Author(s): Liz Wright

Gardening and DIY

This invaluable reference book provides comprehensive guidance on how to live closer to nature. Whether you simply want to grow your own vegetables (there are details on how to grow over 100 vegetables, fruits and herbs) or intend to go the whole hog and relocate to the county, "Self-Sufficiency" will expertly guide you through every aspect of self-sufficiency for the 21st century. It is an up-to-date reference to the key concepts of self-sufficient living, including low-carbon energy and traditional skills such as preserving and dairying. It has the best advice on planning which food to grow and which animals to raise so that you can feed yourself throughout the year. It is suitable for both city-dwellers and small-holders. It includes real-life experiences that chart the highs and lows of living the self-sufficiency dream. Written by an expert in the field, "Self-Sufficiency" is the perfect book for families and individuals who want to make the move towards a more gentle and sustainable way of living off the land. Contents: Getting started. What is self-sufficiency?; Before you begin; How self-sufficient can you be?; Moving to the country; The road to self-sufficiency. First steps; Look to the land; Working the land; Storage, machinery and tools; Boundaries; Working with wildlife; Growing your own. Why grow your own; Growing produce in small spaces; Planning your plot; Preparing a new vegetable plot; Improving your soil; Composting; Sowing and propagating; Growing under cover; Watering and feeding; Mulching and weeding; Pruning and training; Supporting and protecting plants; Saving seed; Pests and diseases; Attracting wildlife; Timetable of planting and harvesting; Vegetable directory; Fruit directory; Herb directory; Growing cereals; Raising your own. Livestock to the land; Keeping chickens; Keeping ducks; Keeping geese; Keeping turkeys; Keeping quail and other fowl; Hatching and rearing poultry; Keeping bees; Keeping rabbits; Keeping pigs; Keeping goats; Keeping sheep; Keeping cows; Keeping horses, ponies and donkeys; Keeping camelids; Keeping rare breeds; Breed date chart; Food from the wild. Natural abundance; The wild food calendar; Identification guide; Game shooting and fishing; From crop to kitchen. Preserving; Drying; Freezing; Jams and chutneys; Pickling, salting and preserving in oil; Bottling; Grains and bread; Dairying; Meat; Brewing; Self-sufficiency in the home. Becoming and remaining self-sufficient; Reducing energy consumption; Buildings and insulation; Solar power; Wind turbines; Water power; Heat pumps; Cookers and stoves; Sewage; Harvesting water; Making your own; The naturally clean home; Making candles and soap; Spinning; Dyeing; Weaving; Knitting; Tanning; Index.