Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

I briefly met Carla Emery years ago. She was a very warm, giving, and likeable person (sadly I later learned she died shortly after I met her), and she was the real deal. She had grown up on a farm, homesteading, and living and learning from her relatives many of the skills she writes about in her book (she admitted some parts of the book were researched--not surprising given this book is truly encyclopedic). But for her the skills she writes about was a way of life. There's a good reason this book is a classic with multiple editions. It includes more information on country skills than most of us will ever use. It boogles my mind how she put it all together. Back to Basics is another classic in this genre, but that was written by a whole team of writers. This was all Carla. Reading this is like spending time in a room full of homesteaders and listening to them chat and swap stories. Of course, you probably won't need to know how to give birth to a baby without a doctor around or how to midwife/husband a baby calf into the world in a snow storm, but it's comforting to know you could find out how if necessary, even if the power is out. Most likely you'll need if for things like mending a fence or growing grain. Yep, it's in here. And Carla's likeability comes through in print. This book is a classic. Other books likely of interest: >Your Cabin in the Woods, which is a great starter book for anyone thinking about getting their own place in the country, as it is a very helpful combination of both practical and philosophical. >Back to Basics: A Complete Guide to Traditional Skills, Third Edition, also great reference for all things homesteading. >Traditional Breads of the World: 275 Easy Recipes from Around the Globe Like The Encyclopedia of Country Living, these books have also stood the test of time.