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Backyard Self-Sufficiency
Outlines the basic areas of self-sufficiency. Growing your own fruit and vegetables, tea, herbs etc.
Paperback
First published December 1, 1992
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122 people want to read
About the author
Jackie French
305 books873 followersJackie is an award-winning writer, wombat negotiator and the Australian Children’s Laureate for 2014-2015. She is regarded as one of Australia’s most popular children’s authors, and writes across all genres - from picture books, history, fantasy, ecology and sci-fi to her much loved historical fiction. In her capacity as Australian Children’s Laureate, ‘Share a Story’ will be the primary philosophy behind Jackie’s two-year term.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
December 13, 2015
Back in the days when my kitchen garden was limited to a lonely lemon tree and narrow strip of vegetables, I discovered Backyard Self-Sufficiency* by Jackie French and it set my mind alight.
By the end of the first page I was entranced by the sheer energy and enthusiasm of the book with its lavish descriptions of homegrown produce that you can almost taste. And by book's end I was convinced that even if I never grow grains like buckwheat in my suburban patch or keep rabbits for meat, I could, should the need (or desire) arise.
French states emphatically that she does not promote complete self-sufficiency. She tried it out once from necessity and it was exhausting: 'Self-sufficiency is as insular as it is exhausting. You turn in on yourself. And there is little leeway for a crisis.'
Instead, she espouses 'almost self-sufficiency' for a rich and prolific life. And, gifted writer that she is, (French has written over 140 books and has won more than 60 national and international awards), the picture painted is both vivid and alluring . She contrasts a neat and orderly backyard with mown lawn and sandpit and a house with spotless kitchen with,
"a suburban jungle; a maze of tangled apple trees and grape vines, carpets of strawberries, and kids with mulberry-stained faces who don't come inside till dark. You trip over a box of apples in the laundry, and the kitchen smells of summer tomatoes and of the basil on the window sill."
Although permaculture isn't mentioned explicitly, many of the book's suggestions appear to be inspired by the permaculture movement, such as growing forests of fruit trees, planting a no-dig garden, generating your own fertiliser and water, and choosing perennial crops where possible.
Recipes include hop beer from 'easily grown' hops, wattle 'coffee', chamomile shampoo, mock ginger (a colonial standby made from caramelised pumpkin and powdered ginger) and Chinese salted plums.
But despite its practical suggestions and recipes, Backyard Self-Sufficiency is less about instructions than inspiration. Growing a garden becomes exciting and desirable. And that's exactly as it should be.
By the end of the first page I was entranced by the sheer energy and enthusiasm of the book with its lavish descriptions of homegrown produce that you can almost taste. And by book's end I was convinced that even if I never grow grains like buckwheat in my suburban patch or keep rabbits for meat, I could, should the need (or desire) arise.
French states emphatically that she does not promote complete self-sufficiency. She tried it out once from necessity and it was exhausting: 'Self-sufficiency is as insular as it is exhausting. You turn in on yourself. And there is little leeway for a crisis.'
Instead, she espouses 'almost self-sufficiency' for a rich and prolific life. And, gifted writer that she is, (French has written over 140 books and has won more than 60 national and international awards), the picture painted is both vivid and alluring . She contrasts a neat and orderly backyard with mown lawn and sandpit and a house with spotless kitchen with,
"a suburban jungle; a maze of tangled apple trees and grape vines, carpets of strawberries, and kids with mulberry-stained faces who don't come inside till dark. You trip over a box of apples in the laundry, and the kitchen smells of summer tomatoes and of the basil on the window sill."
Although permaculture isn't mentioned explicitly, many of the book's suggestions appear to be inspired by the permaculture movement, such as growing forests of fruit trees, planting a no-dig garden, generating your own fertiliser and water, and choosing perennial crops where possible.
Recipes include hop beer from 'easily grown' hops, wattle 'coffee', chamomile shampoo, mock ginger (a colonial standby made from caramelised pumpkin and powdered ginger) and Chinese salted plums.
But despite its practical suggestions and recipes, Backyard Self-Sufficiency is less about instructions than inspiration. Growing a garden becomes exciting and desirable. And that's exactly as it should be.
August 15, 2021
Good book! Jackie writes in a very personable and 'do-able' way that empowers the reader. She says that 'nearly self sufficient' is wayy easier than entirely self sufficient.
I found this book. very similar to her book 'wilderness garden'.
She is full of good ideas about how to make the most of the resources around you, and how to grow staple foods like beans etc without getting overly fussy... She says stuff like 'whack the beans in the ground and forget about them...'
Love it.
I found this book. very similar to her book 'wilderness garden'.
She is full of good ideas about how to make the most of the resources around you, and how to grow staple foods like beans etc without getting overly fussy... She says stuff like 'whack the beans in the ground and forget about them...'
Love it.
March 16, 2012
When was the last time I read a book that made me *need* to write in the margins??? I loved it: the writing style, the information, the inspiration, and the fact that it reflects the Australian climate and seasons. My only regret is that it relies on more space than my tiny yard. Makes me long for a quarter-acre block so I have room for full sized trees. Avocado, banana, nut trees... you can't grow those on dwarf stock. But hey, I made cheese today, and toasted pumpkin seeds. And they were good!
February 14, 2022
This was a gift from a beautiful friend. Thabk you, what a game changer... This book left me enthusiastic and excited to get some fruit trees in our garden. There are fruit that I wouldn't have even considered before reading this book.
She lives in the same climate as me, so a lot of the guess work has been taken out for me. Yay!
She lives in the same climate as me, so a lot of the guess work has been taken out for me. Yay!
July 30, 2017
Inspiring enough to get me out in the garden on a (mild) winter's day. Some of the content is similar to French's other books, but there are also lots of recipes for interesting things like toothpaste and perfume.
August 8, 2020
Even though I'm in a totally different climate - south New Zealand - this was a fantastic guide to almost-self-sufficiency. It's a book I will no doubt go back to time and again.
April 29, 2023
One of many books and magazines that led us to move from a manicured sterile suburban block to one with tall mature trees, including fruit & nut, and ramshackle plantings. With a wood burning slow combustion heater it felt like a small piece of self-sufficiency, & at least we could boil water/food & keep ourselves warm when the power went out in winter!
A fun easy digestible book to help move us even incrementally to be more self reliant.
A fun easy digestible book to help move us even incrementally to be more self reliant.
January 1, 2016
This book opened up the way I garden, prior to this I have been very bound by rules and the need for 'guilds' of plants.
Jackie French advocates a much more relaxed approach... Chuck some seeds out the window and see what happens. She would have gotten on very well with Jack (the one who grew the huge beanstalk).
She is both wise, and interesting.
Jackie French advocates a much more relaxed approach... Chuck some seeds out the window and see what happens. She would have gotten on very well with Jack (the one who grew the huge beanstalk).
She is both wise, and interesting.
October 7, 2012
Good specific advice about what to grow to be self-sufficient. She highlights which things are so hard they aren't worth bothering with, so that's helpful. I enjoyed it and will keep it as a reference to look at when choosing species.
June 17, 2010
Great book, think I might buy it. Lots of tips on everything if you want to be self-sufficient
January 14, 2014
I wish Jackie French would have said more about protecting young plants from animals.
November 6, 2012
Clear points, great ideas and fresh writing. Slim so nothing is wasted.
January 22, 2013
As a backyard gardening book I loved it. It was more interesting than a dry vegetable growing guide by far.
March 21, 2016
The best fruit and veggie garden book I have ever read. This is my kind of gardening.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews