I am so excited to see more and more people jumping on the localvore and slow food bandwagon! As a former vegan I have come to the realization that it isn’t eating meat and dairy that is the problem- it is the abundance of it that we eat. We don’t have to hunt for our food anymore, no more gathering berries, mushrooms and herbs when they are in harvest, no more doing without eggs when it is winter and the hens no longer are laying. All we have to do is jump in the car and drive to the store or fast food restaurant. We no longer eat according to the seasons we can eat everything year round. Then we wonder why we are battling obesity. If we all had to hunt or raise the meat we eat ourselves we would eat less of it and it would be of higher quality.

My husband and I are at that point. We are looking at areas to live based on the food we could grow, raise, gather or hunt ourselves. I stumbled upon Georgia’s website and was intrigued. She is living the life- hunting and gathering what she eats. I knew I had to read her book and I was right- the book delivers! Filled with stories of her hunting experiences and recipes too! Now I don’t know if I will ever become a “girl hunter” I have thoroughly enjoyed reading about her adventures. It has inspired me to find more ways to bring home our dinner- whether it is fishing, foraging, picking wild food etc.. I think it will inspire you too.

Girl Hunter is written by Georgia Pellegrini- make sure to check out her website- lots of great info. It was published by Da Capa Press.

Ch 1 The Beginning and The End

• Wild Turkey Schnitzel
• Wild Turkey and Oyster Stew
• Whiskey-Glazed Turkey Breast
• Swedish Turkey Meatballs

Ch 2 The Village

• Beer-Battered Fried Dove Breast
• Poached Dove and Pears in Brandy Sauce
• Dove Putach

Ch 3 Hunting the Big Quiet

• Braised Javelina Haunch
• Adobo Javelina Backstrap
• Javelina Chili
• Pulled Javelina

Ch 4 Grouse and Other Creatures

• Partridge with Pancetta in Orange Brandy Sauce
• Whole Pheasant Poached in Juniper Sauce
• Apple Wood-Smoked Pheasant
• Grouse with Cabbage and Chestnuts

Ch 5 Calamity Jane

• Elk Jerky
• Elk-Stuffed Cabbage Rolls
• Corned Elk
• Moroccan Elk Stew

Ch 6 The Upland High Life

• Braised Pheasant Legs with Cabbage and Grapes
• Chukar Pie
• Quail en Papillote
• Quail Kebabs
• Stuffed Quail

Ch 7 A Moveable Hunt

• Curried Pigeon
• Browned Woodcock with Sherry Sauce
• Duck with Cherry Sauce
• Pheasant with Roasted Apples
• Pheasant Tagine

Ch 8 Waiting for Pate in the Floatant

• Apple Roast Gadwall
• Duck Cassoulet
• Coot Legs in Sherry
• Duck, Coot, or Goose Confit
• Duck Terrine
• Goose or Duck Prosciutto

Ch 9 All of the Jewels That Go Unnoticed in the World

• Braised Venison Shoulder
• Liver Mousse
• Pan-Seared Deer Liver
• Balsamic Deer Heart
• Fireplace Venison Tenderloin
• Fried Venison Backstrap
• Venison Sausage
• Smoked Venison Kielbasa
• Axis Venison Loaf

Ch 10 NASCAR Hog Hunting

• Boar Loin in Sherry Marinade
• Braised Hog Belly
• Cotechino Sausage
• Chorizo Sausage
• Hog Backstrap, Chops, or Tenderloin
• Smoked Whole Hog
• Sweet Porchetta Sausage
• Hog Croquettes
• Hog Ragout
• How to Render Fat
• Apple Juice Smoked Ribs

Ch 11 Seeing the Forest for the Squirrel

• Squirrel Brunswick Stew with Acorns
• Squirrel Dumplings
• Traditional Squirrel Patach
• Buttermilk Fried Rabbit
• Jugged Hare
• Braised Rabbit with Olives and Preserved Lemons

Recipes at the end of the book:

• Game Bird Stock
• Duck Stock
• Hog Stock
• Antlered Game Stock
• Turkey Stock
• Red Wine Marinade
• Orange Brandy Marinade
• Balsamic Marinade
• Sherry Marinade
• Spicy Apple Duck Brine
• Hog Brine
• Turkey Brine
• Everyday Dry Rub
• Pulled Shoulder Rub
• Curry Rub
• Juniper Sauce
• Concord Grape Sauce
• Apple Cider Demi-Glace
• Sweet-and-Sour Dipping Sauce
• Barbecue Sauce
• Mint Vinaigrette
• Beurre Blanc Sauce
• Cranberry Relish
• Cherry Sauce
• Sherry Sauce
• Red Currant Sauce
• Orange Brandy Sauce
• Red Wine Sauce
• White Wine Dijon Sauce
• Mushroom Sauce
• Black Peppercorn Sauce
• Homemade Chunky Applesauce
• Homemade Sauerkraut
• Homemade Mustard
• Preserved Lemons

Game Bird Characteristics

Have you been wanting to learn more about saving money on your grocery bill? Maybe you have seen Extreme Couponing on TLC and want to learn more. This book by Kelly Hancock is a great place to start. I love that the point of her book is not so that you can hoard groceries up for yourself but to be able to bless others with either the money you have saved or by the groceries you got at rock bottom prices. This book also covers menu planning which is a very important component in saving money on your grocery bill. You will not be disappointed in your purchase of this book. The book was published by Worthy Publishing.  While I thought that the intent of the book was to teach it’s readers about couponing I soon learned that wasn’t the author’s only intent. The book covers a variety of way you can save money so that you can live a generous life. She talks about cooking from scratch, batch cooking, ditching name brands, rebates, price matching, budgeting, recipes and more. It was a delight to read and it reminded me of some things I had forgotten. I used to do more from scratch, can my own fruit and veggies, go fruit picking, do once a month cooking. I had a freezer and pantry that reflected my hard work- and this was before couponing got popular. I allowed myself to get too busy and my grocery bill reflected it. You will learn a lot from this book and in the end be able to give God the glory for the generous life you will be to live because of it.

• Save Money, Live Generously
• Stocking Up
• Warming Up to the Freezer
• Planning Never Tasted So Good
• I’ve Got a Coupon for That
• Grocery Shopping Preparation
• The Grocery Trip
• More Savings Strategies
• A Lifestyle of Generosity
• Bringing It All Together
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Meal Plan Recipes
• Planning Templates
• Notes

Another great homesteading handbook. All you need to know from start (buying land) to finish. The Back to Basics Handbook is written by Abigail R Gehring and published by Skyhorse Publishing. There are tons of step by step pictures. A wonderful addition to your homesteading library.

Part One

Land: Buying It- Building on It

• Buying Country Property
• Planning Your Home
• Preparing the Site
• Converting Trees Into Lumber
• Building a Log Cabin
• Building a Stone House
• Raising a Barn
• Developing a Water Supply
• Sanitation
• Stone Walls
• Fences

Part Two

Energy From Wood, Water, Wind and Sun

• Making Your House Energy Efficient
• Wood as a Fuel
• Water Power
• Wind Power
• Solar Energy

Part Three

Raising Your Own Vegetables, Fruit, and Livestock

• The Kitchen Garden
• Gardening in Limited Space
• Fruits and Nuts
• Pest Control
• Grains and Grasses
• Beekeeping
• Fish Farming
• Raising Livestock

Part Four

Enjoying Your Harvest the Year Round

• Preserving Produce
• Preserving Meat and Fish
• Making Your Own Dairy Products
• Maple Sugaring
• Baking Bread

Part Five

Skills and Crafts for House and Homestead

• Natural Dyes
• Spinning
• Tanning and Leatherwork
• The Ancient Science of Herbal Medicine
• Soapmaking
• Candlemaking
• Basketry

Another great book by Ashley English of Small-Measure Blog and publishers Sterling Publishing.  Canning and Preserving: All You Need to Know to Make Jams, Jellies, Pickles, Chutneys and more.. This book made me long for summer months, fresh produce, my canning jars and my canner. I see jams and jellies in my future.. I have canned many things- grapes, pineapple (someone gave me cases of a surplus from Walmart), peaches, beans, tuna, lots of salsa.. But never jams and jellies or pickles for that matter. So next summer I am going to try some new things thanks to this book.

Chapter 1: Why We Can

• Time in a Bottle
• War and Peas

Chapter 2: Tools Of The Trade

• Canning Jars
• Canning Lids and Screw Bands
• Boiling Water Canner
• Pressure Canner
• Little Things Mean a Lot

Chapter 3: Canning Concepts

• Canning Chemistry
• A Sterile Environment
• Acid Test
• Mixing It Up
• Sizing Up the Competition
• Altitude Adjustment
• Hosting a Canning Swap
• The Methods

1. Boiling Water Bath
2. Pressure Canner

• The Home Canning Canon
• Finishing Touches
• You, Too, Can Can: Hosting an At-home Canning Party

Chapter 4: Ingredients

• Natural Selection
• Properly Seasoned
• Close to Home
• Incredible Edibles
• You Say Tomayto, I Say Tomahto
• Sugar and Spice and Everything Nice
• Sweeteners
• Pectin
• Making Your Own Pectin
• Acids
• Salt
• Herbs and Spices
• Prep School
• Gift Baskets

Chapter 5: A James, Jellies, And Preserves Primer

• What’s in a Name?

1. Jam
2. Jelly
3. Preserves
4. Conserves
5. Marmalade
6. Fruit Butters
7. Curds

• Troubleshooting Tips
• Recipe: Canning Classic: Strawberry Jam
• Recipe: Canning Classic: Apple Butter
• Recipe: Canning Classic: Grape Jelly

Chapter 6: Pickles, Relish, And Chutney Primer

• Pickles
• Relishes
• Chutneys
• Troubleshooting Tips
• Recipe: Basic, All-Purpose Brine for Pickling
• Recipe: Canning Classic: Dill Pickles
• Recipe: Canning Classic: Sweet Pickle Relish
• Recipe: Quick Persian Pickles
• Recipe: Chris’s French Pickles

Chapter 7: A Whole Fruit and Vegetable Primer

• Fruit

1. Preparation
2. Preventing Browning
3. Canning Syrups
4. Hot Pack and Raw Pack Methods

• Vegetables

1. Preparation
2. Canning Liquid

• Troubleshooting Tips
• Recipe: Canning Classic: Whole, Crushed, or Quartered Tomatoes
• Canning Classic: Whole Peaches
• Canning Classic: Whole Kernel Corn

Chapter 8: Seasonal Recipes

Winter

• Clementine Cointreau Curd
• Kumquat 5-Spice Marmalade
• Curried Winter Squash Chutney
• Fennel Relish
• Blood Orange and Port Sauce

Spring

• Strawberry and Vanilla Sauce
• Meyer Lemon and Lemon Verbena Curd
• Rhubarb and Amaretto Chutney
• Herbed Pickled Asparagus
• Apricot Jam

Summer

• Nectarine Chutney
• Peach and Lavender Butter
• Cherry and Lemon Thyme Marmalade
• Pickled Okra
• Tomato Basil Sauce

Autumn

• Cranberry, Juniper, and Rosemary Sauce
• Spiced Pear Chutney
• Cardamom Apple Cider Butter
• Fig and Thyme Jam
• Beet and Sage Relish

Another book to fuel my dream of owning my own farm. The Joy of Hobby Farming by Michael and Audrey Levatino published by Skyhorse Publishing. I love that the authors share their own experiences in buying a farm and getting started with their own hobby farm. I absolutely love the pictures which make me long for a farm of my own. I also enjoy the farmer profiles. I love to read stories about other farmers, small farmers, homesteaders, bee keepers, cheese makers and the like so this was a hit for me.  I also loved the tips and tricks as well as the “avoid this mistake” tips.  This another great book for the future small farmer.

Part 1: Place

Chapter 1: Introduction

• Why Hobby Farming? Slowly Farming

Chapter 2: The Search For A Farm

• Renting or Leasing
• Location
• Realtors and Other Resources
• How to Look
• Finding the Silver Lining
• Evaluating a Farm’s Water Profile
• Zoning, Property Rights, and Easements
• Taxes
• Insurance

Chapter 3: Your Farm

• Where to get Information
• Wells, Springs, and Cisterns
• Septic System
• Generators
• Heating with Stoves
• Farm Safety
• Guns and Hunting
• Farm Equipment and Tools
• Fencing
• Gates and Cattle Guards
• Outbuildings and Barns
• Firewood
• Ponds

Part 2: Growing Things

Chapter 4: Where and How to Garden

• Garden/Farm Journals and Record Keeping
• Our Gardening Philosophy
• Soil Tests
• Garden Placement
• Garden Layout
• Bed Preparation
• Compost
• Cover Crops
• Weed Control and Soil Building
• Pest and Disease Control

Chapter 5: The Food Garden

• Popular Crops and Best Practices
• Crop Rotation
• Growing Berries
• Growing Mushrooms

Chapter 6: The Flower Garden

• Growing Flowers for a Cutting Garden
• Planning and Constructing the Cutting Garden
• How to Choose the Right Blooms for your Farm
• Elements of a Cutting Garden

Chapter 7: Extending Your Growing Season

• Growing for the Selling Season
• Cold Frames
• Row Covers
• Hoop Houses and Green Houses

Part 3: The Care of Living Creatures

Chapter 8: General Animal Care Basics

• Our Philosophy of Raising Animals
• Animal Care Basics
• Where to Find Animals
• What Do All Animals Need?
• Preparing for Animals

Chapter 9: Small Creatures For The Hobby Farm

• Chickens
• Honey Bees
• Dogs and Cats

Chapter 10: Large Grazing Animals

• Handling Large Animals
• Shelter
• Food
• First Aid
• Dealing with Death
• Donkeys
• Llamas and Alpacas
• Longhorn and Grass-Fed Beef Cattle
• Horses

Part 4: Running Your Farm as a Business

Chapter 11: Bringing it all Together

• Bartering and the Farm Community
• The Importance of Hobby Farming Businesses
• Starting a Farm Business

Chapter 12: The Farmer’s Market and Other Sales Opportunities

• What will you Sell?
• Market Management-Fees, Payment, and Sales Taxes
• Establishing Your Farm Brand
• Setup and Location
• Selling to Retail Markets and Restaurants
• Community Supported Agriculture (CSA’s)
• Websites and Social Media

I will tell you a little secret… I am a wanna be farmer.  I dream of a farm of my own with lots of fruit and nut trees. A big old farm house ready for renovations. A wrap around porch complete with rocking chair for me to sit and knit while I watch the boys run around the yard. A big wood stove to warm the house with. The kind that I could put a tea kettle on or cook a pot of soup on if the power went out.  I would sit next to it in the winter time, probably with a kid on my lap. Drinking  tea or hot cocoa and knitting.. I can see myself puttering around that house in my winter wool socks.

This farm house would have a large pantry that would be lined with my jars of canned goodies that I canned myself of course. Jams, pickles, fruit, veggies.. There would be a basement with more shelves to store the harvest. I am sure the laundry room would be down there too and I would probably hate that. The house would be white and the windows would have white curtains. I can see it all.

The farm would have a big herb garden- both medicinal and culinary. A flower garden and a huge veggie garden. Raspberry and blueberry bushes. Chickens, cows, and sheep (for my yarn addiction).  There would be rope swings on all the big trees because we have more than one kid. There would be a variety of earth looms through out the property. Earth looms are free standing looms that you weave on outdoors. You use twine to start it and then you weave in all sorts of yard waste- branches, leaves, weeds etc.. It becomes an outdoor work of art. I would have a studio that I could use as a classroom as well. Teaching people self sufficiency, cooking from scratch, nutrition, weaving, knitting, spinning and more.

I think about my dream often. I read all sorts of homesteading books and magazines, watch tv programs, and tend to love movies that are centered around a farm and farm life. I don’t think I am over dramatizing it- I have lived on a farm. I know what I would be getting myself into and I can hardly wait. Bring it on.

So today I am reviewing a book that covers all the basics of country living: Country Skills- A Practical Guide to Self-Sufficiency. The book is written by Alison Candlin- her garden is in Wiltshire England. The book is published by Skyhorse Publishing. The book is loaded with pictures, charts, tips and tricks on country living. I learned a lot of things I didn’t know which is always good. I absolutely loved all the pictures. This is a great book to have on hand if you are starting your journey in self-sufficiency.  I was inspired and have more ideas to add to my dream.

Chapter 1: Starting Out

• Planning
• Clearing Overgrown Land
• Improving the Soil
• Composting and Amending
• Improving Drainage
• Digging
• Fences and Other Boundaries
• Tools and Equipment
• The Greenhouse
• Greenhouse Management
• Cloches
• Crop Rotation
• Watering and Irrigation

Chapter 2: Calendar of Seasonal Tasks

• The Year in the Garden
• Spring
• Summer
• Fall
• Winter

Chapter 3: Growing Vegetables

• Growing Vegetables
• Raising Vegetables Seedlings
• Growing Cole Crops
• Growing Root Vegetables
• Growing Beans and Peas
• Growing Potatoes
• Growing Salad Greens
• Growing Tomatoes
• Other Vegetable Crops
• Growing Asparagus
• Greenhouse Vegetables
• Growing Herbs

Chapter 4: Growing Fruit

• Growing Fruit
• Planting Out
• Growing Apples
• Growing Pears
• Other Tree Fruit
• Growing Figs and Grapes
• Greenhouse Fruit
• Growing Rhubarb
• Growing Strawberries
• Other Berries

Chapter 5: Directory of Pests and Diseases

• Preventing Pests and Diseases
• Treating Plant Problems
• Visible Pests
• Leaves with Holes
• Distorted Leaves
• Discolored Leaves
• Distorted or Wilted Shoots
• Problems with Stems, Bark, or Branches
• Wilting or Withered Plant
• Fruit Disorders
• Problems with Beans, Peas, or Tomatoes
• Root Vegetable Disorders

Chapter 6: Keeping Animals

• Keeping Animals
• Keeping Pigs
• Keeping Goats
• Keeping Chickens
• Ducks, Geese, and Turkeys
• Keeping Bees

Chapter 7: Food from Nature

• Gathering from the Wild
• Herbs and Plants
• Fruits and Nuts
• Mushrooms
• Fishing
• Food from the Ocean
• Hunting
• Gathering Firewood

Chapter 8: Preserving Your Produce

• Preserving your Produce
• Preserving your Vegetables
• Equipment for Making Preserves
• Pickles, Chutney, and Relishes
• Preserving Herbs
• Preserving Fruit
• Canning Fruit
• Making Jams and Jellies
• Making Wine and Cider
• Goats’ Milk
• Preserving Meat and Fish

Chapter 9: Water and Energy Conservation

• The Self-Sufficient Home
• Conserving Energy
• Keeping in the Heat
• Solar Power
• Alternative Energy Sources
• Saving and Recycling Water

Another great book by Ashley English of Small-Measure Blog and publishers Sterling Publishing. I enjoyed this book as much as I enjoyed Keeping Bees- and it wasn’t surprising that one of my favorite parts were the little bios of artisan cheese makers, yogurt makers and all around dairy lovers. Starting off slow I am excited to make my own butter and sour cream..

If you have been thinking about getting into the home dairy business, or making some dairy products yourself this book will set you in the right direction. The instructions are clear with step by step pictures. You will have a better understanding of where you can get started. And the recipes all look amazing! Like this one that I am going to make for Christmas Eve- it is Cheve, Cranberry and Pecon Spread:

So let’s get on with the book..

Chapter 1: Creamery Origins

• In the Beginning
• Spreading the Gospel
• Blessed Are the Cheese-Makers
• Cottage (Cheese) Industry
• Brave New World
• A Dairy-Making Revolution
• Common Ground

Chapter 2: Ingredients

• Milk
• Starter Cultures
• Rennet
• Lipase
• Bacteria and Molds
• Flake Salt
• Acids
• Herbs, Spices, and Flavorings
• Calcium Chloride
• Ash
• Kefir Grains

Chapter 3: Equipment

• Essential Supplies
• Cheese Tools
• Butter Tools
• Ice Cream and Yogurt Tools

Chapter 4: Butter and Ghee

• Farm Wives and Factories
• Nutritious and Delicious
• Hot ‘n’ Buttered
• Color Theory
• Storing Butter
• Butter Recipes

1. Whipped Butter
2. Shake, Rattle and Roll
3. Cultured Butter
4. Oh Ghee, Oh My

• Compound Butters
• Browned Butter

Chapter 5: Cultured Dairy

• Fermenting Change
• Cultural Studies
• Yogurt
• Kefir
• Sour Cream
• Creme Fraiche
• Quark

Chapter 6: Cheese

• Basic Technique
• Beginners Cheese

1. Queso Blanco
2. Cream Cheese
3. Mascarpone
4. Feta
5. Paneer
6. Ricotta
7. Cottage Cheese
8. Chevre
9. Mozzarella

• Advanced Cheese

1. Cheddar
2. Swiss
3. Parmesan
4. Gorgonzola

• Making a Homemade Cheese Press

Chapter 7: Ice Cream

• Basic Vanilla Ice Cream
• Spring: Strawberry, Chevre and Balsamic Ice Cream (Yum!)
• Summer: Ginger-Peach Ice Cream
• Autumn: Spiced Apple Ice Cream
• Winter: Figgy Pudding Ice Cream

Chapter 8: Recipes

• Kefir Cornbread
• Cucumber Yogurt Soup
• Mac and Cheese
• Saag Paneer
• Chevre, Cranberry and Pecan Spread
• Shakshuka
• Swiss Cheese Fondue
• Roasted Vegetable and Mozzarella Terrine
• Orange Cream Cheese Frosting
• Ricotta Cheesecake

Chapter 9: Body Care

• The Magic of Milk
• Face

1. In the Clear Facial Cleanser
2. Tighten and Lighten Face Mask
3. Squeaky Clean Facial Scrub

• Eyes- A Sight for Sore Eyes Mask
• Hair

1. Dog Days of Summer Conditioner
2. Winter’s Grasp Dry Scalp Mask

• Body

1. Tropical Refresher Body Scrub
2. Cleopatra’s Secret Bath Soak

• Hands- A Show of Hands Hand Mask
• Feet- Walkin’ on Sunshine Foot Scrub

Resources

Christmas shopping can frazzle the best of us seasoned shoppers. There are so many choices out there. Commercials touting the latest and greatest- not to mention the most ridiculous. Store shelves stuffed to overflowing with junk of all prices. Armed with our lists we hit the stores and then it happens- shoppers block, confusion, doubt, whatever you want to call it. You can’t find what you want, you don’t know what you want, you certainly don’t want that! Or what about shopping for the person who has everything? Or shopping for someone who is so special to you that you can’t imagine what to get for them that would emit that feeling to them. I have a solution for you- a gift for that special woman in your life- and a tip for the others.

A custom made wool shawl  is the answer. It is the perfect gift for that special lady in your life. Every time she snuggles into it she will think of you! My shawls are handwoven by me- a stay at home mom of 7 children. I use only the finest of materials- hand spun, hand dyed yarns. Each of my shawls are one of a kind. They are a luxurious treat. Now is the time to place your order so that you will have your shawl in time for the holidays. Debra G Designs.

Now on to the tip for the other people in your life- children, siblings, husbands etc.. go to ETSY.COM and search to your hearts content. You can search for toys, clothes, books, manly things, whimsical things, jewelry too. You can even shop local to your town so that you are supporting a local artist and your local economy(I found over 1,000 items in my zipcode).  You will be able to find- from the comfort of your home- something amazing for the people on your list while supporting a artist or designer. Just today I found a custom engraved guitar pick (perfect for my guitarist husband), crocheted stuffed toys, quilts, beautiful handmade tea cups, and more. Check them out- you won’t be disappointed and you will not even have to leave your house.

First I fell in love with Ashley English through her blog Small Measure.  As luck would have it- today’s post is entitled Busy Bees- about a weekend of extracting the honey from their hives- please check it out as it totally fits with this review. I wrote to Ashley to see if I could review her Homemade Living series for my website and I received a kind reply from her publishing company Sterling Publishing  saying that they would love to send me the series of books for me to review.  This made my day as I am just making the transition from reviewing products primarily for the vegan world. My family and I were vegan but we are no longer. We eat a diet high in raw fruits and veggies but we also eat locally raised organic animal products- and  our dream of owning our own farm has been reawakened. So with a burning desire to learn more about homesteading, sustainable living, the hobby farm, the localvore movement I am reading everything I can get my hands on- why not review some of these books for all of you?

Ashley English the author of Keeping Bees is among many in a growing movement to get back to growing  and raising your own food. Every time I go to the library there are several new books in the “New Release” section on homesteading, sustainable living, gardening, and the urban garden.  This movement is not going away and it is gaining momentum. So jump on the band wagon people!!! After having been vegan for 2 years and a certified raw food chef for the same amount of time I have come to believe that the problem doesn’t lie in eating meat or dairy- it lies in eating highly processed food products- fast food, meat bi-products, junk food. Start growing your own food (a garden can be grown almost anywhere), buy from local farmers, find someone selling the extra eggs from their chickens, and find a local bee keeper to get your honey from.. Or.. if you have the space or the ambition (my neighbor has hives all over town- not a single one on his acre) keep your own bees.

I am reading through the book taking notes. I am learning a lot and I am sharing what I learn with my 3 little boys- we are doing a unit study on bees for homeschool.  One of my favorite parts of the books is the little bio’s of bee keepers. They are interesting. Not all bee keepers are what you are thinking- living on a farm, walking around in over-alls, and milking cows- of course that isn’t a bad thing but I am just saying that I am learning that bee keepers come in all shapes and forms. Not to mention that not all bee keepers keep bees for the honey. Many are keeping bees just to help repopulate the bee community. You would have to be living under a rock to have not heard that we have had a decrease in bees and this is a huge concern for all. So I bow down to bee keepers just wanting to make sure that bees do not go instinct. You are my heroes!

Here is what you will find in Keeping Bees:

Chapter 1: Understanding Bees

• Humans and Honeybees
• Honeybee Anatomy
• Hive Hierarchy
• Becoming Adults
• Hive Talkin’

Chapter 2: What To Consider

• On Location
• Money Matters
• Keeping Time
• Law-Abiding Citizen
• Being Neighborly
• Pets & Children
• Allergies
• Species Variations

Chapter 3: Housing

• Anatomy of a Hive
• Hive Components
• Where to Place Your Hive
• Setting Up House

Chapter 4: Feeding Bees

• The Birds & the Bees
• A Need for Feed
• Feed Options
• Feeders

Chapter 5: Essential Equipment

• Smoker & Fuel
• Suits & Veils
• Gloves
• Hive Tool
• Helpful Extras

Chapter 6: Obtaining Bees

• A Time & a Place
• A Package Deal (Package Bees)
• Installing a Package
• (Nuc)lear Energy
• Swarming into Action
• The Established Order
• Supply & Demand

Chapter 7: A Look Inside

• Being a Good Housekeeper
• Inspector General

1. Opening the Hive
2. Removing Frames
3. What to Look For
4. Replacing Frames
5. Closing the Hive

Chapter 8: A Year Of Bees

• Spring
• Summer
• Autumn
• Winter

Chapter 9: Health & Wellness

• Diseases
• Parasites
• Pests
• Colony Collapse Disorder

Chapter 10: Honey

• Making Magic
• The Honey House
• The Harvest
• Extraction Action
• The Honey Larder
• Honey Money
• What’s in a Name
• Sweet Rewards
• Health from the Hive

Chapter 11: Honey Recipes

• Infused Honey
• Holiday Rounds
• Grain Mustard Honey Vinaigrette
• Roasted Root Vegetables with Honey & Herbs
• Chestnut Soup with Honey
• Honeyed Prawns & Polenta
• Honey Ice Cream
• Fruit, Nut & Honey Granola
• Hot Cider & Honey Toddy
• Honey & Ginger Cold-Fighting Tea

This book has everything. I am so excited about all I am learning- for instance I learned that Italian bees have less propensity for swarming. My husband is allergic to bee stings. He hasn’t been stung in 18 years and we even live next door to a bee keeper (he repairs his hives here and we have had several swarms from the neighborhood come to the yard). We are looking for 10 to 20 acres or more and I plan on getting bees. We will look for a place away from the house and as you can guess I will be looking more into these Italian bees as the least amount of swarming would be a good thing.

The boys (ages 5, 8 and 11) are also enjoying learning all about bees. This book has been a great starting point in teaching them. Then since they are young boys we are also watching Magic School Bus- Bees, and  plan a walk over to our neighbors to observe his hives. The other day my 5 year old snuck outside without shoes on- a no-no for sure. He stepped on a bee- the bee was dead already I had seen it earlier but he got stung on his foot near his toes. Poor guy his foot has swelled up but no other reactions- good to know that he has not picked up the “allergic to bee” gene from his dad.

If you have been looking to learn more about bee keeping I would definitely get this book. I would also check out Ashley’s blog- you will not be disappointed.

Book series by Ashley English and published by Sterling Publishing. Stay tuned for reviews.