This aim can also be seen in modern trade agreements such as the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) or the European Trade Agreements, which seek to create a more self-sufficient economy among its members by eliminating certain tariffs and increasing trade between signatories. Managing Money: Saving and Budgeting The Permaculture Handbook by Peter Bane ~ Also covers most of what you’d need to know to get started, but brings it to life with practical examples and a more accessible writing style than edible forest gardens. The relationship between self-sufficiency and sustainable living is clear; by becoming more self-sufficient, individuals can reduce their dependence on external sources, consequently reducing their environmental impact. For more of the casual reader, that’s willing to learn the history and lore alongside the straightforward “DIY” manuals, I’d also recommend the book series below.

Beyond books, I’d also recommend a number of courses by the Herbal Academy, and I’ve taken almost all of them. I have the textbook book set from their Intermediate Herbal Course and it’s really quite handy. Kristin and her (now) husband Mark, went all-in on a full-service CSA while also navigating the travails of learning to live together and plan a wedding. Their story, from Kristin’s wry perspective, makes for a dramatic and memorable memoir that proves the adage whatever doesn’t kill you makes you stronger. The Joy of Home Brewing by Charlie Papazian ~ The most popular beginner homebrewing book, this one covers the basic steps of homebrewing beer, and has a lot of beginner recipes. Unfortunately, it doesn’t tell you a lot of the “why” different steps are important. Good to get started, but you’ll need the next book if you really want to understand what’s happening. (If you don’t care why it works, and you just want to follow a recipe to make beer, then you’re good with just this one.) The Joy of Home Winemakingby Terry Garey ~ A bit more conversational and less technical than The Home Winemakers Companion, this one might be more accessible to the casual winemaker. It has hundreds of recipes, far more than any other winemaking book I’ve seen. It also has some of the most creative recipes by far. If you think you don’t have enough room to grow sufficient food on your postage stamp property, this book is for you. Two single guys buy a duplex on a run-down lot in town and turn it into a garden of eating. How can that not be an interesting read?The Lives of Bees: The Untold Story of the Honeybee in the Wild by Thomas Seeley ~ This is not a beekeeping manual, but rather a natural history book that discusses how bees live in the wild. None the less, it’s been by far the most useful beekeeping book on my shelf. It has allowed me to understand what bees really want/need and how to tend them in a natural, treatment free way that’s closest to their wild habitat.

This book is a wonderful mix of personal stories, useful farm tips, and hope that we can change our farming practices and our relationship with nature and still eat like Gourmands. This book also takes you through the authors’ own experience gathering knowledge from the likes of ancient Parisienne market gardeners, John Jeavons, Eliot Coleman, and beyond. These books have plenty of projects to get you started, and they’re perfect gifts for someone just starting on the DIY lifestyle. Winemaking can be just as technical as home brew beer, and depends even more on the quality of the ingredients. Pressure Canning for Beginners and Beyond by Angi Schneider ~ Hands down the best pressure canning guide book available, with really creative recipes as well as old favorites.Later on, if you’d like, you can dive into aging cheese and more complex recipes, but that’s always optional. Before you make the jump to living off grid, re-skilling and determining whether or not you actually want to live this life is a lot more important than understanding the specifics of how solar/wind/hydro power works. The concept of slf-sufficiency has been around for centuries and has been used in various ways throughout history. It refers to a country, region, or economic system’s ability to produce and consume goods and services without relying on imports from other countries. In other words, a nation can provide for its own needs without outside help.

Food dehydration is one of the oldest methods of preservation, and while the principles have remained unchanged for millennia, the tools available these days make the process much easier. This book reads like the biggest mess of mistakes imaginable. Yet, with love and determination, this odd couple manage to pull off a full-service CSA that includes, meat, milk, grains, and all the vegetables needed to feed local families for a whole year. Simple herbal remedies, homemade cleaning products, from scratch bread and maybe a few canning recipes.Seventh Edition. All chapters fully revised and also now illustrated by Cindy Davis; 25,000 (?) mimeo copies started March 12, 1977. The first 7 editions (before the Bantam edition) were 3-hole-punched and usually were bound with a bent length of plastic-coated copper wire in pretty colors or were Velo-bound (with a soft or hard cover). Most food preservation books cover a single topic in depth, rather than the subject of food preservation in general. It’s easy enough to find canning books, or fermenting books, or dehydrator books…but general manuals that cover all manner of food preservation techniques are much less common. While most people are familiar with grape wines, you can actually make old fashioned country wines out of just about any fruit (and some vegetables too). In addition, it also helps to build a sense of community among neighbors, not just a sense of self. A community that is self-sufficient can survive and thrive even in the face of economic difficulties and social challenges. Importantly, self-sufficiency is not only important in times of crisis but also during times of relative peace and calmness. This is not a beach book. It goes pretty deep into the stigmas around self-sufficiency and the problems with our current economic systems. It also has a lot of heavy hitting how to. It will challenge the way you think and what you prioritize if you take it seriously.