Country Living Field Guide

The Encyclopedia of Country Living by Carla Emery serves as a comprehensive manual for self-sufficient living and homesteading. First published in 1969 through a self-published loose-leaf format, the book has expanded over decades to become a definitive resource with over 900 pages of practical information. The guide covers fundamentals of farming, animal husbandry, food preservation, natural remedies, and essential homesteading skills. Within its pages, readers find instruction on everything from raising livestock and growing vegetables to making soap and delivering babies on the farm. Emery drew from her real-life experiences on an Idaho homestead while conducting extensive research to compile the encyclopedia. Her direct, conversational writing style presents complex information in clear, actionable steps. The book stands as both a practical manual and a preservation of traditional rural knowledge and wisdom that risked being lost to time. Its enduring relevance speaks to humanity's connection to the land and desire for self-reliance.

Readers value this as a practical guide for self-sufficient living and homesteading. Many call it their go-to reference manual for basic farming tasks, animal care, food preservation, and off-grid skills. Likes: - Detailed step-by-step instructions - Personal anecdotes and tips from author's experience - Covers broad range of topics in one volume - Index makes finding specific information easy Dislikes: - Some information is outdated (especially medical advice) - Organization can feel scattered - Too much focus on author's personal stories - Print size is small and dense Ratings: Amazon: 4.7/5 (2,100+ reviews) Goodreads: 4.5/5 (2,800+ ratings) Notable reader comments: "Like having a farming grandmother at your side" - Amazon reviewer "The medical sections need updating but the practical skills are timeless" - Goodreads review "Not a quick read but worth its weight in gold for reference" - Homesteading forum comment

Back to Basics: A Complete Guide to Traditional Skills by Ashley English A comprehensive manual covering homesteading skills from building a shelter to preserving food.

The Encyclopedia of Country Living by Carla Emery A reference guide containing instructions for farming, animal husbandry, food preservation, and off-grid living.

The Self-Sufficient Life and How to Live It by John Seymour A guide to small-scale farming and modern homesteading with detailed illustrations and step-by-step instructions.

Mini Farming: Self-Sufficiency on 1/4 Acre by Brett L. Markham A handbook for creating a productive mini-farm on a small plot of land with calculations and planning strategies.

The Backyard Homestead by Carleen Madigan A resource for growing food, raising animals, and producing essentials on a quarter acre of land.

🌱 Carla Emery wrote the first version of her book by hand while caring for her six children and running a homestead, eventually turning it into a 928-page comprehensive guide to self-sufficient living. 🌾 The book was originally self-published in installments during the 1970s through a subscription service, with readers receiving chapters as Emery completed them. 🏡 Before becoming a published author, Emery taught traditional homesteading skills through her "School of Country Living" in Idaho, where students learned everything from milking goats to making soap. 🍅 The book has sold over 600,000 copies since its first complete publication in 1974 and has been updated multiple times to include modern sustainable living practices. 🌿 After Carla Emery's death in 2005, her work continues to influence the modern homesteading movement, with many considering "The Encyclopedia of Country Living" (the book's current title) to be the "bible" of self-sufficient living.