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Homegrown and Handmade: A Practical Guide to More Self-Reliant Living [Paperback]

Deborah Niemann
4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (29 customer reviews)

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Book Description

October 25, 2011

Our food system is dominated by industrial agriculture and has become economically and environmentally unsustainable. The incidence of diet-related diseases, including obesity, diabetes, hypertension, cancer, and heart disease, has skyrocketed to unprecedented levels. Whether you have forty acres and a mule or a condo with a balcony, you can do more than you think to safeguard your health, your money, and the planet.

Homegrown and Handmade shows how making things from scratch and growing at least some of your own food can help you eliminate artificial ingredients from your diet, reduce your carbon footprint, and create a more authentic life. Whether your goal is increasing your self-reliance or becoming a full-fledged homesteader, it's packed with answers and solutions to help you:

  • Take control of your food supply from seed to plate
  • Raise small and medium livestock for fun, food, and fiber
  • Rediscover traditional skills to meet more of your family's needs than you ever thought possible

This comprehensive guide to food and fiber from scratch proves that attitude and knowledge is more important than acreage. Written from the perspective of a successful self-taught modern homesteader, this well illustrated, practical, and accessible manual will appeal to anyone who dreams of a simpler life.

Deborah Niemann is a homesteader, writer, and self-sufficiency expert who presents extensively on topics including soapmaking, bread baking, cheesemaking, composting, and homeschooling. She and her family raise sheep, pigs, cattle, goats, chickens, and turkeys for meat, eggs, and dairy products, while an organic garden and orchard provides fruit and vegetables.


Frequently Bought Together

Homegrown and Handmade: A Practical Guide to More Self-Reliant Living + Little House in the Suburbs: Backyard farming and home skills for self-sufficient living + The Homemade Pantry: 101 Foods You Can Stop Buying and Start Making
Price for all three: $50.20

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Editorial Reviews

Review

"Deborah Niemann has penned the book that will turn homesteading dreamers into doers. From sustainable gardening to animal husbandry, she's got the farm covered. Homegrown & Handmade explores, illuminates, excites, and inspires. " ---Ashley English, author of the Homemade Living book series

"Homegrown and Handmade is a wonderful collection of [Deborah's] wisdom, and when it's not propped next to the stove or the milk stand, this approachable reference belongs on the shelf with the homesteading classics." ---Margaret Hathaway, author of The Year of the Goat and Living with Goats

"There's never been a more practical guide written for making the 'simple' life simple." ---Brent Ridge and Josh Kilmer-Purcell, founders of Beekman1802.com

"Homegrown & Handmade puts you in the control seat of what is considered fresh and healthy food by offering detailed explanations on providing food and fiber in their purest form for yourself." ---Chris McLaughlin, author of The Complete Idiot's Guide to Heirloom Vegetables

"It covers all the bases - from the soil to the supper table, and from birth (or hatch) to butchering. This is the perfect book for the conscientious omnivore, or for anyone seeking a practical map to a sustainable, delicious future." ---Terra Brockman, author of The Seasons on Henry's Farm

From the Author

One of the first questions anyone asks when they hear about my lifestyle is, "Did you grow up like this?" Whether they are asking about our homesteading lifestyle or my diet, the answer is a resounding, "No!" I grew up in Refugio, Texas, a small town on the Gulf Coast, and I couldn't wait to move to the big city. I spent many weekends in Houston, and after graduating from high school, I attended college at Eastern Connecticut State University. Armani was more familiar to me than arugula. I ate out more than I ate at home, and when I did eat at home, the food often came from a box or can. I was close to my teen years before I ate a raw vegetable, and that was iceberg lettuce drowned in salad dressing.

When I became pregnant with my first child, I honestly believed that a cheeseburger and fries was a good, healthy meal. I had my meat, dairy, bread, and vegetables. Yes, I thought that a piece of lettuce, a couple of pickle slices, and french fries counted as vegetables. I was proud of myself for eliminating caffeine from my two-liter daily soda consumption. After my baby was born, I started reading about nutrition and thought that maybe my poor diet had contributed to my constant illness as a child. Hoping to save my own children from the same sad fate, I started eliminating artificial ingredients from our diet and began baking bread. Over the years, we became more conscientious about our dietary choices, and by 2002, it seemed like moving to the country to grow our own food was the next logical step.

I always say that if we can do this, anyone can, and I'm not joking. Our livestock experience consisted of caring for two cats and a poodle before we moved out here. You don't have to be a master gardener to grow your own food. Our first garden produced only a handful of stringy green beans, but from reading books, finding mentors, trying, and making mistakes, we've learned to do everything we do today.

Product Details

  • Paperback: 288 pages
  • Publisher: New Society Publishers; Original edition (October 25, 2011)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0865717028
  • ISBN-13: 978-0865717022
  • Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 0.8 x 8.1 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
  • Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (29 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #29,101 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Deborah Niemann is a homesteader, writer, and self-sufficiency expert. In 2002, she relocated her family from the suburbs of Chicago to a 32 acre parcel on a creek "in the middle of nowhere". Together, they built their own home and began growing the majority of their own food. Sheep, pigs, cattle, goats, chickens, and turkeys supply meat, eggs and dairy products, while an organic garden and orchard provides fruit and vegetables. A highly sought-after speaker and workshop leader, Deborah presents extensively on topics including soapmaking, breadbaking, cheesemaking, composting and homeschooling.

Customer Reviews

Really good information and enjoyable to read. Carmen Iris  |  13 reviewers made a similar statement
I would highly recommend this book for folks starting on their path to self sufficiency. Jeanne  |  5 reviewers made a similar statement
I can't wait to read author's new book coming out this fall. Dawn  |  7 reviewers made a similar statement
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
28 of 30 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Practical Guide for a Variety of Homesteading Ideas October 24, 2011
Format:Paperback
Homegrown & Handmade
A practical Guide to More Self-Reliant living
Deborah Niemann
Published by New Society Publishers

This book starts with a 25 page introduction, valuable information on the whys of eating homegrown. From the Health stance, nutrition differences, the quality of the food, and its sustainability. In addition, she touches on the frugalness of eating home grown and finding pride in ones work. Very good information on chemicals and how much of the food we eat today is extremely unhealthy for us.

The book is divided into 5 parts, each with a Planning, Growing, and Cooking sections.
Backyard gardening is first with helpful hints on planning a garden that fits nicely into the space you have, and not becoming overwhelmed. To plan according to your future needs and utilizing the fruits of your labor.
The orchard is next with the ins and outs of planting, and when and how of harvesting then making delicious jams and other recipes with your fruit.
Caring for poultry for both eggs and meat production. Includes housing recommendations and types of poultry.
Of course my favorite, your home dairy! From planning on which livestock, caring for them, to processing your milk into cheese and soap.
She even includes a section on raising fiber animals!
Covers all the basics and is a great resource for helping someone get started with farming, even in their small backyard.
The only thing I had wished was that the pictures would be in color, but I know that isn't always practical either.
Great book, a great starter, but includes enough depth for even seasoned farmers to utilize the information.
Thanks to the Author for providing me with a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
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17 of 18 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars I only have good things to say January 8, 2012
Format:Paperback
I recieved this book as a Christmas present from my Grandfather in law who grew up on a farm. I was raised in the Chicago suburbs so the most we ever did was have a herb garden. But I have always been inspired by this lifestyle even as a little girl. And this book is absolutly amazing! I am now suggesting it to everyone I know. It is extremetly well written and stays entertaining throughout. I love the way the author shared with us her own mistakes so that we as readers could learn from them as she did. I simply could not put it down. I have nothing but praise for this book, and reading it has inspired my family to change our way of life to one that is more homegrown & handmade.
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17 of 18 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
Having recently moved to the country, I was looking for a book which would provide me with great ideas, knowledge and information on getting back to living off the land. I found a give away on the Homemade Mothering website for this book and decided I couldn't wait and just bought it --- I was glad I did.

The author has a very down-to-earth writing style and she provides valuable hands on experience. The book provides an array of topics on self-reliance and includes information on planning, growing or caring for and then cooking or processing what you grow/raise.

This book was a great find for someone that just moved to the country but would also be helpful to those that live in the city due to information the author provides on how to adapt and be self-reliant even when living in the city.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
2.0 out of 5 stars Not worth the money
No colored pictures. The author's vegetarian agenda should be part of the initial review of the book. It just was not worth the purchase price.
Published 6 days ago by Marcia L. Koch
5.0 out of 5 stars Great resources
Book is filed with a lot of information. Would recommend this book to anyone who is starting the process of being more self reliant.
Published 9 days ago by Lylusal
5.0 out of 5 stars Interesting book
Well written and helpful book. Will try the ideas as the summer gets some produce growing for me to use!
Published 13 days ago by Kcteacher
3.0 out of 5 stars nothing new
Nice book but it didn't teach me anything. Anyone who has read any books on these topics will not find any new information.
Published 17 days ago by T. Mooradian
5.0 out of 5 stars Comprehensive knowledge, with honest hindsight
Hoemegrown and Handmade: A Practical Guide to More Self-Reliant Living gives a great overview with specifics on many different topic areas that will be of interest to those seeking... Read more
Published 17 days ago by Sheri Mcgregor
5.0 out of 5 stars Great overview
This book looks at a lot of different things you could do yourself at home, from growing your own garden (even a balcony garden) to spinning wool. Read more
Published 25 days ago by jewlzd50
5.0 out of 5 stars Great read
Learned a lot from this book. I used it many times for reference and bought one for my son who lives in a very rural area and he found it very useful also. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Barbara A. Keim
5.0 out of 5 stars Really helpful
Answers almost any question you will have about homesteading. Offers both organic and non organic options without feeling preachy which I really appreciate. Great book.
Published 2 months ago by Courtney
5.0 out of 5 stars Homegrown and Handmade may fuel an urban revolution
With Homegrown and Handmade, Ms. Neimann has given us a handbook for doing, not just dreaming about. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Jeanne
5.0 out of 5 stars Homey
Bought this book to learn more about gardening - very good explanations. Interesting to read other sections that I'll never use - raising chickens.
Published 3 months ago by J. A. Mcdonald
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