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The Sustainable Homestead: Create a Thriving Permaculture Ecosystem with Your Garden, Animals, and Land
Join the permaculture revolution! Author Angela Ferraro-Fanning (Axe & Root Homestead) shares techniques and tips for a homestead with synergy between soil, plants, animals, and trees.
If you’re like most homesteaders, the dream is to make the most of your land by working with it, not against it . From capturing water and building strong soil to helping your animals live their best lives , The Sustainable Homestead is about making your homestead stronger by achieving synergy between what can seem like different parts.
In this book, new and veteran homesteaders alike can find detailed information to put to use this year, this month, even this week! Angela—also the co-host of the HOMESTEADucation podcast and author of the Little Homesteader/Little Country Cottage series of children’s books—has spent more than a decade building and strengthening her small acreage homestead and shares the lessons chapter by
Wherever you want to start first, follow along and make your homestead more resilient by making it more sustainable .
If you’re like most homesteaders, the dream is to make the most of your land by working with it, not against it . From capturing water and building strong soil to helping your animals live their best lives , The Sustainable Homestead is about making your homestead stronger by achieving synergy between what can seem like different parts.
In this book, new and veteran homesteaders alike can find detailed information to put to use this year, this month, even this week! Angela—also the co-host of the HOMESTEADucation podcast and author of the Little Homesteader/Little Country Cottage series of children’s books—has spent more than a decade building and strengthening her small acreage homestead and shares the lessons chapter by
Wherever you want to start first, follow along and make your homestead more resilient by making it more sustainable .
- GenresGardeningNonfiction
192 pages, Paperback
Published March 28, 2023
19 people are currently reading
184 people want to read
About the author
Angela Ferraro-Fanning
17 books31 followersAngela Ferraro-Fanning is a self-taught homesteader living on a six-acre farm in central New Jersey. After 10 years of owning and operating her own graphic design business, she sought a lifestyle more in tune with the seasons and Mother Nature.
Angela started growing and preserving as much of her own homegrown produce as possible. This quickly grew from a home garden to a permaculture farm bustling with Clydesdales, geese and ducks for eggs, an apiary with ten beehives, sheep and a small orchard.
She shares her passion for self-sufficient, eco-friendly living on her Instagram, YouTube and Substack accounts.
Angela started growing and preserving as much of her own homegrown produce as possible. This quickly grew from a home garden to a permaculture farm bustling with Clydesdales, geese and ducks for eggs, an apiary with ten beehives, sheep and a small orchard.
She shares her passion for self-sufficient, eco-friendly living on her Instagram, YouTube and Substack accounts.
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
March 1, 2023
Angela Ferraro-Fanning, a homesteader from the Garden State of NJ, offers a handy, well-organized, resource for anyone considering homesteading or living. Ferraro-Fanning encourages the reader to conduct research and suggests considerations before breaking ground. And with a recent abundance of farming TikTok videos and Instagram reels, not everyone should "by themselves chickens."
The books main drive is teaching a land management method known as permaculture. The author encourages companion planting to create an ecosystem. This practice encourages the use of a plants that bring in pollinators and predatory bugs which reduces the use of harmful chemicals and pesticides. Ferraro-Fanning's background in graphic design makes the book extremely accessible for beginners, especially with her info-graphic on choosing the right duck for your homestead.
While I'm currently living the condo life in suburban NJ, this book still offered great tips for container gardens. So while I'm not going to be bringing ducks on to my balcony, I can still create a sustainable space thanks to her tips. I also plan on choosing plants to attract praying mantis in an effort to battle the invasive lanternfly. Any reader with an interest in gardening, or living vicariously through the life of a homesteader will enjoy this book.
I hope that Angela Ferraro-Fanning will also come out with another book for sustainable living in the urban/suburban yards.
Disclosure: I received a digital ARC from NetGalley at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
The books main drive is teaching a land management method known as permaculture. The author encourages companion planting to create an ecosystem. This practice encourages the use of a plants that bring in pollinators and predatory bugs which reduces the use of harmful chemicals and pesticides. Ferraro-Fanning's background in graphic design makes the book extremely accessible for beginners, especially with her info-graphic on choosing the right duck for your homestead.
While I'm currently living the condo life in suburban NJ, this book still offered great tips for container gardens. So while I'm not going to be bringing ducks on to my balcony, I can still create a sustainable space thanks to her tips. I also plan on choosing plants to attract praying mantis in an effort to battle the invasive lanternfly. Any reader with an interest in gardening, or living vicariously through the life of a homesteader will enjoy this book.
I hope that Angela Ferraro-Fanning will also come out with another book for sustainable living in the urban/suburban yards.
Disclosure: I received a digital ARC from NetGalley at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
May 22, 2024
A good book to get started when thinking about the homesteading lifestyle. It goes over the benefits and work involved when it comes to animal husbandry, establishing pastures and orchard, the importance of soil health and so much more. I am inspired to start planning my own holistic orchard, have ideas for how to improve my garden, and do even more to preserve our harvests. Although I lack the infrastructure to overwinter them, I have so many dreams and plans for animals aided by the knowledge shared in this book.
I do think it is important to acknowledge the privilege involved with the kind of lifestyle Angela describes. She discusses leaving her FT job for this life. Her free time is spent researching permaculture and experimenting with different homesteading methods. Land costs money (especially post-COVID), supplies definitely cost money, and research and experimentation take free time which requires financial freedom. Could anyone experiment with small ways of homesteading like establishing a few plants in a windowsill, making refrigerator pickles, or composting food scraps? Most certainly, and those are great places to get started. But people like Angela, and to an extent myself, are very lucky to have access to land and some of the financial flexibility to explore these expensive hobbies. I just don’t think enough modern homesteaders discuss how privileged they (we?) are.
All in all, a good read for the beginner homesteader or anyone with an interest in beginning somewhere. The world would be a better place if we all had some knowledge of permaculture and knew how to produce our own food. We would value it more and be less wasteful! I love that there is a renewed interest in this knowledge and am all about learning these “grandma hobbies.” Our grandmas were total badasses. Now I think I’ll find some more books to get myself into a few homesteady rabbit holes…
I do think it is important to acknowledge the privilege involved with the kind of lifestyle Angela describes. She discusses leaving her FT job for this life. Her free time is spent researching permaculture and experimenting with different homesteading methods. Land costs money (especially post-COVID), supplies definitely cost money, and research and experimentation take free time which requires financial freedom. Could anyone experiment with small ways of homesteading like establishing a few plants in a windowsill, making refrigerator pickles, or composting food scraps? Most certainly, and those are great places to get started. But people like Angela, and to an extent myself, are very lucky to have access to land and some of the financial flexibility to explore these expensive hobbies. I just don’t think enough modern homesteaders discuss how privileged they (we?) are.
All in all, a good read for the beginner homesteader or anyone with an interest in beginning somewhere. The world would be a better place if we all had some knowledge of permaculture and knew how to produce our own food. We would value it more and be less wasteful! I love that there is a renewed interest in this knowledge and am all about learning these “grandma hobbies.” Our grandmas were total badasses. Now I think I’ll find some more books to get myself into a few homesteady rabbit holes…
February 17, 2023
Originally posted on my blog Nonstop Reader.
The Sustainable Homestead is a well written practical guide to permaculture, farming and self-sufficiency by Angela Ferraro-Fanning. Due out 28th March 2023 from Quarto on their Cool Springs Press imprint, it's 192 pages and will be available in paperback and ebook formats.
The book has a logical and accessible format with an understandable progression. The author starts with site selection (location location location) and moves on to soil, growing, incorporating animals, creating and maintaining pasture, compost, orchards, and the role of the homesteader. The book also includes a useful reference appendix, bibliography, and index. I really loved the well written no-nonsense foreword by Dr. Temple Grandin, who absolutely knows what she's talking about.
This won't be the *only* book needed to get from dreamer phase to small-farmer, but it is a very useful resource and will be a welcome addition to the smallholder's library. This would also make a good choice for public or possibly school library acquisition, as well as for community gardens and allotments. The photography throughout is superlative; clear and colorful.
Four and a half stars. The information contained in this volume is slanted toward readers in North America, but there are good takeaways for readers living elsewhere.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
The Sustainable Homestead is a well written practical guide to permaculture, farming and self-sufficiency by Angela Ferraro-Fanning. Due out 28th March 2023 from Quarto on their Cool Springs Press imprint, it's 192 pages and will be available in paperback and ebook formats.
The book has a logical and accessible format with an understandable progression. The author starts with site selection (location location location) and moves on to soil, growing, incorporating animals, creating and maintaining pasture, compost, orchards, and the role of the homesteader. The book also includes a useful reference appendix, bibliography, and index. I really loved the well written no-nonsense foreword by Dr. Temple Grandin, who absolutely knows what she's talking about.
This won't be the *only* book needed to get from dreamer phase to small-farmer, but it is a very useful resource and will be a welcome addition to the smallholder's library. This would also make a good choice for public or possibly school library acquisition, as well as for community gardens and allotments. The photography throughout is superlative; clear and colorful.
Four and a half stars. The information contained in this volume is slanted toward readers in North America, but there are good takeaways for readers living elsewhere.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
February 2, 2023
This was a great summary of homesteading and ways to get started. As someone who never in a million years thought I’d be homesteading in a way, this would have been such a helpful guide to start our families journey. I think it was more confirming in areas I already knew since we do have chickens, fruit trees, and a garden we started last year, but I loved getting a refresher in areas we haven’t expanded in yet.
I think the things I will be excited to try and research further will be companion planting as Angela mentioned was successful for her garden. I also loved the guides and charts she provided that show different yields and companions for fruit trees. Last year we planted a few apple trees, so moving forward knowing best practices and how to partner each grouping in our garden will be helpful.
If homesteading is something you’ve been interested in, this is a great summary and guide for getting started.
I think the things I will be excited to try and research further will be companion planting as Angela mentioned was successful for her garden. I also loved the guides and charts she provided that show different yields and companions for fruit trees. Last year we planted a few apple trees, so moving forward knowing best practices and how to partner each grouping in our garden will be helpful.
If homesteading is something you’ve been interested in, this is a great summary and guide for getting started.
February 14, 2023
I really enjoyed this book! I love garden, nature, animals and country life so I’m always happy to read about it. This book has 8 chapters, each one going deep in information and tips that are very useful. The chapters are
1- Site assessment / 2- Soil / 3- Growing / 4- Incorporating Animals / 5- Designing a pasture / 6- Compost / 7- The sustainable orchard / 8- The role of the homesteader. The book has lots of photos, images and graphics to explain. It has information about types of garden design, choosing plants, how much food to grow per person, incorporating animals, choosing the bread, pasture rotation, and more. I received a free digital copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review
1- Site assessment / 2- Soil / 3- Growing / 4- Incorporating Animals / 5- Designing a pasture / 6- Compost / 7- The sustainable orchard / 8- The role of the homesteader. The book has lots of photos, images and graphics to explain. It has information about types of garden design, choosing plants, how much food to grow per person, incorporating animals, choosing the bread, pasture rotation, and more. I received a free digital copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review
February 27, 2023
I’m so clueless when it comes to gardening and permaculture. I’ve checked out quite a few books over the years trying to get a grasp on working our little bit of land and I have never been able to get a solid grip on it. It has just felt like this is something every understands that is just not for me.
The Sustainable Homestead is changing all of that. The way the author breaks down permaculture in basic pillars and principles helped me to get a a grasp on the “why and how” of this elusive subject. I find this book to be a foundational handbook for growing the sustainable homestead of my dreams!
Thank you NetGalley for the advanced copy so this baby gardener can take the right steps towards my dream garden!
The Sustainable Homestead is changing all of that. The way the author breaks down permaculture in basic pillars and principles helped me to get a a grasp on the “why and how” of this elusive subject. I find this book to be a foundational handbook for growing the sustainable homestead of my dreams!
Thank you NetGalley for the advanced copy so this baby gardener can take the right steps towards my dream garden!
January 27, 2024
This was a fantastic, helpful, quick read. By the end it made me want to take a stab at being a homesteader, knowing full well there will be a lot of hard work and challenges, but also knowing there are rewards for helping things thrive as well.
Angela does an excellent job at going through the key factors in operating a successful homestead, from the basics of soil health, to animals, gardens, orchards, and in the kitchen even! She outlines which breeds of animals are better for their purpose. What types of garden plants and trees to plant together.
It was all very enlightening. I borrowed this book from the library and made tons of notes, but I may need to purchase it once I have the appropriate land to start my little oasis.
Angela does an excellent job at going through the key factors in operating a successful homestead, from the basics of soil health, to animals, gardens, orchards, and in the kitchen even! She outlines which breeds of animals are better for their purpose. What types of garden plants and trees to plant together.
It was all very enlightening. I borrowed this book from the library and made tons of notes, but I may need to purchase it once I have the appropriate land to start my little oasis.
September 24, 2024
I bought a 6.5 acre property a few years ago that used to be a 250+ acre cattle farm before being divided up. My goal is to revitalize the land and give out fresh food to the community. With next to no farming experience, the last two years have mostly been slowly accumulating knowledge and starting small with the existing garden plot, including graduating to 2 flocks of chickens. I’m lucky that the property came with a decent sized barn, so I have room for livestock, and this guide was a nice addition to the denser books I’ve read on the subject of permaculture. I didn’t think I’d be interested in geese after reading through this book, but I also didn’t think I’d end up with a farm when I was first looking at property!
November 21, 2023
I've read several permaculture books and several homesteading books, but this is the first book to put both concepts together in a focused book. Many of the concepts were not new to me, but had I been new to either topic, this would have been a great first book.
The book is very approachable, not too long but long enough to convey the ideas. Gorgeous photography throughout.
If you're looking for a permaculture approach to keeping livestock, gardening, and homesteading, this is the book for you.
The book is very approachable, not too long but long enough to convey the ideas. Gorgeous photography throughout.
If you're looking for a permaculture approach to keeping livestock, gardening, and homesteading, this is the book for you.
September 21, 2023
This was a very nice book on homesteading with more detail than most of the run of the mill books in this genre. I don’t feel that it stands out significantly, but I think it would make a lively addition to a beginner homesteading family.
This e-book was provided free of charge for an unbiased review t th tough Netgalley. Thank you.
This e-book was provided free of charge for an unbiased review t th tough Netgalley. Thank you.
May 5, 2023
This book had some interesting ideas. If you are thinking about buying a homestead it is a great read to know what you're getting into. If you already own a homestead (like we do) it's likely to just repeat what you've already discovered.
October 14, 2024
I'm really upset, I was so looking forward to reading this but I cannot get it to open up. It says it is an acsm file and won't open for me. I'm sure it is a great book maybe I'll eventually get it to work.
July 12, 2023
A wonderful overview of homesteading for this new homesteader. Filled with great advice and tips for permaculture implementation.
August 29, 2023
Lots of great information in here - for everyone from beginners and upwards! Loved the holistic viewpoint for homesteading.
December 2, 2023
Such a helpful and approachable way to learn homesteading practices. I feel equipped to begin planning out our homestead spaces and how to plant now!
February 7, 2024
I liked it! She went more in-depth in some things and less in-depth on others so this shouldn’t be your one source for homesteading but overall covered a wide range of topics well.
August 29, 2025
I really enjoyed this. This centers on a very interesting sustained farming concept. I enjoy the biology tied into the book which explains how to grow crops by understanding the natural interaction between the plants, soil, and elements. The knowledge I gained is going to help me thoroughly as I start my own garden.
July 4, 2023
This is the perfect introduction to homesteading and I will be getting a hard copy to add to my home library. Even if we don't have the room for a full on homestead there are some great takeaways to start being more self sufficient.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews