The Self-Sufficient Home: How to Provide for Your Family and Prepare for the Unexpected

by Nancy Hoffman

Overview

Your guide to self-sufficient living in today's world!

Whether you're looking to lead a healthier life, protect the environment, or save money, The Self-Sufficient Home will show you how to transition from your current lifestyle to a self-sufficient one with hundreds of tips that you can start doing right now. You'll not only improve your day-to-day life with these basic living skills, but will also prepare yourself for any disaster that might arise in your area. Complete with advice and detailed instructions for living more simply, this book teaches you everything you need to know about building a self-sufficient home, such as:

• Growing fresh produce and composting
• Raising animals in your backyard
• Preserving and canning your harvests
• Administrating first aid to yourself or family members

With The Self-Sufficient Home, you'll be able to keep your family healthy, safe, and happy as you rediscover the simple—and secure—pleasures of a self-sufficient lifestyle.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781440581281
Publisher:	Adams Media
Publication date:	07/31/2014
Pages:	256
Product dimensions:	5.40(w) x 7.40(h) x 0.70(d)

About the Author

Nancy Hoffman lives in a sustainable home with her family in upstate New York.

Table of Contents

Introduction: Sustainable Living: Getting Sack to Basics 9

Chapter 1 Getting Started 11

Learn Why You Should Start a Self-Sufficient Home 11

Recognize Your Options for Self-Sufficiency 14

Consider Practical Ideas to Keep You and Your Family Safe 15

Sustain Relationships While Maintaining Independence 16

Deal with Debt 17

Create and Stick to a Budget 18

Set Reasonable Financial Goals 22

Take Baby Steps Toward Your Self-Sufficient Lifestyle 24

Chapter 2 Alternate Energy Sources 29

Learn about Biomass Alternative Energy 30

Look Into Solar Power 31

Dig Into Geothermal Power 32

Harness Hydroelectric Power 33

Make Use of Wind Power 35

Consider Wood-Burning Power 36

Chapter 3 Growing Your Own Food 39

Plan Your Garden 40

Prepare Your Land 42

Plant Your Garden 44

Plant Potatoes 46

Plant Tomatoes 47

Look into Squash 50

Check Out Corn 51

Plant Peas and Beans 52

Plant a Variety of Peppers 53

Look Into Lettuce 54

Cultivate the Brassicas Vegetables 55

Make Space for Herbs 56

Consider Fruit Trees 56

Plant Some Berry Bushes 60

Chapter 4 Raising Animals 65

Raise Reliable Companions 66

Take Care of Small Livestock 71

Consider Large Livestock 78

Raise Poultry 83

Consider the Cost of Veterinary Visits 86

Chapter 5 Pest Control 89

Identify and Control Rodents 89

Sanitize and Rodent-Proof Your Home 92

Kill Unwelcome Rodents 94

Practice Insect Control 95

Use Natural Insecticides 96

Get Rid of Birds and Flying Pests 100

Protect Against Larger Animals 105

Watch Out for Canine Distemper 108

Chapter 6 The Self-Sufficient Pantry 111

Buy Basic Cooking Supplies 111

Have the Right Equipment on Hand 113

Stock Up on Grains 115

Leave Room for Legumes 122

Bulk Up on Survival Essentials 127

Chapter 7 Canning and Preserving 133

Learn to Preserve Your Own Foods 134

Choose a Canning Method 136

Practice Pickling 138

Preserve with Fermentation 139

Dry Your Food 140

Use Freezing and Cold Storage 143

Cure Your Meats 149

Chapter 8 Composting 151

Learn the Basics of Composting 152

Choose Compost Ingredients 154

Avoid Hazardous Materials 155

Build a Small Pile for Your Home 157

Apply Compost to Your Soil 161

Build a Compost Enclosure 162

Troubleshoot Any Composting Issues 163

Chapter 9 Beekeeping 167

Learn the Legal Requirements 168

Figure Out If Your Area Is Right for Beekeeping 168

Buy Basic Beekeeping Equipment 169

Purchase Bees 172

Manage Your Beehive 173

Collect Honey 175

Know the Most Common Beekeeping Issues 176

Chapter 10 Essential Household Skills 179

Harvest and Store Water 179

Use Graywater 185

Maintain a Septic System 186

Learn to Process Poultry 189

Learn to Butcher Large Domestic Animals 197

Build a Root Cellar 199

Collect, Save, and Store Seeds 202

Chapter 11 Tools for Farming and Repairs 207

Set Up Your Workshop 208

Build a Tool Collection on a Budget 209

Choose Tools for Planting and Farming 210

Avoid Plastic or Steel Tools When Farming 211

Multiply Your Strength 212

Buy Useful Hand Tools for Self-Sufficient Farming 213

Design Your Own Off-Grid Home 222

Chapter 12 Preparing for Disaster 225

Create a Seventy-Two-Hour Kit for Your Home 225

Make Sure You Have Clean Water 231

Have a Backup Heat Source 234

Keep the Lights On 236

Have Medicine and First-Aid Supplies on Hand 239

Keep Your Pantry Stocked 242

Practice Emergency Cooking 243

Store Your Documents Properly 246

Index 247