There are so many good reads out there, but sometimes we can’t decide which books because we don’t have first hand testimonies that a book is worthwhile. Well, here are some of my favorites, complete with photos, that I hope you will find helpful. Perhaps you may even want to add them to your ‘wish list’!

GUIDE TO ILLINOIS VEGETABLE GARDENING

My mother-in-law gifted this to me at a wedding shower and it’s been helpful! We are in central Illinois and, being from Tennessee, some of the most crucial information regarding gardening is different here! This book shows many tips and basics for vegetables and some fruits/perennials.

SIMPLE COUNTRY WISDOM

This book is more about homemaking as a whole, but has beautiful photos as well as tips and tricks for the home. I have gifted this book to friends many times.

HOMEMADE PANTRY

Another gift, my sister gave me this when I had expressed interest in making more items for our kitchen. I first made yogurt from this book and, although I’ve tweaked my recipe to match my own trial and error, this book’s recipe works perfectly! The author has a wee story to go along with each section. I don’t quite follow her thoughts in many areas, but the recipes and photos are very helpful.

ROSEMARY GLADSTAR’S MEDICINAL HERBS

This book is newer to me. I have already used it several times when harvesting and preparing herbs for medicinal purposes in our home. I have also purchased organic dried herbs for recipes in the book as well. Again, I don’t always follow an author’s beliefs or reasons for what they’re doing. But the information is easy to understand and makes things less scary to attempt.

BOOK OF KITCHEN KNOW-HOW

This is one book in a series for homesteaders. I had this one on my Christmas list two years ago and my sister-in-law gifted it to me. Although the pictures are all drawings and in black-and-white, it’s a very well put together reference. I’ve learned lots and put many recipes and techniques to good use.

THE BACKYARD HOMESTEAD

This is the first in the above mentioned series of homesteading books. I have also gifted this book to many! The drawings are not full color, but a brown and green style. However, that doesn’t deter the reader from getting exactly what he/she needs. One part even shows a simple farm layout for several sizes of property. Very helpful!

THE BIG BOOK OF PRESERVING THE HARVEST

If you haven’t already seen a theme here, this book was gifted to me by my brother. So many different ways of preserving, including the well-known canning! Many of these recipes have been adapted from the Ball canning book and follow handy, safe guidelines.

HOMESTEADING

Don’t let the simple title fool you, this is my ‘go-to’ reference for canning instructions! There are so many chapters listed covering topics from animals to crafts! Sweet Husband gave me this book for my birthday while we were still dating!

EVERYTHING WORTH PRESERVING

Another Melissa K. Norris book, this one is huge and absolutely full of goodness. Charts, how-to’s, recipes, and more. As soon as I heard this one was coming out, I pre-ordered it! It’s come in handy already several times, even for as new as it is.

WELCOME TO THE FARM

This is another Elliott Homestead product and is overflowing with gorgeous photos and chapters of knowledge. Each page is lovely! The chapters give lots of helpful info but are simple and stick to the basics.

A SLICE OF ORGANIC LIFE

This is a book I’ve had for so many years! The book is broken into three main sections, dependent on your property size. Above shows chapter 2, the middle-road of size. Each chapter offers loads of things to know and the pages are beautiful!

So, it sounds like a great way to build your library is by asking for books as gifts. Ha! I didn’t realize until I wrote this post just how many of my faves have been gifts over the years. No one’s homesteading library happens overnight. It’s an ongoing project, worth the wait! There are many more titles, but these are my favorites.

BONUS: one book I didn’t include above was actually on my side table and therefore ‘missed’ in the photo shoot. I was in the process of reading it, so I know it needs mentioned here:

HOMEGROWN AND HANDMADE

Not as many colored photos, but tons of reading and reference. Many great experience-earned-tips from a hands on author and her husband.