Here are the most useful books that we have found on how to do all kinds of fun stuff.
If you want to learn a skill, these books are a great place to start.
We will continue to add books as we find them.
Step-by-step advice for success with more than 30 vegetables in any zone. This is a fantastic book for new and experienced gardeners. Here’s just a sample of what’s in the book…
The dirt on soil: why testing is so important—and how to do it. Easy techniques for growing in-ground plus alternatives to traditional raised beds. Seed-starting and -saving methods simplified. Gardeners’ friends and foes: which plants help (or hinder) vegetables. Enlightening (and humorous!) anecdotes from fellow gardeners|Space for noting observations and experiences. More than 150 full-color photos. Essential reference tables and charts.
If your definition of gardening includes mushrooms, then this is the book to get.
Paul Stamets is one of the world’s foremost experts on mushrooms and this is his best book. It contains super detailed instructions on how to identify and cultivate different types of mushrooms.
What I like most about this book is that it has a lot of pictures and diagrams.
This book is considered by many to be the “bible” of homesteading. There’s a reason why it’s still in print 50 years after it was first published.
Now obviously it’s not possible to put ALL homesteading information into one book, but this book is probably the closest anyone will get to it.
A great reference to have around. Just be sure to buy the physical copy, digital copies can disappear.
This is one of the most important books that you can read if you want to grow crops on your land.
Permaculture (permanent agriculture) is the conscious design and maintenance of agriculturally productive ecosystems which have the diversity, stability, and resilience of natural ecosystems.
It is the harmonious integration of landscape and people providing their food, energy, shelter, and other material and non-material needs in a sustainable way. Without permanent agriculture there is no possibility of a stable social order.
Permaculture design is a system of assembling conceptual, material, and strategic components in a pattern which functions to benefit life in all its forms.
Yes, the title makes a pretty big promise. Is it true? Maybe…but even if it isn’t, this is still an extremely useful guide for people who want to learn about the uses of herbs.
There are recipes, descriptions, uses of each plant and a ton of other useful information. I was surprised at how much knowledge they managed to squeeze into this little book.
All of the descriptions are clear and concise.
This is a legendary book set that should be on everyone’s bookshelf.
Since the herbs are listed alphabetically, you’ll need to get both books to have all of the information.
My only criticism of these books is that some herbs are covered fairly extensively, while others have minimal information.
Regardless, this is a very useful set of books.