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zaphod46's review against another edition
4.0
This concept is great. Lots of small projects that will get things off the ground, with a focus on stuff that doesn't require lots of maintenance after finishing.
amibunk's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 stars.
After reading a dozen suburban homesteading books, it was refreshing to find something a bit different. This book's chapters are organized according to the months of the year and offer homesteading projects specific to certain times of the year. Four projects for each month- in essence creating a weekly homesteading project. These projects included some I had never heard of before ("planting" and harvesting mushroom logs, for example.) However, each activity is something homesteaders everywhere could do- whether they lived in an apartment or on a couple of acres. Nice pictures and good instructions made this book a winner.
After reading a dozen suburban homesteading books, it was refreshing to find something a bit different. This book's chapters are organized according to the months of the year and offer homesteading projects specific to certain times of the year. Four projects for each month- in essence creating a weekly homesteading project. These projects included some I had never heard of before ("planting" and harvesting mushroom logs, for example.) However, each activity is something homesteaders everywhere could do- whether they lived in an apartment or on a couple of acres. Nice pictures and good instructions made this book a winner.
kimschmidt's review against another edition
4.0
This was an accidentally book, in that I found it as I was browsing rather quickly at the library. I loved how it was divided into projects as well as monthly things to do throughout the year. Hess does a wonderful job of including not only sustaining on growing your own food, but being prepared for emergencies (water, light, heat) as well as keeping chickens, setting up rain barrels and more. She also takes into account urban, suburban, and rural living. While about half the book mentions things I've learned with time as a gardener, I found some very helpful tidbits. Lovely book!
nikchick's review against another edition
5.0
I found this to be an excellent and thought provoking book even though I'm deeply unlikely to make practical use of any of the interesting advice. I am an urban dweller with a small amount of space to work with and an HOA that bans everything from garden sheds and dog houses to clothes lines. My gardening is mostly of the container variety and even if I could sneak a chicken coop or bee hive past my HOA my houseful of rescued PET rabbits is evidence enough that yes, I would be that person running a retirement home for old hens. Still, this book pleasantly combines the author's personal journey into homesteading with practical projects that I can appreciate and enjoy learning about, such as seeding mushroom logs, even when those projects exceed my bandwidth. And hey, I'm inspired to finally put in those rain barrels I've wanted for the last decade! More than anything else I appreciated the thoughtful exercises on being present in your world, knowing yourself (don't grow lettuce if what you really love are beets, even if beets are "harder") and making decisions from that place. That's good advice no matter how small or urban your homestead!
sternstork's review against another edition
4.0
organising garden/farm/kitchen tasks by time of year instead of by subject is a great idea. i also liked that projects had clear time and cost estimates to help you pick which one to tackle on a weekend. hess divides big projects (like starting a chicken flock) into weekend-sized chunks over a few months to help make them achievable. timing is everything in the garden and i need to keep consulting this book across the months!
themellowmaker's review against another edition
3.0
So-so.
It was ok. A few helpful sections. It was very badly organized though, in my opinion. I would not re-read this one.
It was ok. A few helpful sections. It was very badly organized though, in my opinion. I would not re-read this one.
toad_maiden's review against another edition
3.0
The organization of this book is a bit scatter-shot, in my opinion, but the projects, which range from the practical (dehydrate produce in your car) to the esoteric (learn to like hanging out with yourself), are pretty interesting.