I wanted to try and refocus on the original purpose of this blog, preparing for the eventual homestead and simple living. I put together a list of books and movies that I think are important to explore to get a good mindset for this type of project.
Animal, Vegetable, Miracle 
– This is the book that started it all for me. It opened my eyes and got me thinking about what I’m eating and where it came from. Holly and I listened to it on CD on a long road trip (highly recommended) and it opened up a ton of discussions about what we could do with our yard and what we want to do long term with our lives.
– This is the book that started it all for me. It opened my eyes and got me thinking about what I’m eating and where it came from. Holly and I listened to it on CD on a long road trip (highly recommended) and it opened up a ton of discussions about what we could do with our yard and what we want to do long term with our lives. It’s an account of a family that moved to the East Coast and decided to spend one year eating only what they could produce themselves or get locally. It’s interspersed with recipes as well as statistical data related to the food industry. Really makes you think. A lot of the info I’ve passed on in conversations with coworkers to which I usually get the “that guy knows way too much about a mundane topic” look in return. Eh.
Crunchy Cons 
– An interesting book about people living the “Crunchy” lifestyle (i.e. Granola, hippy) on the surface but are actually truly conservative beneath. It’s kind of the way we feel about a lot of things. When we started talking about our “commune” and Holly making her own dish soap, laundry detergent, cheese, granola, and grinding her own flour then eating organic, free range, grass-fed, natural, local, and GMO-free food, I’m sure people thought we had gone off the hippy deep end. But really it’s not about fitting into a movement but disregarding what the mainstream (secular and Christian) was telling us we should be doing and look at the “right” way to do things, the way we were designed.
– An interesting book about people living the “Crunchy” lifestyle (i.e. Granola, hippy) on the surface but are actually truly conservative beneath. It’s kind of the way we feel about a lot of things. When we started talking about our “commune” and Holly making her own dish soap, laundry detergent, cheese, granola, and grinding her own flour then eating organic, free range, grass-fed, natural, local, and GMO-free food, I’m sure people thought we had gone off the hippy deep end. But really it’s not about fitting into a movement but disregarding what the mainstream (secular and Christian) was telling us we should be doing and look at the “right” way to do things, the way we were designed. While I don’t always agree with all of the observations in this book, it definitely made me thing about what it meant to be a conservative, especially the conserve portion. I used to think of people who were “tree huggers” as total crazies who put the animals above people. One point this book makes is that you can work to conserve your environment while still reaping what it produces. Even hunters can be wildlife conservationists. I highly recommend this book for anyone who calls themselves a conservative.
Better Off 
– I didn’t get to finish this one do to an *ahem* availability issue and I wasn’t really into it anyway. However I think it’s a good book to help get a little perspective. It’s the story of a couple who leaves their home and jobs for 18 months and lives in an Amish-like community. It chronicles the growing pains of going from an instant gratification, technology-centered society to one that doesn’t even have running water. It makes some very good points regarding the benefit vs. burden of having the latest and greatest gadget.
– I didn’t get to finish this one do to an *ahem* availability issue and I wasn’t really into it anyway. However I think it’s a good book to help get a little perspective. It’s the story of a couple who leaves their home and jobs for 18 months and lives in an Amish-like community. It chronicles the growing pains of going from an instant gratification, technology-centered society to one that doesn’t even have running water. It makes some very good points regarding the benefit vs. burden of having the latest and greatest gadget.The Backyard Homestead 
– I found this one when I Googled “How to homestead” and followed a few links. I didn’t really read it as much as skimmed it since it’s more of an encyclopedia than a novel. It has a lot of great info for the starting self producer. I didn’t glean too much from it as it’s pretty basic info that I’ve picked up already from various sources, however there were a lot of good reminders that refreshed my memory. One section that was interesting was Planting Phenology which talked about using the environment around you (flowering plants, size of leaves, etc.) to determine when you should plant or transplant. The info in the book was for a different climate than ours but I like the idea and will have to research how that would work for me. This is a book I’d like get a copy of and keep with me when I head out to the garden. Also of note, you can read a very large portion of this book on Amazon for free!
– I found this one when I Googled “How to homestead” and followed a few links. I didn’t really read it as much as skimmed it since it’s more of an encyclopedia than a novel. It has a lot of great info for the starting self producer. I didn’t glean too much from it as it’s pretty basic info that I’ve picked up already from various sources, however there were a lot of good reminders that refreshed my memory. One section that was interesting was Planting Phenology which talked about using the environment around you (flowering plants, size of leaves, etc.) to determine when you should plant or transplant. The info in the book was for a different climate than ours but I like the idea and will have to research how that would work for me. This is a book I’d like get a copy of and keep with me when I head out to the garden. Also of note, you can read a very large portion of this book on Amazon for free!Food Inc.
– Like A,V,M this movie is a mind changer. It’s a documentary discussing the different food industries, their practices, and how the big companies have changed the way Americans eat. It will really blow your mind and probably (and hopefully) disturb you.
– Like A,V,M this movie is a mind changer. It’s a documentary discussing the different food industries, their practices, and how the big companies have changed the way Americans eat. It will really blow your mind and probably (and hopefully) disturb you.King Corn 
– This movie is similar to Food Inc. but focuses on the corn industry and how it’s ingrained (get it, ingrained) itself in our daily diet.
– This movie is similar to Food Inc. but focuses on the corn industry and how it’s ingrained (get it, ingrained) itself in our daily diet.The following books I have not read but come recommended from a very good source [read: Holly].
The Omnivore’s Dilemma 
– I need to read this one. It’s referenced in almost all the food-related media I put above.
– I need to read this one. It’s referenced in almost all the food-related media I put above.Possum Living 
– Similar to Better Off
– Similar to Better Off
The Whole Earth Catalog
– Similar to The Backyard Homestead
– Similar to The Backyard HomesteadIf anyone has any other ideas, please feel free to pass along.
good stuff pookie.
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