My nascent library

I started this whole adventure off a few years ago when I decided to make use of the garden of the new house I'd just rented to grow food; I wanted to find out how easy it was to be a Part Time Homesteader (hence the name of the blog I started to talk about this) and I found a great pleasure in the simple action of planting a seed and then, however many weeks or months later, eating the fruits of my labour.

The specific reason behind the name was I was unable to find anyone blogging about doing what I was trying to do; everyone was attempting to be self sufficient in a smallholding in Wales, or the middle of the Rockies or some other such isolated and full time location. It is truly ironic (or maybe the natural progression of things) that I have now found myself here, where I also am well on my way to achieving my own deserted paradise where I can be a Full Time Homesteader.

Me and my home grown corn - aged about 6

Anyway, this long and introverted ramble is a preamble to talking about the books which I have found very helpful and the ones I have recently ordered. If, like me, you have only a vague recollection of helping your dad out (and growing corn from seed after a walk in the countryside) then a good book is an excellent way to get yourself the knowledge and confidence to get in the garden and start growing things.

So in no particular order this is a summary of my Gardening and Homesteading library as it currently stands.

The One-Straw Revolution - Masenobu Fukuoka

The One-Straw Revolution - Masenobu Fukuoka - and excellent book, inspiring and fascinating in equal measures. Probably the book I would recommend most out of all of these.

Your Kitchen Garden - George Sedden and Helena Radecka - this is a new one which I haven't yet read. I was recommended it extremely highly by people on a group on facebook.

The NEW Self-Sufficient Gardener - John Seymour

The NEW Self-Sufficient Gardener - John Seymour - This is an excellent book, dealing with everything from which tools you need to a detailed list of plants and vegetables and how to plant, care for and harvest them. He is very keen on the deep bed method of gardening, just to warn you.

The Gardening Year - unknown - I bought this from the charity shop next door to where I live at the moment. It was £3 (I think) and is a fantastic hefty hard back (without the pretty cover in the picture above) which goes through month by month (as it says) with tasks and tips for the garden. This is an excellent book.

Grow Your Own Vegetables - Rachelle Strauss - This is a new book. It looks really good though; clear and concise.

Permaculture - Sepp Holzer - This is another new book. I bought it because Sepp Holzer's farm is quite high up (about 1500m) which is a similar altitude to my school. Obviously Austria is a totally different climate but still I can learn a lot from this. This is the next one on my list to read.

Companion Planting - Brenda Little - This little handbook is fantastic and fascinating. It is written in an A-Z format with entries for all sorts of things related to Companion Planting, and is not only about "put these plants together" but also has hints "never put these together". I think this will turn out to be one of my most used books.

The next books I have ordered but have not yet received.

Root Cellaring - Mike Buble - Anyone who is trying to become self sufficient, even if only to a small extent, is going to come face-to-face with a glut at some point. Being able to store your produce so that times of feast can help you survive times of famine is vital. This book has been recommended to me and I hope it provides some excellent tips.

The Forgotten Arts - John Seymour - This is one book I am really looking forward to getting; it covers all sorts of interesting subjects and even if I am unable to utilise many of them practically, it'll be a fascinating read.

Self-Sufficiency: Science and Art of Producing and Preserving Your Own Food - John Seymour - As for the "Root Cellaring" book I think this is going to be a vital companion for my growing efforts as I look to preserve and utilise as much of my production as possible.

I have another couple of books which I am going to be ordering soon, or asking for as presents for this Christmas. Briefly listed:

• The Year Round Vegetable Gardener
• Pig Manual: The Complete Step-by-step Guide to Keeping Pigs
• The New Complete Book of Self-Sufficiency
• Preserving Food without Freezing or Canning: Traditional Techniques Using Salt, Oil, Sugar, Alcohol, Drying, Cold Storage, and Lactic Fermentation
• How to Grow Winter Vegetables

I hope you have found this useful. If you have any books that you don't think you could do without then please comment them below; I would (as always) be grateful for the advice.