Small-Scale Homesteading: A Sustainable Guide to Gardening, Keeping Chickens, Maple Sugaring, Preserving the Harvest, and More

Small-Scale Homesteading is a comprehensive guide that provides homesteading knowledge and instruction to help people grow their own food, tap maple trees, raise chickens, plan a vegetable garden, make DIY recipes, and more. It is written by homesteaders Stephanie Thurow and Michelle Bruhn, who have over thirty-five years of combined experience.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 152 pages
Publication date: 11 May 2023
Publisher: Skyhorse Publishing

Small-Scale Homesteading is a comprehensive guide for homesteaders of all levels, written by experienced homesteaders Stephanie Thurow and Michelle Bruhn. With over thirty-five years of combined experience, they have taught thousands of people across the globe how to garden, preserve food, tend backyard chickens, cook from scratch, and care for their families with natural homemade alternatives. The book offers a wealth of information and inspiration, covering topics such as growing your own food, tapping maple trees for homemade syrup, raising a small flock of laying hens, soil health and composting, keeping chickens, planning a vegetable garden, DIY recipes and projects for the home and garden, seed saving and planting tips, handmade candles, soaps, lotions, and cleaning solutions, companion and succession planting, extending your growing season, approved food preservation methods, maple sugaring, and much more.

One of the key benefits of small-scale homesteading is its local impact. By growing your own food, you can reduce your reliance on store-bought produce, which often travels long distances and is associated with higher carbon emissions. Additionally, homesteading can help to promote soil health and composting, which are essential for maintaining healthy ecosystems and producing nutrient-rich food.

Keeping chickens is another popular aspect of small-scale homesteading. Chickens not only provide eggs and meat but also help to keep pests and weeds under control in the garden. They also provide a source of entertainment and companionship for many homesteaders. Planning a vegetable garden using annuals and perennials is another important topic covered in Small-Scale Homesteading. Annuals are plants that grow and die in one season, while perennials come back year after year. By combining these two types of plants, you can create a garden that is productive and sustainable.

DIY recipes and projects for the home and garden are also included in the book. These projects range from simple homemade candles and soaps to more complex projects such as building a chicken coop or making a solar water heater. Seed saving and planting tips are also provided, as well as instructions on how to make your own natural cleaning solutions.

Companion and succession planting are two important techniques that homesteaders can use to increase productivity and sustainability. Companion planting involves planting different plants together to enhance their growth and pest control. Succession planting involves planting different crops in succession to ensure a continuous supply of food throughout the growing season.

Extending your growing season is another important aspect of small-scale homesteading. By using techniques such as cold frames, hoop houses, and row covers, you can extend the growing season and produce fresh food even in colder climates.

Approved food preservation methods are also explained in detail in Small-Scale Homesteading. These methods include canning, freezing, dehydrating, and fermenting, and they allow homesteaders to preserve their excess produce and extend the shelf life of their food.

Maple sugaring is another popular aspect of small-scale homesteading. Maple trees are abundant in many areas and can be tapped for their sap, which is used to make maple syrup. Sugaring is a fun and rewarding hobby that can provide a source of income and a delicious treat for your family.

In conclusion, Small-Scale Homesteading is a comprehensive guide for homesteaders of all levels. Written by experienced homesteaders with over thirty-five years of combined experience, the book offers a wealth of information and inspiration for those who want to live a more sustainable and self-sufficient lifestyle. Whether you are a beginner or an experienced homesteader, there is something in this book for everyone. By following the advice and techniques outlined in Small-Scale Homesteading, you can grow your own food, tap maple trees for homemade syrup, raise a small flock of laying hens, and more. You can also learn about soil health and composting, keep chickens, plan a vegetable garden, DIY recipes and projects, seed saving and planting tips, handmade candles, soaps, lotions, and cleaning solutions, companion and succession planting, extending your growing season, approved food preservation methods, maple sugaring, and much more. So why not start your small-scale homesteading journey today and enjoy the benefits of living a more sustainable and self-sufficient lifestyle?

Weight: 522g
Dimension: 191 x 229 x 14 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781510770362