The Library for Preppers and Homesteaders

What books should you have in your library?

You have a library right?

I have a couple thousand on just about every topic, but I really don't need all of them.

I am putting this list together of 5 books (plus a bonus) I think are important, that you can get from Amazon, and yes they will be from affiliate links, but well worth your time and investment.

1.  The Self-Sufficient Life and How to Live it. By John Seymour

I have the previous edition of this book and it is pure gold for those trying to make their way on their own small piece of land.

2. The Encyclopedia of Country Living by Carla Emery

This is the 50th Anniversary edition, but any of the editions are great!

This is the book that launched me into seriously pursuing the move to a homestead.

My wife and I even corresponded with Carla about one of the later editions before she passed away!

3.The Disaster Preparedness Handbook: A Guide for Families by Dr. Arthur T. Bradley

Very detailed book going into most aspects of surviving a disaster.

This book has some good and handy forms that you will find useful in the back.

4. Back to Basics  edited by Abigail Gehring

Another more or less complete guide to doing it yourself on the homestead.

Excellent and popular book!

5. The Backyard Homesteader by Carleen Madigan

Even if you live on a large spread this book give you lots of insight into doing this in a small efficient way for big results!

Bonus: You can Farm by Joel Salatin

While I don't own this one, I must have checked it out of our library 100 times!

Joel takes you through many, many ideas on making an income on a homestead.

If I could pick one book on learning to make a living from the land this would be it.

So there are 6 of the best books out there to put in your library.

It was difficult finding ones that were still in print and immensely useful.

Check them out and if you can't afford them try your local library's inter-library loan, they can probably get them for you.

Still clinging to my God and my guns

Randy

30 Days of Survival - Day 5 One for me, One for a Friend

For day five of 30 days of survival we are going to start working on your pantry. Your pantry is your food supply. If you couldn't walk out your door for an undetermined amount of time this is what you have to live on.

How long would that be?

Your first pantry goal should be to have a 30 day supply of food for each person in your household on hand.

"But I can't afford that"! you say.

Trust me I understand.

So how do you start building up your pantry to a basic 30 day level?

You start with the one for me, one for a friend technique, every time you go grocery shopping. When you buy a canned good or some other food that won't spoil, you buy one extra (one for a friend). If you do this with one or two things every trip you will never notice the increase in cost and soon you will have a small stockpile of food in your pantry.

Extra cans of tuna, soup, veggies, poptarts, sardines, canned fruit or coffee...all this will store well. Just make sure you rotate your stock so the same can of tomatoes is not stuck in the back of your cupboard for five years and tastes metallic when you finally open it. (don't ask how I know) A good idea is to write the date on the top of the can when you put it away.

Boxed mixes need to be monitored closely, because sometimes they will get bugs even if unopened...I always tell my wife there is nothing in the buggy box that wasn't in there before the bugs hatched, but she still gets upset and throws it away or feeds it to the chickens.

You can do this with other things than food too. Ammo, toilet paper, toothpaste or even motor oil...anything you consume, and will store well.

After you have your 30 day supply of pantry food it is a good time to start buying small quantities of storage food. Freeze dried #10 cans, grain buckets, etc.
Most serious preppers strive for at least one year of storage food for each family member.

Start today and build up your pantry.

Still clinging to my God and my guns,
Randy