Book Review: The Encyclopedia of Country Living
Some time ago I came across mention of a woman named Carla Emery who was a real advocate for self-sustained living and homesteading (see her website’s about page here CarlaEmery.com). I decided to buy her book: The Encyclopedia of Country Living and when it arrived from Amazon, I couldn’t believe the treasure I stumbled on.
This book is a huge resource for everyone. For those of us that live in the city, in the country, or dreaming of one day living in the country–everyone will find great value in it. Here’s part of the information on the cover:
Practical advice, invaluable information, and collected wisdom for folks and farmers in the country, city, and anywhere in between. Includes how to cultivate a garden, buy land, bake bread, raise farm animals, make sausage, can peaches, milk a goat, grow herbs, churn butter, build a chicken coop, catch a pig, cook on a wood stove, and much, much more.
The much, much more part is not an exaggeration. The book is massive at 885 pages (including index) and has everything from how to dehorn a goat, create and live with renewable energy sources, deliver a baby alone, pond fish farming, mail order chicks, all kinds of planting and gardening information, food preservation, recipes, cooking, working with bees…I could go on forever. I can’t think of one thing that the book doesn’t cover, it’s that thorough.
If you’re interested in buying the book, you can find it at Carla’s website or at Amazon (a little cheaper). You won’t believe the price ;).
If you do pick up a copy for yourself or already have it, please let me know what you think. Personally–I’m thrilled to pieces.
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Posted in Reference & Notes | 
( 3 )
07 Feb 2007 at 1:36 pm
I have this book and it is wonderful! I live on a large cattle ranch, raise my own chickens, and have a big garden. Very few days go by when I don’t pick up this book. I refer to it when baking, gardening, and even toilet training my little one! If I were to have only one book in my house it would be Carla Emery’s. But the big thing is you can use it even if you don’t live in the country…I loved reading bits her life story scattered throughout the book, quite an interesting read
08 Feb 2007 at 10:03 am
Thanks for the tip Idris!
Kansas Allen I’ve only been able to sit down with the book the past couple days (after staring at it for weeks!), I don’t think I’ve ever come across a book like this. I just love it.
I noticed on Carla’s website, the homepage, that she died in the fall of 2005. Very sad for her family, but what a wonderful gift she left behind.
10 Feb 2007 at 3:25 am
Oh my! I didn’t know…I actually had tears well up in my eyes
That is so sad. She has touched so many lives, her memory will forever live on in the books she wrote.
Kansas