Little House in the Suburbs: Backyard farming and home skills for self-sufficient living
256
Little House in the Suburbs: Backyard farming and home skills for self-sufficient living
256Paperback
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Overview
Gardens, goats and chickens in the suburbs? Absolutely!
The easy-to-follow advice in this book will show you everything you need to know to enjoy an abundant, independent life on food and products grown in your own back yard. You may feel like you have superpowers the first time you prepare a meal using only ingredients you grew in your garden. And is there anything you can't do after you lather up with a bar of soap that you made in your own home? This book is full of recipes and tips that will help you discover the joy of self-sufficiency. Don't worry; suburban gardening doesn't mean you have to rip up your yard, or risk being ostracized by neighbors or your municipality or homeowners association.
Inside you'll find:
• Gardening instructions for any-size yard and any skill level
• A complete overview of keeping chickens, mini-goats and bees in the suburbs
• More than 40 food recipes featuring ingredients from your garden or animals
• Canning techniques
• Recipes for natural deodorant, toothpaste, lip balm and other beauty products
• Step-by-step soapmaking instructions and soap recipes
• Natural cleaning recipes for kitchens, bathrooms, surfaces and laundry
• Gift basket ideas
• Community-building ideas including babysitting co-ops, meal swaps, and barter systems
• Advice on how to keep the peace with family, neighbors, and officials if your self-sufficient plans meet resistance
Product Details
| ISBN-13: | 9781440310249 |
|---|---|
| Publisher: | Penguin Publishing Group |
| Publication date: | 02/13/2012 |
| Pages: | 256 |
| Sales rank: | 781,916 |
| Product dimensions: | 7.20(w) x 8.90(h) x 0.70(d) |
About the Author
Table of Contents
Introduction 6
1 Why Simple Living in the Suburbs? 8
This little chapter is about the why and why not of simple living. There's a whole host of reasons to give it a shot. Simple living is good for your family's health, for the body, the soul, and the planet. The best news is it's low commitment (unlike that gym membership or your cell phone plan).
2 I Grew It Myself! Or, But You Don't Understand, I Kill Everything 24
Learn how to make a simple raised bed in an afternoon and get years of great produce with very little effort. Find foolproof plants and help them thrive with fertilizing ingredients you can find around the house. Plus learn the basics of composting and pest control and overcome the special concerns suburban gardeners face.
3 Did Your Backyard Just Bawk? 56
Chickens are easy to care for and terribly useful. They eat all your scraps, bugs, and weeds and turn them into eggs! This quick chick primer shows you how to get them, how to keep them, and how to feed them. Plus learn how to research community code concerning backyard birds.
4 Mini-Goats: Interesting, Urn, … Dog You Got There 84
Mini-goats are awesome pets. No claws, no top teeth, and they mow for you! This chapter covers how to select, care for, and feed a good goat. Plus house them and make goat's-milk products.
5 Secret Beekeepers 104
We'll show you a super low maintenance way to keep bees without alarming the neighbors or endangering your children. Learn how to safely harvest honey, without upsetting or inconveniencing your bees, and find great ideas for using all that glorious beeswax you'll collect!
6 My Pantry Was Never So Yummy 124
After we've all shaken our heads at the mountains of fake food in our lives, we'll give you about twenty-five recipes we've used for homemade spices and flavoring, and then take you through some basic freezing, canning, and drying techniques.
7 I Never Smelled So Good 148
Forget the facial scrubs, moisturizers, and hair treatments. This chapter covers the items you use every day-shower gel, shampoo, deodorant, toothpaste, mouthwash, and lotion. You'll also learn how to fearlessly face soapmaking. Lye isn't that big a deal.
8 My House Was Never So Clean 166
There is no need for special factory-baked cleaners unless you're afraid of elbow grease. Basic home cleaning formulas cost pennies to make. You'll also find some ways to simplify your housework (like caring less…HA! Just kidding.)
9 I Made It Myself!: Gorgeous Gifts Aplenty 180
A well-done handmade gift is giving your thought, time, and effort to make something really special that no one else would make. This chapter gives ten different gift-basket ideas with the accompanying projects to get you going.
10 Small Town in the City 194
This chapter is about rebuilding that interdependence through swaps and co-ops. We'll tell you how to build them, maintain them, and keep them running smoothly. Get the help you need without feeling like you're imposing on anyone. And build relationships that will last forever.
11 It's Hard to Complain With a Mouthful of Cookies 206
Not everyone goes for our lifestyle. This chapter will help you make choices that don't disturb the family way of life. Also in this chapter, we'll help you deal with those not-so-friendly neighbors.
Appendix
Spring Planting Chart 222
Fall Planting Chart 224
Companion Planting 226
Companion Planting Chart 228
Fall Garden Plan for Raised Beds 230
Root Vegetable Garden Plan for Raised Bed 232
Resources for Goat Owners 234
Good Neighbors Handout for Suburban Goat Owners 235
Resources for Backyard Chicken Owners 236
Good Neighbors Handout For Backyard Chicken Owners 237
Soapmaking and Skincare Resources 238
Resources for Beekeepers 239
Good Neighbors Handout For Backyard Beekeepers 240
Purpose and Administration Duties for Baby-sitting Co-Ops 242
Baby-sitting Co-Ops Bylaws Agreement 244
Gardening Log 246
Index 250