By Carla Emery~I have this wonderful dream. My dream is to live out in the country on a small parcel of land where we can have a couple of horses for our girls, raise my own herbs and a few veggies…maybe even a couple of dairy goats or alpacas. If it were to happen, I would really like to go into this with as few surprises as possible. I think one way I can knock off many of those surprises is to read The Encyclopedia of Country Living by Carla Emery.
This incredible book has just been updated for the 9th time! I just can’t imagine anything about country living that isn’t in here. The newest edition now has websites and mail-order information.
One the best parts of the book is the very first chapter: Oddments. This chapter is a primer on living self-sufficiently and simply. There are things in here that I’m sure many of us have NEVER thought of: how climate can effect how you build, there are actually schools of country living, giving birth by yourself and…did you know that it’s legal in 41 states to care for your own dead?! :-/
But this book is also absolutely full of useful and entertaining information that anyone from the city slicker who just wants to grow window herbs, to the back-woods camper, to those who really want to live a primitive, simple life-style can use in daily living. Carla Emery has thought of everything, assembled it in a very readable format and writes in such a personal, inviting way. You will find it so hard to put this massive, nearly 900 page volume down.
New farm families and interested homeschoolers will benefit immensely from her
information on animal breeding, cleaning fish, selecting the best laying hens, questions to ask yourself before buying a goat, slaughtering/butchering cows and pigs, milking cows and goats, making cheeses, raising and drying herbs, home businesses, bee keeping, rabbit breeding, animal housing and fencing, homemade cosmetics, gardening for everyone from the beginner to the pro. This list doesn’t even scratch the surface!
I do, however, recommend that a parent monitor while youngsters are reading this. Carla is not rude or immodest, but she is very frank in dealing with reproductive issues in the animal world. You need to judge how mature your own children are regarding what they do and don’t know (and what you do and don’t want them to know) about subjects that could effect their modesty.
This is one of the most interesting books I have in my home library. I cant’ think of anything anyone might want to know about country living that wouldn’t be in this book!
This incredible book has just been updated for the 9th time! I just can’t imagine anything about country living that isn’t in here. The newest edition now has websites and mail-order information.
One the best parts of the book is the very first chapter: Oddments. This chapter is a primer on living self-sufficiently and simply. There are things in here that I’m sure many of us have NEVER thought of: how climate can effect how you build, there are actually schools of country living, giving birth by yourself and…did you know that it’s legal in 41 states to care for your own dead?! :-/
But this book is also absolutely full of useful and entertaining information that anyone from the city slicker who just wants to grow window herbs, to the back-woods camper, to those who really want to live a primitive, simple life-style can use in daily living. Carla Emery has thought of everything, assembled it in a very readable format and writes in such a personal, inviting way. You will find it so hard to put this massive, nearly 900 page volume down.
New farm families and interested homeschoolers will benefit immensely from her
information on animal breeding, cleaning fish, selecting the best laying hens, questions to ask yourself before buying a goat, slaughtering/butchering cows and pigs, milking cows and goats, making cheeses, raising and drying herbs, home businesses, bee keeping, rabbit breeding, animal housing and fencing, homemade cosmetics, gardening for everyone from the beginner to the pro. This list doesn’t even scratch the surface!I do, however, recommend that a parent monitor while youngsters are reading this. Carla is not rude or immodest, but she is very frank in dealing with reproductive issues in the animal world. You need to judge how mature your own children are regarding what they do and don’t know (and what you do and don’t want them to know) about subjects that could effect their modesty.
This is one of the most interesting books I have in my home library. I cant’ think of anything anyone might want to know about country living that wouldn’t be in this book!
Blessings from Ohio...Kim W<><
This is a wonderful book. I am always pulling it out..especially as I am planning our garden.. and yes, it's only January but I am planning my garden :) The joys of Cal :)
ReplyDeleteVery neat, I will have to see if I can find the book local. I grew up in the country, on a farm of sorts (we had cows, chickens, and a horse) and loved every minute. I want my kids to be able to grow up the same way, but for now we make due with our 2 acres in the rural suburbs. ;) We keep our own cattle out at my parents place, so we're never lacking for cloven beast to dote on. :)
ReplyDeleteThank you for allowing us to link back to your blog. We used to print and mail the newsletter, but that got a big too pricy. So, we blog it instead. There are mostly young ladies that read it, and the vast majority of them come from home schooled backgrounds, and can truly appreciate the words of women that are much like their own mothers. Never underestimate the role of an encourager. Even if we're reading something we've heard a thousand times from our own mothers, it's still so good to read again. It's a lot like the Word of God, we can know it deep in our hearts, but we benefit from reading it over and over. The things which we know as Truth, our ears love to hear (and our eyes read!). Thanks for being one of those people, who share the Truth of the Word in love and with grace! Have a blessed Wednesday!
"Have you been asking God what He is going to do? He will never tell you. God does not tell you what He is going to do; He reveals to you Who He is."
ReplyDelete— Oswald Chambers (My Utmost for His Highest: Selections for Everyday)
Kim, read this and thought of you. Blessings!
One of my very favorites as well! Blessings, Lea
ReplyDelete