I quite openly admit I have no skills related to running a farm. I grew up in a small hamlet with sixteen houses and my next door neighbor was a farmer. Does that count for having farming roots?

When I was eight years old my parents bought a milk cow and I had to do the milking at nights while my dad was at work. So I guess I remember getting stepped on and being hit in the head with Mindy’s tail. We had the cow for a year or so and then butchered her. I remember thinking during Sunday afternoon meals that Mindy tasted really good and I was way glad not to have to milk the beast anymore. I hope milking cows is like riding a bike. I’m not really convinced of that but maybe if I say it enough it will be so.

So in an attempt to get ready for the fast arriving spring I had my wife go and pick me up any books at the library that even remotely revolved around homesteading etc. Here is the list of books she came home with.

  • The Self Reliant Homestead – Charles A. Sanders
  • Roast Chicken and Other Stories – Simon Hopkinson
  • The Clay-Pot Cookbook – Georgia MacLeod Sales and Grover Sales
  • Vinegar, Duct Tape, Milk Jugs and More – Earl Proulx
  • Not Buying It – Judith Levine
  • Off the Grid Homes – Lori Ryker
  • Made from Scratch – Jenna Woginrich

So I get couple cookbooks, some stuff about being cheap and few books that look kind of interesting. Any guesses on which ones I think look interesting?

In my wifes defense, she had to hurry as she had a bunch of dirty looks and requests from the librarian to speed things up a bit. I guess it’s not acceptable behavior for our three kids to push over a bookshelf or to have contests to see who can shoot the water fountain the farthest by sticking their fingers in the water spout, all while mommy looks for books for five minutes. Who knew? It’s amazing how fast our kids can destroy a place. Like seriously, five minutes.

You’d think after being married for almost fourteen years I would have noticed that “go get them yourself next time” look when she came home. Note to self, be happy with whatever the wife brings home be it food, books, clothes, fully intact children.

Any must have books that anyone knows I should read?

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The Simple Farm

4 Comments

  1. Pete January 30, 2011 at 06:35

    Just started making our own yogurt. I know, you probably started that 10 years ago. I don't know how that's supposed to help you with your farm but if you have a use for the info, let me know. I want to get into making kefir next. You going to have a milking cow? If so, you could be the contraband milk dealer around these parts. We need more of those. Nice to see the blog alove and well!

  2. thesimplefarm January 31, 2011 at 05:06

    I'd love to hear how you do yogurt. Milly has been doing yogurt and kefir for a while now but would gladly let you guest blog away on your yogurt and granola.

    I plead the 5th on the black market milk. Talk to me offline and we'll see if we can come up with a secret knock and meeting/hiding place.

  3. Pete February 3, 2011 at 04:00

    She makes kefir too, eh? That's amazing. We'll have to exchange notes or something. You let me know when you want me to guest blog, I would be honored. It would be a first for me. We'll talk later about milk. ;)

  4. Tom Stewart February 26, 2012 at 06:28

    "The Encyclopdia of Country living" by Carla Emory! This book is in its 10th edition and has it all!
    While in the Navy for 24 years, This is the one book I made sure went on deploment with me! Back then I had only a dream of some day having a "Homestead" and Carla helped me to plan and fantasize about it!
    I have had to buy this book 3 times, because I read and use it so much, I wore the first 2 out! And I'm working on wearing out the third one!
    Tom

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