Since 2020 firearms ownership has increased dramatically, and I can only hope that all those new gun owners are taking the time to educate themselves on proper firearms handling. I know, that’s not very many…and I’ve found precious few alternative energy books worth reading. If you have any suggestions, please by all means, leave them in the comments. What I really love about this book though is that Sepp Holzer is a guy who tells it like it is. He doesn’t try to over-complicate his ideas. He makes permaculture real and simple in a way that more complicated manuals sometimes miss. If you have any inkling of an interest in permaculture-style homesteading, this book will win you over with its beauty, simplicity, and common sense approach. The LDS Preparedness Manual ~ A curated compilation of preparedness articles on just about every topic, this is by far the best book on general practical preparedness I’ve found to date. Though it’s put out with a Later Day Saints bias, it’s still the best manual, regardless of whether you’re religious or secular.

Of course, along with growing food, these two single male paradise lot makers also find “sweeties” (as in ladies to spend their lives gardening with) which makes for a bit of a dilemma. I don’t want to give anything away, but this is a great story about growing food in unconventional ways and building community by going bananas. (You’ll understand the going bananas reference once you read the book).

Beekeeping Books

Emery, Carla. The Encyclopedia of Country Living, 50th Anniversary Edition (p. 911). Sasquatch Books. The Art of Making Fermented Sausages by Stanley and Adam Marianski ~ A detailed technical manual specific to making cured sausages. Believe it or not, charcuterie is another form of lacto-fermentation and with a little dedication you can craft your own prosciutto, pancetta and salami at home.

The concept of slf-sufficiency has been around for centuries and has been used in various ways throughout history. It refers to a country, region, or economic system’s ability to produce and consume goods and services without relying on imports from other countries. In other words, a nation can provide for its own needs without outside help. I’m a bit obsessed with canning recipe books, and I have literally dozens of books on all aspects of home canning. Specialized books that cover how to make jam and preserves, as well as books that go through hundreds of different pressure canning recipes. The late, great Gene Logsden was known as a kind of a curmudgeon. He was pretty skeptical about modern agriculture and had quite a few strong opinions about how we should provision ourselves. But his writings are so accessible and inspirational that I always feel like he’s an old friend. At the same tie, having access to a supportive network of friends, family members, or even professionals can provide additional strength and resources for individuals striving for self-sufficiency.Essential Guide to Radical Self Reliant Gardening by Will Bonsall ~ This is one of my favorite books, and I’ve already mentioned it twice before. Still, it’s one of the best gardening guides for homesteaders that intend to provide much of their own food, so it bares mentioning again. The Wood Gasifier Builder’s Bible: Off Grid Fuel for the Prepared Homestead by Ben Peterson ~ He takes you through the process of building a wood gassifier from start to finish. Unfortunately, while he does show you the one he built, he’s a little spotty on the details of how they work in general. Though it’s not the best manual, it’s the best I’ve found on the topic because it actually does have a practical example. There’s something meditative about working bees. Some days I’d just pull up a chair a few yards from the hive entrance and just watch the ladies about their work, streaming in and out of the hive loaded down with pollen and nectar.