Practical guide to homesteading, rural living and backwoods survival as told through a fictional couple's experiences in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. Features solar heating and food preparation, building earth sheltered housing, and organic gardening and food preparation.

In the fall of 1913, Laura and Earle Smith, a young Iowa couple, made the gutsy—some might say foolhardy—decision to homestead in Wyoming. There, they built their first house, a claim shanty half dug out of the ground, hauled every drop of their water from a spring over a half-mile away, and fought off rattlesnakes and boredom on a daily basis. Soon, other families moved to nearby homesteads, and the Smiths built a house closer to those neighbors. The growing community built its first public schoolhouse and celebrated the Fourth of July together—although the festivities were cut short because of snow. By 1917, however, the Smiths had moved back to Iowa, leasing their land to a local rancher and using the proceeds to fund Earle’s study of law. The Smiths lived in Iowa for most of the rest of their lives, and sometime after the mid-1930s, Laura wrote this clear, vivid, witty, and self-deprecating memoir of their time in Wyoming, a book that captures the pioneer spirit of the era and of the building of community against daunting odds.

This is probably the most important section in the while catalog. With the times a'changin' as they are, we all need to better prepared for the uncertain changes ahead. The books in this section will give you a head start. Tired of paying rent? Need privacy away from nosy neighbors? This book will show how a modest financial investment can enable you to place a travel-trailer or other RV on a suitable piece of land and make the necessary improvements for a comfortable home in which to live! This book covers the cost break-down, tools needed, how to select the land and travel-trailer or RV, and how to install a septic system, as well as water, power (including solar panels), heat and refrigeration systems.

In the ’60s it was called the "back to the land" movement, and in Helen and Scott Nearings’ day, it was "living the good life." Whatever the term, North Americans have always yearned for a simpler way. But how do you accomplish that today? Blending inspiration with practical how-to’s, Rural Renaissance captures the American dream of country living for contemporary times. Journey with the authors and experience their lessons, laughter and love for the land as they trade the urban concrete maze for a five-acre organic farm and bed and breakfast in southwestern Wisconsin. Rural living today is a lot more than farming. It’s about a creative, nature-based and more self-sufficient lifestyle that combines a love of squash, solar energy, skinny-dipping and serendipity . . . The many topics explored in Rural Renaissance include: "right livelihood" and the good life organic gardening and permaculture renewable energy and energy conservation wholesome organic food, safe water and a natural home simplicity, frugality and freedom green design and recycled materials community, friends and raising a family independence and interdependence wildlife conservation and land stewardship. An authentic tale of a couple whose pioneering spirit and connection to the land reaches out to both the local and global community to make their dream come true, Rural Renaissance will appeal to a wide range of Cultural Creatives, free agents, conservation entrepreneurs and both arm-chair and real-life homesteaders regardless of where they live. Lisa Kivirist and John Ivanko are innkeepers, organic growers, copartners in a marketing consulting company, and have previously published books. John is also a photographer. Former advertising agency fast-trackers, they are nationally recognized for their contemporary approach to homesteading, conservation and more sustainable living. They share their farm with their son, two llamas, and a flock of free-range chickens. Rural Renaissance also offers a foreword by Bill McKibben.

Jill Winger, creator of the award-winning blog The Prairie Homestead, introduces her debut The Prairie Homestead Cookbook, including 100+ delicious, wholesome recipes made with fresh ingredients to bring the flavors and spirit of homestead cooking to any kitchen table. With a foreword by bestselling author Joel Salatin The Pioneer Woman Cooks meets 100 Days of Real Food, on the Wyoming prairie. While Jill produces much of her own food on her Wyoming ranch, you don’t have to grow all—or even any—of your own food to cook and eat like a homesteader. Jill teaches people how to make delicious traditional American comfort food recipes with whole ingredients and shows that you don’t have to use obscure items to enjoy this lifestyle. And as a busy mother of three, Jill knows how to make recipes easy and delicious for all ages. "Jill takes you on an insightful and delicious journey of becoming a homesteader. This book is packed with so much easy to follow, practical, hands-on information about steps you can take towards integrating homesteading into your life. It is packed full of exciting and mouth-watering recipes and heartwarming stories of her unique adventure into homesteading. These recipes are ones I know I will be using regularly in my kitchen." - Eve Kilcher These 109 recipes include her family’s favorites, with maple-glazed pork chops, butternut Alfredo pasta, and browned butter skillet corn. Jill also shares 17 bonus recipes for homemade sauces, salt rubs, sour cream, and the like—staples that many people are surprised to learn you can make yourself. Beyond these recipes, The Prairie Homestead Cookbook shares the tools and tips Jill has learned from life on the homestead, like how to churn your own butter, feed a family on a budget, and experience all the fulfilling satisfaction of a DIY lifestyle.

News from the Homestead is a compilation of columns detailing my adventures living as a "Modern Day Pioneer" in the heart of the Missouri Ozarks. They include my single-handedly (and without power tools) building a cabin in the woods, raising goats, sheep, rabbits, chickens, guineas, turkeys, geese, a horse, and an assortment of adopted dogs, organic gardening and raising heirloom vegetables, crafting, and navigating snakes, poachers, severe weather, sickness and death. Some of the stories are harrowing, others are humorous, most are educational, and all are 100% true.

What's up Soil Brotha's and Soil Sista's! Bobby and Sherrie Black have written an amazing book to help you begin your homesteading journey. Welcome to our little piece of the world, our one-acre suburban homestead which we call our grocery store. Where we produce and preserve healthy, nutritious and chemical free food. We are two city raised kids sharing our Adventures In Homesteading. In The last 3 years we have taught ourselves how to raise and grow our own food, medicine, cleaning products and personal hygiene products. . In this book you will find stories about our adventures in homesteading, recipes, motivational quotes and healing remedies. Once we learned we could grow and make everything from scratch we wanted to share all the information with the world. This helps to insure people will not be food insecure. We know whether you are a full homesteader or just enjoy the satisfaction of cooking or preserving healthy food for your family you will enjoy this book. We Are Influencers, and can easily be found on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and Threads. We also offer online classes, tours nd chats about healthy living, making homemade products/food and so much more! Join us on this journey and enter our world and become part of Black's Tropical Homestead's Soil Family. Together We Are Stronger, We are here to help make this amazing world a safer, healthier, happier place!