Starting Over: Chronicles of a Self-Reliant Woman

by Jackie Clay

In this compilation of her Starting Over series, published over several years in Backwoods Home Magazine, self-reliance expert Jackie Clay shares the experience of building a new homestead from scratch.

197 pages, Paperback

First published August 18, 2008

About the author

Jackie Clay is a trained veterinary field technician with more than 20 years of experience. She is also a prolific writer, having authored four books and hundreds of magazine articles. She is a regular writer for Backwoods Home Magazine, writing on animal care, gardening, canning and rural, self-reliant living. She lives on a remote homestead in northern Minnesota with her family and lots of animals.

Reviews

[Tonya · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book isn't a literary masterpiece by any means. I gave it 5 stars simply because I really resonated with the author's vision, work ethic, perseverance, and selflessness.

In her quest to live a self-reliant life, Jackie's home suffers the loss of her husband and the addition of her elderly parents. Moving from camper to mobile home to log cabin, she welcomes the help of family, neighbors who are strangers and then friends, and other locals who exhibit the can-do, encouraging, and welcoming spirit of "fly-over country."

In a time when minimalism and tiny homes are all the rage and yet often still exhibit the expense and extravagant mindset of their expansive and overdone nemesis, the typical suburban home, Jackie Clay's home and yard is decidedly simple. Using new and repurposed found items, she and her 14-year-old son craft, over the course of 2 years, a homestead complete with extensive gardens, an orchard, an animal barn and enclosure, and a log cabin with a basement and loft. if this wasn't enough work, Jackie takes on the care of her elderly parents and finds the time to preserve the produce and meat harvested from the land.

I was continually struck by the knowledge and experience her son gained helping his mother compared to the average video-gaming teenager. I suspect he is a decade more mature than 99% of his age cohort.

Highly recommended.

[Shannon Buck · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great, informative book. I love Jackie's column, so decided to read the book for informational purposes. I plan to homestead some day, and the information will be helpful.

[Jana Richards · Rating 3 out of 5]

Amazing that Jackie had the drive to finish what she and her husband started, in spite of all her set backs. I have been trying to make some decisions about whether I want to live this lifestyle... it gave me a lot to think about.

I enjoyed reading all that she did to create her homestead. In some parts it was too much detail but I'm sure some people would really want to know those details.

[Wayne Newland · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read. She does a lot with very little!

[Kelly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Too much technical information on building a house for my liking. I liked the parts where she talked about gardening and canning.

[Sandra · Rating 3 out of 5]

The writing was okay but it jumped around a lot probably because originally they were magazine articles. I was hoping it was about a woman who was self-reliant but she had a carpenter and 2 sons helping her so it wasn't exactly what I thought it would be. Also, she gave details about wood measurements and specifications that I thought were irrelevant.

[Jen Kleid · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jackie's story is amazing and inspiring. Anyone who is interested in country living, self-reliance, and/or homesteading on any level will enjoy this book.