The Self-Sufficiency Handbook

Midwest Book Review: The collaborative work of gardening and DIY experts Alan and Gill Bridgewater, The Self-Sufficiency Handbook: Your Complete Guide to a Self-Sufficient Home, Garden, and Kitchen was written specifically for those who are worried about ever-rising fuel bills and longing for the day when they can be off-grid and independent; anyone who is anxious about the quality of the food they eat and who are planning to go organic; folks yearning to get back to the way it was but don't know where to start. Profusely illustrated throughout, The Self-Sufficiency Handbook shows how to achieve the eco-friendly good life. This thoroughly 'user friendly' instruction manual and guide covers the ecological gamut from geothermal heating, to crop rotation, to soap making, and more. It answers such important as questions: how much land is really needed to be self-sufficient, whether or not to depend entirely on natural forms of energy, and which farm animals will best meet particular needs. There is even practical do-it-yourself information on building an insulated flue pipe chimney, identifying edible wild plants, and composting with worms. Of special note is the inclusion of recipes for jams, rhubarb wine, cheeses, and more. Packed with full-color photographs, helpful illustrations, and diagrams, The Self-Sufficiency Handbook will have practical appeal to urban and suburban residents who want to adopt certain aspects of greener living and to serious adherents of back-to-basics living. While unreservedly recommended for both community and academic library collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that The Self-Sufficiency Handbook is also available in a digital book format