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Small-Scale Homesteading: A Sustainable Guide to Gardening, Keeping Chickens, Maple Sugaring, Preserving the Harvest, and More
A gathering of information and source of inspiration for homesteaders everywhere.
With over thirty-five years of combined experience, homesteaders Stephanie Thurow and Michelle Bruhn have taught thousands of people across the globe how to garden, preserve food, tend backyard chickens, cook from scratch, and care for their families with natural homemade alternatives. Now, their homesteading knowledge and instruction can be found in one place with Small-Scale Homesteading .
In this sustainable guide, learn how to grow your own food, tap maple trees to make gallons of homemade syrup, successfully raise a small flock of laying hens, and more. Other topics include: Merging insight from two homesteaders proves to be twice the fun and reminds us that working together is always better.
With over thirty-five years of combined experience, homesteaders Stephanie Thurow and Michelle Bruhn have taught thousands of people across the globe how to garden, preserve food, tend backyard chickens, cook from scratch, and care for their families with natural homemade alternatives. Now, their homesteading knowledge and instruction can be found in one place with Small-Scale Homesteading .
In this sustainable guide, learn how to grow your own food, tap maple trees to make gallons of homemade syrup, successfully raise a small flock of laying hens, and more. Other topics include: Merging insight from two homesteaders proves to be twice the fun and reminds us that working together is always better.
- GenresGardeningNonfiction
152 pages, Paperback
Published March 14, 2023
45 people are currently reading
126 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
November 16, 2023
This book came out right about the time my husband had a job offer in Minnesota and I began hunting down social media accounts about gardening. At the time, maple syrup season was beginning, and as a maple syrup-lover, I was fascinated. I found out about this new release book and knew it'd have lots of helpful info for me as I made the bold leap from gardening in zone 9 to 4b.
What I love about this book is that it's approachable for gardeners of all levels, with various sizes of property. It'd help someone do a single bed or convert their whole yard. In my new house, I have about an acre in town, so I have a lot of terrain to work with! The gardening advice is great, full of info I'll need to reference as 2024, and future years, start. I'll need to consider starting seeds inside and how I want to rework things outside as the ground thaws. The section on raising chickens was interesting, but not something I want to delve into. The last major section, though, is about making maple syrup. I happen to have one big maple tree in my yard. The authors outline the supplies needed and many options around the process, such as how to do the initial boil-down stage outside.
What I love about this book is that it's approachable for gardeners of all levels, with various sizes of property. It'd help someone do a single bed or convert their whole yard. In my new house, I have about an acre in town, so I have a lot of terrain to work with! The gardening advice is great, full of info I'll need to reference as 2024, and future years, start. I'll need to consider starting seeds inside and how I want to rework things outside as the ground thaws. The section on raising chickens was interesting, but not something I want to delve into. The last major section, though, is about making maple syrup. I happen to have one big maple tree in my yard. The authors outline the supplies needed and many options around the process, such as how to do the initial boil-down stage outside.
July 6, 2023
Loved this book! Very thorough, yet written in a simple, easy to understand way that doesn’t make anything feel overwhelming. Filled with beautiful photography. Will definitely be referring back to this book. This book deserves a spot on the bookshelf of anyone interested in gardening, chickens, homesteading, etc. I really enjoyed reading it.
July 30, 2024
3 stars. i was excited to read it because its written by two people who live in minnesota. sadly it was more of a generalized beginners book. touched a little on a lot of things but didn't go much into depth.
-forksinthedirt.com (michelles website) and minnesotafromscratch.com (stephanies website)
-cattle/hog panels to turn into garden archways 16'x50"
-suggests calling on the community for help weeding. this made me laugh!!! i dont want to weed my OWN garden, no way am i going to weed someone else's garden!
-in 1 tsp of soil there 100 million to 1 billion living micro organisms.
-marigolds suppress cabbage worms.
-hubbard squash lures squash vine borer from other squash.
-perennial pollinator plants - meadow blazing star, giant blue hyssop, yarrow, false indigo, daisy family flowers
-annual pollinator flowers - calendula, cosmos, marigold, sunflower, zinnia, sweet alyssum, nasturtium.
-nasturtium deter squash bugs
-book - gaia's garden: a guide to home scale permaculture
-book - can it and ferment it
-book - weck small batch preserving
-mnseedproject.org
-1 egg mayo recipe p.99
-lemon curd recipe p.100
-forksinthedirt.com (michelles website) and minnesotafromscratch.com (stephanies website)
-cattle/hog panels to turn into garden archways 16'x50"
-suggests calling on the community for help weeding. this made me laugh!!! i dont want to weed my OWN garden, no way am i going to weed someone else's garden!
-in 1 tsp of soil there 100 million to 1 billion living micro organisms.
-marigolds suppress cabbage worms.
-hubbard squash lures squash vine borer from other squash.
-perennial pollinator plants - meadow blazing star, giant blue hyssop, yarrow, false indigo, daisy family flowers
-annual pollinator flowers - calendula, cosmos, marigold, sunflower, zinnia, sweet alyssum, nasturtium.
-nasturtium deter squash bugs
-book - gaia's garden: a guide to home scale permaculture
-book - can it and ferment it
-book - weck small batch preserving
-mnseedproject.org
-1 egg mayo recipe p.99
-lemon curd recipe p.100
February 19, 2024
The book is good, and has a lot of info. However the authors are based in MN, and I am in AZ, so not all of the info was applicable. The format of the book was great though!
June 16, 2025
A good informative book for those getting into this lifestyle.
This is the first non fiction book I've read in a while so it took me some time to finish it.
I admit that I skimmed through most of the Maple sugaring chapter. I'm sure it will be helpful to others. However, since I do not have the proper trees, I completely skimmed this section.
I've had chickens for a long time, but even the chapter over chickens and their care taught me a few new things. I did not expect that it was a pleasant surprise.
The chapter over canning was very helpful, and I will be starting my own canning soon.
This book was a great way to guide me into the home steading world. And because of it, my garden has been thriving. It has some excellent recipes and formulas for garden supplies, food and household items.
This is the first non fiction book I've read in a while so it took me some time to finish it.
I admit that I skimmed through most of the Maple sugaring chapter. I'm sure it will be helpful to others. However, since I do not have the proper trees, I completely skimmed this section.
I've had chickens for a long time, but even the chapter over chickens and their care taught me a few new things. I did not expect that it was a pleasant surprise.
The chapter over canning was very helpful, and I will be starting my own canning soon.
This book was a great way to guide me into the home steading world. And because of it, my garden has been thriving. It has some excellent recipes and formulas for garden supplies, food and household items.
April 21, 2023
Small-Scale Homesteading is wonderful, accessible guide to everything you ever wanted to know about producing abundant, wholesome food in your garden or backyard and getting it to your family's table. The authors are incredibly knowledgeable, infectiously enthusiastic, and have packed this book with helpful information, engaging personal experience, and stunning photographs they took themselves. If you are already excited about gardening and homesteading or just curious about getting started, this book is for you.
August 21, 2023
Great intro to gardening, preserving, and other fun homesteading things. Would have liked a little more detail in some of the gardening and preservation sections, but still a great resource. Now I want to go try making candles!
May 24, 2024
A good introduction to small-scale projects. Includes chicken keeping, and preserving. I especially liked the maple sugaring and healthy home projects including cleaners, soap, and lotions.
February 26, 2025
This is such a great book! I'm definitely going to buy a copy as a reference book when I start gardening this year!
December 28, 2024
Really enjoyed it + really have spring fever now 😫
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews