The Self-sufficient Life and How to Live It

by John Seymour
The Self-sufficient Life and How to Live It
book data
115 ratings, 4.46 average rating, 22 reviews (more data...)
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published
March 17th 2003 by DK ADULT

binding
Hardcover, 312 pages

isbn
0789493322    (isbn13: 9780789493323)

description
The Self Sufficient Life and How to Live It is the only book that teaches all the skills needed to live independently in harmony with the land harness...more




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other reviews (showing 1-20 of 264)

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Andrew
01/29/08
Andrew rated it: 5 of 5 stars

Read in December, 2007
John Seymour outlines and describes the steps one can take to a more self-sufficient and, by his account, fulfilling lifestyle.

The brilliance of this book really comes out in its scope. Seymour details the start to such a life on a ranging scale - a home vegetable garden, a community plot, or a five acre farm. Possible plans, common pitfalls and the basic how-to's are all described and illustrated: types of crops and when/where to plant them; how to care for livestock and how to ...more
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Trishv
02/06/08
Trishv rated it: 5 of 5 stars

bookshelves: currently-reading
I bought this book last year, and I constantly flip through it. Usually I pick it up when I'm feeling discontent with my life, and I want to daydream about chucking it all and running a farm. Will it ever happen? Maybe. To the degree that Seymour takes it? Not likely. I'm not slaughtering my own beef, or building a dry toilet. But his information about gardening and using the seasonal cycles seems entirely doable.
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Dioscita
06/12/09
Dioscita rated it: 3 of 5 stars

Read in June, 2009
John Seymour first published this in 1976. Though it has gone through a couple revisions since, I would argue Seymour was way ahead of his time (i.e. encouraging folks to eschew plastic as much as possible so as to not feed the oil baron coffers). The book was almost like an encyclopedia, a reference for just about anything you might want to try. From raising the majority of your own food to skinning a rabbit and making beer, this book has an opinion about most of it. The illustrations were ...more
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Willow
12/06/08
Willow rated it: 5 of 5 stars

Full of a little of everything to get you started down the road to living from the land. It's one of my resources for new ideas in the country!
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Michelle
05/31/09
Michelle rated it: 5 of 5 stars

my secret/closet hippie in me coming out. This is a beautiful book to peruse and be inspired.
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Zeke
12/19/08
Zeke rated it: 5 of 5 stars

bookshelves: currently-reading
My new retirement plan compliments of chiyo
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Karen
02/25/09
Karen rated it: 3 of 5 stars

bookshelves: educational
Read in April, 2009
I didn't actually read this....I thumbed through it. But it is a DARN cool book...if you are going to live on some acreage and raise animals, etc. I did enjoy the garden info, and will, in the future find the preservation of food section useful. But...how to skin a rabbit or make wine or take care of cows...just didn't really fit into my interest categories right NOW.
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Wifey
06/19/08
Wifey rated it: 5 of 5 stars

recommends it for: Luddites, DIYer
A must read before starting your own apocalypse cult. I think I may have discovered my new favorite word in this book, "Thunder Box". Best read while listening to this... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I4s0nzsU1...
This book is crazy thorough, covers gardening, calving, building, butchering, soap making, how to build a water wheel or drain a bog, how to make bricks and beer... on and on.
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Melissa Bower
09/21/08
Melissa Bower rated it: 5 of 5 stars

Read in September, 2008
recommends it for: everyone
Wow. One of those books that everyone would do well to own "just in case". This one contains a wealth of knowledge that could save you months of mistakes if you ever had to adopt a self-sufficient lifestyle. This is the kind of information that, as a society, we can't afford to lose.



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Mikey
01/21/08
Mikey rated it: 4 of 5 stars

This is a good primer for anyone trying to start anything having to do with self sufficiency. While it won't tell you the entire story, it's a great place to start and gives you an overview and a jumping off point for new projects.
Easy to read, well organized and well illustrated. A good read.
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KatieR Estepp Riedinger
01/20/08
KatieR Estepp Riedinger rated it: 4 of 5 stars

Read in January, 2008
I REALLY want to have a vegetable garden this summer. I want to grow my own poison-free strawberries! I want my plants to grow and not wither away to nothing because of too much or too little water, since I can never tell which it is I've done wrong. I need some serious help!
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Nicole
10/04/08
Nicole rated it: 5 of 5 stars

bookshelves: garden, library, non-fiction
Read in October, 2008
It's a little more than what I need (build your own outhouse; gut your own pig) but I'm trying to get some ideas/pointers for starting a garden for the spring. Has a pretty good section on different veggies/herbs to consider and some good info on composting.
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Inder
08/03/07
Inder rated it: 5 of 5 stars

bookshelves: farm, folkart, prettystuff
Read in August, 2007
recommends it for: Future Farmers
My husband and I have a fantasy that one day we will buy a farm and grow our own food (and have pet goats and pigs). So this book lives on our coffee table, where I can easily dive into it after a tough day in the office.
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Sarah Conarro
03/20/08
Sarah Conarro rated it: 4 of 5 stars

bookshelves: currently-reading
Read in January, 2008
Truly an all-inclusive self-sufficiency book! I really appreciate all of the step-by-step instructions and also the illustrations. I can't wait to try everything I have already bunny-eared!
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Tracy
02/11/08
Tracy rated it: 4 of 5 stars

Read in February, 2008
Excellent ideas about setting up a plot of any size. Also some really interesting ideas about quitting the city life and becoming self sufficient on a small farm. Inspiring!
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Casey McNeill
06/05/08
Casey McNeill rated it: 5 of 5 stars

Read in January, 2007
I keep this on my coffee table and read it constantly. BEST BOOK EVER!
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Matt
10/04/08
Matt rated it: 5 of 5 stars

Everything you need to know to do everything for yourself.
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Melissa
02/09/08
Melissa rated it: 4 of 5 stars

very informative. a must have for the small acreage owner.
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Kim
01/08/08
Kim added it

a classic and a must have - great illustrations
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Lynn
01/10/08
Lynn rated it: 3 of 5 stars

Read in January, 2007
I thought this would be better.
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