We were in Tractor Supply the other day getting cat litter, when I noticed that they had a $5 book bin. Now when I go to TSC, the books are one of the first place that I go to. So imagine my surprise when some of the books that I wanted were in the $5 bin! These books were $29 originally! What a bargain! So what did I do? I bought 3 books! One was about food preserving. One was about 200 recipes for cheese.(Did I mention that I'm going to be making cheese sometime this year?) Another one was about Homesteading.
I started reading the one about homesteading first. Like EVERY book that I get about homesteading, I'm kind of disappointed. I guess it's because I'm expecting more. More info about, well, homesteading. I guess they are, but not about things that I want to learn about. Most homesteading magazines and books seem to be written for people that live in the city! They don't write them so that people in the country who have a little bit of experience with homesteading, can learn something.
I was reading one the other day about chickens and some of the diseases that they could catch. I thought,"Great! Everyone can learn something about different diseases." I mean, I have chickens, but don't really know much about diseases that they can catch. So I read the article. Do you know what they said to do about chickens that were sick? They said to take it to the vet. THE VET!!!! I'm not going to take a chicken to a vet! I know some people might get mad at me for this but, I kind of consider chickens as a disposable livestock. We don't pet our chickens, we don't name our chickens, we don't really pay attention to our chickens. That is, unless they get into my garden, and then I REALLY pay attention to my chickens.I mean, I LIKE my chickens but, I will not take a chicken to the vet! A vet visit will cost more than the chicken is worth! So in my opinion, the book about chickens was useless.
Then I got another homesteading book. 60% of the book was about how to buy land. I already HAVE land. I understand that some of you don't. But, I believe you would know what to look for when and if you ever decided to get some. It's not real hard people. So why would a really big book dedicate that much space about buying land? I don't know, maybe I'm looking into it too much. I just wish that I could find something that I could learn from. I find the homesteading topic very interesting. I just wish there were more books or magazines about it. Hey, maybe I should write one!!!! hehehehe
So until next time,
Small Farm Girl, future writer?
10 comments:
I agree with you about the dearth of information out there for people who are already started on the homestead journey! (And also about chickens and vets - don't think any of the vets around here would really know what to do with a chicken anyway)
I'm on the same page (ha, a pun!) as you about most of the homesteading books....not enough down & dirty stuff and a lot of fluffy-make-it-look-pretty pictures or pages. Like how to make a mosaic tile birdbath using broken fancy china.
And a chicken going to the vet is just not gonna happen here either. Sorry.
i know someone who, i swear this is true, took their chicken to the vet and spent $1200 for basically a chicken hysterectomy. i am not kidding.
*thud*
I got a book last Christmas from a friend that I think is basic & pretty good.
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/backyard-homestead-carleen-madigan/1102229232
Nancy...Thank you! I'm glad someone else agrees with me! :)
Carolyn....I agree with you! Really?! Who needs to know about a bird bath in a homesteading mag. A craft magazine, sure! Just now a homesteading one.
OFG...I think I just fainted. There is just something wrong with that.
DFW...Thanks for the into. I'll check it out!
Have you gotten Carla Emery's Encyclopedia of Country Living? If not, it is definitely worth it!! She goes over so many things that other books I've had won't even touch.
I agree, most of the books and magazines do seem to be geared toward "city folk." I love my chickens and talk to them every day and always thank them for the eggs but they are NOT going to the vet! Jeez Louise!
Well done you little bargain hunter you. Love books on homesteading, and I have quite a few. I've also got some free on kindle which is great!
I agree about the Carla Emery book. Lots of good, practical stuff.
You might also want to check out openlibrary.org or archive.org. They have digitized old books that you can download or read on-line for free. Use their search to find books from the 1700's, 1800's and early 1900's on any homesteading topic.
Here's a sampling of some of the fun stuff I've found in there: http://www.provenderplace.blogspot.com/2013/01/free-old-books.html.
Enjoy!
I just found your blog, and have been reading some back posts. Have you looked into books/internet information about permaculture. Now you might have to weed through the uber greenie folks, I find myself to be more aqua, but there is some amazing information out there - books, blogs, You Tube....
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