The Encyclopedia of Country Living, 50th Anniversary Edition: The Original Manual for Living Off the Land & Doing It Yourself (Homesteading & Off-Grid Survival) Paperback – Illustrated, December 3, 2019

The 2020's have not been kind. If you aren't already trying to be more self sufficient, then you might want to get on it. Though I imagine you are, if you are sniffing through books like this. This is an encyclopedia, by design it isnt all inclusive but its an impressive start. Are you old enough to remember encyclopedias? Little bit about everything, right? You can expect that here, except for a little more detail PLUS relevant links and addition resources. So would say it is a pretty good resource. I have lots of books, and I am super pleased with this so far. I am not at all disappointed. Very glad to have added it to my "prepper library". Because you know what? If power goes out, all digital resources become unavailable. So have an assortment of books. Use this as a solid starting point, learn what you can, add mote books to your library, print some info out and stuff into a binder, take notes, etc. But, if you ONLY had this book? It is going to make you more confident in having a go-to resource for a whole slew of information across all the things you may need to do in a self sufficient lifestyle.Neat little add on: there is a short "achievement checklists". 25 or so tasks that you may come across, and you can check if you have done them. Not all relevant to your situation, but it could be a starting point to see where your abilities and comforts are, and what you need to work on. If you havent done them, but want to.. maybe scout out your community and see if anyone is willing to show you. Volunteer to learn these skills!Then, " a final exam for you", which asks about what you learned. ie, What is basic bread recipe? How do you make cottage cheese? How do you plant potatoes?It's jam packed full of into. Small-ish print, so get out your glasses, a good light, and a notepad and sticky notes since you will want to jot down info or make bookmarks to special info. That being said, the info jumps out easily. It is well organized looking, and I can take it a paragraph, or section at a time. I think the lay out is good. You have no idea how many cruddy books I have because I bought them online and couldnt look at them first. I am really drawn to this books. All pages appear to be there.Each section has a quick list of what it covers, then its own specific table of contents. The beginning of the book has a general table of contents. Each section can be easily found because there is a darkened color to the page, like a tab. Then at end of book is the usual appendix, and some other bits of info.Learn now, research now, take down notes now, ask questions now, watch videos now, buy supplies now, stock your pantry now. Best $22 I have spent. My book came in excellent condition, no problems.

Carla Emery's Country Living Bible - Worth Its Weight in Gold!I just turned 66 and finally bought myself the 50th Anniversary Edition of "The Encyclopedia of Country Living" after eyeing it for years. I wish I'd gotten it sooner! This thick book (900+ pages and over 2 inches thick!) has become my daily companion as I plan my "escape to the countryside" retirement dream.Why This Book Changed My LifeWhen I retired, I started seriously considering moving to that little piece of land my husband and I had talked about for years. But Lord knows I didn't inherit my grandmother's knack for self-sufficiency! This book fills that gap perfectly. Carla Emery wrote it while raising seven children on her homestead, and her practical wisdom shines through every page.I love how she covers EVERYTHING—from picking the right piece of land (which saved me from making a terrible mistake on that "bargain" property with no water rights) to raising chickens (which I'm starting this spring). The canning instructions helped me preserve my tomatoes without poisoning myself!Not Just For YoungstersDon't let my age fool you - this old dog is learning new tricks! I've already made my first goat cheese (delicious!) and started planning my first serious vegetable garden using Carla's detailed growing guides.What makes this book special is that it feels like having a patient friend teaching you—not like those fancy homestead Instagram accounts that make everything look perfect. Carla tells you when things are hard and exactly how to fix your mistakes.Some nights when I can’t sleep, I just flip through random sections. Last week, I learned about foraging for wild mushrooms and making natural cleaning supplies. My grocery bills have already dropped!If you're serious about country living at ANY age, trust me - this book is the best investment you'll make. I keep it right on my kitchen counter where I can grab it daily. After 50 years and a million copies sold, there's a reason this is still the country's living bible.Worth every penny and then some! This grandma gives it five enthusiastic stars!

Lots of good information. Easy to read!