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The Complete Idiot's Guide to Self-Sufficient Living: Live a Simpler, Less Dependent Lifestyle Without Feeling Deprived
How to be green, save green, grow greens-even turn a thumb green.
Self-sufficient living can mean a healthier life, a way to protect the earth, or a way to save money. This guide helps readers find their perfect degree of self reliance in the areas of food, shelter, energy, clothing, and more. For both the urban and rural dweller, it covers gardening, cooking from scratch, preserving food, raising livestock, keeping chickens, generating or supplementing energy, essential tools and equipment, foraging for wild foods, hunting, fishing, and trapping.
•Saving money in today's economy and self-sufficiency go hand-in-hand
•For the growing number of eco-friends considering self-sufficiency
•Existing books focus on either rural or urban self-sufficiency, but this covers both
Self-sufficient living can mean a healthier life, a way to protect the earth, or a way to save money. This guide helps readers find their perfect degree of self reliance in the areas of food, shelter, energy, clothing, and more. For both the urban and rural dweller, it covers gardening, cooking from scratch, preserving food, raising livestock, keeping chickens, generating or supplementing energy, essential tools and equipment, foraging for wild foods, hunting, fishing, and trapping.
•Saving money in today's economy and self-sufficiency go hand-in-hand
•For the growing number of eco-friends considering self-sufficiency
•Existing books focus on either rural or urban self-sufficiency, but this covers both
- GenresNonfiction
400 pages, Paperback
First published October 23, 2009
8 people are currently reading
90 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
January 27, 2023
What an excellent book!
It's been a while, i have come across such a great book. The examples were amazing, the earthship to finance advice to really driving home many of the points about consumerism, environment with such well researched data.
I wish more people stuck in a city in a rat race MNC job read these.
I especially liked the part where the book encourages and is for everyone and not just someone looking to create some 5-10 acre homestead.
Many writers shy are away from referring other books, but loved the fact the author wants us to read more similar books, truly wants on enabling people to b e more self sufficient.
It's been a while, i have come across such a great book. The examples were amazing, the earthship to finance advice to really driving home many of the points about consumerism, environment with such well researched data.
I wish more people stuck in a city in a rat race MNC job read these.
I especially liked the part where the book encourages and is for everyone and not just someone looking to create some 5-10 acre homestead.
Many writers shy are away from referring other books, but loved the fact the author wants us to read more similar books, truly wants on enabling people to b e more self sufficient.
Read
January 7, 2016I picked up this book as part of my plan to become a gardening expert by reading all of the gardening books in my local branch library. Of course there is some good basic gardening info here, but there is also much more: information on money management, raising chickens, rabbits, and other small animals, cooking from scratch, saving water, and saving energy, as well imagining what sustainable communities of the future might look like (perhaps fanciful, perhaps not).
I thought that the book was slow getting started, as the first few chapters are almost entirely theory, describing what is wrong with The Way Things Are, how things got this way, how they used to be, and where we are headed, why things must change, and different ways in which they might. Deep thoughts, but I wanted to know how to turn my yard into a farm.
But the more I read, the more I enjoyed the book. I enjoyed the conversational, good-natured, although sometimes snarky voice of Jerome D Belanger. He pokes a sarcastic finger at the The Establishment, but also occasionally at some overly-serious green-living types. He is devoted to his subject, but always practical. Sure, you want organic feed for your chickens or rabbits, but sourcing it and mixing it up is really hard, so just buy the commercially-available pellets already.
Belanger knows that there is too much to know about self-sufficient living to fit into this or any one book. He is constantly referring the reader to other books, and to websites for more detailed information. The detail he does include is peppered with interesting asides, tidbits of personal experience, and fun facts. The book is as much pep talk as how-to guide. Jump in, he says. Try things. It's important, it's satisfying, every little bit helps, you can do it, and you can have fun.
I thought that the book was slow getting started, as the first few chapters are almost entirely theory, describing what is wrong with The Way Things Are, how things got this way, how they used to be, and where we are headed, why things must change, and different ways in which they might. Deep thoughts, but I wanted to know how to turn my yard into a farm.
But the more I read, the more I enjoyed the book. I enjoyed the conversational, good-natured, although sometimes snarky voice of Jerome D Belanger. He pokes a sarcastic finger at the The Establishment, but also occasionally at some overly-serious green-living types. He is devoted to his subject, but always practical. Sure, you want organic feed for your chickens or rabbits, but sourcing it and mixing it up is really hard, so just buy the commercially-available pellets already.
Belanger knows that there is too much to know about self-sufficient living to fit into this or any one book. He is constantly referring the reader to other books, and to websites for more detailed information. The detail he does include is peppered with interesting asides, tidbits of personal experience, and fun facts. The book is as much pep talk as how-to guide. Jump in, he says. Try things. It's important, it's satisfying, every little bit helps, you can do it, and you can have fun.
May 9, 2015
I should say upfront, the money section won me over immediately. Everyone needs to ask themselves questions about their thought process as it applies to their possessions and their time, and in this book the author takes traditional concepts and vocabulary from banks and lawyers and helps you use it to re-frame your choices and better apply your values. It was good.
That's not the only reason this was my favorite of the five guides to homesteading I read. The text is rich. The writer has a voice, and opinions, but is not mistaking his opinions for the way it must be done. It includes permaculture ideas. (Why are those rare in homesteading books?!)
It doesn't suffer as much from attempting to be an overview of all the millions of things one can do when one is homesteading, and maybe that's why there's more good info here on what it does go into. Focusing on food, it's able to devote entire chapters to dirt, or rabbits, or canning, and with the Idiot's usual dense page structure. There are also briefer sections on philosophy, money, and shelter but the book has a focus and a heart and that's a good thing even in an overview.
That's not the only reason this was my favorite of the five guides to homesteading I read. The text is rich. The writer has a voice, and opinions, but is not mistaking his opinions for the way it must be done. It includes permaculture ideas. (Why are those rare in homesteading books?!)
It doesn't suffer as much from attempting to be an overview of all the millions of things one can do when one is homesteading, and maybe that's why there's more good info here on what it does go into. Focusing on food, it's able to devote entire chapters to dirt, or rabbits, or canning, and with the Idiot's usual dense page structure. There are also briefer sections on philosophy, money, and shelter but the book has a focus and a heart and that's a good thing even in an overview.
May 29, 2012
I thought this was a really concise read on self-sufficent living. Obviously there is more than can fit in one book but I think it's a good starting point for anyone interested in the topic. Can't wait to compost!
March 4, 2014
Good summary, big picture view of the topic with a nice dash of inspiration thrown in for those seeking a refresher or new to the concept. Also good for anyone wanting to get started and looking for additional resources.
January 31, 2014
Idea: Turn your lawn into a vegetable garden, else the planet is f*cked...
March 13, 2016
Lots of good advice, written with passion and conviction. Makes me want to take up various homesteading practices again!
May 23, 2010
Chickens are even funny in self sufficient living books!
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews