The Best Homesteading Books

No matter how large or small a space I live in, it is always overflowing with books! Whether you need reference resources or something to spark your imagination, I hope you find something here that enriches your life.

I tried to emphasize a mix of foundational resources with newer works that offer truly novel additions.

Of course this list cannot possibly be complete. Please feel free to leave a comment with some of your favorites below!

Disclosure: if you visit an external link in this post and make a purchase, I may earn a commission. Read my full earnings disclosure here.

Growing Fruit and Vegetables

Four Season Harvest by Eliot Coleman

This book was my primary reference when I set up a year round hoop house in Southeast Alaska. Coleman is a farmer based in Maine, a place known for fierce winters. Coleman shows readers how to have more food for many more months.

The best part is, you will find yourself doing less work and not more if you follow his advice. If you like this book, explore Coleman’s other titles. They are all incredibly informative and highly readable. Get it here.

The Humanure Handbook by Joseph C. Jenkins

This is a thorough guide to safely composting your own waste. It features a range of designs and other options that start with a simple bucket. I know many people who have successfully implemented the bucket strategy and build more elaborate toilets using Jenkins’ methods.

Get The Humanure Handbook here.

Storey’s Guide to Growing Organic Orchard Fruits by Danny L. Barney

This book begins with site selection and ends with the business of selling your harvest. It provides detailed and clear explanations of all the steps along the way including orchard design, pruning, nutrition, and pest and disease management. Get it on Amazon.

Salad Leaves for All Seasons: Organic Growing from Pot to Plot by Charles Dowding

This is one of many excellent titles by Charles Dowding. The guide to various varieties and growing seasons is helpful at all scales, from the home plot to the multi-acre farm. Get the book right here.

Earth Care Manual by Patrick Whitefield

This is a thorough guide to permaculture practice. It is written specifically with Britain and any other cool climates in mind. Novices and knowledgeable practitioners can all learn a lot from this book.

Get the Earth Care Manual here.

Gaia’s Garden: A Guide to Home-Scale Permaculture by Toby Hemenway

This is now a classic in permaculture literature. As the title suggests, it focuses on intensive permaculture in small spaces. It is now in its second edition. Get it here.

Farming as a Business

The Organic Farming Manual by Ann Larkin Hansen

This is an extremely comprehensive guide to organic farming. It covers a wide range of topics including vegetables, livestock, soil, machinery, and keeping the whole system managed. Get the book on Amazon.

Farms With a Future: Creating and Growing a Sustainable Farm Business by Rebecca Thistlethwaite

Guidance in this book includes how to create a business plan for your small farm. There are also stories from real world farms to provide examples. The writing is clear and straightforward. Get it here.

The Organic Farmer’s Business Handbook by Richard Wiswall

Hiring? Payroll? What’s all that about? This book is a good resource for farmers who have never had to deal with these issues before. It provides several tools to track the flow of money through farm operations.

There are also sections with advice on increasing production and general farm management. Check the book out here.

The Flower Farmer: An Organic Grower’s Guide to Raising and Selling Cut Flowers by Lynn Byczynski

This book will be hugely helpful for farmers seeking to add flowers to their operation as a cash crop. It has detailed advice for selecting varieties and growing for production. It also has step by step details about successfully getting flowers to market.

Check your cooperative extension for relevant articles and publications. I ran a successful farmers’ market table using a cooperative extension publication as my guide.

The cooperative extension also covers topics for larger scale farmers. For example, the Alabama Cooperative Extension offers a “Quickbooks for Farmers” class for only $25. The Wyoming Cooperative extension publications feature detailed articles on cattle markets and marketing costs. Get the book.

Fiction

This list could go on and on. These are a few of my dearest favorites.

The Snow Child by Eowyn Ivey

This is a relatively new novel based on an old Russian fable. It tells the tale of an older couple trying to make a living off the land after tragedy. A seemingly magical child enters their heretofore grim life. The beautiful yet unyielding Alaska landscape is a strong presence throughout. Get it on Amazon.

English Creek by Ivan Doig

This rich story’s protagonist is a young man following in his father’s footsteps. The novel chronicles the lives of Montana farmers and wilderness rangers in the 1930s.

The young man loves fishing, riding and the outdoors. Over the course of one summer, he begins grappling with the complexities of adult life. You can find it here.

Watch With Me by Wendell Berry

This is a beautiful collection of interconnected short stories. Extremes of the human experience are set against an imaginary agrarian town. Neighbors work to hold each other together. You can find the book here.

Little House on the Prairie by Laura Ingalls Wilder

If you haven’t read these books since you were a child, enjoy them again! Do you have new readers to share them with?

Some people point out that in “real life,” the Ingalls family did not live continuously on the prairie. They did have to abandon their country life periodically and rely on family.

This does not ruin the books for me, personally. To the contrary, it makes me relate to the family more. Many of us are often caught between our homestead dream and other realities. Get it here.

Cooking and Preserving

This is certainly not a complete list- we are so lucky to live in a world full of amazing cookbooks.

Good to the Grain by Kim Boyce

I spent time on a boat with someone who brought a grain mill aboard with her. I thought she was out of her mind. It turned out that she blew my mind instead. The incredible flavor of the foods she made with her freshly milled flours was like nothing I had ever had.

Freshly milled flours from whole grains cannot just be substituted for all purpose wheat-based flours. Each recipe gives results with incredible texture and taste that showcases the grains’ unique flavors. get the book here.

The Splendid Grain by Rebecca Wood

Every recipe I have ever prepared from this book has been a home run. It is divided into sections by grain, such as corn, quinoa, buckwheat, rye, millet, wheat (including farro), etc.

Each section starts with the simplest preparation of each whole grain and storage tips. Recipes include salads, soups, breads, pastries, and desserts. Many recipes are gluten free. Get The Splendid Grain here.

Wild Fermentation by Sandor Katz

This is a book I constantly reference. Katz gives very clear instruction and diagrams on the “how-to” of fermenting. The book features recipes for fermented foods from around the world. My personal favorites are beet kraut and fruit kim chi. I make the fruit kim chi from wild huckleberries and use it like a salsa.

It’s also a great book to turn to if you have an overabundance of a particular crop. Find out more here.

Moosewood Restaurant Cooks for a Crowd: Recipes with a Vegetarian Emphasis for 24 or More by the Moosewood Collective

This book is my go-to to make big batches of food. It has saved my bacon on several occasions! (Figuratively- of course there’s no bacon in the Moosewood cookbook.) The soups are the most exceptional, but everything is great. Get it here.

The Joy of Cooking by Irma S. Rombauer

My mother taught me the basics are the most important part of cooking. In my opinion, this is still the best collection of how to make the basics. I am also often surprised when I have an ingredient I don’t know what to do with. When I look in the index, more often than not there is a recipe. Check it out here.

The Ball (R) Blue Book (R) Guide to Preserving

This is the tried-and-true guide to how to can everything. Brought to you by the people who make the jars, it should be considered an essential reference. It is fun to track down old editions, even as new ones come out. Instructions, canning safety, and efficiency tips accompany hundreds of recipes.

There are lots of hip pickle books out there, and I love trying their recipes. However, this is the book that is here to stay.

About Food

Food Politics: How the Food Industry Influences Nutrition and Health by Marion Nestle

Nutritionist and activist Marion Nestle explores how the business of food influences public health. She exposes how food lobbyists influence government policies including subsidies and nutrition advice.

This book originally came out in 2003. The new edition contains an update on the current state of food politics. Michael Pollan of Omnivore’s Dilemma fame wrote the foreword for the new edition. Check it out here.

Foraging

Eat the Weeds by Ben Charles Harris

Are you frustrated by lambsquarter taking over your beds? I used to be, too, until I tasted it! Take full advantage of your own uninvited guests, and learn to find wild and feral edibles wherever you roam.

The book covers nutritional and preparation information in addition to identification. Get it here.

Stalking the Wild Asparagus, and Stalking the Wild Asparagus, Field Guide Edition by Euell Gibbons

When the first edition of this book came out in the 1950s, it was quite revolutionary. The classic book was re-released most recently in 2005. The book includes edible plant identification and recipes. Gibbons also shares quite a bit of his philosophy of living.

The Peterson Field Guide to Eastern Edible Wild Plants by Lee Peterson

As the title implies, this book focuses on the Eastern and Central United States. This guide focuses almost entirely on plant identification. The book identifies poisonous plants in addition to edible plants, which is extremely helpful.

There is less emphasis on preparation or lifestyle than in Gibbons’ book above. The two books together make good companions. Get it here.

All That the Rain Promises and More by David Arora

One secret to field identification is spending time with your field guides at home. Arora makes it easy to accomplish that.

This book is fun to read, well written, informative, and full of great pictures. Of course it will also help you to identify, harvest, and prepare a wide variety of delicious edible mushrooms. Check the book out on Amazon.

Four Legged Livestock

I would make the same recommendation for every four legged animal: start with the Storey’s Guide. For example, Storey’s Guide to Raising Pigs, Storey’s Guide to Raising Rabbits, etc. The authors of each guide are experts in their fields. The writing is readable. Each guide covers breeds, care, and other necessary aspects of raising livestock.

Regularly check local cooperative extension publications and announcements. There are informative articles such as “Which Market Gives Me the Best Price for My Cattle?” (Wyoming) It is also a great place to stay updated on disease outbreaks in your area.

The Backyard Homestead Guide to Raising Farm Animals by Gail Damerow

Gail Damerow is one of the nation’s foremost experts on small scale chicken rearing. This guide covers making cheese and other topics in addition to animal care. Get it here.

Whole Beast Butchery: The Complete Visual Guide to Beef, Lamb, and Pork by Ryan Farr with Brigit Binns

This book is written from a chef’s perspective. It contains hundreds of photos to guide you through the butchering process. It also takes care to describe the different cuts you can create. It covers tools, hygiene and other relevant topics as well. Get it here.

Poultry

The Chicken Health Handbook by Gail Damerow

This is an essential guide to keeping chickens healthy and treating them when they are not. It is extremely comprehensive. It is now in its second edition. Get it here.

Storey’s Guide to Raising Chickens by Gail Damerow, and Storey’s Guide to Raising Poultry by Glenn Drowns

These books contain all the basic information to get someone started raising poultry, and in depth advice seasoned farmers will appreciate. They are a great starting point for any question about poultry. They are appropriate for the home or the farm scale. Both are in their 4th edition.

Pure Poultry: Living Well with Heritage Chickens, Turkeys and Ducks by Victoria Redhed Miller

If you have been raising poultry for awhile, this is a fun book for you. There are hundreds of poultry breeds out there. This book details heritage breeds and their quirks. Get it here.

Science and Nature

Winter World by Bernd Heinrich

Did you know that some frogs freeze solid for the entire winter? Or that chickadees’ social behavior is an essential survival tool in freezing temperatures?

This extremely readable book explores animals’ adaptations to cold temperatures. It describes how animals as diverse as turtles, mice, and birds adapt both their behavior and their body chemistry to the cold. Get it here.

Mycelium Running: How Mushrooms Can Help Save the World by Paul Stamets

This book talks about how growing mushrooms can make a positive impact on the environment. It also describes the fascinating underground world of mushrooms and mycelia. Get it here.

Lynn Margulis: The Life and Legacy of a Scientific Rebel by Dorion Sagan

Lynn Margulis’ theories were so revolutionary, she had to fight to be taken seriously. When her work on cell evolution became accepted, it became a major stepping stone in human understanding. Margulis had other far reaching hypotheses including the Gaia hypothesis. This book discusses her life and her legacy. Get it here.

The Best American Science and Nature Writing (Series)

These are released every year, with different editors. The style is similar to the “Best American Short Stories” series. The writing is accessible and interesting for both scientists and non-scientists. Get it here.

The Edge of the Sea by Rachel Carson

This beautiful book is much lesser known than the historic “Silent Spring.” Carson writes in loving and intimate detail about intertidal life. get the book on Amazon.

Beekeeping

Out of the hundreds of books on beekeeping, I selected these three to get you started.

Homegrown Honey Bees: An Absolute Beginner’s Guide to Beekeeping Your First Year by Alethea Morrison

This book contains a lot of very helpful photos. It also explains topics with beginners as the target audience. It is a great book to get started. Get it here.

The Beekeeper’s Handbook by Diana Sammataro

Now in multiple editions, this book is a foundational reference for hobby beekeepers. Learn more.

The Hive and The Honeybee by L. L. Langstroth

This book is the most like a textbook. It weighs in at over 1,000 pages. It is a major step up from an absolute beginner’s guide, but terrific for anyone who wants to continue their education. Get it here.

Sustainable Construction

Cordwood Building: A Comprehensive Guide to the State of the Art by Rob Roy

This is a must have for anyone considering cordwood building. It covers topics from taking care of the logs to framing and integrating wiring. It contains a multitude of design options and describes decades of research on cordwood techniques. Get it here.

The Straw Bale House by Athena Swentzell Steen, Bill Steen and David Bainbridge

This book describes the many benefits of building with straw bales. Then it helps you go get to it!

The Not So Big House & Creating the Not So Big House by Sarah Susanka

These books predate the current “Tiny House” craze. They explore details of construction that save space, energy, and materials. The results are extremely beautiful. The designs are also highly liveable for the house inhabitants. Get it here.

Environmentalism

Affluenza: How overconsumption is killing us – and how to fight back by John de Graaf, David Wann, and Thomas H Naylor

This book explores how consumer culture is unhealthy to the point of being an illness: “Affluenza.” The writers examine how consumers lands of plenty experience anxiety, inferiority, and insecurity.

Campy humor is interspersed with sobering facts and figures. For example, an imaginary news broadcast describes “The Joneses” (of “keeping up with the Joneses) waving a white flag in surrender. Get it here.

The Sixth Extinction: An Unnatural History by Elizabeth Kolbert

This Pulitzer Prize winning book features rich and in-depth science writing. Kolbert looks at ecosystems in trouble and delivers a sobering look at where the planet may be heading.

Although she argues that humans have gravely imperiled many species on earth, she does not rail against humanity. The focus is squarely on scientific research. Get it here.

Silent Spring by Rachel Carson

This book is extremely famous for helping to ban DDT in the United States. It is also beautifully written and richly infused with deep knowledge of the natural world. Get it here.

Seeds of Change by Jen Cullerton Johnson

This book is meant for children aged 5-9. It tells the story of Wangari Maathi, a Kenyan environmentalist. Maathi’s work wove women’s empowerment together with environmentalism. She was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2004.

Miscellaneous

How to Brew by John Palmer

If you don’t live by bread alone, you might want to make your own beer. This is a very thorough introductory guide to the technique of making beer. There is also a chapter of recipes, but individual recipes are not the main emphasis.

Many brewers I know obtain their recipes from their brewing suppliers, who provide them as a courtesy. The first edition of this book is available as a free PDF. The 4th edition is available for purchase.

Fairy Gardening: Creating Your Own Magical Miniature Garden by Julie Bawden-Davis and Beverly Turner

Let’s face it: there’s a lot of drudge work on the homestead. Fun, beauty, magic and imagination are important too! There are many fairy garden books out there.

Some of them are essentially toy catalogues. I like this one because it has a strong focus on miniature plants, and how to grow and care for them. Check the book out here.

One Last Plug for Your Cooperative Extension Publications

One older couple I have great respect for has a filing cabinet dedicated to all cooperative extension pamphlets. It contains thirty years of solid advice on a wide range of topics.

Spend some time browsing what your local cooperative extension has to offer. You can find them online or go to their office. Their pamphlets are free. They have advice on forestry, construction, and farm-related business in addition to growing advice.

Cooperative extension agents and authors run the gamut from fully conventional to fully organic farmers. You may not see eye to eye with every one of them on every technique. However, they may still have information that is valuable to you.

Your cooperative extension can also inform you about issues a national publication can not. For example, you might learn a lot about raising horses from Storey’s Guide. Your cooperative extension could tell you if Potomac Horse Fever was diagnosed in your state last summer.

Some cooperative extensions also put out books for sale. These are often extremely useful to your own specific natural environment.

We are so fortunate we can never finish reading all the great books out there. I hope you found something you enjoy. What are your essentials? Please feel free to leave a comment.