This is the book for anyone who wants to become more self-reliant, from suburbanites with 1/4 of an acre to country homesteaders with several. The information is easily understood and readily applicable.

More than 150 of Storey's expert authors in gardening, building, animal raising, and homesteading share their specialized knowledge and experience in this ultimate guide to living a more independent, satisfying life.

Readers will find step-by-step, illustrated instructions for every aspect of country living including: Finding country land Buying, building, and renovating a home Developing water sources and systems Understanding wiring, plumbing, and heating Using alternative heating and energy sources Vegetable, flower, and herb gardening Traditional cooking skills such as baking bread and making maple syrup Preparing and preserving meat, fruits, and vegetables Building and maintaining barns, sheds, and outbuildings Caring for common farm and ranch animals, and pets

Martha Stewart is America's go-to source for the best answers to nearly every question. As an authority on the many worlds upon which she's built her domestic empire, she can advise on everything from creating a cutting garden and setting the table to playing classic lawn games or building a campfire. Whether it's organising, celebrating, cleaning, decorating, or any number of other life skills, these are the time-tested, Martha-approved strategies for frequent challenges and basic how-to knowledge that everyone should have at the ready. Also included are plenty of solutions for the not-so-common conundrums, such as how to transport a decorated cake, bathe a cat, or fold an American flag. With hundreds of expert tips and useful insights in an easy-to-follow format, this is the manual you need to learn how to do everything - the Martha way.

THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER 'To say we are excited for the release of this book is a massive understatement' Closer 'Fun, practical and friendly - like Solomon herself' Guardian 'This book is for you to use as a guide, as inspiration, or even just to read without any pressure to do anything at all! Grab a cuppa and dip in and out of it at leisure. I want you to know that you really do have the skill to do anything you want - don't let anyone tell you otherwise. Having your own home is something we all dream about. I hope this book will give you the confidence to pick up a drill, paint brush, hammer or a hack saw and make your space the home of your dreams.' Stace xx Discover Stacey's Tap to Tidy DIY Method - with steps on how to get started. Each chapter includes: * Hero projects: Big renovation or organisational projects * Quick fixes: Small jobs to spruce up a room * Make-ups: My transformative craft projects and accessories As well as all of Stacey's best tips and crafting secrets.

More than 220 tips for existing, persisting, and thriving independently in the modern world. Looking for a greater sense of control in the chaotic world of today? Concerned about your dependence on existing food and power sources, and other systems beyond your control? Empower yourself with the gift of self reliance-with the Total Self Sufficiency Manual, which has over 220 tips and techniques to empower your independence from survival expert and New York Times-bestselling author Tim MacWelch.

A charming checklist for decluttering. In this whimsical yet practical guide to sorting through the too-much-stuff of modern life, the premise is simple: on each page, a delightful illustration of items that fill our lives--novelty ice cube trays, a manual typewriter, game pieces, that souvenir snow globe. And beneath each drawing, two little checkboxes: Yes and No. Look at the object. Note your response. Act accordingly! Additionally, the book is filled with dozens of tips and ideas for what to do with things that may be hard to part with, like children's artwork. An inspiring gift!

Bestselling author Georgia Varozza takes the difficulty out of creating healing teas, general cleaning items, and personal care products. Her recipes, which have served generations of Plain people, contain common household ingredients and are easy to make and use. You'll find 99 creative ways to clean your home and heal your body with salves, ointments, and tonics for aches and pains teas for colds, flu, allergies, and headaches cleaning solutions for around the house (inside and out) You don't have to forego electricity or drive a horse and buggy to have your life and house benefit from the sweet simplicity of Amish remedies. You will find these home remedies to be so much easier and less expensive that you will wonder why you've been using chemicals for all of these years. You will also find information about Amish and Mennonite stores in case you wish to order practical products Plain people use and enjoy. Let these old-fashioned but eminently useful and effective options bring the simple life into your home every day.

The devil is in the details-the science and art of designing and building durable, efficient, straw bale buildings Straw bale buildings promise superior insulation and flexibility across a range of design aesthetics, while using a typically local and abundant low-embodied energy material that sequesters carbon-an important part of mitigating climate change. However, some early straw bale designs and construction methods resulted in buildings that failed to meet design goals for energy efficiency and durability. This led to improved building practices and a deeper understanding of the building science underlying this building system. Distilling two decades of site-built straw bale design and construction experience, Straw Bale Building Details is an illustrated guide that covers: Principles and process of straw bale design and building, options, and alternatives Building science of straw bale wall systems How design impacts cost, building efficiency, and durability Avoiding costly mistakes and increasing construction efficiency Dozens of time-tested detailed drawings for straw bale wall assemblies, including foundations, windows and doors, and roofs. Whether you're an architect, engineer, contractor, or owner-builder interested in making informed choices, Straw Bale Building Details is the indispensable guide to current practice in straw bale design and construction.

The Aspiring Minimalist's Guide to Living Consciously and Contributing to a "Greener" Tomorrow "This is the perfect book for people that want to find a realistic roadmap to sustainable living." The Holistic Millennial Eco-minimalism is a hot-button issue right now, and for good reason. Living a life with less can be the key to saving our precious planet. Break the consumption cycle. There's so much to do, and way too much to buy. Whether it's through late night TV ads, social media, or other sources of influence, we are addicted to buying and then storing things. Sometimes we consume with no regret and other times we realize that we're doing more harm than good to our wallets and our homes. It's a constant cycle one that many are longing to break. Who wants their hard-earned money to go toward something that soon ends up in a landfill? A guide to eco-minimalism with a plan that is realistic. Manufacturing "stuff" exploits Earth's precious (and finite) resources. And then there's the harsh reality of where it all goes. Our discarded possessions ultimately head to landfills and contribute to environmental pollution, releasing greenhouse gases during breakdown and decomposition. Sustainable Minimalism is the solution. Empower yourself to incrementally incorporate the tenets of sustainable minimalism into your home and life. Learn to master the easiest tasks first and build upon your successes a practical and stress-free process. Now that's sustainable! A blueprint for sustainability and stress management: How to gain greater mental clarity and increase your free time with fewer possessions Environmentally friendly ways of decluttering and organizing Ways to improve your financial stability, while going green at the same time How to get organized and operate a zero-waste home If you enjoyed books like Zero Waste Home, The Minimalist Home, or The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up, you'll love Sustainable Minimalism.

Making your own bread by hand is a simple pleasure and a great starting point for anyone looking to become a little more self-sufficient. Making bread can be therapeutic and creative and is achievable with even a basic level of culinary skill. Filling your kitchen with the delicious smells of baking bread is reward enough in itself but it is important that the finished product tastes great too. Food writer and culinary stylist Kathryn Hawkins covers the basic steps to get you started, including essential equipment and simple breadmaking techniques. Also included are 40 tasty bread recipes, from plain white to whole wheat loaves, sourdough to French baguettes, as well as recipes for flavored bread and international fare from every corner of the globe, including brioche, pita bread, naan, stolen, and soda bread. Charming artwork, simple instructions, and informative writing make Breadmaking an invaluable guide for anyone who's always wanted to make warm, delicious bread in their own home while becoming a little less reliant on processed, pre-packaged food. Get started today, and get ready to enjoy a lifetime of hot, fresh bread straight from your own oven.

This book is written for beginning and intermediate wood carvers interested in carving a traditional Hopi kachina-style doll. Tom Moore, a respected kachina-style doll carver for forty years, provides historical information about the evolution of kachina dolls and kachina carvings. He traces the art form from the early days, when the dolls were intended to be educational toys for children, until modern times, when they became wood sculptures collected by non-Hopis, costing thousands of dollars. This fascinating book provides patterns, respectful background information, and step-by-step instructions for carving and painting Corn Dancer, Poli Sio Hemis, and Crow Mother in the traditional manner. Tom's interpretations of the dolls include the traditional "belly-acher" pose, bright colors of the 1980s style, and the all-wood approach currently favored by Hopi carvers. The book provides a photo gallery, index of terms, and lists of tools used and materials required.

Trust Martha to help you master all things organising - sorting, purging, tidying, and simplifying your life - with smart solutions and inspiration. Here, she offers her best guidance, methods, and DIY projects for organising in and around your home. Topics include room-by-room strategies (how to sort office paperwork, when to purge the garage or attic), seasonal advice (when to swap out bedding and clothing, how to put away holiday decorations), and day-by-day or week-by-week plans for projects such as de-cluttering, house cleaning, creating a filing system, overhauling the closet, and more. Martha's indispensable expertise walks you through goal-setting, principles of organising, useful supplies, and creating systems for ongoing success. A look into Martha's own personal calendars offers a template for scheduling essential tasks. Last, plenty of strategies, how-tos, timelines, and checklists will help you stay organised all year long.

Life on 1/10th the fossil fuels turns out to be awesome. We all want to be happy. Yet as we consume ever more in a frantic bid for happiness, global warming worsens. Alarmed by drastic changes now occurring in the Earth's climate systems, the author, a climate scientist and suburban father of two, embarked on a journey to change his life and the world. He began by bicycling, growing food, meditating, and making other simple, fulfilling changes. Ultimately, he slashed his climate impact to under a tenth of the US average and became happier in the process. Being the Change explores the connections between our individual daily actions and our collective predicament. It merges science, spirituality, and practical action to develop a satisfying and appropriate response to global warming. Part one exposes our interconnected predicament: overpopulation, global warming, industrial agriculture, growth-addicted economics, a sold-out political system, and a mindset of separation from nature. It also includes a readable but authoritative overview of climate science. Part two offers a response at once obvious and unprecedented: mindfully opting out of this broken system and aligning our daily lives with the biosphere. The core message is deeply optimistic: living without fossil fuels is not only possible, it can be better. AWARDS GOLD (tie) | 2017 IPPY Awards: Books Most Likely to Save the Planet SILVER | 2017 Nautilus Book Awards: Green Living / Sustainability BRONZE | 2017 Foreword INDIES: Ecology & Environment

Whether you're a devout neatnik or a free spirit who likes to draw designs in dust, "Cleaning & Stain Removal For Dummies" is for you. It helps you make quick work of dirty work with all kinds of practical tips and techniques, plus trade secrets used by the pros. You'll learn how to use the proper equipment and tackle specific cleaning challenges, includingFloors, walls, and ceilingsThe kitchen and bathroomsFurniture and furnishingsAppliances and equipmentWindowsBicycles and carsClothes and laundryDecks, driveways, and patios

There are whole sections on removing stains and tackling 101 common problems that you'll use as a reference when faced with life's inevitable spills and mishaps. Author Gill Chilton, a columnist who writes home tips for "Family Circle," doesn't just give tips to make cleaning easier, but provides tips to make life easier, including: A room-by-room guide to what needs to be done, and how oftenDaily and weekly lists so you can stay on top of thingsQuick fixes before unexpected guests arriveHow to get the most results in the least time

A perfect gift for young people going off to school or setting up a house for the first time, for adults suddenly forced to take responsibility for a modicum of cleanliness, or for experienced housekeepers who want to learn short-cuts and money-savers, this is the book that helps people get off to a clean start

Honey is amazingly powerful, both in and out of the kitchen. Rich in vitamins and minerals, and containing antioxidant and antibacterial properties, honey can be used to soothe ulcers, burns, skin sores, inflammation, and more. And studies have shown honey does a better job of easing nighttime coughs and improving sleep than many commercial cough suppressants. In The Honey Companion, chef and DIY maven Suzy Scherr showcases recipes, home remedies, and beauty solutions that highlight honey's unique flavor and utilize it in unexpected ways. She even includes clever household uses for beeswax. You can try: Honey-Sesame Popcorn Shortcut Baklava Herbal Cough Drops Burn treatment Conditioning Hair Treatment Beeswax Granite Countertop Polish