I tend to do a lot of reading when I am trying to learn about something unfamiliar to me. I devour just about anything I can get my hands on and transitioning to more natural living is no exception. I remember years ago my mother gave me a book, The Encyclopedia of Country Living, that I treasure. At the time I lived in a small town surrounded by farmland but I could walk to the local movie theater. Aside from having a larger plot for our home than most (we had .64 acre at the time) we were still very much "in town." It was at this time that I became more and more intrigued with doing things the "old fashioned way." I learned about canning, something my mother did with tomatoes and fruits. I learned how to make homemade bread and capture wild yeast, I learned a little about animal husbandry, it was just fascinating. I mention this because my love affair with the old ways began long before I was able to implement most of the things I was learning, but I loved learning!
The book is written like a journal almost, so if prose and a bit of disorganization bother you, this may not be the best choice but it is so packed with nuggets of golden information that I was able to overlook all of that.
The book is written like a journal almost, so if prose and a bit of disorganization bother you, this may not be the best choice but it is so packed with nuggets of golden information that I was able to overlook all of that.
The next fantastic reads are articles from Backwoods Home Magazine. This is a publication that touts itself as a practical journal of self reliance, this is a treasure trove of information for anyone looking to live more naturally, it reads like a "how to" manual and covers things about living off the land that I never even dreamed of. Want to learn how to build a cold frame, irrigate your garden, identify poisonous plants, and so many other topics are covered in these anthologies. There are gems in each issue so no matter which you get you will be sure to find something tantalizing new to learn!
Another gift from my mother was the "Country Wisdom Almanac." Here I learned such crafts as how to build a hot smoke pit. Advice such as tips to keep rabbits out of your garden, and how to use Yarrow for medicinal purposes. This is another little handy guide that is wonderful to reference for bits of wisdom. The book is broken into "seasons" with tidbits from each time of the year.
The rest of the books I have in the picture above are all surrounding the topics of natural medicine. There is so much out there in the form of medicinal value that can be found just in your yard. The largest of these is the Natural Cures book that was shared with me by my husband's great aunt. This woman is well into her 80's and to my knowledge has never taken medicines and still gardens and puts up her bounty every year.
These books are my treasures when I need to learn something new. I always smile when I think that if the books don't have it, I could always do an internet search. I am still a bit old fashioned though and prefer plain ol' books! My shelves are lined with them.
