The Self-Sufficient Life and How to Live It Hardcover – August 17, 2009

Everything you need to know about living off the land. Very informative

I bought this book because I have started gardening in my small yard. I have also planted apple, plum, and cherry trees around the house. I decided to really step up my game and added chickens to the mix. I really enjoy my new hobby, but I realized quite quickly that I need to have a clear and comprehensive plan before I get too much further along. I don't want to wake up next spring and realize I've destroyed my home and my yard. I bought this book because of the other reviews I read.This book is truly changing my life. I have created such an ambitious agenda for the next few years. I have a 1250 sq. foot home on a 100' x 100' lot in the center of Joplin, Missouri. I am going to have an off the grid home and be self sufficient in five years. I am not going to spend very much money getting started, the author presents creative ways of dealing with problems without running to the hardware store. A good example is the coop for the chickens made with branches, poultry wire, and the empty feed bags. I bought a $200 dollar chicken coop that is already struggling to hold itself together in the Missouri weather. I could have built the coop in the book for next to nothing. This book is so detailed and amazing about every facet of this lifestyle. I have probably read it twice now and many of the sections much more than that. I recommend this book to you. It is illustrated beautifully and it has become my go to book for almost everything that comes up with my new hobby.If you are a devotee of the back to the earth movement, and a closet prepper like myself (my shameful secret). This book will take a prominent place on your library shelf. I have bought a couple of other books that are more survival in a doomsday situation. I'm not a prepper, daydreaming of the end of the world. I'm a prepper that wonders if my 401K could vanish in another future wall street scandal and SSI might disappear from mismanagement or neglect. My kind of prepping is the kind found in this book. It is the victory garden of my grandparents generation or the cottage garden of peasants in the old country. This book is wonderful. I hope you enjoy it and I hope you let me know if this recommendation helped you.

I had the original, brown covered, hardback copy of this book for years and years.I literally loved that book to death.It helped me learn so many of the skills I needed to become more self sufficient.Well, the cover finally fell off and the pages were stained and tattered so I decided it was time to get a new copy.I absolutely love this book and the information it contains.If you are thinking of homesteading or if you are already homesteading, this book is a must have.This book has taught me, over the past few decades, about gardening, animal husbandry, grains, farm layouts, building coops, making bread and so much more.It's a wealth of information and I would definitely recommend this book to any and all homesteaders.100+ stars for sure.I hope this was helpful.

This book has the most wonderful illustrations that hearken the styles of bygone eras. The copy is filled with easy to understand instructions on such a wide variety of topics from basic gardening to making wine and beer. The "Saving Energy" chapter discusses how to apply an integrated approach to heating and power sources from the basic elements (wind, water, sun and even from waste products), The "Crafts and Skills" section clearly illustrates things you may see when visiting historic Williamsburg and wanted to try your hand at: pottery, weaving, basket-making, making bricks, or woodworking. This is a nice companion for other Mini-Farming and self-sustainable books that touch on topics but may not go into such illustrated details. The "Food from the Garden" chapters have a wonder color illustrated index of vegetables, herbs and fruits that make a quick reference to your family favorites and new varieties you may never have heard of before. Each image in the index contains the page number where you will find details on sowing, growing, pest control, harvesting and storage. There are handy tricks and tips throughout this book to help even the most novice of gardeners increase yield. The book is a complete life overhaul and record of the cumulative knowledge from John Seymour and those he learned from but can be taken in small incremental steps by individuals in our modern "consumer-based" society that wish to return to a more self-sufficient existence in these uncertain economic times.

I first borrowed the book from the library, then purchased a copy for myself. It is an easy read, and full of useful information. A few more detailed skills would require either a teacher/mentor or a skill specific book (such as how to brew beer, the basics are here, but you will need a more specific additional book). The best part about the book is the individual attention that is taken for each plant. He lists the ideal time of year to plant, ideal garden location, ideal rotation schedule, common pests (and how to identify them) and how to harvest and store the food. Almost every plant has it's own individual page of information as well as pictures of the plant. The book teaches every skill needed to become a self sufficient gardener/farmer.Key Points**layouts for patio, backyard, 1/2 acre, 1 acre, 5 acre 10 acre lots.**detailed planting guide for each plant or tree**information about each farm animal (Cows, sheep, goats, rabbits, chickens) including detailed butchering information.**wine and beer making information**Home skills information (spinning wool, woodworking, tool making)**Preservation techniques and "how to" informationProblems** This is truly for self sufficiency, he assumes you will not be using a gas powered tractor. Good if you are going "off the grid" bad if you are thinking more of a "hobby farm"