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Summary: For Twenty Years......
Review: I have owned this book since 1980 and have looked in vain to purchase another copy. I am thrilled to have found it online! I am a city girl with aspirations to become more self reliant and have found this book both inspirational and facinating as well as unbelievably informative. It is written more like a novel, and myself and others who have read it say its almost impossible to put down! If you buy it I guarantee you will love it as much as I do!
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Summary: Wow! Wow!! Wow!!!
Review: This is it folks. This gem is unbelievable. In my life I must have purchased over 3,000 cookbooks - probably 500 from amazon alone. Although this is NOT a cookbook (it does have many recipies), this is "THE" book! Read the previous reviews. I'll echo them. Be warned though, it is going to take you months to get through it all. It is THAT detailed. There are no pretty, color, glossy pictures - rather a weatlh of information I think would take you and I years to find. Carla Emery pulled this one off for us! It took her 24 years to produce (read about it in her bio in the back of the book).
Want to learn how to churn butter? ...turn to page 759. Need info on raising chickens? ...turn to page 619. How about topics like this: practical advice on milking a goat, canning peaches, cooking on a wood stove, how to catch a pig, buying land, drying your herbs, making sourdough spiced apple cookies, secrets of quick pickles, homemade spiced orange tea, preserving meat. Also learn how to: travel with animals, what to do if you see a downed animal, how to make good gelatin, freezing fish, raising chickens, feeding geese, vetting and grooming a goat, butchering a cow, making home made cheese - I mean this gem is loaded.
I also thought what a great gift this would make for someone bedridden - say in traction in the hospital? This will certainly keep ones interest since it covers THOUSANDS of topics - hence the name; The ENCYCLOPEDIA of Country Living. (Move over Martha Stewart!) Give this book to some of your city slicker friends - they might learn a thing or two about life outside of a 10 x 10' garden. Hey - get one for yourself, a dozen or so for Christmas gifts, a gross for the Annual Church Bizaar. Enjoy! (DISCLAIMER: I am in no way receiving compensation for this review - heck, I just loved the book!)
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Summary: Loved it!
Review: This is a great book! I thouroughly enjoyed it. It also made me thing about a lot of things I have never thought about before. It is definately one that you want to add to your library. The author has some excellent information.
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Summary: No new bride should be without it!
Review: I purchased this book back in 1981 (the original edition) and have found it absolutely to be the best book ever on homesteading, housewifing, cooking, and the preservation of old skills - that momma' never taught you. Carla's wit and love of life make it an easy read. Absolutely indespensible! I am buying another copy as my old copy has yellowed with age and use. Everyting from canning to animal husbandry is covered. And this book WILL be a constant reference.
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Summary: Great book!
Review: Amazon sent me this book by accident when I ordered another book. When I saw the cover and read some. I called and bought it off them, and had the other book shipped back to me. Turned out to be the best mistake ever! Live in the city for now, but plan on livin self succficently soon. This book is a weath of knowledge, and used almost daily, even for my small lil city garden :). will be using much more in the years to come!
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Summary: If you only have one book, make it this one!
Review: An earlier edition of this book was the only book my husband and I had in common when we met each other more than a decade ago. It certainly boded well for our relationship!No matter what is going on on the homestead, I can turn to this book and find out whatever it is I need to know. I learned to make bread from this book. I learned to make soap from this book. Last year I tried out some pickle recipes. Ages ago I learned all about hog butchering and when I finally helped with one, well, I knew what to do. But not only is this book thorough and detailed, it is warm and human. I always check out the new editions to find out what is new in the Carla saga.
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Summary: Well Worn in Our Country Home
Review: As a city girl who moved to the country 5 years ago I have been 'lost' numerous times in this farm life. What to feed the baby ducks? How to milk the goat? ...dry herbs? ...preserve all the produce from the immense garden? The list of questions goes on, and the answers are all within the book! This book is my most recommended book to friends, family and visitors to my website GoodbyeCityLife.com. Carla's personality is within every paragraph on every page. She's a wealth of information, a friend you haven't made yet, but get to reap the benefits of knowing.
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Summary: A book that will be around for a long time to come....
Review: Writing a review of this book seems tobe waste considering all the praise that has already been lavished on it, but I just wanted to add my two cents worth. The book is everything it saids it is, an encyclopedia of a simpler lifestyle.. (NOTE: A country/rural lifestyle is simple, it is NOT easy! ) Almost all aspects of country living are covered here with short "fun" quizes to test yourself interspersed here and there. An added bonus is that Ms. Emery "forgets" she is writing a "how-to" book and gives the reader some really beautiful writing. This is a book that truly offers something for almost everyone.....
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Summary: This is the One
Review: Buy this! An amazing collection of information on most everything you need to know about country living. The one REAL homesteaders use.
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Summary: old hand
Review: I bought a copy of this 25 years ago, when Carla published this herself. I can testify that I referred to it many times before it was borrowed and never returned. I'll be happy to purchase this again. Carla's ideas proved to be useful and adaptable for an ex-New Yorker living in the Australian bush
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