in the oxford dictionary, the definition of the word “self-sufficient” is simple. if you are self-sufficient, then you don’t need outside help to meet your own needs, especially when it comes to producing your own food.
If you are just starting out in family farming, you can check out our post on the 15 best books on family farming.
You are reading: Best self sufficiency books
however, you’ll probably want to know more about how to become more self-sufficient. So what about the best self-supporting life books? Well, you’ve come to the right place!
best books on self-sufficient living
1. the encyclopedia of country life
This book cannot be recommended highly enough for those who are eager to start homeownership!
If you want to know the key details of basic farm life, you’ll get 928 pages of information. If you intend to raise farm animals like goats, for example, there is a section in this book devoted to that topic.
carla emery does a fantastic job of providing all the details you’ll need to better understand how to raise farm animals, how to preserve food, and how to deal with trees, vines, bushes and brambles.
if you are looking for a book full of explanations on how to do self-sufficient tasks at home, then this is the book for you.
2. the self-sufficient life and how to live it
The UK version of the encyclopaedia of country life takes you through detailed explanations of how to develop the most basic skills for farming.
A pioneer of the “Back to Basics” movement, John Seymour will guide you through the philosophy of self-reliance and how it can change lives and create functioning communities.
an example of how to be more self-sufficient, according to seymour, is how you make a chicken coop. Branches, poultry wire, and empty feed bags are basically all you need to make your chicken coop.
The details provided in this book are sufficient to empower the reader to take on household tasks previously considered impossible.
3. attainable sustainable: the lost art of self-sufficient living
Whether you live in a city, suburb, or rural area, this book will help you discover how to find the pace of family life that’s right for you.
Being named the best how-to book of 2020 by the American Society of Journalists and Authors, you’ll get a wealth of tips on how to do outdoor projects like cast-iron cooking, beekeeping, and more. looking for wild berries.
You’ll also get great meal recipes with a smoky hot sauce and crispy sourdough baguette.
Do you love DIY projects?
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krisbordessa has you covered with crafts like dip candles and fabric dyeing. this book beautifully hits the mark on why you need to be more self-sufficient.
4. DIY projects for the self-sufficient homeowner
The family lifestyle would be more boring if you didn’t have any DIY projects to do!
hopefully, this book will keep you motivated to undertake such projects. Especially if you have limited DIY skills, this book will help you manage each project by breaking it down into a parts list and a set of building instructions.
It’s a lot of fun to learn how to do even a DIY project, and this book can appropriately be called a “trampoline book” as it introduces you to self-sufficiency without taking a lot of hits on your wallet.
betsy matheson keeps it simple and practical as you can easily follow along with the process of a DIY project.
5. mini-farming: self-sufficiency on 1/4 acre
Is it possible to grow 85% of your family’s food supply on just under an acre?
According to this book, the answer is absolutely yes!
If you’ve never been a farmer or gardener before, don’t worry! This book will share all kinds of tips on how to become self-sufficient with limited land.
author brett markham will explain how to buy and save seeds, how to plant seedlings, create raised beds, and how to manage potential pest and disease problems.
Want to raise backyard chickens and start canning? this book covers that too. As someone who owns less than an acre of land, I can relate to a book like this myself.
its pocket price of around $14 is a complete bargain!
6. houses protected from earth
Want to go underground and have a house with a dirt roof that isn’t connected to the grid? Do you have a tight budget to work? this book goes into great detail about why it is beneficial to shelter a home with soil.
Author Rob Roy has extensive experience building and living in earth-protected homes, and he clearly presents the information needed to create a green, energy-efficient home.
rob specializes in cordwood construction and started the earthen wood construction school in 1981 to educate builders about cordwood materials.
Becoming self-reliant usually starts with the foundation of your home, and you’ll end up with a finely written book that’s 256 pages of valuable content that will last for years.
7. back to basics 4th edition
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Ambitious enough to add an off-grid well to your home? Do you want to dye your own wool with vegetable pigments? Do you want to create a sideboard table with hand tools?
This fourth edition of a comprehensive guide to developing traditional skills covers all of these topics.
This book is more than just practical advice, it gives you illustrated examples of how to accomplish tasks. the illustrations go so far as to break down accurate floor plans for a new home.
You also get delicious recipes for big dishes, which is always handy if you like to cook. At 456 pages, you get a comprehensive experience of what to prepare for if you choose to live off-network.
8. the complete guide to water storage
An overlooked aspect of what it takes to be self-sufficient is the ability to store water. You need a fresh source of water to survive, and it will be an uphill battle if you don’t have a way to store fresh water.
You also need water to do daily activities in and around the house, like cooking, cleaning, and mowing the lawn. Author Julie Fryer takes you through all the steps necessary to store water for both emergencies and future use.
There are also hazards related to water storage that you will learn more about, including insects, rodents, drains, inlets, outlets and service access. If you’re starting an off-grid farm, consider picking up this book.
9) one hectare and security: how to live off the land without ruining it
This book was first published in 1972, but its relevance to self-reliance issues remains timeless.
This book goes into the details of how to prepare for organic gardening on just one acre of land, how to grow herbs for money, and how to make your own wine.
If you’re interested in raising animals like sheep, pigs, rabbits, frogs, and tortoises, Bradford Angier has you covered in this clever text.
angier’s legacy lives on in more than 35 books on how to survive in the wild and how to be a minimalist off the grid.
You are getting a book that is very informative, has strong instructions, and provides guidelines that are easy to follow.
self-sufficiency is not an overnight process
Keep in mind that self-sufficiency is not an overnight process. it takes time to get a real feel for the farm lifestyle.
Once you have a system in place that fits the needs of you, your family, and your home, you will begin to see the roots of self-sufficiency develop.
The good thing about reading the best books on self-sufficient living, like the ones mentioned above, is that you get different perspectives on what it’s like to live off the grid and how to be self-sufficient after making all the proper preparations.
Feel free to share your own tips on how to be more self-sufficient in your home! We’d love to hear more about your trip!
See Also: 7 Essential Books for Beginner Real Estate Investors (2022 Update) – nnndigitalnomad.com