It's called "Country Life: A Handbook for Realists and Dreamers" by Paul Heiney. Published in the UK by Dorling Kindersley Limited and in Canada by Raincoast Books. Copyright 1998. I don't know if you can get it in the States, but I recommend trying.

This is a really colorful book full with photographs of everything discussed. It does not go into detail about any one thing, but it gives a really great overview of just about everything except building permanent structures. Some things it covers: Home Farming (another word for homesteading), what it is, how to do it on small, medium, and large farms (large is 8 acres; shows sample layouts for each), using people power, blacksmithing, fencing, making temporary shelters (including thatching); Animal Husbandry, covers every animal used on most homesteads including llamas, but not dogs or cats, describes the full life cycle and work involved for most animals listed; Fruits of the Earth, covers gardening, composting, manure piles, crop rotation; Wider Horizons, covers tractors verses horse power (the author seems to prefer drafting); Food from the Fields, covers cereal crops, haying, root crops for livestock feed; Home Comforts, how to preserve everything from garden produce to pig products, dairy products and cider making.

Most topics discussed describe doing the labor by hand, without a lot of machinery. For instance, the haying section shows haying by hand with either a scythe and pitchfork or a horse-drawn mower and pitchfork; and describes making and using a large hayrick (haystack). And, when it mentions commercial feed, it also says that it's expensive and suggests homegrown or foraged alternatives.

As I said, this book does not go into detail, but it does give a real good sense of the WORK involved for just about anything you might consider for your homestead. I highly recommend this book to anyone considering homesteading and those (like me) who are just getting started. If, after looking through this book, you still want to go ahead with whatever you're considering, then at least you'll be more mentally prepared to WORK.

Incidentally, my 9yo daughter really liked the "pig" section and would like to make pigs her next project. I'm not sure what the landlord will think of that; we may need to wait till we get our own place.

-- Cathy N. (keeper8@attcanada.ca), October 04, 2001

Answers

I actually have this book - it was the first book on country life I ever bought (in downtown Boston, actually ;-), and it started lots of stuff for me. It isn't the best technical manual, but it is a great springboard.

-- Sharon in NY (astyk@brandeis.edu), October 04, 2001.

I will have to look for that one..it sounds great. A book I own (bought at a used book store years ago) that I never hear much mention of is called "Country Women". It is sort of a hippie feminist thing...but a big useful book for when you don't have alot of help around the place. Has great illustrations. And goes into great detail. It is a must have for me now. I have used alot of info. I got from it. Thanks for posting about Country Life...I will for sure be on the lookout for it!! I can't resist books!

-- Jenny (auntjenny@aol.com), October 04, 2001.

OOoooh... now I think both of those sound like good books to use as references and dreamin' about what the next season could have in store. I have one a friend gave me called How To Make It On The Land...it has nadda about sheep but a wee bit of this and that about other various homesteading topics and animals . It too was a good dreaming and springboard type of book to lead into others woith more details. Cathy, pigs were a lot eaier than I thought they wopuld be but they don't leave the ground you raised them on unscathed and they do have quite an odor about 'em. But I am glad I tried them and will probably do it again. the hardest part is that although they are big and messy now I am still rather fond of them. They are just so laid back and natural. Maybe I see a bit of people in their ways. they just seem to enjoy every bit of their food or change to their environment (when we change their pen site....you should see them..they just are sooo happy!) Anyways, I have found them very easy to raise and I think most of my laughs and adventures lately have come through them.

-- Alison in N.S. (aproteau@istar.ca), October 05, 2001.

I also have this book and enjoy it also; I love photography, and being a architectural draftsman by trade, like the line drawings, especially the proposed homestead layouts in the first chapters. I'm still in the city and need all the information I can get.

-- j.r. guerra (jrguerra@boultinghousesimpson.com), October 05, 2001.

Who wrote "Country Women"? I couldn't find it at Amazon. Thanks!

-- Christi in KY (cmarshal@btown.k12.ky.us), October 05, 2001.

Jenny, I have the Country Woman book, also! Found it at the Univ. of Tenn. used bookstore and got it for a few bucks. Although some of the personal writings is a little too much, the book is a really great resource for almost anything anyone would want to tackle.

-- Annie (mistletoe@kconline.com), October 05, 2001.

The Country Women book was written by Jeanne Tetrault-Sherry Thomas...I am sorry...actual title is Country Women A Handbook for the New Farmer. I agree..some of the personal writing is a little over the top. Great reference book if you can look past that though!! I was reading it at bedtime last night.

-- Jenny (auntjenny@aol.com), October 05, 2001.

I have the Paul Heiney book -- bought it at Costco a few years back. One of those "lets do it" books that get you all excited. Some useful stuff, but the British climate is so different from Canada I found some of the stuff unrealistic (i.e., one section talks about an appropriate garden for the Mediterranean!)

-- Tracy Rimmer (trimmer31@hotmail.com), October 05, 2001.