RECOMMENDED RESOURCES
- Below are some of the books and other resources that have led us to this life, and helped teach us how to live it.
- You can help suppport OurTinyHomestead (for which we would be grateful) by clicking on the photos or links to buy the books via Amazon. A small amount of the proceeds will go to us and not cost you any extra. Per Amazon's rules, we must specifically say: "As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases."
- We also like buying used books from www.thriftbooks.com/
- Using the ISBN number to buy from your local book store, or getting these books from the library, are also good options.
- You can also click to see the books written by us.
A Note from Theresa About Books:
Libraries are my favorite indoor places in the world. When I was a kid, I spent many Saturday mornings there devouring lots of different types of books, and I still spend lots of time there as an adult. When I'm in a library, I feel a great sense of potential- like there are wonderful and inspiring things waiting to be discovered. I am constantly thankful that I'm able to pick up a book and learn how to do something new- because most of the things we've written about on this website we've learned from books.
Our house is full of books and we're constantly in need of more bookshelves.
Bear and I always have a book with us wherever we go, and here we're happy to share this enthusiasm with you.
Libraries are my favorite indoor places in the world. When I was a kid, I spent many Saturday mornings there devouring lots of different types of books, and I still spend lots of time there as an adult. When I'm in a library, I feel a great sense of potential- like there are wonderful and inspiring things waiting to be discovered. I am constantly thankful that I'm able to pick up a book and learn how to do something new- because most of the things we've written about on this website we've learned from books.
Our house is full of books and we're constantly in need of more bookshelves.
Bear and I always have a book with us wherever we go, and here we're happy to share this enthusiasm with you.
CONTENTS:
- Books that Changed My Life- From Theresa
- Books by Sharon Astyk
- Gardening Books- Perennial Vegetables
- Gardening Books- Wild Foraging
- Gardening Books- Wildlife Gardening
- Gardening Books- Other
- Gardening Websites
- Sources for Garden Plants and Seeds
- Cooking- Bear's Favorites
- Books that Changed My Life- From Theresa
- Books by Sharon Astyk
- Gardening Books- Perennial Vegetables
- Gardening Books- Wild Foraging
- Gardening Books- Wildlife Gardening
- Gardening Books- Other
- Gardening Websites
- Sources for Garden Plants and Seeds
- Cooking- Bear's Favorites
Books that Changed My Life- from Theresa:
Gaia’s Garden: a Guide to Home-Scale Permaculture
by Toby Hemenway. ISBN 189013252-7 is the 1st edition, but there's a second edition out now.
This is the book that introduced me to Permaculture (gardening and living in harmony with Nature) and started me on the path to everything we talk about on this website.
by Toby Hemenway. ISBN 189013252-7 is the 1st edition, but there's a second edition out now.
This is the book that introduced me to Permaculture (gardening and living in harmony with Nature) and started me on the path to everything we talk about on this website.
Your Money or Your Life: 9 Steps to Transforming Your Relationship with Money and Achieving Financial Independence: Revised and Updated for the 21st Century
by Vicki Robin, Joe Dominguez, Monique Tilford
ISBN: 978-0-14-311576-2
This book will help you break out of the American cycle of consumerism. It helped me clarify why time is more important than money, and that working for a paycheck steals more time than we realize. It helped us curb our spending and realize that we already have enough. We need time more than we need money.
Click to see this book.
by Vicki Robin, Joe Dominguez, Monique Tilford
ISBN: 978-0-14-311576-2
This book will help you break out of the American cycle of consumerism. It helped me clarify why time is more important than money, and that working for a paycheck steals more time than we realize. It helped us curb our spending and realize that we already have enough. We need time more than we need money.
Click to see this book.
Ishmael: An Adventure of the Mind and Spirit
by Daniel Quinn
ISBN: 0-553-37901-1
Written as an easy to read novel, this is a new look at the evolution of human society and why we feel we must conquer Nature instead of be a part of it. It compares current Western society with tribal societies where success means having an easy, carefree life, and everyone has cradle to grave security. If I had read this book when I was younger, I would probably not have felt the need to get my degree in anthropology.
Click to see this book.
by Daniel Quinn
ISBN: 0-553-37901-1
Written as an easy to read novel, this is a new look at the evolution of human society and why we feel we must conquer Nature instead of be a part of it. It compares current Western society with tribal societies where success means having an easy, carefree life, and everyone has cradle to grave security. If I had read this book when I was younger, I would probably not have felt the need to get my degree in anthropology.
Click to see this book.
My Name is Chellis and I'm in Recovery from Western Civilization
by Chellis Glendinning
ISBN: 0-87773-996-X
A wonderful book that confirmed all my opinions about the ills of Western Civilization, using a lot of anthropological evidence.
Click to see this book.
Better Off: Flipping the Switch on Technology
by Eric Brende
ISBN-13: 978-0-06-057005-7
An Massachusetts Institute of Technology graduate goes to live with the Amish for a year to see if he can figure out when technology is necessary. Does farming and living without electricity or running water make life better or worse?
Click to see this book.
by Eric Brende
ISBN-13: 978-0-06-057005-7
An Massachusetts Institute of Technology graduate goes to live with the Amish for a year to see if he can figure out when technology is necessary. Does farming and living without electricity or running water make life better or worse?
Click to see this book.
Making It: Radical Home Ec for a Post-Consumer World
By Kelly Coyne & Erik Knutzen
2011, ISBN: 978-1-60529-462-9
This amazing book finally helped me simplify cleaning myself and my home, by teaching me to make a few, simple cleaning products, so that now I buy almost none. Additionally, the book is full of other how-to chapters that help you be self-sufficient. The authors' instructions are very well written and easy to execute. I just wish there were photographs!
Click to see this book.
By Kelly Coyne & Erik Knutzen
2011, ISBN: 978-1-60529-462-9
This amazing book finally helped me simplify cleaning myself and my home, by teaching me to make a few, simple cleaning products, so that now I buy almost none. Additionally, the book is full of other how-to chapters that help you be self-sufficient. The authors' instructions are very well written and easy to execute. I just wish there were photographs!
Click to see this book.
Books by Sharon Astyk:
These books gets their own section because they are some of Theresa's favorites that she reads over and over again. Sharon addresses the specter of climate change and Peak Oil in the least scary way possible- and shows us why living more simply and using less resources is actually likely to make us happier, so why not do it anyway, even if civilization isn't in danger of collapsing? Additionally, she shows us how to use less resources without having to have tons of money to buy solar power and windmills.
Independence Days: A Guide to Sustainable Food Storage & Preservation
by Sharon Astyk
ISBN: 978-0-86571-652-0
This is Sharon's book on feeding your family- how to eat locally and sustainably and keep your pantry stocked year round.
Click to see this book.
by Sharon Astyk
ISBN: 978-0-86571-652-0
This is Sharon's book on feeding your family- how to eat locally and sustainably and keep your pantry stocked year round.
Click to see this book.
Depletion and Abundance: Life on the New Home Front
Or, One Woman's Solutions to Finding Abundance for Your Family while Coming to Terms with Peak Oil, Climate Change, and Hard Times.
by Sharon Astyk
ISBN: 978-0-86574-614-8
How depletion can lead us to a more abundant lifestyle.
Click to see this book.
Or, One Woman's Solutions to Finding Abundance for Your Family while Coming to Terms with Peak Oil, Climate Change, and Hard Times.
by Sharon Astyk
ISBN: 978-0-86574-614-8
How depletion can lead us to a more abundant lifestyle.
Click to see this book.
Making Home: Adapting Our Homes and Our Lives to Settle in Place
by Sharon Astyk
ISBN: 978-0-86751-671-1
Being resilient in the face of hard times can transform our lives into something more fulfilling.
Click to see this book.
by Sharon Astyk
ISBN: 978-0-86751-671-1
Being resilient in the face of hard times can transform our lives into something more fulfilling.
Click to see this book.
Gardening Books- Perennial Vegetables:
Here are Theresa's favorite sources for learning about little known but easier to grow, perennial vegetables.
Perennial Vegetables: From Artichoke to “Zuiki” Taro, a Gardener’s Guide to Over 100 Delicious, Easy-to-Grow Edibles
by Eric Toensmeier. ISBN: 978-1-931498-40-1.
A great source for growing, harvesting, and eating information about little known perennial vegetables.
Click to see this book.
Edible Perennial Gardening: Growing Successful Polycultures in Small Spaces
by Anni Kelsey. ISBN: 978-1-85623-149-7
How the author grew perennial vegetables in her small yard.
Click to see this book.
How to Grow Perennial Vegetables: Low-maintenance, Low-impact Vegetable Gardening
by Martin Crawford.
ISBN: 978-1-900322-84-3.
Click to see this book.
Gardening Books- Wild Foraging:
Here are Theresa's favorite sources for learning about wild edibles and tasty weeds:
Nature's Garden: A Guide to Identifying, Harvesting, and Preparing Edible Wild Plants
by Samuel Thayer
Wild forging book. This author lives in Wisconsin so everything in the book is applicable to our area.
ISBN: 978-0-9766266-1-9.
Click to see this book.
Stalking The Wild Asparagus
by Euell Gibbons
A classic published in 1962 about edible weeds and wild foraging. Has very good instructions on preparing wild foods.
ISBN: 0-911469-03-6.
Click to see this book.
Wild Seasons: Gathering and Cooking Wild Plants of the Great Plains
by Kay Young
A wild foraging book with the best instructions I've seen so far for cooking, and more than the usual recipes. I finally know how to eat our prickly pear cactus without getting stuck by a needle.
ISBN: 0-8032-9904-4
Click to see this book.
by Kay Young
A wild foraging book with the best instructions I've seen so far for cooking, and more than the usual recipes. I finally know how to eat our prickly pear cactus without getting stuck by a needle.
ISBN: 0-8032-9904-4
Click to see this book.
Gardening Books- Wildlife Gardening
Wildlife-Friendly Plants:
Make Your Garden a Haven for Beneficial Insects, Amphibians, and Birds
by Rosemary Creeser. 2004. ISBN: 1-55297-953-9
This is the first book I used to decide what to plant for wildlife in our yard. It includes a 100-page plant directory, with detailed information about how to grow each plant and what wildlife it benefits, as well as a full color photograph of each plant.
Click to see this book.
Make Your Garden a Haven for Beneficial Insects, Amphibians, and Birds
by Rosemary Creeser. 2004. ISBN: 1-55297-953-9
This is the first book I used to decide what to plant for wildlife in our yard. It includes a 100-page plant directory, with detailed information about how to grow each plant and what wildlife it benefits, as well as a full color photograph of each plant.
Click to see this book.
National Wildlife Federation: Attracting Birds, Butterflies and Other Backyard Wildlife
By David Mizejewski, Manager, Backyard Wildlife Habitat Program. 2004. ISBN: 1-58011-150-5
This is my favorite resource for inspiring ideas about creating wildlife habitat. It has lots of great how-to information and photographs, as well as details for getting your yard certified as wildlife habitat (although the NWF website has the most current criteria).
Click to see this book.
By David Mizejewski, Manager, Backyard Wildlife Habitat Program. 2004. ISBN: 1-58011-150-5
This is my favorite resource for inspiring ideas about creating wildlife habitat. It has lots of great how-to information and photographs, as well as details for getting your yard certified as wildlife habitat (although the NWF website has the most current criteria).
Click to see this book.
Landscaping with Native Plants of Wisconsin
by Lynn M. Steiner. 2007. ISBN-13: 978-0-7603-2969-6
If you live in Wisconsin, this book will help you integrate native plants into your home landscape. The descriptions of each plant include notes on which are beneficial for wildlife.
Click to see this book.
by Lynn M. Steiner. 2007. ISBN-13: 978-0-7603-2969-6
If you live in Wisconsin, this book will help you integrate native plants into your home landscape. The descriptions of each plant include notes on which are beneficial for wildlife.
Click to see this book.
The Illustrated Practical Guide To Wildlife Gardening:
How to Make Wildflower Meadows, Ponds, Hedges, Flower Borders, Bird Feeders, Wildlife Shelters, Nesting Boxes, and Hibernation Sites.
By Christine & Michael LaVelle. 2009. ISBN-13: 978-1-8461-148-7
This is the British gardening book that taught me how to make habitat stacks/hibernation walls. It's also full of great photos, lots of information about planning your landscape, and directories of common wildlife and the plants that benefit them.
Click to see this book.
How to Make Wildflower Meadows, Ponds, Hedges, Flower Borders, Bird Feeders, Wildlife Shelters, Nesting Boxes, and Hibernation Sites.
By Christine & Michael LaVelle. 2009. ISBN-13: 978-1-8461-148-7
This is the British gardening book that taught me how to make habitat stacks/hibernation walls. It's also full of great photos, lots of information about planning your landscape, and directories of common wildlife and the plants that benefit them.
Click to see this book.
Gardening Books- Other:
Great Garden Companions: A Companion-Planting System for a Beautiful, Chemical-Free Vegetable Garden
by Sally Jean Cuningham. ISBN: 0-87596-847-3.
Source for information on flowers that attract good bugs and interplanting of vegetables.
Click to see this book.
by Sally Jean Cuningham. ISBN: 0-87596-847-3.
Source for information on flowers that attract good bugs and interplanting of vegetables.
Click to see this book.
Living with Herbs: A Treasury of Useful Plants for the Home and Garden,
by Jo Ann Gardner
ISBN: 0-88150-359-2
Learn about some multi-purpose edible plants.
Click to see this book.
by Jo Ann Gardner
ISBN: 0-88150-359-2
Learn about some multi-purpose edible plants.
Click to see this book.
The Secret Teachings of Plants: The Intelligence of the Heart in the Direct Perception of Nature
by Stephen Harrod Buhner
ISBN-13: 978-159143035-3
An amazing book about communicating with plants.
Click to see this book.
Gardening Websites:
http://pfaf.org
Plants for a Future Database. This is an amazing, non-profit website from the UK that lists the edible and other useful qualities of 7000 plants. It is their belief that plants can provide people with the majority of their needs in a way that cares for the planet's health.
http://madisonareapermacultureguild.org/
Madison Wisconsin Permaculture Guild. Has monthly meetings, field trips, workshops. Also has a very active yahoo group. People from all around the area join in, not just those from Madison.
http://www.nwf.org
Learn about gardening for wildlife and certify your yard as wildlife habitat with the National Wildlife Federation.
http://clean-water.uwex.edu/pubs/
Source for free pdfs detailing how to build and plant a rain garden.
http://www.wigardenexpo.com/
The Wisconsin Garden Expo is held every February at the Alliant Energy Center in Madison. It has free workshops on diverse topics and over a hundred exhibitors. $7 entrance fee.
http://www.olbrich.org/events/leafmulch.cfm
Olbrich Gardens in Madison has an annual leaf mulch sale in April. They also have regular gardening and herb classes. The annual herb fair is held here.
http://www.madisonherbsociety.org/events.htm
The Madison Herb Society hosts an annual, free herb fair with workshops and vendors. It is focused more on edible herbs than medicinal herbs. The event includes herbal snacks for sale, including items made with roses and lavender. Very yummy.
http://uwarboretum.org/foa/native_plant_sale.php
Friends of the Arboretum native plant sale, held every May. Great source for hard to find native plants, but it is not cheap.
http://www.craigslist.org/about/sites Craigslist- index of all cities
http://madison.craigslist.org/ Madison site
Craigslist is a free site for selling items. It’s a great source for budget buying. It also has a free section in which you can often get free rocks, wood, etc. from people who just want it out of their yard.
http://www.youtube.com has lots of how-to permaculture videos
Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center Native Plant Database (www.wildflower.org/plants/)
A database of native plants that can be searched by state and includes information about wildlife uses for each plant.
USDA Plants Database (http://plants.usda.gov)
Another database searchable by state that includes a wildlife tab for each plant describing how useful it is.
National Wildlife Federation Gardening for Wildlife pages (www.nwf.org)
This website includes tips for creating wildlife gardens in your backyard, as well as lots of photos from people who've done it in their yard.
Plants for a Future Database. This is an amazing, non-profit website from the UK that lists the edible and other useful qualities of 7000 plants. It is their belief that plants can provide people with the majority of their needs in a way that cares for the planet's health.
http://madisonareapermacultureguild.org/
Madison Wisconsin Permaculture Guild. Has monthly meetings, field trips, workshops. Also has a very active yahoo group. People from all around the area join in, not just those from Madison.
http://www.nwf.org
Learn about gardening for wildlife and certify your yard as wildlife habitat with the National Wildlife Federation.
http://clean-water.uwex.edu/pubs/
Source for free pdfs detailing how to build and plant a rain garden.
http://www.wigardenexpo.com/
The Wisconsin Garden Expo is held every February at the Alliant Energy Center in Madison. It has free workshops on diverse topics and over a hundred exhibitors. $7 entrance fee.
http://www.olbrich.org/events/leafmulch.cfm
Olbrich Gardens in Madison has an annual leaf mulch sale in April. They also have regular gardening and herb classes. The annual herb fair is held here.
http://www.madisonherbsociety.org/events.htm
The Madison Herb Society hosts an annual, free herb fair with workshops and vendors. It is focused more on edible herbs than medicinal herbs. The event includes herbal snacks for sale, including items made with roses and lavender. Very yummy.
http://uwarboretum.org/foa/native_plant_sale.php
Friends of the Arboretum native plant sale, held every May. Great source for hard to find native plants, but it is not cheap.
http://www.craigslist.org/about/sites Craigslist- index of all cities
http://madison.craigslist.org/ Madison site
Craigslist is a free site for selling items. It’s a great source for budget buying. It also has a free section in which you can often get free rocks, wood, etc. from people who just want it out of their yard.
http://www.youtube.com has lots of how-to permaculture videos
Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center Native Plant Database (www.wildflower.org/plants/)
A database of native plants that can be searched by state and includes information about wildlife uses for each plant.
USDA Plants Database (http://plants.usda.gov)
Another database searchable by state that includes a wildlife tab for each plant describing how useful it is.
National Wildlife Federation Gardening for Wildlife pages (www.nwf.org)
This website includes tips for creating wildlife gardens in your backyard, as well as lots of photos from people who've done it in their yard.
Sources for Garden Plants & Seeds:
- Fedco, www.Fecoseeds.com, 207-873-7333
- Forest Farm, www.ForestFarm.com, 541-846-7269
- Horizon Herbs, www.horizonherbs.com, 541-846-6704
- Nichols Garden Nursery, www.NicholsGardenNursery.com, 800-422-3985 (Source of ecologically friendly lawn seed mixtures and microclover)
- Perennial Pleasures Nursery, www.perennialspleasures.net, 802-472-5104 (Perennial skirret source)
- Richters Herb & Vegetable Catalog, www.Richters.com, 800-668-4372 (In Canada. You learn a lot about medicinal herbs just reading their catalog.)
- Territorial Seed Company, www.territorialseed.com, 800-626-0866
Cooking- Bear's Favorites:
Steven Raichlen: Initially, a conversation with a co-worker got me interested in grilling. On his advice, I picked up Raichlen’s How to Grill. Reading it got me interested in buying a grill and became my go to book for grilling anything. It taught me how to keep the grill clean (If your wife thinks it’s disgusting, then it is) and the basics of controlling the grill’s heat. It showed me that grilling was about more than cooking large chunks of meat. Learning about using rubs, sauces, and marinades was enlightening. His book, Barbecue Bible,also taught me new concepts for side dishes and starters.
How to Grill: The Complete Illustrated Book of Barbecue Techniques
By Steven Raichlen
ISBN: 0-7611-2014-9
My go to book for understanding grilling. Practice makes much better. Different grills heat up differently, get to know your grill.
Click to see this book.
By Steven Raichlen
ISBN: 0-7611-2014-9
My go to book for understanding grilling. Practice makes much better. Different grills heat up differently, get to know your grill.
Click to see this book.
The Barbecue! Bible
by Steven Raichlen
ISBN: 978-0-7611-4943-9
More variety with side dishes than the first book. Take what you like and make it your own.
Click to see this book.
by Steven Raichlen
ISBN: 978-0-7611-4943-9
More variety with side dishes than the first book. Take what you like and make it your own.
Click to see this book.
Alton Brown: This guy is not a “professional” chef (that is, he doesn’t work in restaurants), but he sure makes the science behind cooking food fun to watch on his Good Eats show. Anybody that can combine Julia Childs, Mr. Wizard, and Monty Python to teach cooking is someone I want to watch. With over 200 episodes, you will defiantly learn something new and find some new dishes to try.
The Good Eats books and TV shows by Alton Brown
A wide variety of cooking science and humor. With 249 total episodes you will find something new to use.
Good Eats: Volume 1, The Early Years
Good Eats 2: The Middle Years
Good Eats 3: The Later Years
Click to search for DVDs.
A wide variety of cooking science and humor. With 249 total episodes you will find something new to use.
Good Eats: Volume 1, The Early Years
Good Eats 2: The Middle Years
Good Eats 3: The Later Years
Click to search for DVDs.
Gordon Ramsay: I overlook his attitude and the TV drama, because the guy can cook and has guts. On the F-word show Season 1 (F for Food), he had a dessert competition against non-professionals where he lost 6 out of 8 times. Letting that air with his ego takes courage. On Behind Bars, he goes into the prison system to try to get inmates working so they can pay society back and have a skill when they get out. On his Great Escape show he was the fetch and carry boy for a “chef” in the slums of India. From his Ultimate Cooking Course (20 videos on you-tube that go with his Home Cooking book- the American version of Ultimate Cooking) he stresses knowing where your food comes from. Theresa has also proven the importance of this by showing me that the food from our gardens tastes way better than plants from the grocery store.
Gordon Ramsay's Home Cooking: Everything You Need to Know to Make Fabulous Food
by Gordon Ramsay
I watched his "how to" series on You Tube and had to get the book. Lots of good information. Some of the ingredients are tough to get around here so I improvise when needed.
Click to see this book.
by Gordon Ramsay
I watched his "how to" series on You Tube and had to get the book. Lots of good information. Some of the ingredients are tough to get around here so I improvise when needed.
Click to see this book.
Gordon Ramsay's Healthy Appetite: 125 Super-Fresh Recipes for a High-Energy Life
by Gordon Ramsay
"The F Word" is one of Gordon's earlier TV shows. In my opinion this show it is better than the dramatic crap he does now. I like that the earlier seasons that had more information than drama. Healthy Appetite has some recipes from the show and some basic skill knowledge.
Click to see this book.
Click to search for DVDs of "The F Word."
by Gordon Ramsay
"The F Word" is one of Gordon's earlier TV shows. In my opinion this show it is better than the dramatic crap he does now. I like that the earlier seasons that had more information than drama. Healthy Appetite has some recipes from the show and some basic skill knowledge.
Click to see this book.
Click to search for DVDs of "The F Word."
Anthony Bourdain: He pushes the idea of mise-en-plase, or everything in its place, better than anybody. He taught me about knowing your cooking area, organizing your supplies, and getting as much done as possible before people arrive so there is less chance for panic and screw ups while cooking. Believe it or not, this guy taught me dining etiquette. He feels that if you travel, whether in the U.S. or to another country, you should eat the food the way they do in order to experience their culture. He showed me that food is a large part of many cultures! Eating something that is not normal to you can open your eyes to new treasures of flavor (I tried lamb leg marrow, which isn’t too bad, as long as I get it cooked enough).
Kitchen Confidential Updated Edition: Adventures in the Culinary Underbelly
by Anthony Bourdain
ISBN: 0-06-093491-3
It's all about the attitude. I will listen to this guy but I am not sure if I would hang out with him. He is about eating adventure rather than teaching how to cook.
Click to see this book.
by Anthony Bourdain
ISBN: 0-06-093491-3
It's all about the attitude. I will listen to this guy but I am not sure if I would hang out with him. He is about eating adventure rather than teaching how to cook.
Click to see this book.
Medium Raw: A Bloody Valentine to the World of Food and the People Who Cook
by Anthony Bourdain
ISBN: 978-0-06-171894-6
A more seasoned "confidential" chef who still respects those who make the food and pushes people to eat outside their comfort zone.
Click to see this book.
by Anthony Bourdain
ISBN: 978-0-06-171894-6
A more seasoned "confidential" chef who still respects those who make the food and pushes people to eat outside their comfort zone.
Click to see this book.