomie... mais attention, il y a peu d'illustration et beaucoup de redondance. C'est un ouvrage qui a été remis sur le metier a plusieurs reprises et il existe donc des doublons, des contradictions, des évolutions perceptibles en fonction des époques d'écritures mais c'est assumé par l'auteur et, d'une certaine manière, cela permet de prendre un peu de recul sur les modes qui ont traversés et travese encore le contry living...

This is an intense amount of information. When it says "Encyclopedia" it means it. It gives enough information and direction on the topics that I'd be able to do whatever it is I was trying to do in this area of life. The fact that one person put this together is absolutely amazing! Thank you for leaving your legacy Carla Emery!