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Farming for Self-Sufficiency: Independence on a 5-Acre Farm
Book by John Seymour, Sally Seymour
256 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1987
3 people are currently reading
91 people want to read
About the author
John Seymour
108 books146 followersJohn Seymour was an idealist - he had a vision of a better world where people aren't alienated from their labours. As a young man, he travelled all over Africa and fought in Burma in World War II. Returning penniless to England, he lived in a trolley bus and on a Dutch sailing barge before settling on a five-acre smallholding in Suffolk to lead a self-sufficient life. He continued this lifestyle with his companion Angela Ashe on the banks of the River Barrow in County Wexford, Ireland. The two had built up the smallholding from scratch over 19 years. In his last years John, Angela and William Sutherland had been running courses in self-sufficiency from their home at Killowen, New Ross. The courses were taken by students from all over the world, who come to Killowen to learn about his lifestyle and philosophies at first hand.
He was the author of over 40 books, including the best-selling The Complete Book of Self-Sufficiency, and he had made numerous films and radio programmes. Most of his later writing and public campaigning had been devoted to country matters, self-sufficiency and the environment.
In the last 18 months, he was back on his beloved Pembrokeshire farm with his daughter Ann, telling stories to his grandchildren and writing rhyming poetry, with an acerbic wit that was his last weapon against what he saw as our destructive era.
He was the author of over 40 books, including the best-selling The Complete Book of Self-Sufficiency, and he had made numerous films and radio programmes. Most of his later writing and public campaigning had been devoted to country matters, self-sufficiency and the environment.
In the last 18 months, he was back on his beloved Pembrokeshire farm with his daughter Ann, telling stories to his grandchildren and writing rhyming poetry, with an acerbic wit that was his last weapon against what he saw as our destructive era.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
January 26, 2009
What a fabulous book. Despite being written in 1973 in Great Britain, this book is a wonderful compilation of information required to be a homesteader. Not only is the book informative, but a hilarious read as well. I feel like I was sitting down with John Seymour face to face as he describes how to butcher a cow in a nonchalant manner. An enjoyable, entertaining, and educational book - I recommend it!
April 7, 2009
I think self-sufficiency through farming is an achievable dream for some. Although I am a torpid cube-dweller now, I used to work on a farm, and I believe I have a fairly good perspective on the level of difficulty involved in becoming a farmer. Purely on the amount of physical effort required, I would say farming is, seasonally, an eight on a one-to-ten scale, where a puny office rat is a one and a fire jumper is a ten. (Make it a ten if you renounce tractors and insist on doing all the digging by hand).
From a technical perspective, the skill level required for farming ranges widely. If burger flipper is a one and brain surgeon is a ten on the skill scale, you might be surprised how high a really excellent farmer rates. You can be a burger-and-fries farmer, in which case you will not be farming for long, or a brain-surgeon farmer, as is the case with John Seymour, the author of this book. His advice is based on wide experience and keen intelligence.
Seymour is a witty, literate writer, and an obviously humane farmer who gives advice like: "keep a cock [rooster:] with your hens--they enjoy
having it off as much as we do." How wise.
After reading this book, you will have a clearer idea if the life is really for you. Although author makes some aspects of self-sufficient farming sound too easy (for instance, making it seem like all you need for pig butchering is a .22, a sharp knife and a gallon of home brew), the book is a detailed and accurate account of the basics of self-sufficient farm life. Organized by topic (Land--Horse--Cow--Dairy, etc.), it gives a run down of what is required to start from scratch.
The book is illustrated with beautiful etchings, or perhaps wood-block prints. They go perfectly with the text.
This is a book you will enjoy, even if you are not planning on becoming a farmer. If you are serious about self-sufficiency, this book will be the cornerstone of your reference library. Read up on John Seymour; he was an interesting fellow. He wrote many more books about self-sufficiency that you can find in your local library.
From a technical perspective, the skill level required for farming ranges widely. If burger flipper is a one and brain surgeon is a ten on the skill scale, you might be surprised how high a really excellent farmer rates. You can be a burger-and-fries farmer, in which case you will not be farming for long, or a brain-surgeon farmer, as is the case with John Seymour, the author of this book. His advice is based on wide experience and keen intelligence.
Seymour is a witty, literate writer, and an obviously humane farmer who gives advice like: "keep a cock [rooster:] with your hens--they enjoy
having it off as much as we do." How wise.
After reading this book, you will have a clearer idea if the life is really for you. Although author makes some aspects of self-sufficient farming sound too easy (for instance, making it seem like all you need for pig butchering is a .22, a sharp knife and a gallon of home brew), the book is a detailed and accurate account of the basics of self-sufficient farm life. Organized by topic (Land--Horse--Cow--Dairy, etc.), it gives a run down of what is required to start from scratch.
The book is illustrated with beautiful etchings, or perhaps wood-block prints. They go perfectly with the text.
This is a book you will enjoy, even if you are not planning on becoming a farmer. If you are serious about self-sufficiency, this book will be the cornerstone of your reference library. Read up on John Seymour; he was an interesting fellow. He wrote many more books about self-sufficiency that you can find in your local library.
January 21, 2014
Utterly practical and simplistic...highly recommended!
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews