Living on the Earth: Celebrations, Storm Warnings, Formulas, Recipes, Rumors, and Country Dances

by Alicia Bay Laurel

Celebrations, storm warnings, formulas, recipes, and country dances-renowned author Alicia Bay Laurel harvests them all in this unforgettable book first published more than thirty years ago.
Living on the Earth is for people who would rather chop wood for fire than work behind a desk to pay the electric company. It's for people who want the best recipe for lavender soap or huckleberry jam. It's for people who want to make their own clothing, play guitar, learn woodcarving, gardening, canning and drying food, and natural first aid methods. The book has no chapters; no rigid structures or rules. It grew naturally out of the lessons the author has learned, and which she shares now with yet another enthusiastic generation. Living on the Earth is a beautiful book to see and read, as well as a spiritually uplifting work whose simplicity radiates warmth and promotes serenity and goodwill to all those who encounter it.
The large format paperback is entirely written in Alicia's cursive script and illustrated on every page with her line drawings. Alicia's innovative illustration and book design styles have been enthusiastically emulated in dozens of books and greeting cards.
Alicia Bay Laurel has passionately followed her muse since early childhood. She was just twenty years old when Living on the Earth was originally published; the book would go on to become a best-selling, trend-setting manual for natural, conscious living. The book celebrated its 30th anniversary in 2000. Alicia still sings, plays guitar, writes, and enjoys life in Hawaii.

Genres: Nonfiction, Nature, Counter Culture, How To, Reference, Cookbooks, Spirituality

214 pages, Paperback

First published March 1, 1971

Reviews

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

From back in my hippy days - has everything you need to know to "depend less on industrially produced consumer goods". All handwritten and hand illustrated.

[Ian Sims · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a strange and beautiful book.

[Greta · Rating 3 out of 5]

The part of me that missed the 1960's counter cultural back-to-nature self-sufficiency movement loves this book. What's not to like about a hand-written book filled with line drawings and advice on everything from giving birth at home to building your own kiln? Recipes, first-aid tips, build-your-own DIY advice - this book has it all. In a way it's not really about doing it all yourself. Life wouldn't be as enjoyable if you had to work so hard just to survive. But what this book celebrates is the idea that life can be much simpler and lovelier when we pare it down to the bare necessities. And when we take the time to do what needs to be done with patience, attention and love the journey is more rewarding. It's clear that the author loved what she did and enjoyed writing about it.

[Astraea · Rating 5 out of 5]

My sister and I prefer the older edition. Whether one has plans to grow marijuana or not, the inclusion of this material is key to understanding the ambience of the period. Marijuana was taken for granted. A bit of grass in the bubbly pipe, baked in cookies, or rolled in natural paper was our generation's version of cocktails to relax. It was a given anytime people got together for any reason. The scent wafted through certain streets of my old town at the time I bought this book; even the cops smoked it. Today, you might still want it for medicinal purposes. I believe that marijuana will be fully legalized in the future, for a number of reasons.

Jason Greenwillow

[HeavyReader · Rating 4 out of 5]

There are so many different topics in the book, it's quite difficult to decide what shelf to put it on.

It's a how-to book, full of instructions for doing so many DIY projects. It's a classic from the 70s counterculture, reissued in the early 2000s. It has cool line drawings by the author, and all the text is handwritten rather than typeset.

It's an all around super cool book that I definitely recommend, espeically for people living in the country and/or doing it (whatever it may be) for themselves.

[Juliana · Rating 4 out of 5]

A practical instructional book for how to live, simply, on Earth. Straightforward with helpful illustrations. Everything from hammocks to refrigeration, saunas to clothing, community building to ceramics and soap.

There are a few drawbacks... in some cases the instructions can be a little ambiguous. The organization of the book is a little tough to wade through too. But it is, I think, an essential guide for comfortable living apart from modernity. (Also the information on backpacking is dated... do NOT wear jeans backpacking, but choose clothing that is lightweight and dries easily.)

[Jaye Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

A sweet and thoughtful guide to living on the earth! My favorite parts are its naked-in-the-forest illustrations and important questions to ask when starting a commune/cooperative living. Very dreamy and not-so-focused on comprehensive safety or the identity politic of leaving (parts of society), but overall, this book works better in shifting our relationship to the earth in order to live more intentionally and responsibly. You can get the other stuff elsewhere. A lovely how-to that aged pretty well.

[Stacia · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you need to build a yurt or sew yourself a backpack or cure bad breath or pick roommates for your commune, this is the book for you. I've been living in a deluge of hippie dreams and aspirations ever since. Spent the fall listening to the grateful dead in my car as I barreled around central texas. And I'm not even like that.

[flannery · Rating 5 out of 5]

this is my favorite genre of book, oversized handwritten hippie how-to books. most of them i like, this one i love. nearly every page has a drawing of a naked flautist or a winking cat, drawn in a vibey way. and it's useful! and heart warming. "bay laurel is not my family name but it is my favorite tree." "if you are visited by animals, hang your refrigerator from a tree."

[Amy Barker · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my most adored books on my shelved. Beautiful cursive writing and nerve lie drawings document life in the height of the hippie utopia era of communes and self sufficiency. So many skills in this book are being rediscovered today and given new love such as crafting, eco living and different ways of cooking and storing food. So inspiring and a book to go back to again and again.

[Dee · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a delightful book with drawings by the author about living a simple life, building your own shelter, doing crafts, clothing yourself, first aid. It has an innocent and sweet quality about it.

[Woody Debris]

I just found this magic book today at a used book store in Seattle- Magus Books- the proprietor handed it over to me with reverence and a twinkle. It might be the only book I'll ever need to read when I leave the City and get back to the Earth.

[Pat · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is esstial to life. Make something from nothing. It does not matter if you do it. What matters is that you know it can be done. I read it in paperback and carried it with me until I gave it to a younger person who needed it...

[Buzz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful hippy way of living

[Angela · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a fun read.

[Jessy · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Bible

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Probably the most useful book ever written

[Anandaache Kim Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was on a neighbors book shelf when i was a kid and i "borrowed" it and tried to copy it word for word. Kinda of a bible for me back in the day. Without all the guilt and b.s.

[Brendan]

think i'm gonna kick this book around a bit: thanks sasha! storm warnings! i'll keep y'all alerted.

[Miranda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this book was lucky to get ahold of a copy

[Hayley Brentmar · Rating 5 out of 5]

Presented in a fun had written format, this book is essentially a guide about how to be a hippy. A fun classic book that I've enjoyed having over the years.

[Buffy Sunnydale · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is soooo cool! I'm not sure it's even in print anymore, but my aunt gave me her old coffee-stained, dog-eared copy. I find the whole thing fascinating.

[Stacy Campbell · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a true hippy book. Love the illustrations and it contains loads of useful (though somewhat dated) information.

[Melybee · Rating 5 out of 5]

¡Totalmente hermoso!

[Hannah · Rating 5 out of 5]

just...

[Kerri · Rating 4 out of 5]

love love love

[Kimberly · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fabulous book! It’s going into my big-out bag. Today more than ever we need to be able to live off the land and more simply. I read this many years ago and found it again reorganizing my bookshelves. It is pretty incredible with the information it contains and also the spectacular line drawings and the hand written pages. Love love love !

[Charlotte · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a charming reminder of the hope for a back to the land movement with progressive principles. I wouldn't want to rely on this book for instruction or accuracy but it does spark the imagination in a sweet way

[Pat · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very dated now, to the point of being dangerous (I'm thinking of the canning instructions).

[Christina Karvounis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Received as a gift. Really enjoyed the line drawings and handwritten entries. Some lifeways unrealistic in my life, but aspirational. A reminder we can live simpler. 2020 reissue.